KL Launch For Westlife's Album

WESTLIFE has chosen Malaysia to be the first Asian country to launch their landmark album of their greatest hits.

Westlife bringing cheer to Makna-supported children

Significantly, it was Kuala Lumpur that Westlife first promoted their debut album in Asia.

"We felt it appropriate to hold the launch of our greatest hits, which marks the closing of a chapter or our career and also a new beginning," said Irish group Westlife's lead vocalist Shane Filan.

The album marked the group's transition to another phase.

"We are lucky to have so many hits over the past three years and we thought we'd close the chapter on our career thus far," he said yesterday.

Filan said that besides the inclusion of 10 of their chart-topping hits in Unbreakable Greatest Hits Vol. 1, the album also has six new tracks, which offers an indication of what to expect from their new album scheduled for next year.

He said the Asian region has always been a staunch supporter of the band.

This is reflected through sales of the bands' album where out of more 20 million sold worldwide, seven million were bought by Asians.

Said band member Mark Feehily: "Whenever we come to Asia, it's always about the experience, as we always leave with a new one. And that means more to us than just the success of our album sales."

Asked about Westlife's initial plans to call off the Kuala Lumpur stint due tension created by the Bali bomb blast on Oct 12, Filan said Westlife had never considered canceling the Westlife Showcase & Soccer Extravaganza scheduled at the Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil tonight.

Feehily said: "Growing up in Ireland, we've got used to such concerns, and the main thing you learn from it is never to give in and to fight back.

"We contacted the local authorities after what happened in Bali, as we were concerned.

"We received a letter from the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia himself and felt honoured that he would put his personal stamp on the assurance and promise of our sell-being here."

This is reflected in the heavy security wherever the boys go, with a number of personnel on guard duty, along with bag searches and metal detectors, and strict processes even at the Press conference at Genting Highlands yesterday.

The boys had a hectic schedule which included meeting about 60 children from the National Cancer Council (Makna).

For the football event tonight, Westlife will also perform eight songs.

Tickets for tonight's event (at RM35) will be on sale at the stadium from 11am.

The show, from 6pm, will also see performances from local BMG artistes Def-Gab-C, Misha, Izzla and Ning Baizura.

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