EXCLUSIVEBetrayed by Boyzone: I helped make the band £10m EACH with Louis Walsh and they never said thank you - then they said we ripped them off
The record company boss who helped turned Boyzone into millionaire pop superstars has backed Louis Walsh in his war of words with the band who claim in a bombshell new documentary that Walsh was cruel and exploited them.
Paul Keogh, 65, spent £500,000 and worked doggedly hard to launch Boyzone back in the mid-90s - but now thinks they have been ungrateful to the team that made them famous.
The former managing director of Polygram Records in Ireland has said members Ronan Keating, 47, Keith Duffy, 50, Shane Lynch, 48, Mikey Graham, 52, plus the late Stephen Gately, have ever since failed to recognise the role he and others played in their achievements.
And he challenges the narrative in the forthcoming Sky documentary called No Matter What about their story that Walsh, 72, had taken advantage of Boyzone - pointing out that they made an estimated £50 million thanks to Walsh and himself.
Boyzone, pictured here in Keogh's exclusive previously unseen pictures form their early days before they stormed the charts, went onto sell over 30million records and became the most popular boybands in both Ireland and the UK since Take That.
Speaking ahead of the show's release, charting the band's rise to fame, from playing in pubs and clubs to sell out stadium tours in front of 100,000 people, Paul, who signed the group to their first record contract in 1994, aired his grievances about the band's snub.
Boyzone: No Matter What is set to air on Sky Documentaries and NOW on February 2 and gives fans a look at the 'fame, fall-outs and tragedy' of the Irish band
Shane Lynch (left) and Mikey Graham (right) with Sharon Dunne (centre) from the marketing department that helped on Boyzone
Ronan Keating (left). Paul revealed his relationship with Ronan became so toxic the singer asked to be moved when they were seated together on a flight to London
Paul Keogh (pictured) spent £500,000 and worked doggedly hard to launch Boyzone back in the mid-90s - but now thinks they have been ungrateful to the team that made them famous
He said: 'They never really thanked me or the people who helped make them such a success.
'They were very nice lads but when they talk about their success I am never mentioned, and neither are any of the others who helped them.
'There was one girl Sharon Dunne in our marketing department who devoted four years of her life to them, and we never got the credit that she deserved.
'I know I was seen as the bad cop but a thank you would have been nice.'
Asked about suggestions that the film will portray Walsh as a villain, he added: 'They would talk about us ripping them off, but it was all in their contracts.
'They did very well and I estimate each made about £10m from records sales and tours.'
Paul revealed his relationship with Ronan became so toxic the singer asked to be moved when they were seated together on a flight to London.
He explained: 'When Ronan wrote his biography, he never mentioned me once.
'That has nothing to do with ego, but we, as a company, we took a chance on them and spent over £500,000 promoting them and helping them become a success and break into the UK market.'
Paul has been told by Louis, who he remains close to, he does not feature in the documentary which airs next month.
In the tell-all special charting the story of the Boyzone, Ronan and his bandmates talk about their rise to fame from their audition and first disastrous appearance on Irish TV where they were ridiculed for their dancing.
In a trailer released ahead of the three-part series launch on February 2, Ronan becomes emotional as he talks about the death of Stephen at his home in Majorca at the age of 33.
And Mikey describes how the atmosphere in the group became so strained he could not wait to leave.
Stephen Gately (right) with Sharon Dunne (left). In the tell-all special charting the story of the Boyzone, Ronan and his bandmates talk about their rise to fame from their audition and first disastrous appearance on Irish TV
Louis formed Boyzone in 1993, when the music mogul was looking to create an Irish Take That (pictured in 1999)
Ronan Keating with Sharon Dunne. The band also take aim at Louis, who described his management as 'cruel', as they reignite their long-running feud
The band also take aim at Louis, who described his management as 'cruel', as they reignite their long-running feud.
Defending Louis, Paul said: 'Louis was very good at picking the songs for the group and he had great contacts with the music press.
'He had chosen the song Working My Way Back To You and went on radio to say that Polygram Ireland had signed Boyzone which wasn't strictly true, so that sort of forced our hand.
'Louis sort of learned the job on the go. It was very different being a promoter to a manager. He did not go on tour with them, and left that to others.
'He was quite happy that I was seen as the bad guy and he was the good guy and did have a good relationship with them. He did have their best interests at heart.'
Paul was managing director of Polydor Records in Ireland when he was approached by Louis in 1993.
Recalling their early conversations, Paul said: 'Louis had an idea to create Ireland's answer to Take That.
'There was no such thing as a pop culture over here at that time and I thought it was a good idea, but I was cautious.'
Louis held an open audition in Dublin with 400 teens turning up in an attempt to take a first step on a pop career.
Paul recalled: 'There were originally six or seven in the group, but I told Louis that was too many and he got rid of two. I said they had to be able to fit into a taxi.
'Louis wanted the lads to play pubs and clubs, but I thought that was the wrong market.
'The boys were happy to do that as they thought they would be able to pull all the women when they came off stage.
'I believed young teenage girls were the key target. I said I would sign the band if we controlled the marketing strategy and contracts were signed.'
Shane Lynch (right). Paul was managing director of Polydor Records in Ireland when he was approached by Louis in 1993
Boyzone and Louis Walsh don't hold back as they dissect their long-running feud in an explosive new documentary about the Irish boyband
The manager, 72, formed Boyzone in 1993 and did all he could to keep (Clockwise from top left: Mikey Graham, Ronan Keating, Stephen Gately, Keith Duffy and Shane Lynch) in the public eye
Paul told how Ronan was only 16 years old at the time and his parents had to sign the contract for him.
And he claimed one early problem early on with was their name, Boyzone.
He explains: 'We found out there was a band in Germany who had the name, I spoke with their manager, and we realised we played to different age groups.
'An agreement was reached, and we were able to use the name Boyzone. The boys were unaware of that and other things that went on in the background.'
After their first single in Ireland, a cover of Four Seasons' 'Working My Way Back To You', made the charts they never looked back as their success crossed the Irish sea and they became hot properties in the UK.
Paul candidly admits that two of the group couldn't sing and were restricted to backing vocals.
He said: 'When I first saw the boys I asked Louis if they could sing, and he told me that was not important.
'I realised then that he knew what he was doing. It was all about how they looked and their appeal to girls about ten years old.
'That was the market I knew we had to go after.'
He claimed Ronan was taken under the wing of a top producer who helped him perfect his vocals.
Like millions of fans Paul was stunned when Stephen tragically died suddenly in 2009 from an undiagnosed heart condition.
By that time the group had split up after being together for seven years.
Stephen Gately (middle) and Shane Lynch (right). Paul candidly admits that two of the group couldn't sing and were restricted to backing vocals
Their Irish tour in 1998 sold out in four hours as they eclipsed U2 as Ireland's most popular group
Stephen Gately. Like millions of fans Paul was stunned when Stephen tragically died suddenly in 2009 from an undiagnosed heart condition
He said: 'Stephen was such a nice lad and it was a shock. I was no longer involved with the group then, but he was one of the nicest of the five.'
The documentary includes the 'outing' of Stephen as gay with band members attacking the media for their involvement.
Paul said his sexuality was known to the record company, but a decision was taken to keep it private.
He said: 'I took the view that it was his private life and it should remain private.'
During their seven years together Boyzone had a string of hits, including 'No Matter What', 'Father and Son' and 'Picture of You'.
Their Irish tour in 1998 sold out in four hours as they eclipsed U2 as Ireland's most popular group.
Paul said the band were able to get along with each other despite their different backgrounds but on one occasion he had to fly to Japan after Walsh telephoned him to say they had split up.
He explains: 'It was the middle of a tour and Louis just said they had a bust up.
'I jumped on a plane to London and flew straight to Tokyo.
'I told them to meet me in an Irish bar in the city and I would bang their heads together.
'By the time I got to Japan they had sorted out their differences and everything was okay and they continued with the tour.
'They were naturally brilliant together and they really helped create a pop culture in Ireland.'
Paul, who runs his own management company in Co. Kildare, said he will watch the documentary with interest.
He added: 'It will bring back some memories.'
