Westlife 'would have liked US success'

Nicky Byrne has admitted that Westlife would have "liked" to have been successful in America.

Speaking to Metro, the Irish singer claimed that the groups attempt was timed wrongly because the US was "fed up" with boybands.

"We all would have liked to. You never admit defeat," Byrne said. "Pop had been so prominent in the US with Britney, Christina [Aguilera], Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync - they had three or four years before we got there. The boyband thing worked against us there because people were fed up with it.

"Our US label sent 'World Of Our Own' to radio stations in LA and New York without our name on it. It got a good response but when they found out who it was they wouldn't playlist it as they weren't supporting boybands."

Asked about the worst gig Westlife have ever done, he revealed: "We did a promotional tour of the US in 2000. We did a local radio station roadshow in a big football stadium.

"There were ten acts on and about five people standing at the front barrier, and the rest of the place was empty. I just remember thinking, 'This is a ball of s**te'."