Ronan Patrick John Keating

Date of Birth: 3rd March 1977

BirthSign: Pisces

Eyes: Blue

Height: 5' 9"

Shoe Size: 9

Family: Mum Marie, Dad Gerry, three brothers - Ciaran, Gerard and Gary (all older), one sister - Linda (older).

Official Web-site:
www.ronankeating.net

Ronan was no stranger to the music business. He'd been writing songs since his first year at secondary school, and had formed a band with his mates Ian, Stuey, Gordon, Adrian and John called 'Nameste'. He was still at school when his friend Niall told him about the auditions, but he thought he'd go for it as he'd always fancied being as successful as 'Take That'. he sang 'Father and Son' - little did he know that it would later become a number one single in Ireland for Boyzone�

First record ever bought:
Wham - 'Last Christmas'.

Previous Jobs:
Helping out his Mum's Hairdressers, working with his dad on the trucks, Sales Assistant at Shoe Store Korky's.

Favourite Meal:
Pasta

The Best Thing About Being In Boyzone:
"It's a job, but I love it. I've done lots of jobs but I've never enjoyed them - they were always just jobs top me. This is something that I love - I've got four mates with me, and we have a good time".

What kind of product would you like to see invented during the 21st century?
Video phones! The sooner the better, as far as I am concerned! I know you can get really simple one's at the moment, but they need to get better and more widely available. I know some people don't like them, but I'd love one because I only really use the phone to talk to Yvonne.

What do you think has been the best invention of your lifetime so far?
When you travel around the world as much as we do, I have to say the mobile phone. So I can keep in touch with my family when they're not with me.

What have been your favourite bands/artists of the 1990's?
I have to say Oasis. As much as I hate to say it they were great. Some of the songs they brought out were fantastic. I thought Take That were really good. But a lot of the bands I love from other decades have been really big in the 90's too. People like George Michael, Will Smith, Bruce Springsteen, Bryan Adams, U2, Bon Jovi... I can't actually think of anybody new who is out in the 90's that I really like...

What new bands/artists of this year are you looking forward to hearing more from in the year 2000?
I think Westlife are very good! They're a great band... I'm looking forward to getting rid of all that dodgy dance music. Hopefully something new will come along to replace all that. That would be good. Some real music, proper stuff, proper vocals. Back to the roots again. Hopefully we're going to come back around to that. Real music, none of the gimmicks.

Who would you give a millennium award to?
Yvonne Keating, for putting up with me for the year!

What 5 items would you bury in a time capsule for people to learn more about your life in the 20th century?
Star Wars figures, the little plastic ones, as many as I can squeeze into the box, because they'll be worth a fortune in a few years! Some Irish currency, because we're going to lose our own currency soon and have it replaced with the Euro, which is a big pity. The music of the decade - Boyzone, Oasis, George Michael, people like that. A mobile phone. The latest model, because we always get those. And a nice pair of Gucci shoes!

What will be your motto for the year 2000?
Just to enjoy meself. To work hard and enjoy meself!

What were the Boyzone highlights of 1999?
There's been so many... Singing with Pavarotti was amazing though, that was pretty cool. The show in Dublin we did at the RDS, that was fairly spectacular, and I don't think we'll get a a buzz like that again. And I thought the MTV awards were pretty amazing this year, they were a big highlight too...