AFTER six UK number one singles, five UK number one albums and 25 years together, iconic Irish boy band Boyzone are well and truly ready to say their final farewell to their legions of fans.

The legendary group will be hitting Glasgow in January after releasing their last album ‘Thank You & Goodnight’ in November, a record which will feature the vocals of late bandmate Stephen Gately, who died suddenly in 2009, aged just 33.

Before that, though, the four-piece are ready to hit the inaugural ScotFest music weekend in Edinburgh in just over two weeks’ time.

Buy tickets for Boyzone's last-ever Glasgow gig here

Speaking to the Evening Times, member Shane Lynch reveals his excitement. “It’s getting close now. We’ll blink and we’re there,” he said. “There’s an awesome lineup - East 17, B*Witched, Liberty X, The Jacksons. It sounds like an epic event.”

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Performing alongside the legendary Jackson brothers must be an amazing feeling. Not for modest Shane. “The Jacksons are phenomenal, without a doubt,” the 41-year-old explains, “but it’s nicer to be alongside East 17. They’re our heritage from the early ‘90s. Even my sisters in B*Witched. It’s not a family occasion, by all means, but they mean more to me now than The Jacksons would. Without a doubt.”

Buy tickets for Boyzone's last-ever Glasgow gig here

Will there be any sibling rivalry between Shane and his younger, singing twin sisters Edele and Keavy? “I just like to share a stage with them,” he says. “It’s never about sibling rivalry. It’s about coming together and realising that music is music and, if any band can collaborate, it’s double-bubble in my eyes. It’s not a competition, man. Let’s make history.”

The day the lads announced their farewell tour a week ago, Evening Times readers reacted overwhelmingly to the news, something that makes Shane laugh and label “interesting.” Expanding on this, he adds: “It’s more fantastic than interesting. It’s nice to know it’s popular. Popular is what we’ve been for 25 years. The interest is still there which is just great.”

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When travelling the UK, Boyzone are drawn to Scotland. “It’s always been brilliant for us,” Shane says. “Great gigs and great crowds - there’s always been a massive interest for Boyzone among Scottish people, one-hundred percent. We always look forward to coming up. You know you’ll get a great night out and epic fun.”

Buy tickets for Boyzone's last-ever Glasgow gig here

Regardless of Boyzone, Shane says he appreciates the way in which Scots have always seen the band members as individuals. “We’ve always had a great connection with Scots,” he adds.

What can Glasgow expect when Boyzone hits the SSE Hydro in January?

“It’s us just saying thank you. Fans have wanted a tour and album for so long, so we’re giving that to them. The music on the album is a playlist style and shows us as individuals. Yes we’re Boyzone, but we’ve got our own, individual styles and sounds in music. We collaborated and made this album into a bit of a shuffle.”

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The day the guys announced their last tour, they did so in a heart rending statement which made reference to “the loss of Stephen” which “left scars that we will carry as a band forever.” Is Stephen going to be the centre of the tour?

“It’s not at all going to be like that. We don’t want to confuse people,” Shane explains.

“There just so happens to be a song on the album with Stephen on it. It’s a thank you track we’ve put out. He’s represented as part of the band. When on tour, we’ll be doing all the hits from the beginning to the end. That’s the most important thing. It’s nice to represent all five of us though.”

Having always been on the music scene, even after “splitting” in 1999, talking to Shane, it really does feel like this is the final goodbye. Is it? “Yeah - we can’t do it forever,” he says. “That’s the point. We have to look at where we’re all going. Yes, this is the [last] album, yes we’re saying goodbye. There’s a cut-off point. We can’t sit around wondering if we’re making another album anymore. There are no more confusions.”

Buy tickets for Boyzone's last-ever Glasgow gig here

After 25 years, a lot of fans and experiences later, what’s the most memorable thing in Glasgow that’s stuck with Shane and the guys? “The first time we played the Hydro was incredible.” Speaking as though it was just last week, he adds: “It’s like a gladiators’ experience, You look into the heavens almost, and the crowds go up and up and up into the gods. It’s quite an experience. That’s the best it’ll get. You can’t get any better than that. It’s quite amazing to be in a wall of sound that bounces back at you in such an awesome venue.”

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A keen motor racing enthusiast, the last time Shane was in Glasgow was two years ago for a car event at the SEC Centre. What’s in store post-tour? “The tour will take us into next summer.For me, I’m going to spend the rest of 2019 building my race car for 2020.

“You never know, I could be back to Glasgow, but I’m now definitely into my motor sports.”

Buy tickets for Boyzone's last-ever Glasgow gig here