Westlife

Westlife made history when their first seven singles all went to No 1, going on to achieve 14 UK No 1 singles - a figure only beaten by Elvis Presley and The Beatles - selling over 43m records. Not bad for a bunch of mates from Sligo. Kian, Mark and Shane were childhood friends, initially singing in a six-piece vocal harmony group called IOYOU releasing the single Together Girl Forever, which came to the attention of Boyzone's manager Louis Walsh. Walsh decided to re-brand Kian, Mark and Shane and held auditions in Dublin for two new members. Byrne and McFadden were chosen and Westlife - initially called Westside - were on their way. Co-managed by Ronan Keating, their close harmony ballads instantly found an avid teen following. Their first single Swear It Again topped the charts in 1999 and their triumphant reign was underway. McFadden left in 2004 but, despite semi-retirement in the mid-2000s, they were back in business in 2009.