CHAPTER 2 - Snap, Cackle, and Pop

Take That released their new single at the beginning of July 1995 and it went straight to No. 1 making it their 7th in 2 years. It was a remarkable achievement, but if BZ had been slightly envious and daunted, the theme of the new release would certainly have eased some of their insecurities. The song "Never Forget" was a rousing tune with reminiscent lyrics of their years of success. Gary Barlow's poignant words reflected their struggle to the top, but also included the acceptance that, no matter how big they had become, it was all bound to end.

Although Take That were unbeatable in the charts, the tone of Never Forget gave a clue to the current feeling of Gary Barlow, the driving force behind the band. He was clearly in a reflective mood, so, what would that mean for the future of the group? In the teen pop world, there is really only space for one supergroup, so Take that would have to be finished if BZ were ever to ascend to the summit. Although BZ respected Take That and everything they had achieved, there wouldn't be too many tears if they did disappear. There had been an undercurrent of animosity for some months and the root of this feeling stemmed from when the 2 bands met at the Smash Hits Poll Winner's Party the previous year. There had been some friction and unfriendliness.

Ro predicted that Take That's demise would open up the future for Boyzone. "They have already reached the pinnacle of their success and there is not much further they can go..."

Soon after the release of Never Forget, Robbie Williams left the group. Thousands of fans were devastated and 1 girl in Germany committed suicide.

The news shocked Ronan more than anyone else in Boyzone. "I was stunned when Rob left Take That. I thought he would be so happy with the group, but the pressures of fame can be so daunting. Already, we're having to deal with the most outrageous offers from fans. I say a prayer every night and every morning that I won't get into trouble. Many fans attempt to fool our security to get on our tour bus, or try to check into our hotel, or just hang around the foyer waiting for us. It would make you blush to hear the offers of sex we get. Sometimes you feel tempted when you're away from home and there are just four walls of a hotel room to stare at. But we pray that we won't let our families down by falling in with a bad crowd. We also pray that we will stay together, unlike what's now happened to Take That."

Even with Robbie gone, Take That was still a force for BZ to reckon with. Sure, BZ had achieved fantastic amount since their formation but Take That were making history with each No. 1 hit. It was obvious BZ had a lot of work to do before they could match the great Take That. One example was money. It was not uncommon for them to return to Ireland for a break and have to borrow cash from family or friends to go out. It was an amazing contradiction: they were famous, with hit recods behind them and fans staking out their homes, yet they were no better off financially than some of their friends who were working in jobs they had taken after leaving school. They kept going with assurances from Louis Walsh that the money would start flowing in soon. Of course, they believed Louis, but they were annoyed it was taking so long.

Thankfully, they didn't have to wait for so many years before they got their first pay cheques from BZ. Louis was right -- the cash they had been so desperately waiting for finally came through. With the new album in the can, the record company paid a sizeable advance because they were confident of future record sales. Shane bought a racy Toyota Coolla, Mikey went for a stylish silve Mazda, Keith got a blue Sierra Cosworth and ronan went for a sleek black BMW which he planned to customise. Steve had yet to pass his diving test, so he bought designer clothes instead. The lads could afford to blow the money since the record company assured them that there would be more to follow. Dates had been fixed for their first tour of the UK and they were pleased to hear ticket sales alone would bing them further revenue, but the big money would flow in from merrchandising -- the sale of T-shirts, programmes, photos, and a whole range of other souvenirs fo the fans.

A busy schedule had already built up for the rest of the summer. The last thing anyone wanted was for 1 of the boys to have an accident. It had been bad enough when Mikey was injured falling from the horse. But, sure enough, just as everything was set to roll, Shane got hurt.

Shane got hurt while playing a casual game of basketball. The ball bounced down a slope and over a small stream. As he jumped across the stream, his left foot buckled and his ankle snapped.

It certainly seems ironic that Shane has walked away fom high speed car crashes unscathed, yet was left hobbling in agony afte a simple jump. He was rushed to hospital for his foot to be set in plaster and, within a few hours, the pain was subsiding. The headache, however, was just starting to throb in Louis Walsh's head as he considered the almighty problems Shane's injury would cause. The itinerary for the next few months was in jeopardy. Shane is 1 of BZ's more natural dancers, so his energy & rythm would be sorely missed in the dance routines on stage. They couldn't simply go on without him. But how could he continue on one leg?

The group had insurance covering any unforseen accident, so the tour could be cancelled without causing complete financial catastrophe. But the logistics of scrapping the tour were horrendous. Thousands of fans would have to be refunded but that would be no compensation to their disappointment. Those fans would suffer and their loyalty to BZ could be dented. Louis Walsh realized that there was no alternative but to continue with the original plans. He hoped Shane could fit in around the others. In the best traditions of showbusiness, the show would go on.