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Boyzone’s Unheard Of Bandmates: From Pop Stardom to Different Paths

BBG News

Established in 1993, Boyzone emerged as a key representative of ’90s boy bands, charming audiences with their melodious harmonies, emotional ballads, and spellbinding stage presence.

As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but acknowledge my deep respect for the Irish band that has etched their name into pop history with an impressive global album sales of 25 million and a catalog of hits such as “No Matter What” and “Love Me for a Reason.

However, though many fans recall the initial five members of the band – Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Shane Lynch, Mikey Graham, and Stephen Gately – it’s important to note that there were two less frequently mentioned members who played a role in the group’s ascent to stardom: Richard Rock and Mark Walton.

They were both selected after attending an audition in Dublin, which attracted thousands of young males who patiently waited for their turn to showcase their talent before Louis Walsh, the group’s creator.

However, the Irish music tycoon dismissed the band before they managed to top the charts with their first hit single, Love Me For A Reason.

After Ronan, Stephen, Keith, Mikey, and Shane achieved worldwide acclaim and prosperity, Richard and Mark found themselves returning to everyday life when they understood that their careers in show business had come to an end.

As the documentary “Boyzone: No Matter What” debuts this weekend, TopMob shares updates on their current status.

Richard Rock: From Boyzone’s Bad Boy to Redemption 

Richard Rock’s departure from Boyzone was as foreseeable and intense as one might expect, given his familial connection to the Irish entertainer Dickie Rock. It seemed almost destined that he would follow in his father’s footsteps in the world of performance.

He often claimed that, in the early days, it was he, not Ronan Keating, who served as the frontman.

During the ’90s, he was one of the founding members of the band, yet his rebellious persona, coupled with unpredictable actions and an escalating addiction to hard substances, clashed sharply with the refined, wholesome image the band wanted to project.

The managers of the group Boyzone, Louis Walsh and John Reynolds, chose to separate from member Rock, leaving him behind as the rest of the band continued their journey to international pop stardom.

Looking back on his departure, Richard remembers it as a painful, yet crucial moment in his life.

Stepping into Shaft nightclub on Ely Place, I found myself in a whirlwind, my senses heightened by the potent influence of E [ecstasy]. In the midst of the pulsating music and flashing lights, Louis and John delivered the crushing blow – I was out of the band. With a heavy heart, I let out a resigned sigh, saying to myself, ‘Whatever.’

But two weeks later, it started to sink in.

Over the following years, I observed their growth, which seemed endless, and I found myself drifting away from my usual path for some time. This experience indeed left its mark on me and impacted my life, as he expressed to the Irish Independent.

As Boyzone’s star rose, Richard spiralled into a deep abyss.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but empathize with his struggle. The heartache from being ousted from the band and the relentless fight against my internal struggles pushed me towards self-destructive actions.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but share the thrilling tale of my idol, Richard. After taking a step back from the limelight, he found himself re-entering the world of entertainment, albeit on a more intimate level, spinning tunes as a DJ at Dublin’s local haunts. Yet, his passion for music never waned; instead, it fueled his determination to reignite his career by pouring all his creative energy into songwriting.

However, he was never able to achieve major success in the industry again.

1994 saw Richard embarking on his first heroin experimentation, coinciding with the peak of Boyzone’s popularity, during a visit to Marbella.

‘It blocked out all the crap that was in my head, because I was just so frustrated,’ he said.

In the past, I lacked clarity about my goals and felt stuck, yearning for a career in music but unsure of how to make that happen. Life seemed bleak and unyielding, like a deep void. However, when I was using heroin, it provided an escape from that darkness and lifted me up.

Over the next several years, Richard’s addiction to heroin escalated.

He was often using before performances, and the chaos of his life became all-consuming.

By the end of the 90s, Richard’s addiction had resulted in encounters with the legal system, a suspended jail term, and heartbreaking episodes within his family.

In simpler terms, he was given a two-year prison sentence that is suspended (meaning he won’t serve it immediately), due to having £40 worth of heroin in the Northbrook Hotel, Ranelagh, and for allowing his car to be used for transporting illegal substances on June 2, 1998.

His father, the legendary Irish singer Dickie Rock, was forced to watch his son’s decline.

In the witness stand, Dickie Rock choked up, stating with tears: “My son has already served a sentence for the past two years, unfairly, because of the undeserved publicity I brought upon him.

Watching his father in such distress, Richard felt a deep sense of shame.

He remembered it as an extremely unpleasant ordeal, indeed a very distressing one.

Yet, amidst the darkness, there was a glimmer of hope.

In 2004, after numerous unsuccessful efforts at recuperation, Richard ultimately discovered an exit route when he admitted himself to Forest, a rehab facility nestled in the hills of Wicklow.

Richard stayed for five weeks, and it was there that he found the strength to reclaim his life.

He’s been employed by a media firm specializing in venue promotion, which includes establishments such as the Olympia Theatre and The Pod. Additionally, he’s known as one-half of the electronic music duo, Lectrosoul.

2018 saw the marriage of Richard with the stunning Iranian photographer and videographer, Sadaf Javan.

The couple originally lived in Goa, India, but are now thought to be based in Dublin. 

Mark Walton: From Boyzone to Billionaire Aspirations

In contrast to Richard Rock, my departure from Boyzone was a quieter, less turbulent affair, without the public strife or scandals that accompanied his exit.

After Boyzone, Walton experienced substantial triumphs in the corporate realm, though there were also instances that garnered media attention.

In my journey post music, having hailed from the vibrant neighborhood of Donaghmede, I immersed myself in the world of entrepreneurship. My venture, 5th Avenue, has been a resounding success, with me collaborating closely with renowned artists such as Jennifer Lopez and Enrique Iglesias.

Additionally, Walton utilized his previous experiences by serving as a judge on Vietnam Idol, which is similar to Simon Cowell’s popular and globally distributed talent show, but based in Southeast Asia.

2016 saw Walton grabbing attention as he announced his new billionaire status, a feat that was never his initial goal.

Contemplating his achievements, he expressed that becoming a billionaire from Ireland was not something he had deliberately set out to achieve.

At this moment, there’s an unexpectedly flashy, high-profile aspect to my career that seems to surprise people.

‘And I intend to do a lot more with it than buy Lamborghinis and spend my time on the beach.’

However, Walton’s life has not been without its dark moments.

In 2018, it was determined that his former partner was guilty of murder following the discovery of a severely charred corpse in the garden of a residence in London.

Regardless, he chooses to maintain a somewhat subdued presence in the limelight, dedicating himself primarily to his professional work and entrepreneurial endeavors.

Today, he remains an integral figure in the dazzling realm of entertainment, collaborating with major players within the industry off-stage.

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2025-01-29 04:43

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