The Boyzone bandmates you've NEVER heard of: How two singers were cruelly dumped from the initial line-up by Louis Walsh just before the act went stratospheric - and went onto achieve very different fortunes
The Boyzone bandmates you've NEVER heard of: How two singers were cruelly dumped from the initial line-up by Louis Walsh just before the act went stratospheric - and went onto achieve very different fortunes
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Formed in 1993, Boyzone became one of the defining boy bands of the 1990s, delighting fans with their harmonies, heartfelt ballads and captivating performances. With 25 million albums sold worldwide and a string of hits like No Matter What and Love Me for a Reason, the Irish group earned their place in pop history.
![[While most fans remember the group's original line-up, there were two members whose names are less commonly associated with the group's rise to fame (L-R: Original line-up Richard Rock, Stephen Gately, Mark Walton, Ronan Keating, Shane Lynch and Keith Duffy)]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/28/19/94606971-14334605-While_most_fans_remember_the_group_s_original_line_up_there_were-a-68_1738093019601.jpg)
But while most fans remember the group's original line-up - Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Shane Lynch, Mikey Graham, and Stephen Gately - there were two members whose names are less commonly associated with the group's rise to fame: Richard Rock and Mark Walton.
![[Richard (circled, left) and Mike (circled, right) were recruited following an audition in Dublin where thousands of young men queued for hours to perform in front of the groups’ founder Louis Walsh, and later featured in a notorious interview with presenter Gay Byrne on Ireland's The Late, Late Show (pictured)]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/28/17/94604929-14334605-image-a-33_1738085916546.jpg)
Both were recruited following an audition in Dublin where thousands of young men queued for hours to perform in front of the groups’ founder Louis Walsh. But before the band even hit the charts with their debut hit Love Me For A Reason, the Irish music mogul sacked them.
![[With 25 million albums sold worldwide and a string of hits like No Matter What and Love Me for a Reason, the Irish group earned their place in pop history]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/28/19/94607727-14334605-image-m-66_1738091232620.jpg)
While Ronan, Stephen, Keith, Mikey and Shane went on to find global fame and fortune, Richard and Mark were forced to go back to normality as they realised their showbusiness careers were over. So as the Boyzone documentary, Boyzone: No Matter What launches this weekend, MailOnline reveal where they are now.
![[But before the band even hit the charts with their debut hit Love Me For A Reason, Irish music mogul Louis Walsh sacked Richard and Mark (pictured L-R: Stephen Gately, Richard Rock, Shane Lynch, Gay Byrne, Keith Duffy, Mark Walton and Ronan Keating)]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/28/18/94604789-14334605-But_while_most_fans_remember_the_group_s_original_line_up_there_-a-47_1738089864178.jpg)
Formed in 1993, Boyzone became one of the defining boy bands of the 1990s, delighting fans with their harmonies, heartfelt ballads and captivating performances (pictured L-R: Ronan Keating, Miley Graham, Stephen Gately, Shane Lynch and Keith Duffy). While most fans remember the group's original line-up, there were two members whose names are less commonly associated with the group's rise to fame (L-R: Original line-up Richard Rock, Stephen Gately, Mark Walton, Ronan Keating, Shane Lynch and Keith Duffy).
![[As Boyzone's star rose, Richard spiralled into a deep abyss and eventually succumbed to a crippling heroin addiction]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/28/18/94604927-14334605-As_Boyzone_s_star_rose_Richard_spiralled_into_a_deep_abyss_and_e-a-60_1738090698142.jpg)
