My Side of Life: The Autobiography

Oct 4, 2024 11:24 PM

Author:Shane Filan

As a lead singer of Westlife, one of the most successful pop acts of all time, Shane Filan was on top of the world. Together with the band, he achieved an incredible 14 No.1 singles (a record beaten only by the Beatles) sold 44 million records and was adored by fans the world over.

Everything he touched turned to gold, or so it seemed. Like many others, he had piled his fortunes into the Irish property boom and when the bubble burst, Shane struggled with mounting debt. Just ten days after Westlife’s final farewell concert, in front of a sold-out crowd of 80,000 fans, Shane was declared bankrupt with debts of £18 million – losing everything.

But this wasn’t the end for Shane Filan – a devoted singer and family man, Shane circled back to his roots and a year later he launched his solo career. In My Side of Life Shane shares his story for the first time – his early years growing up as part of a large Irish family in Co. Sligo, the phenomenal success of Westlife and the ups and downs of their time together, the breakup of the band, his financial devastation, and finally going it alone as a solo artist.

This is Shane’s side of the story.

Reviews

Can literature change your life? Yes ... along came Will Hermes, who cost me several hundred pounds on iTunes and ruptured my relationship with guitars

—— Nick Hornby , Believer magazine

It was the best of times, it was the best of places: Will Hermes captures the creative incandescence of New York in those five years that changed music

—— Richard Williams

Brings depth and discernment and an eye for odd detail, making his book an essential work of cultural history

—— Luc Sante

One of those addictive biographies in which you start by looking in the index for items that interest you . . . and as dawn breaks you're reading the book from cover to cover

—— Financial Times

How the son of a market porter gave up a career as an electrician to become one of Britain's most successful and best loved actors ... the long awaited story...

—— Independent

It really is a life story, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

—— Matt Baker, The One Show

He comes across as hugely likeable and approachable.

—— Daily Mail

Touching, funny and warm-hearted.

—— Sunday Mirror

Touching and funny ... it really is a top read.

—— Sun

Written with real charm.

—— Guardian

Affable, humble and unpretentious.

—— Metro

Lovely-jubbly.

—— ES Magazine

An engaging and entertaining read.

—— Daily Express

I absolutely loved reading this because it was just like [he] were talking to me.

—— Lorraine Kelly

An exceptional man who’s led an exceptional life…The book is wonderful ... It made me laugh a lot and then it made me quite weepy at times as well

—— Jo Whiley

Now his autobiography is out in paperback and reading it is like having the man himself talk to you from the comfort of his armchair. It’s a fascinating insight into a lost world … A true gent.

—— Sun

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