Boyzone star Mikey Graham failed to appear with his bandmates at the Emirates Stadium for much of their reunion show and his absence left me with mixed feelings, says Lynn Carratt
Boyzone played the Emirates Stadium on Friday but one member was missing when they arrived ons tage(Image: PA)
When Boyzone announced their Two for the Road reunion shows at London’s Emirates Stadium, I couldn’t wait. As a lifelong fan, I’ve seen the band countless times over the years. I was even lucky enough to be at what was billed as their final-ever show at the London Palladium in 2019. That night felt like the perfect goodbye, emotional, nostalgic and complete.
So when this reunion was announced, I was genuinely excited. There was also a personal connection. A few years ago, I worked with Keith Duffy and Brian McFadden on the PR for a Boyzlife tour through the brilliant team at Hush PR. Seeing Keith back on stage brought back memories of that time, while Brian remains one of the most talented singers to come out of the boyband era.
Like many fans, I’d also watched the recent Boyzone Sky documentary. It was heartbreaking in places, particularly hearing Mikey Graham talk about his struggles and his experience of being in the band. More than anything, it left me hoping this reunion would be a celebration of all four surviving members standing together.
That’s why the opening moments of the concert took me by surprise. As the music began and the crowd erupted, I was in tears almost immediately. The nostalgia hit me harder than I expected. But as I looked towards the stage, something felt wrong.
There were only three members there. Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy and Shane Lynch walked out to deafening cheers, but Mikey was nowhere to be seen.
I remember looking around and wondering if I’d somehow missed something. After all, I’d bought a ticket expecting to see the four remaining members reunited.
When Mikey eventually appeared singing Words, the reaction from the crowd was huge. It was genuinely lovely to see him back alongside the others and, from where I was sitting, there seemed to be a real effort from Ronan in particular to stay close to him.
Throughout the three songs Mikey performed and the encore, Ronan often positioned himself by his side, checking in with him and making sure he was included in the moment. Whether it was intentional or not, it came across as protective and caring, and it was actually one of the most touching parts of the night.
Judging by the conversations around me and the reaction online afterwards, I wasn’t the only one left confused. More than anything, fans seemed concerned. Many simply hoped he was okay and wished he’d played a bigger role throughout the evening.
That’s not to take anything away from Ronan 49, Keith 51, and Shane 49. The three of them were outstanding. The years seem to have barely touched them. Their energy was infectious, their vocals were strong and they still have that chemistry that made Boyzone one of the biggest bands in the world. Watching them perform reminded everyone exactly why they sold millions of records and soundtracked so many lives.
Then came the Stephen Gately tribute. Now, Stephen was my favourite member of Boyzone, so I absolutely wanted him to be remembered.
The band wore red – his favourite colour – and paid tribute to their late bandmate in what started as a touching celebration of his life and legacy. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
But the segment soon became something much bigger. Names of loved ones submitted by fans appeared on screens around the stadium. The Lord’s Prayer was recited. Other people the band had lost over the years were remembered. It was undeniably moving. In fact, there were people around me openly crying. But it also shifted the mood dramatically.
For a period of time, the concert stopped feeling like a reunion and began to feel more like a memorial service. While the emotion was genuine and heartfelt, it left the atmosphere noticeably subdued. Then there was another unexpected moment. The concert closed with Life Is A Rollercoaster.
It’s a fantastic song and one of Ronan’s biggest hits, but it’s also a Ronan Keating solo track rather than a Boyzone song. For a reunion concert celebrating Boyzone’s incredible catalogue, it felt like a slightly unusual choice for the grand finale.
The surprises didn’t end there. Towards the end of the night, Keith was joined on stage by Brian McFadden for a Boyzlife performance of their single Chills.
As someone who previously worked with the pair during the Boyzlife tour, I enjoyed seeing them back together. Brian’s voice remains exceptional and the chemistry between the two is obvious.
But if I’m being completely honest, part of me couldn’t help thinking that fans had paid to see Boyzone. On a night when many people were already wondering why Mikey wasn’t on stage more often, it felt like another moment where the focus drifted elsewhere.
Afterwards, social media was full of debate. Some fans absolutely loved the show. Others questioned Mikey’s limited involvement. Many echoed my own mixed feelings and worries.
What united almost everyone was their affection for Mikey. The reaction online wasn’t anger, it was concern. Fans simply wanted to see him involved and looking happy.
There were also discussions about ticket sales, with some fans revealing they had secured heavily discounted tickets through Blue Light promotions for NHS staff and emergency service workers – something I actually think deserves praise.
Despite some empty seats, the fans who were there sang every word. And that’s what I’ll remember most.
The screams when the band walked on stage. The tears during Words. Seeing Ronan quietly stick close to Mikey. The emotion of remembering Stephen. The nostalgia of hearing songs that defined an entire generation. I’m genuinely glad I went.
There were moments that made me cry, moments that made me smile and moments that transported me straight back to my teenage years.
But as I walked out of the Emirates Stadium, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d witnessed a reunion that wasn’t quite the reunion many of us thought we were getting.
For all its emotion and nostalgia, Boyzone’s 2019 farewell tour still feels like the band’s perfect ending. And perhaps that’s why, despite everything I loved about this show, I left with more questions than answers.
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