Biography
Bellefire became the first girl group taken on by boy band manager Louis Walsh, rising swiftly as one of Ireland’s leading pop acts during their brief peak. Kelly Kilfeather joined forces with sisters Ciara Newell and Cathy Newell after the three crossed paths backstage at an audition Walsh had arranged for a mixed boy/girl band under his Boyzone and Westlife guidance. Finding none of the male candidates suitable, Walsh opted instead to launch his inaugural girl band and brought in singer Tara Lee, already known to him, to complete the lineup alongside the trio. Initially called Chit Chat, the quartet secured a Virgin Records deal following a support appearance on Boyzone’s European tour. Their opening singles, “Perfect Bliss” and a cover of U2’s “All I Want Is You,” each landed inside the U.K. Top 20 and the Irish Top Three. Mere weeks before the scheduled release of debut album After the Rain, however, Virgin dropped the act, prompting Tara Lee’s departure for a television career. In 2004 the remaining members signed with WEA Records and relocated to London to track a follow-up project. Return single “Say Something Anyway” extended their streak of Top Five hits, after which the group toured the Far East, where their Irish-ballad renditions of Japanese punk tracks had built a devoted audience. When “Spin the Wheel” underperformed on both the U.K. and Irish charts, the band parted ways with the label and the album bearing that title remained unreleased. Following the split, Ciara supplied backing vocals on Lee Ryan’s debut album, Cathy served as a judge on the television program Star Stream Final, and Kelly turned to solo work.