Stephen Gately

As a vocalist with the pop quintet Boyzone, Stephen Gately attained widespread recognition throughout the 1990s, during which the ensemble reached the summit of charts across numerous European nations. He took lead vocal duties on a substantial share of the group’s singles, positioning him among Boyzone’s most prominent figures. In June 1999 he further distinguished himself by becoming the first openly gay member of any boy band, disclosing his sexuality through a British tabloid.

Gately, born in 1976 and raised in Dublin’s working-class Sheriff Street district, first performed in school productions before entering Boyzone in 1993. The ensemble fashioned its style on Take That, whose 1996 breakup cleared the path for Boyzone to assume the role of Europe’s leading boy band. Over the ensuing five years the act delivered a sustained run of hits throughout England, Ireland, and additional territories, though U.S. listeners never matched the enthusiasm shown by European audiences. Tensions inside the group reached a breaking point several months after Gately’s public announcement, prompting the members to disband.

Following the example of former bandmate Ronan Keating, Gately issued a well-received solo album, New Beginning, which entered the U.K. Top Ten while its title track climbed to number three. Polydor removed him from its roster the following year, and he remained outside the mainstream until 2008, when a reunited Boyzone reappeared on the British charts with two new singles. The group then mounted a 29-city tour and scheduled a fresh album for 2010, hoping to regain its earlier stature in the manner of the reunited Take That. During a pause in recording sessions while residing in Spain, Gately died suddenly from acute pulmonary edema.