Boyzone star Shane Lynch launches drive to get new super-group Boyz On Block to Edinburgh Castle

No matter what, Boyzone star Shane Lynch is determined to return to the Capital to play Edinburgh Castle one more time. The boyband heart-throb and singer claims he’d love to bring his new 90’s super-group Boyz on Block to the historic venue.

Lynch and his new band mates Abz from 5ive, Ben Ofeudu from Phats and Small and Dane Bowers of Another Level, are currently aiming for a Christmas No 1 with their cover of East 17’s Stay Another Day, featuring Tony Mortimer.

The 44-year-old, who last played the famous landmark in July 2015 is hoping that he and “the lads” can come to Scotland as soon as Covid will allow. He has even recorded a message with two of his band mates to start a campaign to get them to Edinburgh as soon as it is safe to do so.

He says, “I’d love nothing more than to play Edinburgh Castle again, a hundred per cent. When you walk onto that stage... how many backdrops have you played like that?

“For anyone coming, you walk up stunning streets past the stone houses and everything about it is magical. You get into the Castle and you are watching your favourite band on stage and we are watching you.”

He recalls, “I have played the Castle twice with Boyzone and it’s incredible. Anything to do with Scotland is, you just come out to enjoy yourselves for the night. You come to party, and it brings everything to a whole new elevation.”

Lynch’s love affair with Scotland began in 1994 when he first visited with Boyzone for a radio tour, the Smash Hits Roadshow.

He adds, “We were flown here the first time we came so it was great from the start. I’ve got so many good memories of Edinburgh and there’s been a lot of really, really loyal Scottish supporters through the years.”

Shane Lynch

It was at the Smash Hits show that Lynch first got to tour with East 17 after first seeing them in Dublin the year before. He remembers he was impressed by their edgy pop star vibe and as he and the other three members of Boyz on Block gear up for the Christmas charts with their cover of Stay Another Day, which features original East 17 member Mortimer playing piano, he says, “To have Tony Mortimer on board with it is incredible. It’s hard to try and create a new Christmas record and it’s great to listen to songs you know and love to remind ourselves of better times.”

Lynch toured to the Castle twice with Boyzone, one of the most successful boybands ever, first in 2008 and then again in 2015, selling out on both occasions and treating fans to a selection of their biggest hits, including Love me for a Reason, Baby Can I Hold You and, of course, No Matter What.

Between them, the four members of Boyz on Block have amassed ten No 1 chart toppers, they formed the new four-piece earlier this year with a view to embracing everything from hip-hop to R&B.

You can preorder Stay Another Day by Boyz on Block here

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