Record label swap didn't repair internal 'cracks' for Westlife

Disbanded boyband Westlife have revealed that they decided to break-up, after their plan to leave Simon Cowell's label for another record company failed to repair the "cracks" in the band.

November 12, 2011 - London

Disbanded boyband Westlife have revealed that they decided to break-up, after their plan to leave Simon Cowell's label for another record company failed to repair the "cracks" in the band.

The Irish hitmakers had announced earlier that they were going to hang up their boots in 2012 with a greatest hits tour, after being together 14 years.

They insist that the split will be for good and that the move is not a publicity stunt, as they turned down millions to carry on.

On of the group's member Nicky Byrne admitted that the singers knew they had to go their separate ways after leaving Cowell's Syco imprint earlier this year, as the move did not improve relations within the band as they had hoped.

"The cracks had formed and we were trying to patch things up when we left Syco, rather than quitting, The Daily Express quoted Byrne as telling the Daily Record.

"We thought we would try and change everything to see if things improved and it wasn't to be.

"It wasn't one thing just a gradual progression. The amount of pressure to constantly do it at the right level was huge.

"There have been cracks internally for quite a while. Because we were releasing a greatest hits this year and re-negotiating our contract, it felt the right time.

"This was the moment where we manned up and said, 'We've done what we can with Westlife,'" he added.

ANI