Ronan Keating is Talentless and Spoiled says Louis Walsh

Louis Walsh: 'Ronan Keating is 'talentless' and 'spoiled'

By Independent.ie reporters
Wednesday Nov 28 2012

X FACTOR judge Louis Walsh has said he believes fame went to Ronan Keating’s head, and that the singer was turned by the celebrity lifestyle.

In an interview with music bible Q magazine, the manager of Boyzone described Keating as ‘talentless’ and ‘spoiled’.

He told the magazine that fame went to Keating’s head, and that the Dubliner began to believe he was a great songwriter.

“His head got turned by having nice hotels and chauffeur-driven cars, and he thought he could write songs,” Louis said.

The talent judge said that Keating began to believe he was a superstar in the league of George Michael and Adele, but he insisted that Keating does not share the talents of the singer-songwriters.

“If you’re Ronan Keating, who was working in a shoe shop when I discovered him, but end of thinking you’re George Michael, then you need to be stopped.”

When asked if he thought Adele should not be a singer-songwriter, Walsh said firmly: “No, that rule is for people who have no talent, like Ronan Keating.”

The music manager formed Boyzone in 1993 as Irish competition to Take That.

The band enjoyed huge success with hits like 'Love Me for a Reason' and 'No Matter What', but split in 2000 when Ronan Keating and Stephen Gately decided to pursue solo careers.

Following Gately’s death in 2009, the band reformed but after slow business on a second tour, Louis Walsh parted company with them saying he was too busy and advised them to split up.

Ronan Keating’s released a solo album 'Fires' in the summer, which failed to ignite. It reached number 13 in the Irish charts in its first week of sale, and figures revealed it sold just 181 copies.

Since then Keating has spent a lot of time in Australia where he is a judge on the Australian X Factor.

- Independent.ie reporters