Westlife have spoken out about absent bandmate Mark Feehily, who will not join them on their 25th anniversary tour due to ongoing health issues. The band, comprising Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan and Shane Filan, are set to kick off the tour this year without Feehily, who has been absent from live performances since 2024.
Kian Egan expressed the group's disappointment, saying: 'We’re devastated he won’t be joining us on this tour. We’ll be missing him every night just as much as the fans will. But he’s given us his full support. This is the 25th anniversary, it's something that we all felt needed to be celebrated. We hope as soon as he’s ready he’ll be back with us and we look forward to that moment.'
Feehily, 45, has faced a series of serious health complications over the past six years, including severe sepsis in August 2020, pneumonia in 2021, and multiple surgeries. He underwent hernia surgery in 2024, which forced him to pull out of the band's first US tour. Despite not performing live, Feehily has contributed vocals to the band's new singles 'Chariot' and 'Your Love Amazes Me'.
During a performance at the Royal Albert Hall last year, Shane Filan dedicated the song 'Flying Without Wings' to Feehily, telling the crowd: 'I want to take a little moment now to speak about Mark who is unfortunately not with us tonight. But we love him, we miss him and we cannot wait to have him back on this stage with us.'
Feehily last addressed fans in a statement detailing his health struggles, including spending months in intensive care during the Covid-19 pandemic. He said: 'It is with the upmost level of regret that I must now temporarily step back from touring.' The band continues to support his recovery and hopes for his return.
