The Irish foursome – one of the most successful boy bands of all time - announced tonight their forthcoming tour and greatest hits album will be their last.
They will say farewell to fans on the already-announced Greatest Hits Tour, which kicks off in May next year.
The news will bring an end to a record-breaking career, which has seen the group – Nicky Byrne, 33, Kian Egan, 31, Mark Feehily, 31, and Shane Filan, 32 - sell more than 44million records.
Tonight the band thanked their fans and said their brilliant career had been "a dream come true for all of us".
In an official statement, the band said: "We today announce our plan to go our separate ways after a greatest hits collection this Christmas and a farewell tour next year.
"The decision is entirely amicable and after spending all of our adult life together so far, we want to have a well-earned break and look at new ventures."
A source close to the band said: "This is it – the greatest hits album and the tour are their way of giving thanks to their loyal fanbase and saying cheerio.
"There's no bad blood in the band, they're still great pals. But all good things come to an end and they are all keen to do their own thing.
"It's not something they have done lightly as they are still at the top of their game.
"They could carry on making albums into their old age the way their career has gone, but none of them want to do that.
"They're all loaded and don't need the money. It's quality time they're after and focus to do their own things."
The final tour will showcase the 14 number one hits, such as Flying Without Wings they have clocked up since they launched as a five-piece in 1998.
After that the four, who are estimated to be worth £10million each, will go their separate ways and have all planned new ventures to keep them busy.
Shane is planning to embark on a solo career and is already understood to have written some songs.
Mark is also planning to stay in the music business and wants to write songs.
Nicky has his heart set on being a radio DJ and Kian is planning to take on more TV opportunities.
He is already lined up as a judge for the Irish version of new singing talent show The Voice
The source added: "There is a huge amount of love for the Westlife boys – especially in their homeland of Ireland – so they won't be short of offers."
Signs that the end of the band were coming appeared in March when they split with label boss Simon Cowell after 13 years and signed a one year deal with RCA Records for their Greatest Hits album.
At the time, Nicky blamed Simon's obsession with the X Factor for their decision to leave his BMG label.
He said of the split: "We signed to Simon back in 1998 and he was brilliant, but then came the development of X Factor and American Idol.
"Simon became famous himself and his interests went that way rather than on Westlife.
"We almost felt a little bit unloved with Simon Cowell, if I was to be honest."
And only last week Nicky became misty-eyed when talking about the band's longevity, saying: "It's hard to imagine that we have been together for this long really.
"Having a Greatest Hits on the shelves is a proud moment for us and those songs bring back such great memories."
Rumours abounded recently that former original member Brian Mcfadden was plotting a return to his old band for a TV special this Christmas, which will see them sing songs from their back catalogue.
But Kian denied this, saying: "All the rumours about Brian rejoining Westlife are untrue. We have been a four piece for too long now. We love Brian but it's not going to be. That includes any TV performances."
Source: The Sun, so it must be true
Complete statement from the band
Westlife break up:
Full statement
IN a statement announcing the split tonight Kian, Mark, Nicky and Shane said: "After 14 years, 26 top ten hits including 14 number one singles, 11 top five albums, seven of which hit the top spot and have collectively sold over 44million copies around the world, ten sell out tours and countless memories that we will forever cherish, we today announce our plan to go our separate ways after a greatest hits collection this Christmas and a farewell tour next year.
"The decision is entirely amicable and after spending all of our adult life together so far, we want to have a well-earned break and look at new ventures.
"We see the greatest hits collection and the farewell tour as the perfect way to celebrate our incredible career along with our fans. We are really looking forward to getting out on the tour and seeing our fans one last time.
"Over the years Westlife has become so much more to us than just a band. Westlife are a family. We would like to thank our fans who have been with us on this amazing journey and are part of our family too.
"We never imagined when we started out in 1998 that 14 years later we would still be recording, touring and having hits together. It has been a dream come true for all of us."
Kian, Mark, Nicky and Shane
They will say farewell to fans on the already-announced Greatest Hits Tour, which kicks off in May next year.
The news will bring an end to a record-breaking career, which has seen the group – Nicky Byrne, 33, Kian Egan, 31, Mark Feehily, 31, and Shane Filan, 32 - sell more than 44million records.
Tonight the band thanked their fans and said their brilliant career had been "a dream come true for all of us".
In an official statement, the band said: "We today announce our plan to go our separate ways after a greatest hits collection this Christmas and a farewell tour next year.
"The decision is entirely amicable and after spending all of our adult life together so far, we want to have a well-earned break and look at new ventures."
A source close to the band said: "This is it – the greatest hits album and the tour are their way of giving thanks to their loyal fanbase and saying cheerio.
"There's no bad blood in the band, they're still great pals. But all good things come to an end and they are all keen to do their own thing.
"It's not something they have done lightly as they are still at the top of their game.
"They could carry on making albums into their old age the way their career has gone, but none of them want to do that.
"They're all loaded and don't need the money. It's quality time they're after and focus to do their own things."
The final tour will showcase the 14 number one hits, such as Flying Without Wings they have clocked up since they launched as a five-piece in 1998.
After that the four, who are estimated to be worth £10million each, will go their separate ways and have all planned new ventures to keep them busy.
Shane is planning to embark on a solo career and is already understood to have written some songs.
Mark is also planning to stay in the music business and wants to write songs.
Nicky has his heart set on being a radio DJ and Kian is planning to take on more TV opportunities.
He is already lined up as a judge for the Irish version of new singing talent show The Voice
The source added: "There is a huge amount of love for the Westlife boys – especially in their homeland of Ireland – so they won't be short of offers."
Signs that the end of the band were coming appeared in March when they split with label boss Simon Cowell after 13 years and signed a one year deal with RCA Records for their Greatest Hits album.
At the time, Nicky blamed Simon's obsession with the X Factor for their decision to leave his BMG label.
He said of the split: "We signed to Simon back in 1998 and he was brilliant, but then came the development of X Factor and American Idol.
"Simon became famous himself and his interests went that way rather than on Westlife.
"We almost felt a little bit unloved with Simon Cowell, if I was to be honest."
And only last week Nicky became misty-eyed when talking about the band's longevity, saying: "It's hard to imagine that we have been together for this long really.
"Having a Greatest Hits on the shelves is a proud moment for us and those songs bring back such great memories."
Rumours abounded recently that former original member Brian Mcfadden was plotting a return to his old band for a TV special this Christmas, which will see them sing songs from their back catalogue.
But Kian denied this, saying: "All the rumours about Brian rejoining Westlife are untrue. We have been a four piece for too long now. We love Brian but it's not going to be. That includes any TV performances."
Source: The Sun, so it must be true
Complete statement from the band
Westlife break up:
Full statement
IN a statement announcing the split tonight Kian, Mark, Nicky and Shane said: "After 14 years, 26 top ten hits including 14 number one singles, 11 top five albums, seven of which hit the top spot and have collectively sold over 44million copies around the world, ten sell out tours and countless memories that we will forever cherish, we today announce our plan to go our separate ways after a greatest hits collection this Christmas and a farewell tour next year.
"The decision is entirely amicable and after spending all of our adult life together so far, we want to have a well-earned break and look at new ventures.
"We see the greatest hits collection and the farewell tour as the perfect way to celebrate our incredible career along with our fans. We are really looking forward to getting out on the tour and seeing our fans one last time.
"Over the years Westlife has become so much more to us than just a band. Westlife are a family. We would like to thank our fans who have been with us on this amazing journey and are part of our family too.
"We never imagined when we started out in 1998 that 14 years later we would still be recording, touring and having hits together. It has been a dream come true for all of us."
Kian, Mark, Nicky and Shane
