In what's being called a random and "tragic" death with no signs of foul play involved, 33-year-old Irish boy band member Stephen Gately died while on vacation in Spain. Gately was a member of the Irish boy band Boyzone who made headlines when he came out as gay a decade ago.Hot Photos
Irish Boy Band Star Dies on Vacation
In what's being called a random and "tragic" death with no signs of foul play involved, 33-year-old Irish boy band member Stephen Gately died while on vacation in Spain. Gately was a member of the Irish boy band Boyzone who made headlines when he came out as gay a decade ago.http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=690937&pid=690936&uts=1255347324
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Stephen Gately, Oct. 10: Boyzone band member Stephen Gately was found dead while on vacation in Spain. There are no signs of any violence or foul play in his death, which is being called a tragic passing due to natural causes.
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Stephen Gately, Oct. 10: Boyzone band member Stephen Gately was found dead while on vacation in Spain. There are no signs of any violence or foul play in his death, which is being called a tragic passing due to natural causes.
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Gerald Kean, a Gately family friend in Ireland, said Sunday the singer died of natural causes, without identifying them.
"There's no foul play involved, and it's not suicide. It's just a tragic accident is what we've been told, and we're happy that
that is correct information," Kean said. "There is nothing untoward. It's not drugs, we don't believe. It's not suicide. It's
not murder. It's not a fight. That's what we've been told."
Kean said an autopsy was expected to be conducted Tuesday.
Gately and his partner Andrew Cowles, who were wed in a civil union in 2006, were in Mallorca together, the band's statement
said.
"At present we don't have too many details," the statement said. Members of the group were expected to arrive at Palma de
Mallorca international airport Sunday afternoon.
Spanish police said they were called to a house near Port d'Andratx on the western tip of the island on Saturday afternoon.
The cause of death was unknown and there were no signs of violence, a police spokesman said, on condition of anonymity in keeping with police rules. He said there was likely to be an autopsy.
The house, situated on an exclusive tree-lined seafront street, overlooks a rocky bay reputed to have some of the best sunset views on Spain's favorite holiday island.
By midday Sunday journalists had begun to gather outside the quiet, seaside building with several vacation apartments.
Boyzone members Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham and Shane Lynch said they were "completely devastated by the loss of our friend and brother, Stephen."
"We have shared such wonderful times together over the years and were all looking forward to sharing many more. Stephen was a beautiful person in both body and spirit. He lit up our lives and those of the many friends he had all over the world. Our love and sympathy go out to Andrew and Stephen's family. We love you and will miss you forever, 'Steo'," their statement said.
Boyzone was a U.K. hitmaker in the 1990s and announced a comeback tour at the end of last year. Gately also had released several solo singles and appeared in stage musicals, including "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."
He revealed his sexual orientation to a British newspaper in 1999.
Elton John said Sunday that he and his partner, David Furnish, were "stunned by this tragedy."
"Stephen was the kindest, gentlest soul. We send our love and condolences to his partner Andy and to all his friends
everywhere," John said in a statement.
Boyzone was one of the biggest acts to come out of Ireland in the 1990s. Former Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said Gately's death was "a huge tragedy to Irish entertainment, Irish music and further afield as well."
"Boyzone and Stephen, they've all been part of Irish life and far wider than that, the last 15 years, and so successful, so it's
a huge, huge tragedy. It's so sad," Ahern said.
Boyzone sold millions of records and topped the British charts with six No. 1 singles during the 1990s, including "All That I
Need" and a cover of the Bee Gees' "Words."
The group was formed in 1993 by impresario Louis Walsh, who placed an ad in the press announcing auditions for Ireland's first boy band. Among the unsuccessful hopefuls was actor Colin Farrell.
Associated Press writers Harold Heckle in Madrid and Jill Lawless in London contributed to this story.
2009 AOL LLC. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
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(43)Add a comment
Monday 12 October
By B
Quite possibly or heart failure (a natural cause)precipitated by drug abuse. I remember when AIDS deaths were publicly listed as a cancer death. Now I suppose they call it natural causes these days. That's natural?
Reply
Monday 12 October
By Lucy
I knew before I looked at the comments someone would say drugs.
I guess if you are young and die its just assumed especially if you are famous and have money. You can also rely on the people who did not accomplish much in their life to think like this. You and others just proved my point.
Monday 12 October
By timmy
WOW! what a shock! seriously! stephen had a BEAUTIFUL voice and boyzone were pretty effing awesome. oh and to the ignorant piece of crap who says its probably brought on by a drug overdose or by AIDS.. youre a jackass. if it was, then fine.. but until someone makes a public statement, keep your ignorance to yourself.
Reply
Monday 12 October
By Timmy!
WOW! what a shock! seriously! stephen had a BEAUTIFUL voice and boyzone were pretty effing awesome. oh and to the ignorant piece of crap who says its probably brought on by a drug overdose or by AIDS.. youre a jackass. if it was, then fine.. but until someone makes a public statement, keep your ignorance to yourself.
Reply
Monday 12 October
By watdafuk
In a boy band, and gay ? Wow that like almost never happens.
Reply
Tuesday 13 October
By MRSKI
FUNNY HOW THE IRISH PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT THE " LUCK OF THE IRISH" EVEN FUNNIER IS EVERY IRISH GIRL IVE EVER DATED ALWAYS LAFFED ABOUT THIER EX IRISH BOYFRIENDS AND ALL JOKED ABOUT THE "CURSE OF THE IRISH INCH "
Reply
Monday 12 October
By Donna DiFrancesco
Why no Patrick Swazye? He had a hit song from Dirty Dancing!
Reply
Monday 12 October
By bray1980b
They said it was possibly due to excessive fluid in his lungs. He possibly had a few too many drinks that night. It's a tragic event for anyone to be taken before their natural time of death. However, we must remember that death is only the beginning.
Reply
Monday 12 October
By SpiceMonkey
Sounds like another white-boy Irish closet junkie takes the pipe. When will the Irish learn to handle their heroin?
Reply
Monday 12 October
By SpiceMonkey
Hmmmm... a "boy band" member, at age 33? What's wrong with THIS picture?
Reply
Monday 12 October
By Timmy!
If it was excessive fluid in his lungs, my brother had the same thing except his turned out to be double pneumonia. He had what he thought was a cold and never went to the doctor to check it out. His lungs were twice the size that they should have been. The fluid build up is what killed him
Reply
Monday 12 October
By parrotmalito
ANOTHER CRACK/COCAINE/HEROINE USER IS GONE...!
Reply
Monday 12 October
By laughin
to much peter in his meter
Reply
Monday 12 October
By michael dean
I never seen such Vultures that have it all figured out how he died. The way you talk you was right there with him and know everything,,you don't know crap. Give it some time and they will know how he died. You fools don't know nothing.
Reply
Monday 12 October
By The One
Tragic accident, huh no. It's called AIDS!!!
Reply
Monday 12 October
By sjw
Age 33 and died of "natural causes"? Like I believe that!
Reply
Monday 12 October
By Houston Man
Sheesh!!! What a lot of stupid junk (equating being gay with AIDS). Where have you been the past 25 years? There are ways to control AIDS now that didn't exist way back when. Most people that die of AIDS now are those that: (1) have lots of unprotected sex either hetero or homo, (2) have no access to healthcare or (3) abuse themselves with drugs or alcohol. AIDS really no longer has THAT much to do with sexual PREFERENCE!
Reply
Monday 12 October
By Bee
Brings back memories from my childhood. I used to listen to Boyzone. Sad to see him go so soon.
Reply
Monday 12 October
By Pahua1
People dont die of natural causes at 33.
Reply
Monday 12 October
By Richard Grant
I am amazed at the stupidity exhibited here. I have worked at a Level one Trauma center for 18 years. You can not imagine the number of young people I have taken care of that have died of natural causes.It happens all the time. you young ignorant asses had better wake up. you can die at any time just like the rest of us.