Westlife Members: Current Lineup, Original 5, and Brian McFadden

Few Irish boy bands still spark the kind of genuine curiosity that Westlife does. For fans who followed them from the late 90s, the lineup—and the one notable departure—has always been a quiet puzzle. This guide clears up exactly who was in the original five, who left, and how the remaining four have held steady for two decades. You’ll also get a closer look at the personal stories behind the members’ names.

Current Members: 4 ·
Original Members: 5 ·
Year Formed: 1998 ·
Member Who Left: Brian McFadden (2004)

Five members, two decades, one departure—here’s how the Westlife lineup breaks down by the numbers.

The implication: Westlife’s lineup story hinges on a single exit, leaving a stable quartet that has outlasted most pop groups.

Are Westlife only 3 members now?

Current Westlife lineup

• The group currently has 4 members: Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan, Kian Egan, and Mark Feehily (Instagram (Westlife official)).
• They have performed as a quartet since 2004 and continue to tour and record together (Wikipedia).

The misconception about 3 members

• Some fans mistakenly think Westlife now has only three members. This likely stems from confusion over Brian McFadden’s departure from the original five (RTÉ).
• Brian left in March 2004, but the remaining four have never reduced further (Reddit community).

Who is the missing member of Westlife?

Brian McFadden’s role in Westlife

• The “missing” member is Brian McFadden, who was a lead vocalist in the original five (Getty Images (stock photography)).
• McFadden’s departure left a gap that the band never filled—they continued as four (Westlife Wiki (fandom)).

Reasons for his departure

• McFadden said he made a “very selfish decision” when he left in 2004, wanting to spend more time with his family and pursue a solo career (RTÉ (Irish public broadcaster)).
• He later reflected publicly on the decision in a 2024 interview with RTÉ, calling it a move that had consequences for the remaining members (RTÉ).

Was there 5 members in Westlife?

The original five

• Yes, Westlife originally formed in 1998 with five members: Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, and Brian McFadden (Wikipedia).
• The five recorded early hits like “Swear It Again” before McFadden’s exit (YouTube (fan retrospective)).

How Westlife formed

• The group was put together by manager Louis Walsh, who auditioned singers in Sligo and Dublin (Wikipedia).
• Their debut album sold millions worldwide, establishing them as one of Ireland’s biggest exports (RTÉ).

The pattern: five members launched the group’s success, but the structure changed early and decisively.

Who has left Westlife?

Brian McFadden’s exit

• Only one member has ever left Westlife: Brian McFadden, who departed in March 2004 (RTÉ).
• McFadden announced his decision after five years with the band, citing family and solo ambitions (YouTube).

No other departures

• No other member has left the group. Nicky, Shane, Kian, and Mark have stayed together continuously since 2004 (Instagram (fan account)).
• The quartet took a hiatus from 2012 to 2018 but never broke up (Wikipedia).

How did Shane Filan lose his money?

Shane Filan’s property investments

• Shane Filan invested heavily in Irish property before the 2008 financial crash (Wikipedia).
• When the Irish housing market collapsed, his investments turned into huge debts (RTÉ).

Bankruptcy filing in 2012

• He filed for bankruptcy in 2012, with debts reportedly exceeding £20 million (Wikipedia).
• The bankruptcy was a public and financial low point for the singer (Facebook (fan page)).

Financial recovery

• Shane has since rebuilt his finances, largely thanks to Westlife’s reunion tours and new music (Wikipedia).
• He now speaks openly about the experience and advises against risky property speculation (RTÉ).

“I made a very selfish decision.”

Brian McFadden, in a 2024 interview with RTÉ (Irish public broadcaster)

“Continuing our journey as four.”

Westlife’s official Instagram account, in a 2025 post referencing the lineup (Instagram)

For Westlife fans, the lineup puzzle is simple: five became four in 2004, and that quartet has held. The implication for anyone wondering “who’s in Westlife now?” is clear: you get the same four voices that have powered the band for two decades, or you accept the original five as history.

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