Happy to be back in the Boyzone bubble

The Irish boyband have had two decades of the highest highs and the most heartbreaking lows.

But as Boyzone hit Scotland for their 20th Anniversary Tour, Shane Lynch admits the time has passed in a flash.

“Forget 20 years, it’s the blink of an eye,” enthuses Shane. “It’s as if we just woke up from a world tour yesterday.

“We have our own little language, our own understanding. The relationship we have is beyond friendship. There’s a loving moment in every respect.

“We know who we are, what we’re about and what it’s given us. We go into this world of Boyzone, a little bubble.”

Shane, Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy and Mikey Graham embarked on the tour just over a week back.

They’re at Aberdeen on tonight (Thursday 12th), Newcastle on Saturday and then play the new Hydro in Glasgow on Sunday.

They are riding on the crest of a wave with their album BZ20, out at the end of last month, part of a new four-album deal.

Over the past 20 years they’ve sold more than 25 million albums and become global stars. But they suffered terrible tragedy with the death of band member Stephen Gately back in 2009.

Although they subsequently toured, they’ve admitted it was a painful, troubled time.

Now, though, they are taking to the road in happier, more settled times. And despite the closeness on tour or recording, Shane has admitted he needs to take to the road himself at times to keep in touch.

“We stay in touch as much as we possibly can,” says the affable 37-year-old. I don’t see Ronan and Keith that much because of different commitments but we get together when we’re in the same place.

“Mikey doesn’t like to come out of Ireland too often. So I’ve got to go and ring his doorbell when I go over there.

“I’ve become a travelling man to go and see the boys.”

Shane, who did commendably well in this year’s Celebrity MasterChef, says he’s needed to find the kicks he hasn’t had from performing in front of 10,000 fans somewhere else.

That’s largely been through the motorsport of drift racing, including sessions at Knockhill in Fife. But he’s planning for more music.

“Hopefully there will now be a rolling succession of tours,” he adds