Ronan Keating has opened up about his mental health struggles and the ‘toxic’ environment he experienced in Boyzone during their 2019 world tour where things ‘fell apart’
Ronan Keating opened up about his anxiety (Image: Getty Images)
Singer Ronan Keating has opened up about his mental health struggles following Boyzone’s last tour in 2019, describing his relationship with his bandmates as “toxic”. The startling admission came as he discussed the band’s upcoming final farewell show at the Emirates Stadium.
While on the Chris Evans Breakfast Show, Ronan reflected: “Well look, go back to 2019 when we finished our last world tour, we went everywhere, it was ridiculous, and it was a huge success but by the end of it, the last international show was in Japan, and I remember in Tokyo and Osaka, it all fell apart.
“Everything just fell apart. Everything just felt like, ‘I can’t be here anymore.’ That’s what it felt like to me, I don’t want to be part of this because it wasn’t a nice environment. I never thought we were going to get back together after that. I thought that was it.”
Despite his struggles, he was convinced to participate in a highly successful documentary with his bandmates, titled No Matter What, which led to proposals for a farewell tour.
However, recalling how his health deteriorated during the previous tour, Ronan said: “A string of dates were on the table, lots and lots of shows across the country, and I have to say my anxiety went through the roof.
Mikey Graham, Ronan Keating, Stephen Gately (1976 – 2009), Keith Duffy and Shane Lynch pictured in 1995(Image: Getty Images)
“I thought, ‘I can’t do this… I can’t. I can’t.’ I love these guys, but you know, I think when we are all together, in that environment, it can be a very toxic place, after a while it can be hard for us to be in it.”
Ronan and his fellow Boyzone bandmates, Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Shane Lynch and the late Stephen Gately, shot to stardom in 1993 with the group shifting millions of records in the UK alone.
When questioned about whether it truly remained “toxic” in 2019, Ronan acknowledged: “Yeah, it’s a thing you know, fame, all of it, there’s triggers you know, and you don’t even realise but it just takes you back to being 17.
“Well for me, being 17 years of age again and my anxieties and like Duster (Keith) says, imposter syndrome and all these things again and my anxiety goes through the roof. “So I thought, ‘I don’t know if I can do this lads.'”
Nevertheless, following the documentary’s release, Ed Sheeran reached out to Ronan, urging him to hit the road with Boyzone for one final tour.
Ronan and his wife Stormy pictured earlier this month in Melbourne (Image: Getty Images for NGV)
This ultimately resulted in the reveal of the One For The Road reunion at the Emirates where Boyzone will perform two gigs in June 2026.
Whilst Ronan was opening up on Virgin Radio, Keith Duffy and Shane Lynch joined him, with the former reflecting on his “toxic” remarks.
Keith disclosed: “In the documentary, Ronan was explaining what he just explained, about how he felt in Japan at the end of the last tour. And I didn’t know he felt like that. I’m very disappointed in myself as part of the group where we allowed ourselves to get to a point where Ronan felt it was toxic. It didn’t feel toxic to me, you know what I mean, at the time.”
He went on to explain that he and Shane had lesser roles in the band, which initially gained popularity due to the vocal talents of Ronan and the late Stephen Gately.
Keith further commented that Ronan was a “thorough professional” who put in more effort than anyone else in the group.
The entertainer, who later formed BoyzLife with Brian McFadden, mentioned that the pressure wasn’t as intense for him during the tour, before Chris described it as a “beautiful thing to say”.
In response, Keith stated: “Well I am always honest, if it is against myself so be it. We (himself and Shane) loved the party, we loved the good time. We are on tour, we are in Japan, we are having a good time.
“Looking back, I can see Ronan looking at us going, you know, I don’t want to curse but I can imagine what he might have been thinking, and I can understand the workload, the travel, missing our families, being on tour is not always great, you do get homesick and you do miss the finer things in life.
“At the same time we are very blessed to be put in the position we are in to be successful and have fans on the other side of the world that want to see us.
“I hate the word toxic, I really do, but I can understand it.”
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