Boyzone singer Stephen Gately, who was holidaying in Majorca, Spain, with civil partner Andrew Cowles, has died. He was 33.
The star’s death was confirmed by the band in a post on their official website. “Stephen tragically died yesterday (Saturday) whilst on holiday with his partner Andrew in Majorca. The rest of the boyz will be flying out today,” a statement on the website said.
Details about the Irish singer’s death are not immediately known, but reports suggest he died in his sleep after returning from a night out.
Spanish police were called to a house near Port d’Andratx on the western tip of the island on Saturday afternoon. “At the moment, it is not known how he died. There are no signs of suspicious circumstances,” a police spokesman said.
The singer’s band members are “devastated” by the news. “Ronan, Keith, Mikey and Shane are devastated by the news and send their deepest sympathies to Stephen’s family and his many friends all over the world,” the statement on the website said.
“We’re all absolutely devastated. I’m in complete shock. I was with him on Monday at an awards ceremony. We don’t know much about what’s happened yet...He was a great man,” Boyzone manager Louis Walsh said.
The four other members of the U.K.-based boy band — Ronan Keating, Mikey Graham, Shane Lynch and Keith Duffy — were expected to fly out to Palma, Majorca, later on Sunday, it was reported.
Gately, who was born in Ireland, joined the band in 1993 and enjoyed a run of hits in the 1990s. The band split in 2000 after chalking up 17 Top-10 singles and four number 1 hit albums, but reunited in 2007.
The singer grabbed headlines in 1999 when he publicly announced that he was gay. He later married businessman Andrew Cowles in a civil partnership ceremony in London.
