Liberty X! Pop stars back together for Big Reunion

Liberty X have reformed for a new ITV2 show, inviting Reveal Magazine to an exclusive shoot seven years after their pop heyday.

The band members of Michelle Heaton, Jessica Taylor, Kelli Young, Tony Lundon and Kevin Simm first formed in 2001, after coming second to Hear’Say on Popstars, and went on to bag a BRIT award, not to mention become our guilty pleasure on the dancefloor.

Seven years after their split and they’re back, and looking better than ever..

So, how does it feel? Jessica, who’s now married to England cricket player Kevin Pietersen and has a two-year-old son called Dylan, says: “With Liberty X the first time around, we were so busy working that we couldn’t take stock of how brilliant the experience was.

“We felt grateful, but never had a proper chance to fully appreciate it.”

She adds: “Getting back together for this has been great, we’ve been doing lots of reminiscing. I remember once, we were at a festival in Italy and shared the stage with Oasis and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. I was a huge Oasis fan growing up, so it was a proper pinch me moment.”

Kelli adds: “The only bad thing about Liberty X was how tired we were, because we worked so hard. But now I’ve got twins, so I’m still not getting much sleep!
“But we were so lucky, we got to travel the world, see some amazing things, and we genuinely got on really well together.”
Read more on Jessica and Kelli, as well as chats with Michelle and the boys, in issue 26Jan-1 Feb Reveal magazine.

More EXCLUSIVE unpublished hi-res images can be found on our website scopefeatures.com

Frankie Cocozza scrubs up his act

X FACTOR wild child Frankie Cocozza scrubs up well in a suit – and reveals that he decided to clean up his act after the death of his best pal.
The unruly star was snapped on boozy nights out and confessed to having strings of one night stands.
But the 18-year-old is now in the process of turning his life around after the tragic death of his best friend Connor Saunders who suffered from head injuries on a night out.
Speaking to Reveal magazine, Frankie said: “After he died, I went mental. I blew £28,000 in one month buying bottles upon bottles of booze for my mates.
“We were all in a bad way and didn’t know how else to deal with it.
“Four weeks later my Auntie Toni – who looks after my finances – told me my bank statement was just a list of clubs.
“I’d spent £4,000 a night, and she asked: ‘What are you doing to yourself?’
“I realised I’d end up on the dole if I didn’t sort it out.
“All Connor ever wanted for me was to focus on my music. He was the only one I confided in before X Factor, and he came to my first audition with me. I want to turn things around and make him proud.”
A pep talk from his X Factor mentor Gary Barlow also encouraged him to change his ways.
Frankie said: “He came round for a cup of tea and told me to focus on the music.”
As well as chopping off his mop of hair, Frankie now spends his time working on his music instead of drinking.
“I’m lucky,’ he said. “I’ve got another chance to do what I want.”
See the full interview, pictures and video of Frankie’s new look at reveal.co.uk

For more pictures go to our website scopefeatures.com

Boyzone’s Ronan Keating and wife Yvonne end 14-year marriage

Ronan Keating and wife Yvonne have ended their 14-year marriage, it was claimed today.  The Boyzone star, 35, failed to get his relationship back on track after his extramarital affair with Francine Cornell was revealed in 2010. Yvonne, 37, had tried for the last two-and-a-half years to work through her husband’s infidelity, but the strain proved too much for the pair.  According to reports the couple had mainly tried to save their marriage for their children but their efforts were in vain.

A representative for Mr Keating said: ‘There is no comment on this.’  A close friend told The Sun newspaper: ‘Although Ronan and Yvonne couldn’t patch things up, they are both determined to be there for their kids.  ‘They still love each other and wanted to tell their children and then their friends first, before everyone found out.’  Ronan’s affair with dancer Francine Cornell happened began during a tour and continued for around seven months.  Yvonne discovered her husband had a secret second phone and decided to go through the messages.  There she found intimate correspondence between the father-of-three and the then 26-year-old Cornell.  Yvonne reportedly rang Francine after she found the texts, only to be told by the dancer ‘We’re in love’.  Heartbroken Yvonne then confronted Ronan who admitted the affair.

A source said at the time: ‘There were some quite suggestive texts that left little to the imagination. Yvonne went ballistic and told him it was over there and then.’   According to sources, Ronan and Cornell’s blossoming friendship was the ‘talk of the tour’.  The pair met on Boyzone’s tour in May and June 2009. ‘Ronan and the girl were certainly very close,’ one source said.

And while the singer’s infidelity shocked fans, one former colleague said the singer is simply getting an overdue ‘comeuppance’.

‘Throughout his career he has always cast himself in an angelic light.   But the truth has been far murkier,’ they said.’As far as Ronan’s concerned the only person that matters is Ronan.  ‘This is the first time he has been caught out with another woman but there has been talk about his private life for years. Women have always thrown themselves at him.’  They added: ‘Now you have to wonder whether he always resisted their charms.’

After begging for forgiveness, Ronan was let back into the family home with his children Jack, 13, Missy, 11 and Ali, 6.  However, with his work commitments on Australian Idol, it was difficult for the relationship to survive.

For more pictures go to our website scopefeatures.com

 

 

X Factor star Jade Richards lands Barrowlands gig – 2011

Scottish singing sensation Jade Richards is set to delight fans with an X-tra special performance at the iconic Barrowlands in Glasgow next week.

Fresh from making it to Judges’ Houses on The X Factor, the 21 year old from Fife has been snapped up by East Kilbride charity SAVI (Sexual Assault Victims Initiative) to perform at SAVI-FEST, on Friday October 21.
Fans were devastated when Kelly Rowland failed to put Jade through to the live shows, but they can now watch her perform in aid of a good cause.
Annmarie Campbell, who founded SAVI-FEST with husband Douglas, said: “X Factor lost it’s X Factor when they let Jade go, but we’re certainly not complaining as their loss is our gain.

The mini festival will feature a selection of the best rock, acoustic, soul and pop bands and acts from the Scottish music scene.

Pictures By Alan Peebles

More hi-res images can be found on our website scopefeatures.com

 

Parents of Amy Winehouse felt she would die

As Winehouse’s body was taken to a local mortuary, her heartbroken mother Janis admitted she believed her daughter’s death had been ‘only a matter of time’ when they met just 24 hours before she died.
‘She seemed out of it. But her passing so suddenly still hasn’t hit me,’ she said.
Instead, she said, she preferred clinging for comfort to Amy’s own parting words at the end of an enjoyable day they had spent together on Friday.
As mother and daughter kissed on the doorstep Amy told her, ‘I love you, Mum’.
’They are the words I will always treasure and always remember Amy by’, she said.
Last night Amy’s father Mitch – who had predicted she would die if she failed to quit drink and drugs – said he was devastated but has vowed ‘not to crack up for Amy’s sake’.
The cabbie-turned-singer was on a jazz tour in New York when he heard the news. He said: ‘I’m coming home. I have to be with Amy. I can’t crack up for her sake. My family need me.’

More hi-res images can be found on our website scopefeatures.com