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Michael Graham (singer)
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Michael Christopher Charles "Mikey" Graham[1] (born 15 August 1972) is an Irish former singer-songwriter, actor and record producer. He debuted in 1993 alongside Keith Duffy, Ronan Keating, Shane Lynch, and Stephen Gately as part of Irish pop group Boyzone.
Key Information
Early life
[edit]The youngest of seven children, Graham was born to housewife Sheila and carpenter William. He was raised on the Northside of Dublin with five older sisters and one older brother.[1][2] He attended Billie Barry Stage School in Dublin[3] and started his life in the public eye at an early age, appearing in television adverts for Mikado biscuits, the Electricity Supply Board (the ESB) and T-Mobile. Like his bandmate Shane Lynch, Graham had worked as a mechanic before finding fame as a singer;[4] Lynch has stated in an interview that during the early days of Boyzone, he and Graham had a heated argument over exhaust pipes and barely spoke to each other for fifteen years.[5]
Career
[edit]
In 1993, Graham – who had previously been a member of the band Ivory[6] – auditioned for a new boy band which would later be known as Boyzone, singing Meat Loaf's "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad".[4] Although he was not chosen as part of the final line-up, manager Louis Walsh changed his mind after firing two members for their lack of commitment.[7]
Graham gained a reputation as 'the quiet one' in the band, but despite their success he felt Boyzone's pop-styles did not give him a chance to expand his own musical horizons which included rock and folk. In an interview, he stated "Creatively and musically, what I wanted to do personally wasn't what was required for the band's product, so that suppression of what I wanted led to low self-esteem."[8] Following Boyzone's split in 2000, he sank into depression, but gradually recovered.[1] During his break from Boyzone, he trained as an actor in America, and studied Music Technology and Sound Production after his solo career as a singer ended.[9]
In 1998, Graham broke into acting when he played Mikey Oprano the leader of a drugs gang in the full length Irish martial arts film Fatal Deviation, a low-budget cult film produced and set in Trim, County Meath. Comedy website Cracked.com nominated Fatal Deviation as the worst movie ever made saying; "you could replace film school with this movie alone–just screening it once for students and asking them to list all the things it did wrong. Anyone who doesn't write "everything" instantly fails".[10]
In 2007, the reunited Boyzone completed a 29-date reunion tour and released their comeback single on 29 September 2008, Love You Anyway, which was followed by a Greatest Hits album entitled Back Again... No Matter What released on 13 October 2008. He toured again with the band in 2009, and a brand new studio album with two singles - "Gave It All Away" and "Love Is a Hurricane" - were released the following year. In 2011, Graham joined his bandmates on tour, and again in 2013 with a new album.
Graham appeared in the 2008 low budget Irish feature film Situations Vacant written by Steve Murray and directed by Lisa Mulcahy who is best known for directing Irish Television drama The Clinic,[11] and was also among the ten Irish actors who appeared on the RTÉ reality show Hollywood Trials[12]
On the BBC television programme Something for the Weekend, Graham's bandmate Ronan Keating let slip that Graham would be taking part in the fifth series of Dancing on Ice, starting in January 2010. On the show he was paired with professional skater Melanie Lambert, but were voted off on 7 March in a skate-off with Danniella Westbrook and her partner Matt Gonzalez.[13] On participating, Graham has described his training as therapy which has helped him come to terms with the death of his bandmate Stephen Gately, who had participated in the show two years earlier.[14]
In February 2010 it was announced that Graham would be participating in Eurosong 2010, Ireland's final to select their Eurovision Song Contest entry. He performed the self-penned song "Baby, Nothing's Wrong" on 4 March on RTÉ One, attempting to achieve an eighth victory for Ireland in the competition, but placed second, losing out to Eurovision 1993 winner Niamh Kavanagh.[15] [16]
In 2013 he appeared in Celebrity Apprentice Ireland on TV3.[17]
Graham retired from the public eye following Boyzone's final split in 2019. Graham appeared in the 2025 documentary Boyzone: No Matter What discussing why he had retired from public life and revealed he had not spoken to his former bandmates in five years. He decided not to join the rest of his bandmates in promoting the series.
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Meet Me Halfway |
|
Singles
[edit]| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [18] |
IRE [19] | |||
| 2000 | "You're My Angel" | 13 | 15 | Meet Me Halfway |
| "If You'd Only... (Make Up Your Mind)" | — | 29 | ||
| 2001 | "You Could Be My Everything" | 62 | — | |
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Fatal Deviation | Mikey | |
| 2003 | Hey Mr DJ | Paddy Moore | |
| 2008 | Situations Vacant | John |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Boyzone: Live In Your Living Room | Himself | 1 episode |
| 2008 | The Boyz Are Back In Town | Himself | 1 episode |
| 2010 | Dancing on Ice | Contestant | 20 episodes |
| 2013 | Boyzone at 20: No Matter What | Himself | ITV special |
| 2025 | Boyzone: No Matter What | Himself | 3 episodes |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c 'That day, I cried and cried like never before and I couldn't stop'
- ^ "MusicMoz - Bands and Artists: B: Boyzone: Members: Graham, Mikey". musicmoz.org. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
- ^ "Billie Barry Stage School". Billie Barry Stage School. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
- ^ a b Gripper, Ann (12 January 2010). "Mikey Graham profile: 10 things you need to know about the Dancing On Ice star". The Mirror. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
- ^ "Shane Lynch: I had 15 year rift with Mikey over exhaust". Archived from the original on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2010.
- ^ Mikey Graham Website Archived 13 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ BOYZONE HISTORY
- ^ Boyzone's Mikey Graham on his battle with depression
- ^ Mikey Graham from Boyzone chats to go! Archived 10 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Ireland's Only Kung Fu Movie (Is the Worst Film Ever Made)". 3 July 2010.
- ^ "AMANDA MEETS... FAIR CITY STAR SAM CORRY". Sunday World. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2010.
- ^ Hollywood Trials
- ^ "Mikey Graham: I'm doing Dancing on Ice for my pal Stephen Gately". People.co.uk. 8 November 2009. Retrieved 23 February 2010.
- ^ Mirror.co.uk (4 January 2010). "Dancing On Ice: Boyzone's Mikey Graham says training was 'therapy' over Stephen Gately's death". The Mirror. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
- ^ Spackman, Conor (11 February 2010). "Boyzone star Mikey Graham in Eurovision glory bid". BBC News. Retrieved 23 February 2010.
- ^ "Stories - Eurovision Song Contest". eurovision.tv. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
- ^ "Judges and Contestants". TV3.ie. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 233. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Peaks in Ireland:
- "You're My Angel": GFK Chart-Track . Chart-track.co.uk. Retrieved on 15 May 2012.
- "If You'd Only... (Make Up Your Mind)": GFK Chart-Track . Chart-track.co.uk. Retrieved on 15 May 2012.
External links
[edit]Michael Graham (singer)
View on GrokipediaEarly life
Family background
Michael Graham was born Michael Christopher Charles Graham on 15 August 1972 in Raheny, a northern suburb of Dublin, Ireland.[1][8] As the youngest of seven children—with five older sisters and one older brother—he grew up in a close-knit household led by his mother, Sheila Graham, a housewife, and his father, William Graham, a carpenter.[9][10] The Graham family resided in Raheny during the 1970s, a time when the area was transitioning from rural village to suburban neighborhood amid Ireland's broader economic challenges, including high unemployment, modest wages, and the impacts of the global oil crisis that prompted deflationary policies and strained working-class households.[11][12] Large families like the Grahams were typical in such communities, often navigating tight living spaces and shared responsibilities in a era marked by limited prosperity but strong familial bonds.[13]Education and early pursuits
Graham was enrolled at the Billie Barry Stage School in Dublin during his childhood, where he received training in drama and performance alongside his sisters, fostering his early interest in the performing arts.[14][15] His initial forays into show business included child acting roles in television advertisements, such as those promoting Mikado biscuits and the Electricity Supply Board (ESB), which provided early exposure to the entertainment industry.[16][9] Before achieving fame with Boyzone, Graham held a job as a mechanic in a Dublin garage, balancing practical work with his budding creative aspirations.[16]Career
Time with Boyzone
Michael Graham joined Boyzone in 1993 after responding to an advertisement placed by talent manager Louis Walsh in Dublin's Evening Herald newspaper, seeking singers for an Irish boy band modeled after Take That.[8] The auditions attracted hundreds of hopefuls, including a young Colin Farrell, but Graham, along with Keith Duffy, Stephen Gately, Ronan Keating, and Shane Lynch, secured the final lineup after rigorous selections and training under Walsh's guidance.[17] The group honed their skills through vocal coaching and performances, debuting on RTÉ's The Late Late Show before signing with PolyGram in 1994.[18] Boyzone's breakthrough in the UK came with their third single and first original composition, "Key to My Life," released in 1995, which peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart and was co-written by Graham alongside Keating and Gately.[19] Their first UK number-one single, a cover of the Bee Gees' "Words," arrived in 1996 from the album A Different Beat, which helped propel the band to international fame.[20] By the late 1990s, hits like "No Matter What"—written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jim Steinman for the musical Whistle Down the Wind—topped the UK charts for three weeks in 1998, solidifying their status as one of Europe's top-selling acts with over 25 million records sold worldwide by 2013.[21][22] As a key vocalist in Boyzone, Graham contributed harmonies and occasional leads, particularly on early tracks, while bringing a charismatic stage presence that earned him the nickname "Mikey G." His involvement extended to songwriting, as seen in "Key to My Life," and he played a vital role in the band's high-energy performances during their peak years.[8] The group announced a hiatus in 2000 after seven years of non-stop touring and recording, allowing members to pursue solo endeavors amid growing tensions over creative control and personal pressures; Graham later reflected on the split as emotionally challenging but necessary for growth.[7] Boyzone reunited in 2007 for the Back Again... No Matter What tour and album, releasing BZ20 in 2013 to celebrate their 20th anniversary, which debuted at number one in the UK and Ireland.[23] Their final reunion came in 2018 with the Thank You & Goodnight farewell tour, honoring the late Stephen Gately and concluding in November 2019 at Dublin's 3Arena, marking the end of their group activities after over two decades.[24]Solo recording career
Following Boyzone's initial hiatus in 2000, Graham signed a solo recording deal with Polydor Records and launched his independent career. His debut single, "You're My Angel", was released in October 2000 and peaked at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart and number 15 on the Irish Singles Chart.[25][2] The follow-up single, "If You'd Only... (Make Up Your Mind)", arrived in December 2000 and reached number 29 in Ireland, though it failed to chart significantly in the UK.[26] In 2001, Graham issued "You Could Be My Everything", which climbed to number 62 on the UK Singles Chart but saw limited international traction.[27] Graham's debut studio album, Meet Me Halfway, followed on 16 April 2001 via Public Records (a Polydor imprint), featuring production collaborations with established pop producers. The album entered the UK Albums Chart at number 42 and achieved modest sales, reflecting a mixed critical reception that praised its polished pop sound but noted its struggle to distinguish from his Boyzone era.[28][29] In later years, Graham pursued additional solo endeavors, including his entry in Ireland's Eurosong 2010 selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. Performing the self-co-written "Baby, Nothing's Wrong" on 5 March 2010, he placed second in the national final with 110 points, behind winner Niamh Kavanagh's "It's for You".[30] Throughout his solo phase and into the 2010s, Graham maintained involvement in songwriting and production for personal projects, contributing credits to tracks that underscored his transition toward independent creative work before stepping back from major releases.[31]Acting and media appearances
Graham's foray into acting began in 1998 with his debut role in the low-budget Irish martial arts film Fatal Deviation, where he portrayed Mikey, the leader of a local drug gang, in a supporting capacity.[32] The film, Ireland's first martial arts feature, marked his initial step beyond music into on-screen performance.[33] He followed this with additional film roles in the early 2000s, including Paddy Moore, an Irish hooligan and gangster's son, in the British comedy Hey Mr DJ (2003).[34] Later, in 2008, Graham appeared as John in the Irish low-budget comedy Situations Vacant, a film centered on job seekers navigating economic hardship. On television, Graham participated in the fifth series of the ITV reality competition Dancing on Ice in 2010, partnered with professional skater Melanie Lambert.[35] The show provided a platform for physical performance amid his music promotion efforts, though he was eliminated on 7 March 2010 following a skate to Ronan Keating's "Love Won't Last."[36] Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, he made guest appearances on Irish TV programs such as The Late Late Show and other entertainment formats, often linked to Boyzone releases and his solo endeavors.[1]Later professional activities
Following Boyzone's final farewell tour, which concluded in 2019 as part of their 25th anniversary celebrations, Graham stepped back from performing and the public eye, marking the end of his active music career with the group at that time.[37] In the years after stepping back, Graham maintained involvement in the music industry as a songwriter, drawing on his earlier studies in music technology and sound production.[5] This behind-the-scenes work represented a shift from on-stage performances to more private creative contributions within Irish entertainment.[38] Graham's most notable professional engagement post-2019 came with his participation in the 2025 Sky Documentaries series Boyzone: No Matter What, a three-part production that premiered in February and featured exclusive interviews with band members reflecting on their history, the pressures of fame, and internal dynamics.[6] In the series, Graham discussed the band's evolution, the "toxic environment" he experienced during their peak, and his decision to distance himself, noting a lack of contact with former members for approximately five years by that point.[39][40] The documentary, directed by Sophie Oliver and combining archival footage with new insights from Graham, Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Shane Lynch, and others, provided a candid retrospective on Boyzone's legacy without involving their former manager Louis Walsh.[41][42] Throughout 2020 to 2025, Graham participated in select media interviews focused on career reflections, including discussions around the documentary where he addressed his early role as Boyzone's intended lead singer and the challenges of group fame.[43] In October 2025, he publicly supported Boyzone's announced one-off reunion concert for 2026 by appearing alongside the other members for the first time in six years, despite not attending the initial press event; Graham will join Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, and Shane Lynch to perform at the event, titled "One For The Road," at London's Emirates Stadium on 6 June 2026.[44][45][7]Personal life
Relationships and family
Graham had a long-term relationship with Sharon Keane from 1994 to 1997, resulting in the birth of their daughter Hannah on April 30, 1996.[46][47] In February 2022, Graham became a grandfather when Hannah gave birth to a daughter named Bonnie.[48] He met dancer Karen Corradi in 1998 while she performed on a Boyzone tour, and the couple married in August 2004.[49][50] Graham and Corradi welcomed their daughter, Sienna Nicole, on March 18, 2006.[8][46] The marriage ended in divorce in April 2024 after 20 years together, with the separation handled privately.[49][50][51][52] As of 2025, Graham remains single and has expressed openness to future relationships while prioritizing his family.[49] Graham maintains a low-profile family life in rural Ireland near Dublin, emphasizing his daughters' privacy and providing them with a grounded upbringing away from the public eye.[5][38]Health challenges and retirement
Following Boyzone's hiatus in 2000, Michael Graham experienced a profound episode of depression, which he attributed to the emotional toll of fame, including feelings of isolation and low self-esteem stemming from band dynamics such as creative suppression and internal competition.[53] He described uncontrollable crying fits and turning to alcohol as a coping mechanism during this period, exacerbating his anxiety and leading to panic attacks.[54] Graham's struggles dated back to his late teens but intensified post-hiatus, as he grappled with the sudden shift from stardom to uncertainty.[53] To address his condition, Graham pursued self-education by studying psychology, which helped him gain insight into his depression and reduce its stigma through public disclosure.[53] He credited his then-wife's unwavering support as pivotal to his gradual recovery, alongside therapeutic activities like participating in Dancing on Ice in 2010, which provided emotional outlet following the death of bandmate Stephen Gately.[54][38] By the early 2010s, these efforts enabled him to manage his symptoms more effectively, though he continued to confront underlying anxieties from his career.[53] Graham's decision to step back from regular Boyzone activities after the 2019 farewell tour stemmed from severe burnout accumulated during the tour, characterized by relentless exhaustion and frequent arguments among members.[51] The tour's toxic environment, including a major conflict with Keith Duffy, prompted him to reassess his career and prioritize personal boundaries over continued public performance.[51] A key factor was his desire to shield his family from the spotlight's intrusions, allowing for greater privacy after two decades in the industry.[51] The farewell tour had exacerbated his stress by reviving old tensions.[38] As of 2025, he occasionally participates in band events.[45] By 2025, Graham had transitioned to a serene rural life in Ireland, emphasizing well-being through a low-key routine far removed from urban fame and media demands.[5] This shift allowed him to focus on personal fulfillment and mental health maintenance, avoiding the performative pressures that once defined his existence.[54][5] In interviews through 2025, including the Sky documentary Boyzone: No Matter What, Graham has advocated for mental health openness, urging others to seek support and embrace their experiences to foster recovery and reduce isolation.[53][38] He emphasized speaking out as a tool to combat stigma, drawing from his own journey with anxiety and imposter syndrome during fame.[38]Discography
Studio albums
Michael Graham released his debut and only solo studio album, Meet Me Halfway, on 16 April 2001 through Public Records.[55] The album marked Graham's transition from Boyzone's group dynamics to a more personal pop sound, featuring introspective lyrics and a mix of upbeat tracks and ballads. It debuted at number 42 on the UK Albums Chart, spending one week in the top 100.[29] The album comprises 13 tracks, blending pop-rock elements with acoustic influences, and was recorded primarily in the UK. Key highlights include the lead single "You're My Angel," a mid-tempo pop ballad that reached number 13 on the UK Singles Chart, and "If You'd Only... (Make Up Your Mind)," which showcased Graham's vocal range in a funky, upbeat style. Other notable tracks are "The Bitter End," an emotional closer, and the title track, an acoustic reflection on relationships. The full tracklist is as follows:| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | You Could Be My Everything | 3:38 |
| 2 | If You'd Only... (Make Up Your Mind) | 3:25 |
| 3 | If It's War | 4:55 |
| 4 | Think About You | 3:55 |
| 5 | The Bitter End | 4:35 |
| 6 | You're My Angel | 3:41 |
| 7 | Something About You | 3:35 |
| 8 | Skinny Dippin' | 3:38 |
| 9 | Only The Rain | 4:47 |
| 10 | Summer Turns To Winter | 3:43 |
| 11 | Hey Man | 3:33 |
| 12 | Did It Again | 4:58 |
| 13 | Meet Me Halfway | 1:24 |
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