Who started the band?

Westlife started since 1999 but did you know who started the band? Shane and kian knew each other since kian was 9 yrs old and when kian was 12 they met mark at the same school in sligo, Ireland. They did their 1^st performance on stage in “Grease” in the west of Ireland. However, kian was in the rock band as a guitarist when Shane proposed his idea of forming a band. Until Shane’s mother reached Louis Walsh (Former manager of Boyzone). They formed a band called IO-you with Shane, Kian, and Mark with 3 other members. But it didn’t worked out until the 3 members left shane, kian & mark so they've audition two more members then Bryan and Nicky came out in the picture. Bryan and Nicky knew each other in a karaoke. When Simon Cowell (Judge in American Idol) who’s a huge producer, heard them singing for the 1^st time he didn’t hesitate to sign them in a record deal he really loved their voices. The Band spends time to know each and they’ve made a huge chemistry. The Band was named Westside and later in 1999 they’ve changed their name to WESTLIFE.