Stephen Gately
The radiant, gentle-voiced heart of Boyzone, whose openness about his sexuality made him a quiet pioneer in 90s pop culture.
1976–2009 (age 33)·Irish pop singer·Birthday: March 17·Generation X
Biography
Stephen Gately was the sunny counterpoint in Boyzone, the massively successful Irish boy band that dominated the UK charts in the 1990s. While Ronan Keating often took the lead, Gately's sweeter tenor and cheerful stage presence made him a fan favorite, essential to the group's wholesome, all-access appeal. His life took a courageous turn in 1999 when, at the peak of Boyzone's fame, a newspaper threatened to out him. He and the band preempted the story, making him one of the first major pop stars to publicly come out as gay while still in a chart-topping group. This act, handled with his characteristic grace, was a landmark moment. After the group's initial split, he pursued a solo career and found a new passion in musical theatre, winning praise for roles in London's West End. His sudden death in 2009 at age 33 sent shockwaves through the music world, cutting short a life that had embodied both pop joy and personal bravery.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Stephen was born in 1976, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Stephen Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Stephen's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1976Born
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1981Started school
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Became a teenager
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Could drive
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1994Could vote
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Turned 21
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2006Turned 30
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2009Died at 33
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
Key Achievements
- As a member of Boyzone, achieved six UK number-one singles, including 'No Matter What' and 'Words'.
- Co-wrote the Boyzone hit 'I Love the Way You Love Me', which reached number two on the UK charts.
- Starred as the Childcatcher in the West End revival of 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang', receiving critical acclaim for his performance.
- His 2000 solo single 'New Beginning' reached number three on the UK Singles Chart.
Did You Know?
He was a trained dancer and performed in a production of 'The Wizard of Oz' in Dublin before joining Boyzone.
He published a children's book called 'The Tree of Seasons' in 2007.
He entered a civil partnership with his husband, Andrew Cowles, in 2006.
“Life is too short to hold back. You have to be who you are.”
