Westlife’s Shane Filan recalls Louis Walsh slapping him for messing up audition

The incident took place back in the 1990s while Westlife were attempting to land a record deal. Louis organised an audition in front of Simon Cowell – but Shane fluffed his chances by singing with a hangover.

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Westlife star Shane Filan has revealed he was once slapped around by Louis Walsh after he messed up an audition performance.

The 42-year-old Irish crooner has revealed a previously unknown and unexpectedly violent side to the usually mild-mannered 69-year-old Louis.

Shane and bandmates Markus Feehily, Kian Egan and Nicky Byrne have a decades long working relationship with music manager Louis after he helped the group achieve success in the late 1990s – back when original member Brian McFadden was part of the group.

And the slapping incident is said to have taken place before they enjoyed chart success, when Louis arranged a performance for them in front of Simon Cowell in an attempt to secure a record deal for them.

Speaking to the MailOnline, Shane explained that he fluffed his audition in front of 62-year-old Simon as he had been out the night before and enjoyed a heavy evening of drinking.

He recalls experiencing Louis’ wrath, explaining: “I was hungover and messed up the audition and when we left Louis slapped me around the face and shouted at me.”

Shane previously spoke of the incident, revealing in 2014: ”We walked in and we met this man called Simon Cowell for the first time. It didn’t go well and Louis wasn’t very happy with me afterwards. He kind of lost it. He slapped me in the face…”

But recalling the incident anew, he continued: “It was crazy. He was shouting ‘what are you doing’ and he was shaking me and saying ‘I was counting on you in there.’

“I thought my life was over. I thought that’s it, I’ve ruined my life. It was horrible but he said ‘don’t worry, I’ve got a plan’.”

The band also explained that they were stunned to see Simon standing in front of a vain mirror in his dressing room.

They claim: “Simon actually has a mirror in his dressing room that has ‘Simon, you still look amazing’ engraved on its frame.”

The mirror is said to have been a gift to Simon from his close friend Sinitta.

While Simon clearly likes his own appearance, he once had brutal comments to make about the looks of the Irish chart topping band.

In his 2003 autobiographical book I Don’t Mean to be Rude, But…, the star laid into the lads – saying he was appalled by their original audition that Louis arranged.

He writes that he told Louis: “You are going to have to fire at least three of them. They have great voices, but they are the ugliest band I have ever seen in my life.”

Meanwhile, fans of Westlife will soon be able to see the lads back on stage again as part of their Stadiums in the Summer Tour.

The boys will be hitting the road in July next year with performances planned for Dublin, Scarborough, London, Cork and Viborg.

The tour is in support of their new album, Wild Dreams, which is due for release on November 26.