BOYBANDS THROUGH THE AGES

Westlife

Members: Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, Nicky Byme and Brian McFadden

Across the pond, Irish boys were hoping to give Backstreet Boys a run for their money in 1998, and so Westlife was born. Signed by X Factor judge Simon Cowell, their 1999 single “Swear it Again” peaked at No. 20 on Billboard Hot 100.

Photo by Wire Images Apr 24, 2012

BOYBANDS THROUGH THE AGES

Boy bands are back in a big way. With new pop groups One Direction and The Wanted topping the charts, the cycle continues as a new generation of girls swoon, shriek and, nowadays, tweet. From the Beatles to the Backstreet Boys, we take a look at some of music's most swoon-worthy, scream-inducing, poster-pin-up boy groups.