In another shocking death this year, Irish boyband star Stephen Gately has died at the age of just 33. Stephen had been a member of Boyzone, who topped the charts and broke sales records in Britain and Ireland during the 1990s, and who recently made a comeback. Stephen passed away suddenly on a holiday in Majorca – and the cause of death has now been confirmed as a pulmonary oedema.
Aside from huge success with Boyzone, Stephen was also notable for being the first member of a boy group to come out as gay, which he did in 1999. He married his long-term partner Andrew Cowles in a civil service ceremony in 2006.
Writing that they are “completely devastated” on his official website, the other members of the band say, “Stephen was a beautiful person in both body and spirit. He lit up our lives and those of the many friends he had all over the world.” [Photo: Getty Images]
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One Response to “Boyband Star Dies At 33”
Stephen was an inspiration to a lot of young people on the gay scene, having someone like him who was publicly gay and happy with his life paved the way for many young Irish people and people all over the world who were worried as to what people may think. Stephen will be missed, and he was at the height of his career, living the life of a star, but will never get to finish what he started. May he rest in peace such a tragic end to a beautiful life, and thanks for making my teens special with his music I will always remember him when he was on the late late show very funny…. Love too his family, his partner andrew and the boyzone lads……clairex