📣| “I'm not going to lie, I'm... I'm through the hardest part now, because fucking hell, I was a bag of nerves, honestly. We're here now, we're here now, right. Right, I've got a few things I want to say, maybe I'll sit down, feels like one of them chats, don't it? Obviously, on a day like today, you know, I... I've been reflecting, I've been thinking about my whole career. This is an important night for me, it's an important night for us as a collective, you know. I can remember distinctly, the year before I got put in the band, I actually also auditioned on The X Factor, right, and I remember distinctly... I was 17, I remember distinctly coming back and I... I got a 'no', I wasn't going to get through, and I remember being in the car with my mom, we stopped off, grabbed a Subway, that was lovely, and I'm just bawling my eyes out, being like, 'I fucking really want this, I really, really want this.' And you know, at that age, it's... it's kind of difficult to deal with that kind of shit, definitely. So, but... but luckily, you know, I had a... a good, good support and good advice around me, and I... and I went again, and then luckily, I got put in the band. And I fucking cherished every single year we had in the band, that was incredible. And you know, then there was a time where that wasn't a thing anymore, whatever we called it, fucking hiatus, or whatever. And... so I was kind of at that same place again, I was like, 'I really fucking want this, I don't want to let this go, you know, I fucking love doing what I do.' But I couldn't, I couldn't really, maybe to my own detriment, I couldn't really see the finish line like that, or even see the light at the end of the tunnel like that, I was... I was kind of worried, I was kind of worried that that might be the end for me. And I want you guys to know, you know, I say a version of this every night, this is a longer form of it, but... I simply would not have the fucking confidence to get up and play a place like Madison Square Garden. But I feel really, really, really fucking proud of what we've created, and tonight is just... is the ultimate idea. So, I... I never really feel like I can quite articulate just how much you've done for me. But honestly... tonight is one of those moments, I want everyone to leave here tonight, right, if you've seen my first tour... I want everyone to leave here tonight to... to take that, you know. You... you're responsible. I guess I played a part too, we did it together, we did it together, right. And... yeah, forever grateful for nights like tonight, it's... it's really, really special, so thank you so much. But anyway, to top things off, I did want to say, 'Side by Side' is for you. Like, I wrote that song... I actually wanted to say this before the song, but I crept up on my own emotional, not gonna lie. Um, but uh, that song's for you, listen to the words, feel it. I fucking love you, we've been doing it for a long time now, some of us, so thank you for everything, thank you for all of the passion you guys give me, I fucking love you. Right. Before I fucking choke up. Here we go!”
