As one fifth of Westlife, Bryan (with a 'y') McFadden spent his early 20s as a member of one of the biggest boy bands on the planet, selling 30 million records and clocking up 12 UK number ones in the process.

Taken in conjunction with his marriage to Atomic Kitten and TV presenter Kerry Katona, his life looked hunky dory.

Then, last March, this idyllic picture suffered a major blow when McFadden announced his departure from Westlife - and another, equally strong blow when it was revealed that he and Kerry were to separate.

Gossip columnists revelled in stories of drunken womanising and, to make matters worse, people started making fun of his new beard.

"Westlife was collapsing, my marriage with Kerry was on the rocks, and then I went out and smashed my car into a wall," he reminisces.

"That afternoon I wrote a song called Walking Disaster, and I can honestly say it will never get any lower than that."

Late last year, however, he pulled himself together and reappeared as a solo artist with several songs co-written with ex-Robbie Williams writer Guy Chambers. So far, so predictable: What was more of a surprise was that he'd ditched the polished pop tunes for a tougher, rockier sound (not exactly Megadeath, admittedly, but then everything's relative).

"I really like Maroon 5 and Snow Patrol," he explains of his new direction. "I have always been into guitar stuff, from Bryan Adams to Nirvana."

He has also spoken of his love of classic Sixties bands such as The Beatles and The Beach Boys ("All through Westlife, I just wanted to listen to Pet Sounds and the boys didn't get it at all.")

He marked his new bad boy image by changing his name from Bryan to Brian - and it doesn't get more rock 'n' roll than that.

Yet while some critics scoffed, the fans' reaction was more positive, sending Real To Me straight to number one and Almost Here - a duet with new girlfriend Delta Goodrem - to number three.

Now, Sussex fans get the chance to see the newly rockified Irish hunk in the flesh, when he comes to Brighton as part of a major UK tour to support recent single Demons and new DVD The Life of Brian.

Whatever one thinks of the musical change of direction, the good news is that McFadden's passion for performing has clearly been re-kindled. He admits that, by the end of Westlife, "I was going through the motions and not enjoying it", but now says he "can't wait" to tour the new material.

"A Westlife show is all about the spectacle and the dancing whereas this one is about the music", he concludes. "I've got to try to make it an entertaining show from music alone."

Here's hoping he succeeds.

Starts 7.30pm, tickets cost £21.50. Call 0870 9009100.