Nick Carter shapes up for Backstreet boys

Jonathon Moran
December 30, 2007 12:00am

IT'S not just the female pop stars who are under pressure to keep fit and look good. Nick Carter of The Backstreet Boys lost nearly 20kg to get in shape for the release of the US boy band's latest album, Unbreakable, and upcoming world tour.

"I was really unhealthy the last tour," Carter says.

"I was really fat and disgusting. I never want to get to that again. People are watching you so you have to uphold your image to a certain extent."

The 27-year-old weighed about 100kg at his heaviest, and says it took him six months to lose the weight.

He hasn't gone on any special diets but has simply been eating healthier and working out at the gym.

"I am feeling great," Carter says. "I look better. I feel better. I am ready to get out there and perform. I am so ready.

"It was exercise and eating healthier, eating less calories and more working out – that is pretty much what I was doing."

Carter grew up in the public eye, joining the group at just 12 years of age.

Backstreet Boys have sold more than 100 million albums and 15 million singles worldwide and group members are recognised wherever they go.

Their first two US releases – Backstreet Boys in 1997 and Millennium in 1999 – each sold more than 10 million copies, with the latter reaching No.1 in 25 countries.

Their hits include Quit Playing Games, As Long As You Love Me, Everybody, I Want It That Way, Incomplete and Just Want You To Know.

"We definitely have to just take care of ourselves because we are getting older," Carter says.

"Anybody who is getting older in life, they have to take care of themselves.

"They have to realise that you can't just jump right back into something because you could injure yourself.

"So we all have to prepare ourselves and make sure we are ready – it is a gruelling schedule."

It has been two years since the band last visited Australia and a lot has changed.

They're now a four-piece – (pictured, from left) Brian Littrell, Carter, A.J. McLean and Howie Dorough – after Kevin Richardson left the band in June last year to pursue other interests.

"The dynamics of the group is different with Kevin gone," Carter says.

"We are on the exact same page with where we want to be musically, and with what we want to do on the show.

"Kevin was a perfectionist which, maybe at certain times, prohibited the creative atmosphere."

The album title Unbreakable signifies the group's strong bond and all they have been through since forming in 1995.

"No matter what road blocks or adversities that come in the way, whether people have heart issues, whether people go to rehab, whether people leave for a solo stint, whether a member leaves the group, the actual group the Backstreet Boys is unbreakable," Carter says.

The new album continues to offer fans the band's trademark melodies and well-crafted three and four-part harmonies – signs of the mature musicians they have become.

The group devoted 18 months to recording Unbreakable. The first single, Inconsolable, is a piano ballad reminiscent of the group's biggest hits.

Carter says his siblings are also in show business. His singer brother Aaron and three sisters, Angel, Leslie and Bobbie Jean, featured in a reality show called House of Carter.

Carter lives in Los Angeles and many would think he leads the A-list Hollywood life but that is apparently a misconception.

Carter, who has dated the likes of Paris Hilton, Ashlee Simpson and Kathy Griffin, says he doesn't like to mix with other celebrities.

"I am not friends with a lot of people out here in Hollywood," he says.

"I barely know any celebrities out here and I like it that way. It is the craziest thing in the world and they are not real friends. Most of my friends are just normal people."

Backstreet Boys will play the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on February 20.

Source: http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22980805-7642,00.html

InTouch Article Translation

„I go on diets as well“

After two years the Backstreet Boys are back.
InTouch talked to Nick and Howie about the age, having “more on the rips” – and the first little aches and pains...

Teddy Alarm! When they performed, stuffed animals were thrown on stage like candy. They were so sweet. In the meantime the Backstreet Boys became real men. After a two year break they released a new album and will go on world tour in february. InTouch met half of the huge Boygroup (more than 100 million albums sold worldwide) in Cologne:
“Bad Boy” Nick Carter and the nice Howie Dorough. “We’re absolutely different. But we belong to the same family”, says Nick

Congratulations to the new album “Unbreakable”. JC Chasez (ex-Nsync) wrote one song – even if your bands didn’t get along.
Howie: We’re not interested in it anymore. Too much pride destroys you in this business. You need to walk new ways if you wanna continue making good music.

The Backstreet Boys exist for 14 years now. You’re all around 30. Haven’t you lost your enthusiams by now?
Howie: No! 3 months ago when we were all sitting together in a bar in New York we’ve talked about our future. Brian said: “Hey guys, we’re unbreakable.” That was the name of the album because it’s exactly how we feel. Motto: Nothing can stop us...

...but maybe the first little aches and pains because of your age?
Howie: That could be true. Dancing is not as easy as it used to be ten years ago. Our knees are busted. The older we are the slower we are and the harder we have to pratice.

How do you keep in shape?
Nick: Party around the clock (laughs). No honestly, I go to the gym, eat healthy. If I have too much weight I go on a diet – even if I don’t like it. I take “maidenhair-tree” supplements – increases the endurance and the capacity of remembering things.

Nick, you’re almost 28. Have you thought about family yet?
Nick: Not one bit. I don’t think it will ever change. Kids mean conflicts.
Most of all I need to get along with myself.

Single guy without a doubt?
Nick: Absolutely! I don’t need to be considerate of anyone.There’s no one telling me what to do. I’m not looking for anything serious.

What about you Howie?
Howie: I wanna have kids as fast as I can. My parents were over 40 when I was born. That wasn't cool: I've never played baseball with my daad, never did crazy things. I don't wanna make that mistake.

Thanks To yea ok

New Blog Post from Howie D.

Questions/Comments and Howie’s Replies

Since there was no way for everyone to see the questions and Howie's replies, I have gone through and cut and pasted them for everyone to see. There were some really good questions and Howie loved seeing all the love and support from the fans!! He said he would DEFINITELY be doing more of this soon but please remember, he is very busy as rehearsals for the tour and the tour are getting started in January!! He really regretted not being able to answer more questions!!

Questions and Answers from Howie's MySpace..

1. awww just what to wish ya an very merry christmas and and very happy new year;D much love xoxoxoxo
~~~Annmarie~~~

Thanks for the warm wishes and all your support.

Howie

2. "Hi Howie!!!
Just want to wish you all the best for your wedding!!Congratulations!!

And I also have a question, I'm from France,and I know there is no date for a show, but will you come in Belgium? as you did for the never gone tour?

Once again, thanks for everything you've done!

take care!
Donia"

Thanks for your warm wishes. Right now, we are in talks for touring Europe in April and May.

Merry Christmas!!

Howie

3. Hi How are you?

Hey,

Doing great!! Enjoying the cruise!! I love seeing all the support for the Foundation!!

Thank you for your support and see you on tour!!

Love,
Howie

4. Hope married life is treating you well .... best wishes from my boys and i .
xxxx
Jen , Nick and Mark .

Hey,

Thank you so much for your kind words. I am definitely enjoying married life!!

See you on tour.

Merry Christmas,

Howie

5. Heyyyyyyyyyyy Howieeeeeeeeeeeeee

When you come to brazil?

Wow, well, I love youuu

congratulations for new cd "Unbreakable", it's wonderfull

Cya

Hey,

We are in talks with our agent about including South America. We miss you guys and are trying to get back to see you.

Lots of love,

Howie

6. Congratulations for your wedding. I saw your wedding pictures in the ok magazines.They are beautiful pictures. Your wife wedding dress is beautiful.You make a cute romantic couples.
I like the picture ,when you two have a piece of wedding cake.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May the new year brings you lots of happiness ,love and joy.

Enjoy your holiday celebration with your wife and family.

Lina xxx

Hello,

Thanks so much. It was truly a special day in my life. I'm glad everyone was able to see the pictures and be a part of it with us.

Merry Christmas!!

Howie

7. I have a question :)
How dou you search the Singels from the Album (BSB)? Do you search what you the most likes? or do you make a survery and ask the Fans what thay want?

We record a number of songs, live with them for a while, and the ones that suit us stand out. We choose with our record company for the singles.

Thanks for the great question and I hope you enjoy the album.

Howie

8. ****************************I LOVE BSB*************************************
IT WAS AWESOME TO MEET BSB @ Z100'S MEET & GREET!!!!!!!
PLEASE COME BACK TO NYC SOON!!!!!!!! :D
I'VE LOVED BSB SINCE I FIRST HEARD "QUIT PLAYING GAMES WITH MY HEART"!!!!!!!!!! SO PLEASE DO COME BACK TO NYC, CAUSE NYC LOVES BSB!!
************************************************************
***************CONGRATS ON YOUR WEDDING, WISHING YOU & LEIGH A LIFETIME OF ROMANCE!!

XOXO,
CLAUDIA MEJIA

P.S. PLEASE TELL AJ I SENT HIM A BIG KISS!!
DOES AJ HAVE A MYSPACE???

Thanks for the wishes and hope you enjoyed the show. Can't wait to see you on tour!!

Yes, AJ has a MySpace but I don't know the URL for it.

Thanks for the support!!

Howie

9. "Hey, Howie! Just letting you know that me and my friend Lisa (whom lives in South Africa) think you're awesome. If possible do you know when you'll be touring in South Africa? Thanks, Jane

Hey,

If I remember correctly, we will be going to South Africa right after the Southeast Asia and Australia tours at the beginning of the year.

Thank you for you support. I really appreciate all that the fans give to me.

Love,
Howie

10. Hi Howie!

Congratulations on your marriage! What an exciting time for you both.

What's on your Christmas list this year? I'm sure you have pretty much everything you need, especially with being so successful and the recent wedding. I find that as my friends and I get older it's harder to find gifts, as we are all pretty self-sufficient.

Oh, and I'm going to New York for New Year's--my first time out there. If there were only one thing I could do or see out there, what would you recommend?

Thanks and happy holidays!

Lisa Freeman
Portland, Oregon

Hello,

My wish list is just to be with my family and loved ones!!

Thank you so much for your support. I really appreciate all that the fans give to me.

Love,

Howie

11. Happy Holidays Howie and Sarah!!! =) Are you having a cruise next year??? :)!! I would love to go on vacation!!

Hey,

We really hope to have one but it all depends on the schedule with the BSB.

Merry Christmas and see you on tour!!

Howie

12. When are you coming to North Carolina? How about West Virginia!!!!! That would be great!!!! love you guys!!!! Lisa

Hello,

We don't have the tour planned yet but I am thinking that we will probably be in the US in the summer. It depends the promoters as to where we go but I will try to request your area.

Merry Christmas and see you on the tour.

Howie

13. Hi Howie

How are you? What is your favorite song on the " Unbreakable" album? Also when you have free time what do you like doing for fun?

Merry Christmas

Nicki

Hey,

My favorite song is 'Inconsolable'.

Free time....rest, relax, and catch up with my family and friends.

Merry Christmas and see you on the 'Unbreakable' tour.

Love,
Howie

SOURCE

Top 10 Celebrity Honeymoons of 2007

Escaping the ever-present paparazzi, a number of noteworthy newlyweds found honeymoon hideaways around the globe in 2007. From idyllic islands to European excursions, Lovetripper takes a look at the destinations the stars escaped to after saying "I do."

1) Eva Longoria and Tony Parker-- After swaying to the sound of Peter Gabriel's "Book of Love" at their Chateau Vaux le Vicomte reception, the "Desperate Housewives" star and the NBA great packed their bags for a short stay at Parrot Cay, a paparazzi-free retreat in the Turks and Caicos islands. Billed as the world's most exclusive resort, the honeymooners walked on the same white sand beach where Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck exchanged vows.

2) Jeff Francoeur-- The Atlanta Braves outfielder and his bride Catie McCoy nibbled on slices of a five-tier, carrot wedding cake embellished with cream cheese icing at their post-wedding party before spending their first weeks of marital bliss at the Four Seasons Hotel in Punta Mita, Mexico and at the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas, Chop Talk revealed.

3) Howie Dorough-- The Backstreet Boy's new bride, Leigh Boniello, was his Caribbean queen as the couple enjoyed a three-day honeymoon getaway on the island of Antigua.

4) Kate Walsh-- Like newlyweds Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban in 2006, the beauty of Bora Bora beckoned to the "Private Practice" star and her studio executive husband Alex Young. The bride's Jubilee cut diamond engagement ring and her wedding band sparkled in the sunlight as the newlyweds trekked past Mount Otemanu.

5) Laila Ali-- Not long after waltzing down the aisle at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Marina Del Rey, California, the former "Dancing With the Stars" participant and her newly dubbed husband, former NFL wide receiver Curtis Conway, packed their bags for a trip to Tahiti.

6) Bam Margera-- Despite a problem with customs, the MTV star and his wife Missy Rothstein Margera will always have fond memories of their honeymoon in Dubai.

7) Garth Fisher and Jessica Canseco-- Following their Bel-Air walk down the aisle, the "Extreme Makeover" plastic surgeon and the former Playboy model boarded a plane for a foray into France and Italy.

8) Roma Downey-- After saying "I do" during a cliff side ceremony in Malibu, the "Touched By An Angel" star was in seventh heaven as she spent her first few weeks as Mrs. Mark Burnett in Jordan and London.

9) Holly Willoughby-- Embarking on an exotic excursion, the "Dancing On Ice" co-presenter and her new husband enjoyed two weeks in Sri Lanka and the Maldives after their nuptials at Amberley Castle.

10) Amy Lee-- Checking out of their suite at The Peabody Hotel in Little Rock, Arkansas, the lead singer of Evanescence and husband Josh Hartzler spent the remainder of their honeymoon on an idyllic island south of the Bahamas.

SOURCE

VH1's Top Songs Of The 90's

"I Want It That Way" is third among VH1's Top 100 Songs of the 90s as a result of the poll that's been held for these past months.

1.Nirvana Smells Like Teen Spirit
2. U2 One
3. Backstreet Boys I Want It That Way
4. Whitney Houston I Will Always Love You
5. Madonna Vogue
6. Sir Mix-A-Lot Baby Got Back
7. Britney Spears ... Baby One More Time
8. TLC Waterfalls
9. R.E.M. Losing My Religion
10. Sinead O'Connor Nothing Compares 2 U
11. Pearl Jam Jeremy
12. Alanis Morissette You Oughta Know
13. Dr. Dre (featuring Snoop Doggy Dogg) Nuthin' but a "G" Thang
14. Mariah Carey Vision of Love
15. Red Hot Chili Peppers Under the Bridge
16. MC Hammer U Can't Touch This
17. Destiny's Child Say My Name
18. Metallica Enter Sandman
19. Beastie Boys Sabotage
20. Hanson MMMBop
21. Celine Dion My Heart Will Go On
22. Beck Loser
23. Salt-N-Pepa with En Vogue Whatta Man
24. House of Pain Jump Around
25. Soundgarden Black Hole Sun
26. Eminem My Name Is
27. Counting Crows Mr. Jones
28. Ricky Martin Livin' la Vida Loca
29. Vanilla Ice Ice Ice Baby
30. *NSYNC Tearin' Up My Heart
31. Radiohead Creep
32. BLACKstreet No Diggity
33. Spice Girls Wannabe
34. Third Eye Blind Semi-Charmed Life
35. Oasis Wonderwall
36. C+C Music Factory Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)
37. Green Day Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
38. Christina Aguilera Genie In A Bottle
39. Goo Goo Dolls Iris
40. Color Me Badd I Wanna Sex You Up
41. Spin Doctors Two Princes
42. Collective Soul Shine
43. En Vogue My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)
44. The Fugees Killing Me Softly With His Song
45. Hootie & the Blowfish Only Wanna Be With You
46. Shania Twain You're Still the One
47. Marky Mark and The Funky Bunch Good Vibrations
48. Matchbox Twenty 3 AM
49. Jewel Who Will Save Your Soul
50. Alice in Chains Man in the Box
51. Tupac (featuring Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman) California Love
52. Sugar Ray Fly
53. Naughty by Nature O.P.P.
54. Joan Osborne One of Us
55. Fiona Apple Criminal
56. L.L. Cool J Mama Said Knock You Out
57. Jay-Z featuring Amil and Ja Rule Can I Get A
58. Sophie B. Hawkins Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover
59. Weezer Buddy Holly
60. Bell Biv DeVoe Poison
61. Sheryl Crow All I Wanna Do
62. Live I Alone
63. The Notorious B.I.G. featuring Mase & Puff Daddy Mo Money Mo Problems
64. The Presidents of the United States of America Peaches
65. Digital Underground The Humpty Dance
66. Edwin McCain I'll Be
67. Deee-Lite Groove Is In The Heart
68. Will Smith Gettin' Jiggy Wit It
69. Korn Freak on a Leash
70. Jamiroquai Virtual Insanity
71. Arrested Development Tennessee
72. Barenaked Ladies One Week
73. Marcy Playground Sex and Candy
74. Cher Believe
75. Kris Kross Jump
76. Blues Traveler Run-Around
77. Ice Cube It Was a Good Day
78. Lenny Kravitz Are You Gonna Go My Way
79. Meredith Brooks Bitch
80. Right Said Fred I'm Too Sexy
81. Paula Cole I Don't Want to Wait
82. Geto Boys Mind Playing Tricks on Me
83. The Breeders Cannonball
84. Snow Informer
85. Cypress Hill Insane In The Brain
86 The Cranberries Linger
87. Billy Ray Cyrus Achy Breaky Heart
88. Duncan Sheik Barely Breathing
89. Liz Phair Never Said
90. New Radicals You Get What You Give
91. Sarah McLachlan Building a Mystery
92. Public Enemy 911 Is A Joke
93. Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories Stay
94. Fastball The Way
95. Montell Jordan This is How We Do It
96. Nelson (Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection
97. Prince & The New Power Generation Gett Off
98. EMF Unbelievable
99. Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)
100. Gerardo Rico Suave

Additional Tour Dates for the Backstreet Boys

Mon	12/31/07		Las Vegas, NV		Body English
Wed	01/09/08		Honolulu, HI		Sony Open Tournament
Sat	02/16/08		Tokyo, JPN		Tokyo Dome
Sun	02/17/08		Tokyo, JPN		Tokyo Dome
Wed	02/20/08		Boondall, AUS		Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Fri	02/22/08		Sydney, AUS		Acer Arena
Sat	02/23/08		Melbourne, AUS		Rod Laver Arena
Mon	02/25/08		Jakarta, IDN		Ritz Carlton Pacific Place
Fri	02/29/08		Hong Kong, CHI		AsiaWorld Arena
Sun	03/02/08		Taipei, TAI		Convention Center
Tue	03/04/08		Nanjing, CHI		Olympic Sports Center
Thu	03/06/08		Hangzhou, CHI		Dragon Arena
Wed	04/02/08		Stuttgart, GER		Porsche Arena
Thu	04/03/08		Munich, GER		Olympiahalle
Fri	04/04/08		Leipzig, GER		Leipzig Arena
Sun	04/06/08		Rotterdam, NET		Ahoy' Rotterdam
Tue	04/08/08		Berlin, GER		Max-Schmeling-Halle
Wed	04/09/08		Hamburg, GER		Color Line Arena
Fri	04/11/08		Copenhagen, DEN		Ballerup Super Arena
Sat	04/12/08		Oslo, NOR		Oslo Spektrum Arena ANS
Mon	04/14/08		Stockholm, SWE		Hovet
Wed	04/16/08		Helsinki, FIN		Hartwall Arena
Sat	04/19/08		Zurich, SWI		Hallenstadion Zurich
Sun	04/20/08		Palermo, ITA		Palasport
Mon	04/21/08		Frankfurt, GER		Festhalle - Messe Frankfurt
Wed	04/23/08		Madrid, SPA		Telefonica Arena
Fri	04/25/08		Lisbon, POR		Pavilhao Atlantico
Sun	04/27/08		Barcelona, SPA		Pavello Olimpic
Tue	04/29/08		Assago, ITA		DatchForum
Wed	04/30/08		Rome, ITA		Palalottomatica
Fri	05/02/08		Oberhausen, GER		Konig - Pilsener Arena
Sat	05/03/08		Brussels, BEL		Forest National
Sun	05/04/08		Luxembourg, LUX		Rockhal
Wed	05/07/08		Liverpool, UK		Echo Arena
Thu	05/08/08		Birmingham, UK		The NIA
Sun	05/11/08		Glasgow, UK		S.E.C.C.
Mon	05/12/08		Belfast, UK		Odyssey Arena
Wed	05/14/08		London, UK		O2 Arena

SOURCE: Pollstar

Delta Disaster: Backstreet Boy Bummed

The Backstreet Boys may have put on a mile-high performance Friday night at the Jingle Ball show in the Big Apple, but AJ had a rough ride back to his Hollywood home on Saturday when he spilled his Starbucks everywhere while boarding.

The crooner was obviously feeling cranky without his caffeine hit as he scoffed away at his sandwich.

"It's been a bad day so far, just as well I didn't spill my lunch too," the pop prince said. "Then I would have been real mad."

Meanwhile, AJ's bandmate Nick Carter took every opportunity to chat on his cell from takeoff to immediately after landing. Was it a special somebody?

Pop Tarts has been told that the boys will be up to some sins in Vegas over New Years as they "Rock Your Body" at the Body English in the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

But one bopper who won't be behaving badly (we hope) is Howie Dorough, who tied the knot just last week in his home base of Orlando to his longtime love Leigh Boniello.

The 34-year-old wed the real estate broker in a traditional white wedding that our spy says was "so incredibly sweet and perfect. All the boys were there supporting Howie on his big day." Awww.

SOURCE: Fox News

“Hit Music” Exclusive Interview

Q: Japan has been a must place for your tour. How many times have you been here?
B: Oh yeah, many times. My son and my wife have been here twice, and I … about 7 or 8 times.

Q: And another concert here?
B: Yeah, in Tokyo.

Q: It is noted that you have written some of the song tracks in “Unbreakable”, and you have also done the bulk of the song production. So does this album represent the Backstreet boys to the most extent?
B: Absolutely! We are more involved in this album than the previous one, including the composition and the production of the songs (for example, we gather the composers and producers together to discuss). We have made efforts on this album. So we are actually more proud of it than the other ones. However we have tried different ideas and styles on the previous album. ‘Never Gone’, which is quite experimental, can be regarded as the lead-in to ‘unbreakable’, which when you listen to it, you will witness the growth and progress we enjoy. In all, this album can really represent the backstreet boys to the most extent, especially the backstreet boys nowadays.
A: What a good answer! (laugh)

Q: So you have been spent much more time on this album than on others?
A: Of course. It took us about two years and a half on this album, which might not have been taken so much time, because we stopped and restarted for several times during the recording. We on the one hand listened to music and on the other hand tried to fix the orientation of the album, still we examined how far we had gone in the recording, after that, we went back to the studio to start record. As a result, we are quite satisfied with this album.

Q: You’ve sold one hundred million records all over the world, and how did you make it?
N: Music, it is of the first place. Apart from that, it is hard to say, may be it was luck to some extent. I mean, first of all, our voice must sound perfect to touch people’s heart. And next, we should be harmonious as a group. We are trying to show to our fans our best selves, in vocal, appearance and ideas. At the same time, we have been looking for something new, hoping that our fans would have new experience and discovery every time we release our album.
A: In addition, we found ourselves lucky enough to survive in the severe music industry nowadays. In fact, I mean, nowadays it is difficult for an indie band to sell 50 million within 5 years as we did at that time. It is the tendency, because there are new media taking part in the competition of the music industry. We were in the time when people still wanted to buy CDs, and meanwhile our music was appreciated and suitable to the people. To some extent, we are quite thankful to those fans who always hold out the hope for the Backstreet boys and supported us with their passion along the way.

Q: To mention the record industry, how much are your new album influenced by the change of the music industry nowadays?
A: Nowadays, pop music is more rich and varied in styles, with a wider tolerance compared to the situation several years ago. As a pop singer, what he can sing is not just pop, but pop-rock or alternatives. Meanwhile, media and fans are influenced mutually; their favors and tastes push or indirectly change the tendency of the record industry. The biggest change in record industry is the prevalence of the download music, which decreases the CD sales, and the internet singers. However, it is just a tendency which cannot be considered good or bad. In terms of music, it is hard to say how big the influence is. But that we are trying to do something new is definitely affected by the download music tendency. Not to say the new album, we can to some extent see how the tendency will be from our first album. In terms of the tendency, we still value the CD industry for there will be many people willing to by our CDs as long as our music is wonderful, and worthwhile.

Q: In those 15 years, the world witnesses your achievements. What do you think is the biggest achievement of the group?
B: For me, I think the biggest achievement lies in the same belief we share together from beginning till now. 15 years is quite a long time, however, it passes swiftly. In those 15 years, we grew and made progress together, though everyone changed a lot. We are always doing the same thing, staying in the same group, and singing the same song, which I found it gratified and proud. Of course we are lucky in deed to be able to carry off the trials and tribulations till now.

Q: You’ve mentioned that the 2008 world tour would be of the most magnificent spectacle. Will China be included?
N: In addition to the magnificent spectacle, we will try something new. Just wait and see, we will show you the most wonderful concert of the Backstreet boys. The ‘Never gone’ tour was good, but the dance and entertainment covered a large proportion. We also dance this time, but the style of the concert will be like the ‘Black&blue’ tour. We are looking forward to giving concerts in china and to the Chinese fans. But it would be even better to giving concerts all over the world.(laugh)
A: For me, I want to go to China. There is the possibility, which we cannot be quite sure about it. We are still unforgettable about the warm welcome we received from the Chinese fans and the people we meet in Shanghai and Beijing…it will be happy if China is in our schedule. (laugh)

Q: This is an important question. You have come to China for 4 times. What impression does this country left to you? Chinese fans welcome you any time.
BSB: The Great Wall! (They said in chorus)
N: I took a photograph of the people who were climbing the wall, from the mountain, at the Great Wall, which is still hanging on the wall of my apartment.
A: Oh, I still remember that we have been to a quite large studio, in which there was a nice football field whose name escaped my mind, but the field was very large and nice on which the footballers in red were training. We also went to other places, and we were so much surprised. China is really a charming place that is quite different as we imagined before.

Q: What else do you want to say to your fans who support you along the way, except’ thank you’, especially the Chinese fans?
A: It is the destiny to have acquainted you and loved by you through music. We will keep moving on, through the new album and live show to let you see the new backstreet boys. Listen to our music carefully, and came to our show. We won’t let you down, haha(laugh). Thanks to you, thank-you will never be enough. Thank you for being patient to wait for us, and we hope you will like this album!

Source: amy_lee @ bsbchina.com

A Kissmas miracle, for teens at least

Tuesday night, a lead singer walked onto the stage of a sold-out HSBC Arena, strumming an acoustic guitar. And before he broke into the first verse, it was clear that he knew his audience.“Let’s see you put those cell phones up!” urged Martin Johnson, lead singer/ rhythm guitarist of Boys Like Girls, the opening act of Kissmas Bash 2007 — an event in which 75 percent of the audience was probably too young to be carrying a lighter.

And judging by the sea of glowing cell phone screens that appeared in the crowd, the kids were having a ball. A Boston- based quartet touring in support of its self-titled debut album, Boys Like Girls dished out a buoyant, snappy set of cookie- cutter pop-punk tunes, with the exception of the aforementioned ballad, “Holiday.” And while they weren’t lacking in energy — especially drummer John Keefe, who was throwing monster fills all over the place — they couldn’t compete with the tweens, teens and “cool” moms, whose ear-shattering shrieks marked the beginning and ending of practically every song.

But the shrieking didn’t begin (or end) there. The “hosts” of the evening, the Backstreet Boys, kicked off the evening, and the rambunctious cheering they received proved that while they may be dead, they’re certainly not forgotten. Brian, A.J. and Nick appeared in different parts of the arena throughout the evening to make important announcements, like which section had just won free food from McDonald’s.

After the first Backstreet interlude came Good Charlotte, a five-piece group that should be credited for having more staying power than your average Sum 41. Their set gave a few clues as to why they’re still hit-makers.

Far from just antiseptic second-generation Green Day, Good Charlotte’s performance featured elements of power pop, Goth rock and glam. Sure, a pseudo- rap by lead singer Joel Madden was ill advised, but at least he tried to mix it up. Not exactly a Kissmas miracle, but close.
After another riveting Backstreet Boys moment, where they rubbed their Backstreet “Backsides” on a Kiss 98.5 DJ, teen sensation Sean Kingston took the stage. Despite a muddied soundboard mix, which left his lyrics mostly unintelligible, the Miami-born, Jamaica-bred singer’s blend of lite rap, reggae and R&B was undeniably charming.

The beats were soulful and sunny, and Kingston’s energy was tough to dislike. While the between-song banter needed rehearsing — at one point, the singer just pointed to random areas of the arena, saying “I see some girls over there” — his set was the most refreshing and entertaining of the evening.

Speaking of ending it all, the Backstreet Boys followed Kingston by trying to get the crowd to sing “Frosty the Snowman” with them. Needless to say, when Simple Plan subsequently hit the stage and opened with their song “Addicted,” the response was better.

Like most bands of their mainstream punk stock, this Montreal quintet performs with confidence and conviction, and has nothing new to offer musically. But after three hours of the Kissmas Bash, Simple Plan’s sheer exuberance was a needed kick in the pants.

The night’s final set was reserved for Hinder, an Oklahoma City band that has been flying high, thanks to one of the most ham-handed power ballads in recent memory, “Lips of an Angel.”

Unfortunately, the five-piece band’s performance possessed no more substance than its hit single. A melange of recycled grunge riffs and a thoroughly unconvincing hair metal shtick, Hinder makes the most recent wave of derivative alt-rock, like Creed and Nickelback, seem almost innovative.

While the songs aren’t breathtaking, the band’s real weakness is singer Austin Winkler. The guy was clearly trying to channel the elastic pipes of his idols — Axl Rose, Steven Tyler, etc. — but he just couldn’t do it. Even his rock-star scream sounded weak, and as anybody at last night’s show could attest, a healthy scream is the true meaning of Kissmas.

Any old dump like me is going to complain a little about this show, especially with all the shrieking, but we can’t forget that the Kissmas Bash lets thousands of young people have fun listening to live music.

Like it or not, loving Good Charlotte is still art appreciation.

What was truly annoying about the event was what happened between performances.

As soon as the last song of each set ended, two screens on either side of the stage began playing TV commercials and music videos of Kissmas Bash artists.

Immediately after Boys Like Girls finished their last song, “The Great Escape,” the screens started playing the video for it. Something just felt wrong about that.

But then again, my idea of a good time is falling asleep while trying to finish a movie.

Source: The Buffalo News

Unbreakable brings Backstreet back

For those of us re-living our childhood and still engrossed in the world of pretty boys and bubblegum pop music, this year’s Christmas came early. Oct. 30 marked the release of the Backstreet Boys sixth studio album, Unbreakable.

These five boys have brought us soothing harmonies and crisp dance moves for 13 years now. True fans have stuck through rehab, an embarrassing reality show, marriages and children. Fans have also recently had to come to terms with the band’s loss of a member.

But we’ve been here all along. We’ve known the dance moves to “Everybody,” we’ve serenaded someone with “I Want it That Way,” and we’ve all shed a tear over “The Perfect Fan.”Now the Backstreet Boys that remain, A.J. McLean (29), Brian Littrell (32), Howie Dorough (34) and Nick Carter (27) have matured and brought us one of their best compilations yet. Get ready, because once again, Backstreet’s back…all right.Unbreakable returns to Backstreet’s roots, reviving the pop sounds of the ’90s that put the band on the radar. As on their first album, they charm us with their ability to harmonize. Unbreakable opened at No. 7 on the Billboard 200.

The first single off the album, “Inconsolable” is led by youngest, and my personal favorite member, Carter. It is sure to be a solid radio hit through 2007.

BSB secures their name by adding heartfelt ballads that will make your knees weak and have you singing for years. “Unsuspecting Sunday Afternoon” and “Helpless When She Smiles” have deep lyrics that reflect the maturing lives of men in their late 20s and early 30s.

Don’t think that Backstreet’s gone all old people on us though; they remain youthful in their upbeat dance songs like “Panic” and “Everything but Mine.” These songs could easily hold their own in Hollywood’s hottest clubs.

“Treat Me Right” is one of the most innovative songs on the album written by the band’s own McLean, and rival *NSYNC-er JC Chasez. Although BSB fans used to despise those of *NSYNC, I think it’s safe to say that we won and that we shouldn’t shun Chasez. We knew it was only a matter of time before they would be “bye - bye - bye.”

Unbreakable is basically the best album since 2000’s Millennium, which broke the record for sales in its first week and was nominated for five Grammy’s. Unbreakable, along with Nick Carter’s 44 lb. weight loss is exactly what we need to pep us up for a classic BSB world tour!

That’s right folks, break out those old concert T-shirts, the BSB jet (you know the one I mean, it sports all of their pictures) is being fueled up and ready for takeoff. BSB kicks off its fifth world tour in February starting in Tokyo. The band should be in the United States by late 2008.
There you have it. You’re officially ready to sing and dance with your favorite Hollywood hunk (even it was Howie) and for those of you who managed to escape a boy band phase in your life, it’s never too late! I invite you to indulge in Unbreakable.

Source: The Good 5 Cent Cigar

Backstreet Boys back in the Hub

Backstreet Boy Howie Dorough is all grown up - and a husband. But the ex-teenthrob said he’s not too worried about breaking up any catfights between his new bride, Leigh Boniello, and his adoring fans now that Backstreet’s Back.

“You know Leigh’s been with us from the beginning,” said Dorough, who met his bride when she worked as the boy band’s Webmaster. “She knows what this business is all about and she loves it. She’s amazing.”

What’s more amazing is that eight years after their heyday, the aging Boys - Dorough, Brian Littrell, A.J. McLean and Nick Carter - can still draw a huge crowd of screaming, panting females (in the middle of a blizzard!) to the Boston Billiard Club. The mini-concert, for a keyed-up crowd of MIX 98.5 listeners, is part of the Kevin Richardson-less band’s push for its new album, “Unbreakable.”

In between belting out hits like “I Want It That Way” and “House of Cards,” the Boys talked to the crowd about their comeback as well as past memories of performing in Boston.

“The last time I was in Boston was when I left for rehab,” a sober McLean proudly shouted to his cheering fans. “I’m now five years sober!”

Dorough shared what he described as his “fairy tale” wedding to Boniello in Florida last weekend, adding how “incredible” it was to have all the Backstreet Boys (including Richardson, who left the band in 2006) together again at the ceremony.
“This has just been so crazy and beautiful,” Dorough told us. “To get married and then come out here and perform - we’re back full force.”

The Boys high-tailed it out of Boston to make a gig in Hartford last night - but promised to return soon. They’re slated to perform at the TD Banknorth Garden sometime next spring.

Source: Boston Herald

Backstreet Boys shatter boy band stigma with “Unbreakable”

While the title might be grossly cliché, the content screams what’s true: Backstreet’s back.

The Backstreet Boys released their newest album “Unbreakable” on Oct. 30. One third of the world was ecstatic, another third had no idea the Boys were still making music, and the rest of the world flat out didn’t care. But regardless of who thinks what, the boy band pioneers of the late 90s are still alive and kicking with their fifth studio album.

Unlike their official comeback album, 2005’s “Never Gone,” which was a combination of rock tunes and heart-wrenching ballads, this album finds the Boys getting back into the groove of the classic pop songs that made them famous. Think back to the days of “I Want It That Way” and “The Call,” only now the Boys are now very much men and a member down.

Kevin Richardson left the group some months ago to pursue other interests. It’s sad to say, but Richardson will be missed more for his presence in the group and with fans than his vocal contribution.

With Richardson gone, Howie Dorough, the falsetto of the group, has gotten the opportunity to make his presence known. It isn’t a very big opportunity, though, as the majority of the vocals are still dominated by Brian Littrell, A.J. McLean, and Nick Carter, who belts it out hardcore over his fellow bandmates on a majority of the songs, even on the choruses. But, hey, if you got it, flaunt it. Carter definitely has it and more.

The Boys and their producers got smart on this album, turning many potentially sappy love songs into future upbeat club hits. Nearly every song on “Unbreakable” is Top 40 material and ready for radio, especially “Everything But Mine” and “Any Other Way.” “In Pieces” sounds like the newest song from The Fray and a few tracks are especially catchy. “One In a Million” and “Panic” deserve to spin in Philadelphia’s hottest clubs.

The first time I listen to an album, I listen for music. The second time, my ear is tuned for lyrics. Some of the tracks, like “Downpour,” surprised me because the lyrics were truly poetic and thought -provoking. “Unsuspecting Sunday Afternoon” struck me as being very Beatles-esque. You can really hear the parallels in the lines, “The one you hate to love is made for you” and “Last night I saw the fireworks/ The kind of pain that never hurts.” You wouldn’t expect this from a band that doesn’t write their own songs, right? Well, guess what-the Backstreet Boys do write their own songs. They wrote about half of the tracks on this album. It was a shock to see that JC Chasez, a former member of rival boy band *NSYNC, had collaborated with McLean on a song. “Unbreakable” is packed with many awesome surprises. “Treat Me Right” has a pretty happy beat, but there’s a moment in the pre-chorus where the tone changes and becomes, in a word, scary. To put it simply, this is the part in the song where the sun went behind a cloud. I think it’s the most ingenious thing I’ve heard out of pop music in a long time.

Source: The Hawk

OK! Interview with Howie and Leigh

Belting out dozens of swoon-worthy and romantic ballads couldn't prepare Howie Dorough for the biggest day of his life -- his wedding to longtime girlfriend Leigh Boniello.

"I had to hold myself back from crying," Howie tells OK!. "She was so beautiful."

The Backstreet Boy, 34, tied the knot with his lady on Dec. 8 in front of 180 guests, including his bandmates, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, A.J. McLean and Kevin Richardson, who left the group last year, and OK! was invited for the big bash. After Howie and Leigh, 33, made it official, the couple sat down with OK! to reflect on their special day as they embark on their new life as husband and wife.

Congrats, describe the day, the wedding!
HD: Seriously, it was a fairy tale, rock star wedding. I couldn’t ask for anything more. Honestly, my cheeks are hurting from smiling so hard.

LB: It was amazing. It really went well. We had so many surprises for everyone. The whole thing went on for three days. The house that we had the reception at was 45 minutes away from the church. We provided bus transportation for all of our guests so that nobody would have to drink and drive. We wanted people to be comfortable and able to enjoy it. We didn’t tell anybody but Howie and I jumped on a helicopter in front of this 32,000 square foot mansion where we had the reception, there was a helicopter pad right in front where the cocktail hour was being served. So we flew in which was a huge surprise. We got off the helicopter. It was awesome, everyone was shocked.

Howie, what did you think as Leigh walked up the aisle?
HD: Oh my God. I was holding myself back from crying. I had to take a couple big breaths. She was so beautiful. It was more than I ever expected. It was so breathtaking.

Did you cry?
HD: I was holding it back; I definitely got choked up. My eyes definitely watered here and there. I was like this is really happening. The priest told me this is your dream come true, I always wanted to get married in my own church where I was baptized. My oldest sister got married there. It really was a dream come true. It was a fairytale wedding.

LB: I’m a pretty emotional person, so I totally thought I would. But I think after all the planning, as soon as we were getting ready to go, I was like all right, we’re doing it. I didn’t even cry, my makeup looked so good, I didn’t want to ruin my makeup. I shocked myself; I got in mode. My dad was worse than I was. My dad was tearing up. I’m looking at him like, “Don’t start!”

Were you nervous?
HD: Oh yeah, the couple days before we got married everyone was like, "Wow, you're so calm." I was like, "Hey, no big deal!" The last hour before we got married, I was nervous. I couldn’t find my cufflinks, so that just started it off. From there, I accidentally spilled a glass of champagne on one of my groomsmen. My brother was like dude, its good luck. He was like enjoy it! It went by so fast. Everyone says it goes by so fast, and I was like, "Yeah, yeah, whatever." It did, it went by so fast. But we had such a great time.

LB: Yeah, definitely. I think more nervous in the morning getting ready, but not so nervous at the church. It went really smoothly.

Did anyone forget their vows/have a problem saying it?
HD: My voice is hoarse because I lost it a couple days ago. But besides that it was all good. I was a little shaky.

LB: No, not at all. We handled the vows really well. We didn’t get choked up or anything. We just did it. I was proud of us. We put on a good show!

What was the most emotional moment?
HD: I think seeing Leigh coming down the aisle. It was amazing. I just kept on telling her I love her so much. I kept saying, "You look so beautiful." It was a dream come true for me. She’s my best friend.

LB: Just seeing my dad cry as I walked down the aisle. And my mom of course.

What was your first dance to, "Endless Love"? Describe it.
HD: Yes we did. She has lower base voice than me, so she did the Lionel Richie part. I did the Diana Ross part. Just the fact that everyone was there and enjoyed the moment with us. We got a cover over the whole pool, that was the dance floor. I don’t think any nightclub in L.A .could ever even match it.

LB: Not your typical wedding song but it’s always been an inside joke with Howie and I. I our house in L.A., we have music on throughout the house. That was one of the songs, when we first moved in we probably heard it like 15 times, like while were cooking and things like that. Our big joke is he sings all the high parts. He does the Diana part, and I do the Lionel Richie part. We did a little of that, I don’t know if anyone got the joke. But it ended up being pretty funny.

What did you serve at dinner?
LB: Everyone got a tenderloin of beef, and a halibut with a lemon zest. And sweet potato mashed potatoes, and vegetables on the side. I’m a vegetarian, and they made an amazing meal with eggplant, mozzarella, roasted red pepper, like a napoleon.

Any last minute problems/hitches?
LB: Besides my fiancé losing his passport two days before our wedding as we’re going to go on our honeymoon? Luckily The Firm, his management company was great, they were there, they got it done in a day. We literally got the Fedex package yesterday.

HD: Besides me not finding my cufflinks, that was about it. It actually was really smooth. And besides me spilling champagne on my friend. It was perfect. I was really choked up. I’m getting choked up just thinking of it.

What was your favorite/most memorable moment?
LB: Flying in on the helicopter for sure. I think Howie might have mentioned to you. In order for us to make sure people would leave the church and not congregate we did a butterfly release in memory of Howie’s sister, Caroline, who died of lupus. They released two hundered butterflies when we walked out of the church and then we got in to a horse drawn carriage and just basically rode around the block until everyone left and didn’t go back in the church It was a nice touch.

HD: By all means the helicopter. I wanted to do a rock star entrance. Everyone was like, "WOW!" The helicopter swooped around the house a couple of times. It was a drastic entrance. And the butterfly release outside the beautiful church. And we rode in this horse carriage. It was like a fairy tale, like Alice in Wonderland.

Were all the Backstreet guys there?
HD: Yes, everyone was there. Nick unfortunately didn’t make the wedding but he was there at the reception. Deborah Gibson was there. And Chris Kirkpatrick from 'N Sync.

What was it like to have them there?
HD: It was awesome. They all got up to say a special blessing to Leigh and I. It was sweet. They’re like my brothers, and for me to have them there I got choked up. They said something to both of us. They know Leigh as well, because she used to work for us. The face that they said something, and recognized her, and how long we’ve been together was so sweet.

LB: I worked for the group so they all care for me a lot. I think they always knew we would get married. They’ve been so supportive. I just said to Nick, who’s the only one who is single, well AJ is too. I just said to Nick, "Don’t think you have to stop partying with us! You’re not losing a brother."

Tell me about your honeymoon to Antigua—are you excited?
HD: We’re so excited. We just have three days to get away because I have to do some shows with the group, in Columbus, Boston, Hartford and New York. But we’re so excited, at least to get away for three days. We were going to do a honeymoon in Africa and Greece for a month but we couldn’t do that because of the schedule with Backstreet. But just taking the time to go to this place, all-inclusive with a butler, we’re just so glad to chill and relax.

How about having children?
HD: We’ve definitely talked about kids. We’re both excited about taking on that next chapter in our lives. I think we’ve had some amazing years of being on the road and partying and having fun and really living life to the fullest. I think now that we are getting closer to our mid-30s, we’re not thinking so much about ourselves any more. We’re now about creating a family together and taking our lives to the next chapter.

Reporting by Jon Warech, Jacqueline Neiss & Lillian Pons

2007.06.12: LiveDaily Interview: Brian Littrell of Backstreet Boys

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

LiveDaily Contributor

During his 15-year career as a multi-platinum-selling Backstreet Boy, there were times during the late-'90s and early 2000s when singer Brian Littrell wanted to escape the frenzy surrounding his vocal group.

"I couldn't get away," Littrell said in a telephone interview with LiveDaily from Cologne, Germany. "That was tough. I think it was tough to deal with physically, emotionally and personally. But the older I get, I find new values and I value my career. I value the fans. I definitely value my family outside of my job as a Backstreet Boy. But one of the biggest lessons I think I learned in life is embracing being a Backstreet Boy."

Now he "takes it for what it's worth." Littrell finds life lessons outside of the Backstreet Boys [ tickets ], particularly with his wife, Leighanne, and 5-year-old son, Baylee. For now, he is the only Backstreet Boy who is married with a family. Fellow Backstreet Boy Howie Dorough plans to tie the knot later this month.

"There are a lot of things outside of the Backstreet Boys that have taught me more about life," Littrell said.

Littrell and the rest of the Backstreet Boys--Nick Carter and A.J. McLean--are overseas promoting their latest record, "Unbreakable," which debuted at No. 7 on The Billboard 200 album chart. Although they are playing a handful of radio-sponsored holiday shows in November and December, the proper US tour isn't planned until next spring or summer.

Littrell took the time to talk to LiveDaily about recording for the first time without now-former member Kevin Richardson, why the album is dubbed "Unbreakable" and working with 'N Sync's JC Chasez on the new song "Treat Me Right."

LiveDaily: How was your Thanksgiving holiday?

Brian Littrell: We've spent quite a few holidays in Germany in our 15-year career. If I could choose the people I was going to spend Thanksgiving with, outside of my family, it would be the guys. It was good to get together.

Have you started planning a US tour?

Not quite yet. We have a Southeast Asia tour that starts the middle of February. We're doing two shows in the Tokyo Dome. The next week after that, we'll be in Australia. We're trying to fit in New Zealand, then either hitting places like Taipei throughout Southeast Asia, maybe China. There's various routings we've talked about. Really, what's solidified right now is Japan and Australia. We're trying to fit in Mexico on our way back. Then we'll be in Europe and the UK from the beginning of April to the middle of May. Hopefully, we'll be back in the US come springtime or summer. We wanted to wait a little while before we put the US on the schedule because we want the fans to live with the record, and really, hopefully, sing along with the songs they like the best off the "Unbreakable" CD.

Tell me about the "Unbreakable" CD. How long did it take you to record?

We spent about 14 months on it. Unbelievably, we're fans of our own material. [Laughs] It's unbelievable some times. We're happy and proud of the record. It's really the Backstreet Boys of old and where we're headed in the future. We've been at it for quite some time. It's still an honor to be in the fickle music business after 15 years and still making CDs and still having fans who want to hear the music. So we're proud of it.

To what do you attribute your longevity? A lot of acts don't make it to year 15.

It's always been about the group. There's not one stand-out guy who sings all the leads and everybody else stands in the background. We're all strong vocalists in our own right. We always push for what's best for the group. Also, for the past 15 years, we've worked with some amazing songwriters and amazing producers who have really helped us mold our sound into what it is. It's really attributed to us really being a solid group, one, and two, having the right material. Every day that goes by, every year that goes by, hopefully we're getting better as singers, and better as writers and producers ourselves, truly getting a chance to grow up in the business. It's always about the group. It always will be. Our claim to fame is being a Backstreet Boy. I think we've learned to embrace that now that we're almost in our 30s.

What was the dynamic in the studio without Kevin Richardson there?

Um, it was a little strange at first, the first few days. We camped out and did a studio session in Nashville, TN. We were supposed to be in Nashville for about two weeks. It ended up being about five weeks because of the material we were writing and the progression of the record and how it was going. The first few days without Kevin were a little strange. I have to say, not having Kevin there really allowed us to focus on the music and making the best record that we could. We really wanted to make a record for the fans and for ourselves that really didn't miss anybody. Vocally, we wanted to have it as strong as it could be and the songs be as strong as they can be. A lot of people know what the Backstreet Boys sound like. It is what it is. We have to continue to sound like that with or without him.

Why did you decide to name the album "Unbreakable"?

We were actually in New York having dinner at Nobu--it's a Japanese restaurant in New York. It was all four of us--no managers, no labels, no nothing. I was giving the guys a little pep talk about how people come and go in the music business, people come and go in our personal lives all the time, for the last 15 years. It really, truly comes down to our relationship; we were the ones who had to be unbreakable. AJ kind of hit me in the arm when I said that. He said that would make a great album title. I thought, "Oh, it would." With all the things we've been through--we've been through the highest of highs together and we've been through the lowest of lowest together. We've experienced love and loss and really trying times and a lot of fun times in our career. Fortunately for us and for our fans, we are unbreakable. Unfortunately, for those who don't really want us around anymore, pardon that, but we're unbreakable. [Laughs]

How do you feel that "Unbreakable" is different than "Never Gone." On "Never Gone," you seemed to have experimented a bit with different sounds.

Yeah, "Never Gone"--we reference it as like when you're driving and you blow a tire, you kind of veer off to the right or to the left. "Never Gone" was a lot more pop-rock driven based upon the records we had done in the past. It was after our longest break. We were away from each other for about two years. We spent two years making the "Never Gone" CD, from '03-'05. I think music was different back then. To be honest with you, we were really trying to fit in musically versus kind of doing what we were hopefully good at doing. When we got into the studio this time around, we had just come off of the "Never Gone" tour. The music style on the "Never Gone" tour was so rockin' and so pop rock that we couldn't do a lot of dancing on stage. It was kind of disappointing. It was kind of disappointing to us and it was a little disappointing to the fans. I think that's part of our show. We are entertainers. When we went back in the studio, we made a conscious effort to put as many up-tempos on this record as we could. We know what it feels like to step in the studio. We also know how those songs translate to the live stage show. It was important for us in making an album with dance songs, a little bit of rhythmic songs, great melodies. It's very reminiscent of the first couple of Backstreet Boys [albums]. Backstreet Boys is comfortable doing what we do best: That's hopefully good songs and great shows. We're excited about getting on the road and touring. There's going to be a lot of dancing in the show and stuff like that.

The Backstreet Boys had a hand in writing four songs on this album. What is the songwriting process like for you?

Songwriting is fun. It's always nice to get together and sit around and try to come up with the concept of what you want to write about, getting everybody's feedback at once on the topic that you're writing about. It's fun to understand everybody's different views, and how they view either a relationship song or a dance song or something like that. It's fun. We all write individually and we always write as a group. We've gotten better over the years with understanding one another and not arguing or fighting over who writes what. [Laughs] It comes down to what's best for the song.

'N Sync's JC Chasez co-wrote and produced "Treat Me Right." What was it like to work with him?

You know, JC is cool. JC is really cool. He's a really nice guy. He comes from a group just like us, so I think he understands when it comes to recording vocals and things like that. He's got his head screwed on straight. He knows what he wants musically. He's very driven. It was fun being in the studio with him. Him and I were kind of busting on each other when he was producing my vocal. He kept hitting the talk-back button going, "Man I got you in the studio. Why don't you just tell me how you want to do it and I won't try to produce you." It's kind of funny because he knows what it's like. It was very easy to work with him and hopefully we'll work with him again in the future.

Great. Well, thanks for your time. I appreciate you calling me from Germany.

Thank you to all the readers at LiveDaily. Backstreet's here and it's been 15 years running and I appreciate the support.

[Note: The following tour dates have been provided by artist and/or tour sources, who verify its accuracy as of the publication time of this story. Changes may occur before tickets go on sale. Check with official artist websites, ticketing sources and venues for late updates.]

December 2007
11 - Buffalo, NY - HSBC Arena (WKSE radio show)
12 - Columbus, OH - Lifestyle Communities Pavilion (WNCI radio show)
13 - Hartford, CT - Webster Theatre (WKSS radio show)
13 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden (Z100 radio show)

Source: Live Daily

2007.06.12: Gerry invite to all-star wedding

Thursday, December 06, 2007

By Eddie McIlwaine

Dana's brother, the pianist Gerry Brown, has hit just the right note with Backstreet Boy Howie Dorough - and got a surprise invitation to the singer's society wedding in Orlando next month.

Gerry, who is married to Teresa, a former manageress in the Europa Hotel, Belfast, is a singer-songwriter and the mastermind behind several of his sister's albums.

He was the travelling support act across America on a few tours by the Backstreet Boys. Howie is now getting married to his sweetheart of seven years Leigh Boniello.

"Howie and I became firm friends and I have stayed with him in Orlando on private visits to the States," explained the father-of-two today.

"I've never met Leigh, from New Jersey where she has been in real estate, but I've talked to her on the phone.

"In fact it was she who called me to ask me to the wedding on behalf of her husband-to-be.

"She tells me Howie proposed to her last New Year's Eve and they have been planning the wedding in Orlando Catholic Cathedral ever since with a reception for 500 afterwards.

"I hear one of the guests could be Britney Spears who is a friend Backstreet's Nick Carter, the youngest member of the band.

"I'm delighted to be going to the wedding, especially as I'll meet up again with the rest of the Boys, Brian Littrell and AJ Mclean as well as ex-Boy Kevin Richardson who left last year to be closer to his family.

"Dana has met Howie too and every time she plays America he makes a point of turning up."

The Backstreet Boys, named after a street in downtown Orlando, have just released a new album and single.

Source: Belfast Telegraph