Backstreet Boys are back -- again

Though the song "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" first hit U.S. airwaves in 1998, it's become symbolic of the Backtreet Boys' career. After 15 years as a group, the men who will always be "Boys" are on tour again and looking forward to their next decade of pop hits.

Backstreet Boy Howie Dorough, who talked to Indy.com about his music and his new married life, said the group was playing in Europe in April when it celebrated its anniversary.

"The fans had all these signs congratulating us on 15 years," Dorough said. "We had a toast together after the show."

The Boys -- without Kevin Richardson, who left the group in 2006 -- will bring their anniversary party to the Indiana State Fair on Aug. 10.

It's been 11 years since you released your first U.S. album. What's different about the Backstreet Boys?

Besides the obvious, with Kevin taking a break, the music has definitely evolved. We've evolved as entertainers -- being a little more seasoned, knowing what works on stage, what doesn't.

Nick's (Carter) really gotten great at playing drums and guitar, AJ (McLean) learned to play piano, Brian (Littrell) picked up a little bit of guitar and piano, and I've picked up guitar and base.

We've matured... just the camaraderie of us. We're like brothers, we've always said that.

How have you made up for Kevin's absence?

It was definitely an interesting journey putting this record and tour together. It was kinda like the first son leaving home and going to college and seeing how the rest of the family does.

The door will always be open if he decides he ever wants to come back. The hardcore fans see there's one less person, but after the first couple of songs, I think they adapt to it. It's still a great, great show.

Do you guys see yourselves together in another 10 years?

Definitely. Now more so than ever because we've gone through ups and downs, with the industry and music business changing and us changing with it. We know that we have strong staying power. We have a loyal fan base all over the world. Even as we're working on group stuff, we're working on solo records.

You just got married in December. How's the married life?

It's been really, really great. I've known my partner (Leigh Boniello, the group's former Web master) seven years now. She's one of my biggest supporters. She gets excited when girls come up and want to take a picture with me. I'm blessed to have a strong woman.

Have fans ever scared you? What's the craziest thing a fan has ever done?

There have been a couple here and there. The tattooing of our faces and names on their bodies, that's been a little crazy to me. I've had some fans with a puppy dog and leave it on my doorstep. Unfortunately, I can't accept those. They come over with cakes they've made, and I'm wondering how they got them through security.

But I'm flattered and honored that they get tickled and excited to see us.

Have you seen all the Backstreet Boys-inspired YouTube videos? What do you think of the two Asian guys who lip-sync to "I Want It That Way" or Snowball, the parakeet who dances to "Backstreet's Back?"

All of my friends, they e-mail me as soon as they come out. They are funny. Yahoo wanted us to do a thing with the parody of the Asian guys. It didn't work out time wise. It's funny how they spin off so many spoofs... That parakeet jamming to us was just hilarious.

If you could meet up after the show with another act that's playing at the Indiana State Fair, who would you choose and why?

It would just depend on the kind of night. We've hung out with Jessica before. Jessica Simpson is a fun party person. We've never hung out with Daughtry before, but it seems like he'd be fun to party with.

What's your favorite fair food?

Elephant ears, funnel cakes, those big turkey legs. Bring it on. I'm all over them. I just have to time it so I don't get sick on the rides and at the time we're performing.

You're recording another album that's due out in 2010. What can fans expect from that?

Possibly even 2009. Once again, Backstreet Boys -- great four-part harmonies, great pop melodies. ..... We want it to be a record you can play from start to finish and want to listen to every song.

- By Carrie Ritchie

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Sound affair: They are back!

Backstreet Boys

“I’m a house of cards/ in a hurricane/ A reckless ride
In the pouring rain/ She cuts me and the pain
Is all I wanna feel/ She’ll dance away just like a child
She drives me crazy/ Drives me wild
But I’m helpless when she smiles.”

These lines are taken from the song “Helpless When She Smiles” from the sixth studio album of the Backstreet Boys, Unbreakable. Well, yes, the boys have returned, minus singer Kevin Richardson who had left to be with his wife and new baby. The four remaining boys, or rather men, Howie Dorough, Nick Carter, Brian Littrel and AJ McLean have brought us Unbreakable featuring the hit single “Inconsolable”.

The album is true to the Backstreet Boys although now a little more mature in it’s musical style, gone are the cheesy pop beats of their early 90’s releases and appropriately so considering we are now in 2008, a whole decade on from their first albums.

The album comes in 2 formats: a basic 14 track CD in the usual plastic case with inner sleeve, the other version is the deluxe edition which features 17 tracks. It comes in a fold out card case which contains a small fold out poster of the guys in one pocket, the inner booklet featuring pictures and details of the songs in another pocket and obviously the CD itself in the remaining pocket.

The tracks are well placed, flowing into each other well and making the album easy to listen to, however with this album, unlike their previous work, it is seen that a lot of the tracks are a little too similar, the majority being soulful ballads, perfect for the romantics out there but a little disappointing for the other fans who enjoy their edgier upbeat tracks, the ones that had a little added darkness to their themes or lyrics.

Of the 17 tracks on the deluxe album the final three, “Downpour” “In Pieces” and “Nowhere to go” are the bonus ones, not found on the standard album. They are certainly tracks worth getting the deluxe album for, they may only be ballads with a slightly more upbeat feel but they are well written and performed and considering the two versions of the album generally cost the same you’re better off going for the extra tracks and making the most of your money.

In general all the tracks are very likeable. “Any other way” is the closest to the previously mentioned edgy and dark tracks. It has a good beat throughout the track with a classic build up in the chorus and the voices of the guys working perfectly together as they always did.

“One in a million” follows the trend of a slightly curious track, something all their albums have had, it’s beat has a slightly hypnotic feel to it and they really seem to be testing their voices on the track. “Panic” is another preferred track.

“Helpless When She Smiles” and “Inconsolable” are probably the best tracks in the album. While their voices still sound great together and they still harmonize well, one can notice the absence of former band member Kevin, he had the deepest voice of the five and on some of the tracks it is quite apparent that he is no longer in the group, this doesn’t take away from the overall enjoyment of the album though.

The group plans to head into the studio in the spring of 2009 to begin work on their next album, after they finish the Unbreakable World Tour of 2008, with plans to hopefully release the album sometime the next year, or early 2010. In between that time AJ Mclean announced on 19 March 2008 that he’s finished recording and will release his first solo material some time in 2008.

Overall, it’s a great album for Backstreet Boys fans and boy-band fans in general. The heavy metal, rock, dance, trance...all those other music style fans probably wont like the album, but the Backstreet Boys have never tried to appeal to everybody and have never denied the type of band they were and the fan base they were aimed at, as with all music albums.

Subham Basu, Coordinator,
ex-St James’

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Backstreet’s back

No longer ‘boys,’ pop stars have grown up, evolved into ‘better businessmen, better artists’
By STEPHEN COOKE Entertainment Reporter
Wed. Jul 30 - 6:47 AM

THERE’S NO DENYING it: at the peak of their career, the Backstreet Boys were the biggest thing in pop music.

In the ’90s their pre-packaged beats and harmony-infused hooks were the fun and frothy yang to the dark and brooding yin of alternative rock’s primal screams. While following a formula that evolved from the Monkees, they managed to create a rabid worldwide fan base that still enables them to make records and headline tours like the one that brings them to the Halifax Metro Centre on Saturday.

Calling from his home in West Hollywood, A.J. McLean is pumped to talk about the tour despite a recent bout of strep throat — "It’s still a little scratchy, but definitely getting through it . . . it’s all about ginger tea, ginger shots and vocal rest" — but at the same time he comes across as down-to-earth and sincere as he talks about the group’s meteoric rise and the ongoing effort to make music that makes sense to them as they enter their 30s, as well as to fans who are now more concerned with careers and families than MTV and lip gloss.

Certainly when McLean was teamed up with Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell and Kevin Richardson (who left in 2006 to pursue a career in musical theatre), they didn’t have many illusions about pop music success. Maybe there’d be an album and a few hits, but not a 15-plus year run resulting in six albums selling over 100 million copies. "That’s just nuts, you kinda have to pinch yourself," McLean says.

"I’ve been saying this for years, that it still hasn’t hit me. Even at the tippy-top of our career, with the Millennium record and Black and Blue, I don’t think it hit me that we’re the group that we’re looked at as.

"We’re still just four guys that love to sing and dance, a bunch of dorks from Florida and Kentucky that get to do what we love to do. We’re just normal guys, but people put you up on a pedestal . . . and that brings a certain pressure. But we’re not perfect and we don’t pretend to be perfect."

McLean has joked that if the Backstreet Boys ever collaborated on a book about their experiences, it would rival War and Peace in terms of size, with a litany of Hard Day’s Night-style moments where legions of fans kept them barricaded in hotels. "Sometimes it’d be fun, other times it could be scary, or even sad," he recalls.

"We were constantly reminded of how crazy things could be; on the Black and Blue round-the-world trip we were in Rio and we were just doing radio and TV interviews in a hotel, and 48,000 kids showed up. It was a little nutty; that’s the sort of thing you’d see happen to Michael Jackson or Madonna. We’re just a bunch of good ol’ boys from the South.

"We just thought we were making pop music, but something like that is very awe-inspiring and it’s a kick in the butt to remind you what you’re actually doing."

Such a book would also have to deal with the man responsible for Backstreet Boys, boy band guru Lou Pearlman, recently sentenced to 25 years in prison for a number of failed financial scams. Working with former New Kids on the Block manager Johnny Wright, he put the Florida quintet (as well as *NSync and, to a lesser extent, acts like Aaron Carter and O-Town) into the spotlight, but understandably McLean’s feelings about his former manager are bittersweet at best.

"I think everything happens the way it’s supposed to, either good, bad or indifferent, but karma is a bitch," he sighs. "We do pay tribute to him for just giving this thing a chance to take off, and we will forever be in his debt for that.

"At the same time, Justin (Timberlake) said it perfectly: what goes around comes around. It’s what we expected was going to happen at some point, we just didn’t know when. It’s unfortunate and sad, but we’ve managed to come out on top as better businessmen and I hope as better artists."

On their latest album, Unbreakable, Backstreet Boys don’t shy away from danceable pop and earnest ballads, but there are also tracks that don’t rely as much on big production and show real growth in terms of sound and writing.

Making records now is a big change from what McLean refers to as the "dictatorship" of their early days when everything was planned out for them. But he says he feels the reason the group is still around is because they learned early the importance of fighting for creative control.

"We’ve definitely earned it, and we’ve definitely learned a lot from songwriters and producers that we’ve worked with," he says. "Now we see bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Radiohead take control over their careers and to hell with the record companies, making it all about the music and the creativity.

"I love it, I’m in full support of it, and I think that’s why we’ve been more hands-on with this record than with any previous record, and I can only imagine where we’ll be with the one that we’ll start making next year. We’ll be more in the loop with the sound and the songwriting, and we’ve often talked about getting to the point where we’re doing all the writing ourselves.

"We’re not there yet, but we’re always learning about the writing process and the production expertise we’ve been fortunate enough to be involved with."

( scooke@herald.ca)

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Concert site becomes beehive of activity

The countdown is on and everything appears to be on schedule as massive steel structures begin to take shape at the Magnetic Hill Concert Site.

“We’re just a few days away and everything is ahead of schedule. We’re keeping our fingers crossed,” City of Moncton spokeswoman Jillian Somers said yesterday at the concert site as a crew of about 30 workers continued the process of piecing together two gigantic sets of steel scaffolding that will form the VIP bleachers in front of the main concert stage. More than 40,000 tickets have been sold for the Aug. 2 concert featuring the Sam Roberts Band, K.T. Tunstall, John Fogerty and the Eagles. The concert site — which has in recent years been host to the Rolling Stones, Brooks & Dunn and country stars Tim McGraw and Faith Hill — has seen many improvements already this year.

Permanent buildings for production offices and washrooms are now in place. Another building to be used as the front gate ticket office will be moved into place today. Another new addition is a special platform reserved for people in wheelchairs.

For Pascal Dubé of Stagecrew Inc. in Shediac, it’s shaping up to be one of the busiest weeks of his career. His company is responsible for setting up the bleachers, stage, lights and sound system for the Magnetic Hill Music Festival.

And to make matters busier, he’s also responsible for setting up the Moncton Coliseum for Friday night’s concert by the Backstreet Boys. “We’ve got about 32 on site today, but tomorrow we’ll have close to 90,” Dubé said yesterday.

Work on the bleachers began over the weekend but will shift into high gear today as construction of the stage itself begins. Yesterday afternoon, the large steel structures were still on flatbed trucks in the parking area. The staging will form the basis for what is expected to be a stage nearly as large as the one used by the Rolling Stones when they performed here in 2005.

Over the next few days, the riggers will be working on a tight schedule to finish the bleachers and then move on to the stage, sound towers in the mid-field and the “front-of-show” area that includes the sound and light controls.

Dubé said the pace will continue to escalate into Friday evening when the final pieces of the puzzle — the lights and sound gear — are moved into place. Thursday and Friday are expected to be hectic as some of the crew members are moved over to the Coliseum to set up everything for the Backstreet Boys.

Overall, the job will require more than 200 workers.

Dubé said the setup and teardown crew for the Backstreet Boys will include 42 stagehands, 12 riggers, 12 labourers and one runner.

The Eagles show at Magnetic Hill Concert Site will be much bigger.

For that show, he will need 36 riggers, eight forklift operators, 174 labourers, seven crew chiefs and one runner.

And unlike most jobs, theirs just gets busier after the show. All the workers will be called back after the audience is gone to begin the process of taking everything apart, regardless of the weather.

“When we did the Brooks & Dunn show two years ago it was horrible in the rain,” he said, recalling the thunder, lightning and torrential downpour that came at the end of the 2006 country music show. The setup and teardown work has to stop if there is a lightning storm, but the workers will continue through rainy, windy weather. Riggers wear special safety straps while working above ground but it is still a difficult job in poor weather.

Dubé said most of the people hired for the job are local, but he had to call in specialists from Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and P.E.I. to get the job done.

“The riggers are the real backbone of this operation,” he said.

The riggers could be seen climbing the huge spider web of steel girders as other workers on the ground used huge Caterpillar four-wheel-drive forklifts to move boxes and lift materials. Some of the workers are actually camping on site.

Meanwhile, preparations are also underway for the many food and beverage vendors on the concert site. The food service is being managed by the Delta Beauséjour, but Somers said there will be all manner of foods from burgers and fries to wraps and vegetarian meals available. The concert site itself will be divided into two sections — the all-ages section and the 19- and-over licensed section. Food service will be available in both areas.

Although one large tent was set up in the beer garden area, the food vendors won’t likely start setting up until Friday morning.

One of the tricks for the sound crews will be to synchronize the sound system on stage with the towers in the field to avoid the echo effect. The sound will actually be delayed at the towers so a pluck of a guitar string will be heard at the same time from all speakers.

And while there are permanent washrooms now in place at the concert site, they are for the backstage crews and band members only. Everyone else at the concert will have to rely on the big plastic porta-potties that are now in place. The green grass of the concert site hill is also dotted with blue and white trash cans. This year, the plastic cans will be used for separating trash into blue and green bags in accordance with Metro Moncton’s wet and dry program.

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Streets Ahead

BACKSTREET Boys are so worried about rival manband New Kids On The Block’s comeback, they have holed themselves up in the studio to rush out their next album.

The veteran quartet have begun working on their sixth studio album and have targeted a late 2008 release – just in time to compete with the eagerly awaited NKOTB record.


Meanwhile BB’s Howie Dorough, 34, is also working on a solo Latin record.


He said: “I’ve always embraced the Latin rhythms, the Latin sounds, just the music itself.”

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Backstreet’s getting back again!

Kaanchan [July 29, 2008, 1:41:30 PM]
Backstreet Boys Howie Dorough and A.J. McLean are working on their first solo projects even as work on the group’s sixth studio album is underway.

The group, which is on tour in Europe, is simultaneously working on its follow-up to last year's Unbreakable. Howie says they plan to hit the studio soon after their tour of North America, which starts next week in Newfoundland and wraps up on September 6th in Seattle. "We're looking at getting back into the studio quite quickly," says Howie. "We want to hopefully have something ready to go or at least be heavily into it by the end of the year and have something out towards the beginning of next year."

As for the solo projects… Release dates for both Howie’s and A.J.'s albums are not yet finalised. "Obviously Backstreet's always gonna be No. 1 priority," Howie said. "It's a matter of timing. We're not competing with each other or taking time away that we could be working as a group."

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Backstreet Boys look to follow up 'Unbreakable'

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski / LiveDaily Contributor

Though they've still got lots of touring ahead this summer, the Backstreet Boys [ tickets ] are getting to work on their follow-up to 2007's "Unbreakable" as singers Howie Dorough and A.J. McLean finish up their respective solo CDs.

So far, the group--which also includes Brian Littrell and Nick Carter--has recorded one as-yet-untitled song written by Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic fame. But the Backstreet Boys plan to forge relationships with other writers as well during the recording process.

"We're definitely talking about putting the Max Martin relationship back together again," Dorough said to LiveDaily about the producer/songwriter who penned "I Want It That Way." "I've actually done some writing, as well as A.J. has with Ryan Tedder. He's really, really great. I foresee us possibly working with him. He has the same management. We're just going to go out there and really explore. There's a lot of new writers who have come to the table since the last album. We're going to do what we can to make it once again the best record. We're going to do a lot of writing ourselves but as well reach out to great producers to help us."

As for solo material, Dorough, whose mother is Puerto Rican, is working on a Latin-English-themed album.

"I'm kind of exploring my roots in that direction," he said. "I'm doing something that's a mixture of English and Spanish--Spanglish--some Latin rhythms. I've grown up listening to Jon Secada, whom I've had a chance to do some writing with, and just watching the careers of Enrique [Iglesias] and Ricky [Martin] and people I think have done a good job of crossing over. I'm going to do something in that vein as well."

Dorough is confident that fans will enjoy his solo material when it comes out sometime in 2009.

"Together as a group we have a strong, strong, humongous fan base," Dorough said. "We're blessed, as well, as we each have our niche markets and our own personal fans. We have individual fans outside of the group. I really notice that, for me, being part Spanish, I've always had a calling, a really big appreciation from all of the Latin fans."

The Backstreet Boys [ tickets ] will be touring North America through early September.

[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.]

July 2008
29, 30 - St. John's, Newfoundland - Mile One Centre

August 2008
1 - Moncton, New Brunswick - Moncton Coliseum Complex
2 - Halifax, Nova Scotia - Halifax Metro Centre
4 - Ottawa, Ontario - Scotiabank Place
5 - Montreal, Quebec - Bell Centre
7 - Toronto, Ontario - The Molson Amphitheatre
8 - Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre
9 - Kettering, OH - Fraze Pavilion for the Performing Arts
10 - Indianapolis, IN - Indiana State Fair Grandstand
15 - Atlantic City, NJ - House of Blues
16 - Gilford, NH - Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion
18 - Vienna, VA - Filene Center at Wolf Trap
23 - St. Paul, MN - Minnesota State Fair Grandstand
24 - Highland Park, IL - Ravinia Festival at Ravinia Park
26 - Sudbury, Ontario - Sudbury Arena
27 - Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario - Steelback Centre
30 - Regina, Saskatchewan -Brandt Centre
31 - Edmonton, Alberta - Rexall Place

September 2008
2 - Calgary, Alberta - Pengrowth Saddledome
4 - Vancouver, British Columbia - General Motors Place
5 - Victoria, British Columbia - Save On Foods Memorial Centre
6 - Redmond, WA - Marymoor Amphitheatre



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Backstreet Boys Work on Solo Records

Just before the start of the North American leg of their Unbreakable tour a couple of the Backstreet Boys are working on solo projects. A.J. McLean is nearly finished with his first solo effort, in fact he has already begun touring behind the new material doing a few club dates in Europe and North America in tandem with the Backstreet Boys tour. Howie Dorough is exploring his Latin roots on his upcoming solo release working with Jon Secada and George Noriega. Neither record has a release date as of yet.

The other two Backstreet Boys have already tested the solo waters, Nick Carter released his pop rock solo record, Now or Never in 2003 while Brian Littrell released the contemporary Christian record Welcome Home in 2006.

Though the boys are branching out there is no break up in the works, in fact the quartet already began recording new material while they were touring in Europe earlier this year and they plan to hit the studio again once this leg of the tour has wrapped up. Their upcoming North American tour is made up of nearly half Canadian and half American dates. Here are the details of the shows on this side of the border:

July 29-30, St. John's NF – Mile One Stadium
August 1, Moncton, NB – Moncton Coliseum
August 2, Halifax, NS – Metro Centre
August 4, Ottawa, ON – Scotiabank Place
August 5, Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
August 7, Toronto, ON – Molson Amphitheatre
August 26, Sudbury, ON – Sudbury Arena
August 27, Sault St. Marie, ON – Steelback Centre
August 30, Regina, SK – Brandt Centre
August 31, Edmonton, AB – Rexall Place
September 2, Calgary, AB – Pengrowth Saddledome
September 4, Vancouver, BC – GM Place
September 5, Victoria, BC - Save On Foods Memorial Centre

Writer: Michelle Garcia

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Backstreet Boys Back in Studio

Josh Grossberg Sat Jul 26, 6:46 PM ET

Los Angeles (E! Online) - The now-aged but still-recording New Kids on the Block have some whippersnappers competing for the attention of suburban housewives nationwide by the name of the Backstreet Boys.

Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough and A.J. McLean are looking to give their boy-band brethren a run for their record sales. The quartet has begun working on its sixth studio album, targeted for a late 2008 release, just in time to compete with the latest from NKOTB.

The Backstreet Boys (still sans the retired Kevin Richardson) began cranking on the new material while touring Europe last month, according to Billboard. They may debut some of the material during their North American tour, which runs through August and September, before putting the wraps on the follow-up to 2007's Unbreakable.

Apparently believing that there's not such a thing as too much Backstreet, the boys are also working on various side projects.

McLean revealed in March that he finished his solo set. And Dorough's "halfway" through a Latin-themed CD with singer-producer Jon Secada and George Noriega, the mastermind behind albums for Ricky Martin, Shakira and Jennifer Lopez.

"I've always embraced the Latin rhythms, the Latin sounds, just the music itself," Dorough tells Billboard. "It's just such a feel-good music, and I've always looked up to people like Jon Secada, Ricky Martin, Enrique [Iglesias], who have done a good crossover.

"It's just a mixture of my American roots in pop music meets my Latin roots. It's gonna be a good, kind of eclectic mixture."

He just better hope fans want it that way.

SOURCE

Backstreet Boys At Work On New Album, Solo Discs

July 24, 2008 , 12:15 PM ET

Gary Graff, Detroit

Backstreet Boys Howie Dorough and A.J. McLean are continuing to work on their first solo projects even as the group has started work on its sixth studio album.

Dorough tells Billboard.com that "A.J.'s about done" with his album, while Dorough is "probably close to halfway there." He's been working with Jon Secada and George Noriega (Ricky Martin, Shakira, Jennifer Lopez) on an album Dorough says will explore the Latin roots of his mother's family, which hails from Puerto Rico.

"I've always embraced the Latin rhythms, the Latin sounds, just the music itself," says Dorough, who even flirted with joining Menudo when he was younger. "It's just such a feel-good music, and I've always looked up to people like Jon Secada, Ricky Martin, Enrique (Iglesias), who have done a good crossover."

Dorough describes his album as "kind of Latin-ish, English, Spanglish. It's just a mixture of my American roots in pop music meets my Latin roots. It's gonna be a good, kind of eclectic mixture."

Release dates for both his and McLean's albums are up in the air, however. "Obviously Backstreet's always gonna be number one," Dorough says. "It's a matter of timing, when we feel each of us wants our record to come out so that we're not competing with each other or taking time away that we could be working ... as a group."

The group, in fact, has already started working on its follow-up to last year's "Unbreakable," recording some new material while on tour in Europe. Dorough says the quartet plans to hit the studio after its tour of North America, which starts Tuesday in St. John's, Newfoundland, and wraps on Sept. 6 in Seattle.

"We're looking at getting back into the studio quite quickly," says Dorough, adding that Backstreet Boys may work again with Swedish producer/writer Max Martin, who worked with the group on "I Want it That Way," "Shape of My Heart," "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" and other hits.

"We want to hopefully have something ready to go or at least be heavily into it by the end of the year and have something out towards the beginning of next year," Dorough says.

SOURCE

AJ Interview With UK Magazine

This article is taken from the UK weekly celebrity magazine called Closer, issue12-18 July '08.
P47. The photo referred to is of the guys in front of a dianasour at Universal Studios in what
looks like '93. Also included is a smaller photo of the guys this past year in Russia.


'This picture was taken at Universal Studios Florida in 1994. It's special to me because it represents the very beginning of Backstreety Boys.

We were living in Orlando and noone knew who we were. We'd left school and had been signed by a management company, but we didn't havea record deal yet. At this point we could never have imagined we'd become the best-selling boyband of all time.

It's humbling to look back - we were just ordinary kids having a fun day out. Howie, who I've known since I was 11, had worked at Universal park so he was really excited, showing us the best bits. Brian hadn't been in the group long so we were still getting to know what a great guy he is.

It's also funny to notice that of the five of us, I've changed the most. Brian, Howie & Kevin still look the same and Nick is just a bit taller. But I think "Wow, I didn't have any tatoos or piercings. What the hell happened?". This is before I started dying my hair every colour of the rainbow too.

Seven years after this picture was taken, Kevin gave me the kick up the arse I needed to check into rehab for subvstance abuse. When your in it, you don't think you have a problem. I will always be an alcoholic but I've been sober for about six years now. And I'm happy with who I am today. You realise who your friends are when you leave rehab because they're there to help you pick up the pieces. My boys were there always therev for me.

We were all so naive back then - we were just praying that we would record one album that would make the charts. Two years later, we got a record deal and went on to sell over 100million records. The bands still going strong with a new album on the way - despite Kevin sadly leaving in 2006 - and I'm also trying for a solo career'.

SOURCE: LiveDaily

July 2008's Nick's FanChat

Transcript From Fanchat with Nick Carter July 2008.

Nick: Hold on… Um… Ok so now what do you want?… Yeah…Yeah…Okay. Okay… So Why are we saving the video? I don’t understand what that’s doing. Ok, alright, so you let me know when it’s ready and i’ll start. let’s do this. Wait a minute, how am I going to be fed the.. ok.. ok,.. alright… so…alright cool. i’ll get on and do it…

It’s a little strange cause you guys can see me right now, or at least I think you can… So I’m going to start answering some questions now (..) all you out there. Um, before I get into that, real quick - so this is my studio. You know, Where the magic happens (..)

Anyway’s um. Alright I’m going to start with some questions, this is from - well if you don’t know. I’m Nick Carter, Backstreet Boy, little ol’ me.

Oh and just to introduce you to my new dog real quick, this is Maxi, say hi Maxi, she’s really scared right now. Maxi’s an Australian Cattle Dog. I’m hoping you guys can see me, and I’m not just talking to… anyways. Ok….let’s start this.

So this one is from Madelyn. It says..

Madelyn: What is the most important, what is most important to me when it comes to being on Stage?

Nick: Well, I think when I’m on stage the most important thing would be the way that we sound. The way that the way we sing onstage. Um, A lot of times we try to make it sound as close the record as possible because we do realize that there are a lot of fans out there that do really enjoy the songs from the past, so I think that in my opinion is one of the most important, to try to sound the best. So, now actually now that I can kind of clear this up real quick. Cause we just did this webcast on MSN and it was um, and it was, I was sick I was extremely sick during that show. so I didn’t sound the best. So just if you guys watched it. I hope you didn’t judge me on that cause I tried to sing good, but I was actually like really sick on that, that show at the 02 Arena. So Anyways, ok.

Leessee2112: What would you do if you were not a singer?

Nick: I don’t know, it’s hard to say what I would do honestly. Uh, I probably would do something involved with the ocean, but I like. I enjoy writing. I actually really enjoy writing screenplays. I enjoy writing music. Could’ve been like a sail boat captain. or actually, you know what else i could’ve been. I could’ve been like a scuba diving instructor. I would’ve go really deep into that. I started scuba when i was like 12 years old. So I could’ve probably advanced more in that. I still can. I’m an open water diver since I was twelve. Everything started when I was twelve.

Krissy (…): Hey Nick, What is the most meaningful gift from a fan you have ever received? Do you wear some of the shirts the fans give you? Kisses from Germany?

Nick: Well kisses back to Germany. I guess you’re asking why do I wear shirts that fans give me. Well, first of all because I don’t want to shop. I hate shopping and I um, so I don’t shop as much as I probably should. so I think fans probably started…

Ok… now they’re both on.. can you herrr me. ok I’m on, ok let’s do this… (now the real Fan Chat starts)

Literally the thing i was worried about was getting on here for about six minutes, by myself, which I did so, um, now we are in the Matrix and your on, you’re chatting with me. Nicholas Gene Carte (with a french accent). Um, this is my recording studio, in my house in Nashville. Welcome to the crissive. I’m nick and I want to introduce you to the new little tyrant, and she’s a Australian cattle dog, I just got her yesterday, her name is Maxi. I’ve always wanted an Australian cattle dog. Actually Laylah is a half Australian cattle dog. so that’s maxi.

The reason I call her Maxi. In the movie called mad Max, he had a dog that was an Australian cattle dog and it’s name was Maxi.

So Anyway lets get to business. Um.. I’m going to go ahead and start to answer some questions for you guys.

Madelyn (question repeated from above)

Nick: The most important thing to me is the way we sound as far as vocally, the way we sing. Trying to make it sound as close to the record as we can. it’s always the most important, even before dancing. We stress ourselves on being a vocal harmony group and uh, I think that’s what’s kind of kept us around forever. (is that) We, we try our hardest to sound the best we can on stage. So that it me is the most important thing. Sounding as close to the record.

So I can clear up something for you guys from the 02 Arena Webcast show. I was really sick, I was really really sick. I had strepthroat during that one, I’m not trying to vouch, I’m just . So just to let you guys know, It wasn’t the best show, so uh, that could’ve sounded a little bit better, so Hopefully you enjoyed it.

Lesse2112: Same question as posted above.

Nick: yeah, it would probably something to do with the ocean. I love the music industry and I love being an entertainer, um. But the thing that I would probably would have done would be something to do with the ocean. Maybe I would’ve been a master diver, and maybe an instructor, someday. It would’ve been kind of cool to in the future, if you look towards the future, you kind of see yourself living in the future, in the Bahamas, or something. Being an instructor and having a little business, it could still happen I think.

Krissy: What’s the most… (same question)

Nick: So Germany, Love you. The thing that - the reason why I wear a lot of the shirts the fans give me is number one, they are great gifts is I love them, They always have like really funny things that they say on them. and also to because I don’t shop as much as I probably should. So it kinda puts me in a position to where I think the fans are starting to realize that I don’t shop enough.I kinda wear the same clothes over and over again, but hey I’m touring. I got one suitcase you’ve go to give me a break, you know what I’m saying.

The most meaningful give: you know, the gift of love. to our music. loving our music and loving the only thing that we’ve done.

Christie Lee: Who do you credit as your greatest support in your career?

Nick: The person, or, the people that I credit the most would probably be the rest of the guys in the group. I, I credit them for showing me, um, a different side of life and a different side of a life, a different way of living. Cause I had trouble with my family and stuff like that, So they were able to kind of mentor me and teach me and um, and I think their influence has been amazing for me as a career. So I credit them for even having a career, cause without them it wouldn’t have been Nick Carter from the Backstreet Boys.

Bengylena: What is your favorite thing to do on your days off in between shows?

Nick: the thing I enjoy doing the most is probably is playing basketball. I am really enjoying getting back into that again, getting back into sports.since I’ve been back home. So like playing basketball. I still play video games, what guy doesn’t. The thing that I’ve picked up now is, on this computer, that I’m talking on right now, um. I’ve actually got a couple music programs in there that I’m really enjoying. One program called LogingA and I’m doing a lot more writing for the third album that I’m recording right now. I enjoy writing music on days off, playing sports. I’m a diehard football fan. So hopefully when we’re on tour, on the US/Canda run, football will be back on…! Nothing but the Bucks and the celtics, baby!

Blanca: Have you regret sometime in your life having started so young, maybe too young in this business, not having to live the teenager experience, like going to high-school and parties?

Nick: Well look Blanca, um, as far as the party stuff. there’s so many parties being in the business it’s about time to stop partying as much, that’s one thing. and so I don’t regret that. Um, but you know there was a time when I missed being in school, but you know I realize I’m fortunate and not everybody lives the same life and other people are going to be benefited and blessed in other ares. You know, in being able to live life a lot differently. I think we have all our own paths, just be greatful The one thing I believe in is. being grateful for what you have, and I’m very grateful.

BSBAggi: Hey Nick what is your favorite song to perform?

Nick: My favorite song to perform, from the boys it would probably be, Siberia is a fun song because we don’t perform it to often, and um. Siberia is, Sometimes we throw it into the new shows, It’s one of those songs that the audience is like really quiet, because it’s the type of song, it’s such a touching and unique melody so I think that’s why I enjoy siberia. Now by myself I really enjoy singing I got you. the song that was written on the first solo record. I enjoy performing that song because it’s touching and amazing, and the melody is amazing.

Mykacho84: How do you decide what non-bsb songs to play live with BSB?

Nick: So that kind of answers the same. How do I decide. It’s hard you know. you just got to satisfy yourself but at the same time you’ve got to satisfy the people listening to you and wanting to hear your music. It’s kind of half a medium, a compromise. Trying to put yourself in, your in the fans minds. So I think that that is how you decide. You know, what is it. you think to yourself if you went to one of your favorite artists concerts, what would you want to hear. There would probably be some songs that they don’t normally perform that you would want to hear too. It’s kind of complex, but hey that’s my job and it’s fun. So..

Drummergirl1984: Hi nick my name is Robbin and I was wondering is it hard remembering all the dance moves?

Nick: It gets harder t the older you get o remember stuff period. and it’s fun, it’s fun to perform. it’s fun to add choreography to the song that’s you’ve done. and re choreographing is a lot of fun. Working with people like Richie Torrigan (sp?), we’re friends. So it’s just fun, it can be sometimes tedious to remember some of the things, some of the moves. If you mess up you just got to kind of go with it.

Vinna AllAbass: Nick, you mentored something in one of your bulletins that you had something in store for Europe. Can you give us a clue as to what that might be? World domination?

Nick: I don’t remember saying world domination. (laughs), no, um. Just what I was insinuating was embarking on recoding solo material again. i took a very long time in-between to come back with the boys and obviously not leaving the group, because I love them and um. i really I kinda went back to school and studied a lot more. I was kind of thrown into the frying pan wit the last solo record. That was what I was meaning. That I wanted to keep it secret, but I’m letting it out of the bag, cause I love you guys. At the moment recording in Nashville. It’s not anything you guys
are expecting so maybe, it’ll be great music so um, that’s what I mean by sunrise.

Marjet: if you could go back to one moment in your life, what moment would it be and why?

Nick: I think I would go back, it’s hard to say that I would go back because you know. everything takes you to where you are now, and I;m grateful for that and it teaches you so much and I’ve recently started to realize some things about myself . I think I would’ve talked a little bit more to my grandmother before she passed away. yah that would probably be something I would do, cause she was cool.

BrianHeartsBacon: Whatever happened to Frick and Frack?

Nick: ok well, Frick and Frack came out again on tour, and towards the end we started sayin’ - me Frick, me Frack, and doing all that stuff again. And, no, Frick and Frack are still there. You’ve just got to come see it and expereicne the Frackalicious and the Frickatrocious , and so no fick and frack still exist. it never ends, it never ends.

Watch the FULL video here http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/527991

Thanks to http://intobackstreet.com/

SonyBMG releases 25 years of the Best Boybands!

SonyBMG have announced details for their forthcoming compilation album featuring 38 songs from some of the best boy bands ever plus the bonus parody track from Boytown (from the movie of the same name) “ I Cry”.

"It's A Boy Thing: 25 Years Of The Best Boybands" will be released July 19.

You will hear The Jacksons, New Edition, Bros, New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men, East 17, Human Nature, Boyzone, Westlife, Five, 98 Degrees, Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC to name a few. (Please note that Hi – Five is the American R & B Quintet not the Channel 9 act). Turn it up, smile and dance.

Tracklisting – Disc 1

1. The Jacksons - Can You Feel It (1981)
2. New Edition - Candy Girl (1983)
3. Menudo – Hold Me (1985)
4. Bros - When Will I Be Famous (1988)
5. New Kids On The Block - You've Got It (The Right Stuff) (1988)
6. Boyz II Men - In The Still Of The Nite (I'll Remember) (1992)
7. Worlds Apart - Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel (1993)
8. Boys In Black – More Than A Woman (1993)
9. CDB - Hook Me Up (1994)
10. Kulcha - Fly Girl (1994)
11. East 17 – It’s Alright (1994)
12. MN8 - I've Got A Little Something For You (1995)
13. 3T – Anything (1995)
14. Human Nature - Wishes (Remastered) (1996)
15. Code Red - This Is Our Song (1996)
16. No Mercy - Where Do You Go (1996)
17. 911 - The Day We Find Love (1997)
18. Next - Too Close (1998)
19. Boyzone - No Matter What (1998)

Tracklisting – Disc 2

1. Lyte Funkie Ones - Summer Girls (1999)
2. Ultra – Say It Once (1999)
3. Westlife - Flying Without Wings (1999)
4. Five - If Ya Gettin' Down (1999)
5. 98 Degrees - I Do (Cherish You) (1999)
6. C Note - Wait Till I Get Home (1999)
7. Backstreet Boys - Shape Of My Heart (2000)
8. Natural - Put Your Arms Around Me (Original Mix) (2000)
9. Blue - All Rise (Radio Version) (2001)
10. O-Town - All Or Nothing (Album Version) (2001)
11. Soul Decision - Faded (2001)
12 *NSYNC - Bye Bye Bye (2002)
13. A1 - Caught In The Middle (2002)
14. B2K - Girlfriend (Main Version) (2003)
15. V - Blood, Sweat & Tears (2004)
16. McFly - Five Colours In Her Hair (2004)
17. Mercury4 - 5 Years From Now (2004)
18. Hi-Five - I Like The Way (The Kissing Game) (2005)
19. Naturally 7 - Feel It (In The Air Tonight) (Radio Edit) (2006)
20. BOYTOWN - I Cry (Bonus)

SOURCE