Rash of changes turn Boys to men

Backstreet has come through 15 years together 'stronger than ever'

Tom Harrison, The Province

Published: Thursday, September 04, 2008

IN CONCERT

Backstreet Boys

Where: GM Place

They aren't called the Backstreet Men, but the Backstreet Boys have grown up. They've weathered lawsuits, dodgy management, personal troubles, a self-imposed hiatus, shed a member and likely the growing pains aren't over. But the group of Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, A.J. McLean and Brian Litrell from Florida carry on.

"I feel that we're stronger than ever," Dorough says. "We're stronger and tighter. We've taken control of our writing and production."

They haven't been in a cocoon, protected from the outside world though it might seem that way. The Backstreet Boys were a pre-fabricated group assembled by disgraced manager Lou Pearlman and appeared to be an instant international success. Pearlman subsequently went to jail while Backstreet went on to sell 100-million records. They took a chance by going on hiatus in 2002 but bounced back with the album Never Gone in 2005. Inevitably, personalities started to emerge. There were solo albums as Carter came first and Litrell made a Christian-pop record. Dorough established his foundation for lupus research after his sister died of the disease, and McLean made headlines when his drug and alcohol addiction went public. Fifth member Kevin Richardson quit the group in 2006, significantly to start a family. Indeed, the boys had grown up.

"It's definitely been an adjustment," Dorough reflects. "We'd been together 15 years.

"Bringing in another guy would have been weird. It wouldn't sit well with us."

The Backstreet Boys have come a long way since releasing its first album in 1996 and appearing in Vancouver shortly thereafter with a show that was generously padded to give each member a short time in the spotlight whether they were ready for it or not.

"We've given each other space to do more," notes Dorough. "In the early years we kind of held each other back. Now, we embrace each other's individuality. We're adults now. We're more seasoned."

As proof, Dorough and McLean are working on solo albums. Dorough has been encouraged to write more since he had a couple of songs on Backstreet's Black and Blue. As each member has grown more secure they simultaneously have branched out -- Litrell's gospel career is an example -- while understanding the group better. The last album, 2007's Incomplete, taught them what they do best. Incomplete was different for Backstreet Boys but didn't sell as well.

"Looking at it in hindsight, we made a great record," says Dorough. "But we wanted to go back to our roots. The next record will be more pop whereas our last album was more pop-rock."

tharrison@png.canwest.com

© The Vancouver Province 2008