A.J. McLean Kicks Off Tour
March 29, 2000
Backstreet Boy A. J. McLean kicked off his nine-date tour as Johnny No Name on Monday night in Los Angeles, performing covers by an eclectic range of performers like Rage Against the Machine, the Commodores and, of course, the "Backstreet Boys." The best way to win free tickets and passes to meet A.J. -- yes that's PASSES TO MEET A.J. -- is through VH1, where you can email The Daily One to enter our Johnny No Name competition.
To enter, just email The Daily One at thedailyone@vh1.com. Include your name, number, details and what venue you can attend. VH1 also wants you to give us your reason for wanting to meet A.J. and experience his performance as Johnny No Name. The best and most original reason will win tickets and passes to the show. So what are you waiting for?
Those of you still with us at this point probably are curious as to why a member of the most successful boy band in the world has decided to temporarily go solo and under an assumed name to boot. McLean held a press conference on Monday at Los Angeles' Hard Rock Cafe to explain all.
McLean says he got the idea to create an alternative identity when he saw a label on a jacket reading "Johnny Suede." He originally performed as the hat-wearing, handcuff-sporting Suede at a special performance in January to benefit VH1 Save the Music, but had to change his name after the producers of the 1991 Brad Pitt film "Johnny Suede" pointed out that there might be some confusion.
McLean expanded on No Name's fictional history. "He's on constant probation," he said. "Every time he does a show, he gets out on his probation to do the show. At the end of the show, he has to go back to jail. He's constantly in trouble for doing something. I'm not, but he is! Just so you know, I'm the little angel, he's the little devil. I've never been handcuffed... ever."
"Johnny is a kind of free-for-all, no inhibition. [I'm] just able to be the me that I can't be on stage as a Backstreet Boy," McLean told the gathered press. "He can just be a little more free, flamboyant, crazy, just ridiculous -- not to mention he's British from Nashville."
McLean/No Name explained what influenced his choice of material. "It's a wide range of every genre of music that I grew up listening to, that has had some influence on my life," he said. He also revealed that rock music allows him to get a little raw.
"I'm not really blind-sided to one specific type of music. I listen to everything. Rock, to me, is more free than pop. Pop is more giddy and happy. Rock 'n' roll has is been around for ages and will never die. Johnny is gonna do more of the rock thing," he said.
But he wasn't quite sure whether his tour, which is also to benefit VH1 Save the Music, would lead on to a full album. "If there is, it will definitely be the same band, all live -- a true, live rock album, which I'm looking forward to doing," he mused.
The Backstreet Boys are also lending a hand to VH1 Save the Music by performing at this year's Men Strike Back gala event. The Backstreet Boys will sing alongside fellow studs Sting, D'Angelo, Enrique Iglesias and Tom Jones on April 18 at 9:00 P.M. on VH1. McLean also said he wanted to set up a Live Aid-style concert to benefit the program, which promotes music education in schools.
On Sunday, Backstreet Boys Brian Littrell and Nick Carter were also doing their own special bit for charity when they played basketball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, better known for their skills on the gridiron. And guess what? The Backstreet Boys won the match 108 to 104. Which is a little more credible than WCW wrestler Hulk Hogan also shooting hoops at the same game.
Proceeds from the exhibition match went towards the St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation. Brian Littrell was treated at the hospital in Kentucky for heart problems. The Backstreet Boy has since been inspired to set up the Brian Littrell Healthy Heart Club for Kids, which helps youngsters at risk from heart disease.
Although they're on hiatus until Men Strike Back, the Backstreet Boys recently got together in the studio to perform with the Commodores' own Lionel Richie. Their vocal stylings will appear on Richie's "Cinderella." The track will appear on his loftily-titled album Renaissance, in a store near you this summer. The smooth balladeer is currently on tour with Tina Turner.
Information digested? Then get to your email, send your entries to thedailyone@vh1.com, and good luck. Johnny No Name plays the following dates:
March 28
Las Vegas, NV -- The Joint
April 1
Milwaukee, WI -- Modjaska Theater
April 2
Minneapolis, MN -- The Quest
April 4
Chicago, IL -- Rosemont Theater
April 5
Detroit, MI -- State Theater
April 7
Washington, D.C. -- 9:30 Club
April 8
Atlantic City, NJ -- Trump Taj Mahal Casino
April 9
New York City, NY -- Irving Plaza -- C. Bottomley (VH1.com)
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