Source: The Official Site
It's official, the new Backstreet Boys album has been named "Never Gone." Don't forget to request Incomplete, the first single off of "Never Gone" when it hits radio stations on April 1st.
Source: The Calgary Herald
The once beloved Backstreet Boys are about to launch their first album in five years and start a modest tour, but do their former fans still care? Sheri Block finds out.
Backstreet's coming back. But as one of the biggest-selling boy bands in pop music history prepares its return, questions remain: Will their former fans still care?
One of the most beloved boy bands of the '90s, the Backstreet Boys sold millions of albums, played to massive crowds on countless stadium tours and won the hearts of teenage girls worldwide.
The boys -- Brian Littrell, Kevin Richardson, A.J. McLean, Nick Carter, and Howie Dorough -- are about to release their first album in five years and embark on a small 16-city club tour.
It's a risky move, considering the era of the boy band has long been dead.
The market was fertile ground during the group's rise in the mid to late '90s, but the new millennium has seen the birth of "anti-pop," with the Avril Lavignes of the world replacing the likes of Britney Spears and pop-punk bands such as Simple Plan, Green Day and Good Charlotte occupying the iPods of the nation's youth.
Gary Bongiovanni, editor-in-chief of Pollstar, an online source for music industry news, says the critical question is whether there will be an audience for the Backstreet Boys' music.
"That'll be the real key, if their music ends up getting accepted by the public again," says Bongiovanni. "The history of teen pop acts, which I guess you'd have to call the Backstreet Boys, 'N Sync, Britney or anybody else, demonstrates that they have a very rapid ascent and a very rapid descent as well in their career arcs. Very few of them last more than a few years."
Backstreet was hardly the first group to call itself a boy band and incorporate vocal harmonies with synchronized dance moves (think The Bay City Rollers in the '70s, Menudo in the '80s and later New Kids on the Block), but they did lead the way for similar groups, including 'N Sync, 98 Degrees and O-Town.
The group's self-titled debut album, released in 1996 in Canada and Europe, sold more than eight million copies and spawned hits such as Quit Playin' Games (With My Heart) and I'll Never Break Your Heart.
The hits continued on their next three albums, and so did the sales. Millennium, released in 1999, sold 21 million copies alone.
"The Backstreet Boys were enormous," says Bongiovanni. "They were stadium headliners. The one act that comes immediately to mind was New Kids on the Block, which went from being able to sell out football stadiums to not even being able to do club tours and then they just disbanded."
Backstreet's new single, Incomplete, is described as a "power ballad." It will hit radio stations on Monday. The rest of the yet to be titled album is due for release in June.
"We're all excited again," Kevin Richardson told The Canadian Press in a recent interview about the group's return. "We just needed a break to recharge our batteries and step back and absorb it all, and realize what happened to us over the last 10 years."
Christy Johnson, now 25, is less excited about the Backstreet Boys return.
A fanatic follower of the group during the height of its popularity, Johnson remembers waiting in line overnight for a chance to see her musical idols in concert.
Today, Johnson is skeptical about the group's comeback.
"I'd check them out but I don't think I would go to the extent I did when I was younger," says Johnson. "It's more of a teenage thing. I'm a little older now, so boy bands don't appeal to me like they used to."
Janet Giovanelli, editor in chief of J-14, an American teen magazine, says that like Johnson, many of the Backstreet Boys' fans have moved on.
"My gut reaction was no way because it's been over five years since their last album and their fans, they were young at the time, they're in their late teens, early 20s, they're not going to be interested in the Backstreet Boys," she said.
"But the more I looked into it, I see that their club dates are selling out really fast. They've added another date here in New York and both dates are sold out.
"There definitely is some interest there. Will they ever see the glory days that they had nine, 10 years ago? Doubtful because music just seems to be going in such a different direction."
She's not sure how the younger set, like J-14 readers, will respond to an act like the Backstreet Boys.
"My readers are young and five years ago, some of them were in kindergarten, so they didn't know about the Backstreet Boys, it was more about Barney."
During the group's hiatus, Nick Carter released a solo album, 2003's Now or Never, but it paled in comparison to 'N Sync counterpart Justin Timberlake's smash debut Justified. Littrell will release a solo album this year on a Christian label.
Carter has also been in the trouble with the law -- he was charged with impaired driving in March -- and McLean spent time in rehab for depression and alcohol abuse while the group was still together in 2001.
"I don't think it's going to hurt them," says Giovanelli. "Look at the success of 50 Cent, that shooting helped him ... it's bringing more attention to them, as sad as that is and also, they haven't done anything so horrific."
Nabeela Damji, 17, is one fan who hasn't been deterred by the problems some of the group members have experienced.
"They're human, right? As long as people and their fans realize that they're human and they make mistakes, then I guess it's all good and you have to support them because they're not perfect."
Damji, who attended two Backstreet Boys concerts in Calgary in 2001 and 1998, welcomes the comeback.
"I am sooo excited," says Damji, who has no doubt she will buy the new album. "It's well overdue. There's just something about them. They're an amazing band. They can sing, they can dance, they've got it all."
With the Backstreet Boys on the comeback trail, can more boy band reunions be far behind?
"If there proves to be a market for the Backstreet Boys, I would imagine that you'll see 'N Sync again," says Bongiovanni.
Source: New York Post
Ten years since the boy band hit big and five since they went MIA, The Backstreet Boys played the first of a two-show engagement at tiny Irving Plaza last night.
For a band that at the height of its popularity was able to sell millions of albums and fill stadiums, this club gig was an unexpected way for them and their fans to mark their comeback bid.
The vocal quintet's original lineup of Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson, Brian Littrell, A.J. McLean and Howie Dorough was intact at this nearly two hour gig. where the Boys blurred the lines between bright pop and bump 'n' grind ballads.
The BSB harmonies were crisp during a set centered on a greatest hits program that also included a few new tunes that were getting a road test for an upcoming album.
The guys looked good and sang well, especially when they were covering their strongest songs like I'll Never Break Your Heart, Show Me the Meaning (Of Being Lonely) and of course I Want It That Way.
What last night's concert illustrated was no matter how cheesy a band's reputation is, tight harmony never goes out of style. Clearly Backstreet is a band that has continued to work at its craft.
The white dinner jackets the band used to wear were dusted off for a few tunes but for most of the show the guys looked casual in unmatched street clothing. Their look and their sound projected a welcome musical maturity.
Like the Boys, the kiddies who were their devoted core followers were also older and a little wiser, having developed a taste for less bubbly pop.
That was clear when the Backstreeters played a terrific new tune called "Weird World." There were still a few love ballads that could send a grown man into sugar shock, but those were rendered with a restraint that said the Boys were now extracting passion from the words and their fans were now old enough to know the power of lusty desire.
Since the stage at Irving is so small, the band's famous footwork was more than a little strained, yet they still had enough dance fever to move in formation with practiced hand jive. What the band lacked five years ago when they took their long break they have regained, which is a sense of fun.
Although this band will remain a guilty pleasure to many, and more than a little cheesy to any self-respecting hipster, the fact is this is a band that's gotten better, albeit a little grittier, with tim
Source: MTV News
'Incomplete' hits radio in two weeks, though some are already spinning it.
The Backstreet Boys promised that the first single from their forthcoming new album would be a shocker ... and for some, it will be. Though usually songs marking a return are fast-paced, this lead-off song is ` brace yourself ' a power ballad.
Called "Incomplete," the first Backstreet single will go to radio in two weeks, though some stations have already played leaked versions. The midtempo track begins with a haunting piano melody, and uses dark chords to underline a theme of regret and longing. One such verse goes: "I try to go on like I never knew you/ I'm awake but my world is half asleep/ I pray for this heart to be unbroken/ But without you all I'm going to be is incomplete."
While not a drastic change from their past material, the single does exhibit some changes vocally and musically, especially in the bridge, where Nick Carter's solo rock forays are most evident. Detractors might say the sound is a bit dated, but fans will likely applaud the more mature direction.
Fans will get to hear all of the Backstreet Boys' hits and more when they embark on their club tour, which kicks off Monday in New York. The club run is a warm-up for a larger arena tour this summer, to support the band's as-yet-untitled new album, which is due in early June. In the meantime, the Backstreet Boys play a tsunami-benefit concert in Malaysia on Friday.
Check the Tour Dates to find out when and where the Backstreet Boys will be!
Source: AskMen.com
Why are they famous?
The biggest boy band of the late '90s, the Backstreet Boys enjoyed worldwide fame thanks to hits like Quit Playin' Games (With My Heart), I'll Never Break Your Heart, All I Have to Give, I Want It That Way, and Larger Than Life. After some headline-making incidents and a five-year hiatus, the boys are back on the streets of fame with a new tour.
Quick Bio -- Born on January 9, 1978, in West Palm Beach, Florida, Alexander James "A.J." McLean quickly took an interest in performing and even worked as a child model. After meeting future bandmate Howie Dorough at a talent competition in 1992, the duo ran into Nick Carter, and were on their way to forming one of the most successful bands of the '90s, the Backstreet Boys. When A.J., Howie and Nick met up with cousins Kevin Richardson and Brian Littrell, who both hail from Lexington, KY, a phenomenon was born.
Released by Jive Records, the band's 1996 self-titled debut reached the Top 10 in most countries, especially Europe and Canada, while in the U.S. word of the Backstreet Boys elicited a mild yawn. The American re-release came the following year, and slowly but surely, the band's rise to the top began. As the hit albums piled up, particularly 1999's Millennium, disruptions overtook the band, including A.J.'s battle with alcohol and drugs, a lawsuit and the emerging popularity of hip-hop and rock.
With the Backstreet Boys set to come back in 2005, we sat down with A.J. to talk about sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll.
In the meantime, check out www.thebackstreetboys.com for the band's tour dates in 2005.
AJ: Working on a brand new album and really working on myself, trying to continue my sobriety and work on improving myself.
Q: During the "Backstreet Boys craze," was it possible to have a normal relationship with a woman?
AJ: Yeah, it was... In the very beginning it was kinda difficult because we weren't supposed to have girlfriends, but our fans want us to be happy and if that means being married or having a girlfriend, they are okay with that. Of course, in this industry it is a bit harder to have normal relationships, but it is possible.
Q: You were immediately cast as the "bad boy" of the band -- did you play into it, or were you actually the bad boy?
AJ: I think it was a little bit of both. I definitely played into it too much, and it cost me four years in terms of drinking and drugs. But people who really know me, know that I am not a bad boy at heart.... I am a big teddy bear.
Q: How did going from playing crowds of more than 20,000 outside of the U.S. to playing in malls back home affect your ego?
AJ: I thought it was great, it was a good way to keep us humble. We used to call the U.S. "no-fan land." But outside of the U.S., people would flock us at the airport and at venues. And then we would come back to the U.S. and people didn't know who we were. It was a big joke between us.
Q: How were your relationships with the members of 'N Sync?
AJ: We are all from the same neck of the woods, and we had a healthy competition as there always is between similar groups. But they are all talented guys, so our relationships were great.
Q: Did you guys know the fun was over when boy bands were popping up all over the place, or did you think you could ride it out?
AJ: Well, we didn't realize there were that many boy bands until we started touring in Europe. I don't think we were ever affected by it since a lot of the groups in Europe didn't really sing live, but we did and would perform a cappella as well. I don't think we ever thought we had to ride it out. We always said, "We stand in a class of our own, and now we are the only ones left in our market."
Q: Did you feel a little slighted when you essentially opened the doors for 'N Sync to walk through?
AJ: We saw it coming -- they were from our same management staff and had similar backgrounds. We broke down a couple of walls and went through life experiences that I hope they learned from. But they are still really hard workers and are very talented. They might have had it a bit easier than us since we initially broke some walls and opened some doors, but it worked out for them and us in the end.
Q: How often were you compared to the New Kids on the Block? If so, did that bother you?
AJ: Only in Europe really. There may have been some haters in the U.S., but we expected the comparison. It never really bothered me.
Q: Do you care that so many guys might put you down, for example, out of jealousy, considering all the money you've made and babes you've scored...
AJ: There are always going to be haters, there are always going to be people who don't like us. But those are the types that are insecure with themselves and are just trying to get attention from girls by being d*cks. But there is no way around it, no matter who you are or what you do, there will always be some people who don't like you.
Q: What is the biggest misconception about you and the band?
AJ: Biggest misconception about me is the bad boy image that everyone stuck me into due to my tattoos, drug days and the constant changes I make with my hair color. But people who really know me know that I am the biggest pushover in the world -- I have no inhibitions, I like to try anything that won't kill or harm me, but I do like to experiment and try new things. But I am no Sid Vicious. A misconception about the group would be that we wouldn't last. And after this break, a lot of people probably thought we were over. But we're not, we just took a break and are back. People don't really know us for us, we're just five guys who came from ordinary lives, and we have been blessed with a talent to perform and bring happiness to other people's lives. We had to pay our dues and bust our balls, and will probably have to do it again since we took a break. But we are all hungry and excited to be back recording and touring.
Q: Speaking of the drugs and booze, are you clean now?
AJ: Yes, 2.5 years sober.
Q: What advice would you give to someone who wants to follow in your footsteps?
AJ: Be very, very patient and very open-minded, and listen to what people have to say. Especially if you are involving yourself with people in the entertainment industry. Pay attention to what other artists have to say in regards to their paths and careers. Keep your head up and be patient. You can have whatever you want if you believe in yourself and keep your feet firmly planted in the ground.
Q: Great words to live by. Thanks A.J., we're looking forward to your comeback!
Source: NBC4
LOS ANGELES -- Backstreet Boys singer Nick Carter was arrested over the weekend for allegedly driving drunk in downtown Huntington Beach.
Carter was behind the wheel of a vehicle observed making an unspecified traffic violation when police officers stopped him.
Carter was arrested and booked for investigation of drunken driving and his vehicle was impounded.
It isn't known how long Carter was in jail.
His spokeswoman, Juliette Harris, said Carter deeply "regrets" the situation. She said he was on a doctor-prescribed medication and was unaware of its interaction possibilities.
The Backstreet Boys' include I Want It That Way, Shape of My Heart, and Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely. The group recently announced they were embarking on a 13-city concert tour starting March 21 in New York.
Source: E! Online.com
Backstreet's Back, all right! ~ by Sarah Hall
The Backstreet Boys, whose hits such as "Everybody" and "As Long As You Love Me" catapulted them into popster superstardom in the '90s, are ready to stage a comeback. The megaselling quintet announced plans to play a string of U.S. club dates starting Mar. 21 in New York in preparation for the release of their as-yet untitled upcoming studio album in July--their first album since 2000's Black and Blue.
As of now, the club tour is set to wrap in St. Louis on Apr. 10, but more dates are expected to be added.
Once the album is released, Backstreet plans to launch a nationwide tour.
The "Boys" -- A.J. McLean, 27; Brian Littrell, 30; Howie Dorough, 31; Kevin Richardson, 33; and Nick Carter, 25 -- have undoubtedly done some growing up since their days of '90s heart-throb status.
Both Richardson and Littrell are married, and Littrell is even the proud papa of a wee Backstreet boy. The Backstreet daddy also recently signed a contract with a Christian recording label and plans to get back in touch with his gospel roots.
Meanwhile, McLean and Carter have faced some growing pains along the way to adulthood.
After fighting alcohol abuse and depression, McLean did a stint in rehab in July 2001, causing the Boys to postpone several tour dates.
More recently, Carter wound up the subject of tabloid speculation after his ex-girlfriend Paris Hilton turned up in public covered in bruises shortly after their breakup last year.
The question is: Will fans be able to process the band's transformation from Backstreet Boys to Backstreet Men? Or will they not want them that way?
Seeing as the group's club dates are selling out as fast as Backstreet fans can log onto Ticketmaster, it seems that the Boys still have what it takes.
Before they hit the club circuit, the Backstreeters are set to head to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to perform in the Mar. 18 Force of Nature for Tsunami Aid concert, along with the Black-Eyed Peas, Lauryn Hill, Boyz II Men and Wyclef Jean.