Backstreet Boys
The biggest boy band on the planet, Backstreet Boys enjoyed success everywhere but in their native USA during the early part of their career. That was until the release of 'Quit Playin' Games (With My Heart)'. After its smash hit success, the Boys became the hottest thing since Monica Lewinsky's dress.
Their story begins, though, in the relatively sedate backwater of Lexington, Kentucky with cousins Brian Littrell and Kevin Richardson. They both sung in local choirs and various other local events.
Meanwhile, in Orlando, Florida, a friendship was being formed between Howard 'Howie' Dorough, Alexander 'A.J.' McLean and Nick Carter, who often saw each other while auditioning for local commercials, TV and theatre parts. The three discovered they all shared a love of classic soul. More importantly, they could harmonise together really well.
When Kevin moved to Orlando to become a guide at Disney World he met up with the other three and they decided to form a group. Kevin invited Brian to come down and join them and the Backstreet Boys line-up was complete. If you're wondering where they got their name, it's taken from a flea market in Orlando called Backstreet Market.
After an unsuccessful period with Mercury, who decided the Boys weren't 'it' just yet, Jive signed them up in 1994 and set them to work recording their debut album. Their debut single, 'We've Got It Goin' On', was released in September 1995 but didn't make the UK Top 40. It fared much better in Europe, and as a result Smash Hits voted them Best Newcomers of 1995.
Their second single, 'I'll Never Break Your Heart', also failed to set the charts alight but it was quickly followed by 'Get Down', which became their first Top 20 hit on the back of the Smash Hits Award. From then on, it was success all the way for the Boys in the UK. Reissues of their first two singles both hit the Top 10, and their self-titled debut album, released in September 1996, went to Number 12.
Back home, though, it was a different story and the Boys remained unknowns until the release of 'Quit Playin' Games' in 1997. They weren't helped by the fact that their debut album wasn't released in America until that year.
The American album was actually a compilation of their early singles and new tracks, and ended up selling a staggering 13 million copies. However, Europe got a brand new album called 'Backstreet's Back' and more Top 10 hits with the singles 'Everybody', 'As Long As You Love Me' and 'All I Have To Give'.
However, despite all this success, there were hard times. In 1998, Brian had to have surgery to correct a congenital heart defect. Luckily, he made a full recovery. The Boys also became caught up in a legal battle with their management company over royalties but fortunately it was eventually resolved.
There was plenty to celebrate in 1999, though. First, the Boys achieved their first UK Number 1 with 'I Want It That Way' in May. This was followed by their third album, 'Millennium', which hit Number 2, and more hit singles with 'Larger Than Life', 'Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely' and 'The One'. The album was supported by their biggest tour to date, which was a complete sell-out.
November 2000 saw the release of a new album, 'Black And Blue', which was preceded by another Top 10 smash, 'Shape Of My Heart'. The album had an amazing five million pre-orders in America alone. To promote the album, the Boys embarked on a round-the-world trip, flying from Stockholm to New York - via Tokyo, Sydney, Rio and Cape Town - in just five days.
The Boys have began 2001 by starting their massive world tour in America. Hopefully the long-awaited return of the Boys to these shores is not far away. I'm counting the days.
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