KEVIN
Saturday, November 18, 2000.

Tokyo- Hi guys, it's Kevin here just checking in to let you know what we've been up to. I have to tell you, the Backstreet Boys are experiencing the craziest time of our lives right now. See, we got it into our heads to do this mad race across the world to visit all our fans and say a huge "Thanks" for their support - 6 continents in 100 hours and we're well on our way already.

But first up I wanna say a huge thanks to you guys and MTV for voting BSB Best Group at the MTV Europe Music Awards. It meant so much to us. We had a cool night, too. The girls from All Saints hooked up with us and we had a laugh catching up but one of the highlights had to be performing Shape Of My Heart up on stage -- we always get a kick out of singing live but knowing that the likes of Madonna and Wyclef were there to watch us definitely added that extra sparkle.

Straight after the awards ceremony we steamed over to The Grand, one of the swankiest hotels in Stockholm and the venue for THE hottest party of the night. R&B winner and Puff Daddy's girl, Jennifer Lopez was there shimmying on the dance floor and I bumped into Robbie Williams and his Kids duet partner Kylie Minogue - she's tiny! I couldn't believe it when Madonna took to the stage and I really, really couldn't believe it when I looked at my watch just a few minutes later (or so I thought!) and realized it was gone 5 o'clock in the morning! Bed time.

Luckily the five of us had the next morning free and so, being hard-grafting kinda guys - we snapped up the opportunity for a well-earned lie-in. Then it was rock 'n' roll all the way as we were whisked to a private gate at the city airport and escorted onto the most amazing jet ever invented. Bedroom, dining room, shower room and private chef all on board - it's like a flying hotel! Don't get me wrong, it's not our jet. We've hired it purely for the four days of the trip. The Backstreet Boys can't afford to travel in this kind of style all the time y'know.

Nick threatened to cook dinner for everyone but thankfully the food was ready and waiting - salmon, vegetables and AJ's favorite dish - Swedish meatballs. (Don't tell him I said so, but he had two helpings). The best moment of the whole 9 1/2 hour flight though was when I put my flying lessons to good use and took the controls. Man, what a feeling.

Well, we all managed to snatch a few hours sleep on the plane and I'm writing this just moments after we arrived in Tokyo. There must've been, like, 1000's of fans at the airport waiting for us and the screams were deafening. It's such a wonderful feeling to know that after four years away, they still love us! That's all from me. I've got a whole bunch of interviews to do and a few more thousand Japanese fans to say "Hi!" to. Laters!