O-Town Interviewed X-Clusively by Vteens 12.19.01

O-Town:

By: Melissa

First Union Center, Philadelphia, PA. I’m sitting in an armchair watching a small throng of girls bestow gifts and promises of undying love to five guys in typical teenybopper fashion. One of the "gods", err...guys at the table gives a crooked grin and two girls fall into a fit of giggles. Who could cause such a stir? None other than O-Town, who’s current single “We Fit Together” is enjoying a popular reign in the top 5 of MTV’s TRL royalty.

Feeling out of place in a room where each member of O-Town’s name seems to be written on either clothing or a reasonable body part, it’s obvious as I look at the faces of their fans decked out in their homemade O-Town pants (Alas, I seemed to have left mine at home) that all of O-Town’s dreams of pop success have come true, leaving room for stranger dreams to fill their heads. “I have weird dreams constantly…I can’t really say because tonight I’ll probably outdo myself and have a weirder dream, “says Ashley Parker Angel thoughtfully. He stops for a second, and then adds seriously, “Actually, my dog just got put to sleep yesterday, and last night I had a dream that I went home and told my dog everything I didn’t get to say.” His band mates’ stare at him in shock has Erik cuts in, “What? Your dog died? You didn’t tell us. He doesn’t tell us this. We have to find out in an interview.”

After making a mental note to call home later on in the evening and check out status of own pets, a lighter mood seemed to have hit the interview has the group contemplated my extremely “hard hitting” question: “If you were to make an O-Town year book, who would take home what superlative and why?” They all laugh, and Trevor begins by declaring, “Most likely to be late: Ashley. Most likely to complain about being late: Dan.” Chiming in, Erik states, “Most likely to help Dan in complaining about Ashley being late: Trevor. “ Grinning, Dan adds, “Most likely to speak up for Ashley being late: Erik.” Looking up, Trevor contributes, “Most likely to be the next one late: Erik.” Thinking for a second, Dan adds finally, “Most likely to put his headphones on and not say anything about Ashley being late: Jacob.” Laughing, Ashley declares that was genius and a chorus of congratulatory high fives to each other follow.

Perhaps the newest season of Making the Band that premieres on MTV on January 19 will hold a slightly more punctual Ashley. But after last year’s wild ride that was filled with drama, girlfriends, and those trademark shower scenes that only seem to contain Ashley in a sort of beef cake styling, from the group’s mysterious preview it seems that last year’s roller coaster ride was only the beginning. “Elvis will be on the show, “ says Ashley mystically. At that point, the look of puzzlement on my face must have been apparent has I contemplated how in God’s name they managed to produce Elvis on the show. Erik tried his best to reassure me. “Don’t worry, you’ll understand soon, this will all come to pass.”

Still puzzled and wondering if O-Town was responsible for coming up with a breakthrough in science, Ashley began to explain what the new season held. “It’s going to talk about a lot of different things, “ he says carefully. “I mean, things have changed, and we’ve had an album out and the stakes are a lot higher in terms of what we have to do to get to the next level. “ Pausing, he adds, “It’s going to go way behind the scenes with the experiences and drama of trying to get our songs on the album, and just the evolution of the group. We’re different people, we’ve learned a lot, and I think the 3^rd season will be one of the most interesting to see.”

As the interview goes on, the extreme togetherness of the group is apparent. One has to wonder how after living with each other and seeing each other on a 24 hour a day, 7 day a week basis would not have one thinking thoughts of killing and disposing of the other band mates. “Obviously my bad habit they all have to deal with on a regular basis is the fact I’m not too timely, “ says Ashley jokingly. Dan reveals, I’m really impatient. “ “That’s not a bad habit, it’s a bad trait, “ cuts in Trevor. Dan counters, “Well I express my impatience a lot. That makes it a bad habit.” Looking at his hands, Erik says, “I bite my nails. That’s my bad habit.” Trevor stops and looks at his own hands and says “Oh duh. That’s my worst habit too.” Ashley says with a grin, “Dude you just dropped a Sweet “duh.” Trevor smiles and says, “Dude I haven’t done that in such a long time. Duh.” A chorus of “duhs” proceed has the group laughs. Why not join in. Duh.