The wild ride to stardom that Backstreet Boys - Nick, Howie and their buddies AJ McLean, Kevin Richardson and Brian Littrell - have been on for the past year has been anything but normal. After achieving star status with their red hot hit "Quit Playin' Games (With My Heart)" in the summer of '97, Backstreet Boys mania hit fever pitch in the early weeks of '98 on the strength of their second single "As Long As You Love Me." Suddenly, the group's self-titled U.S. debut CD was battling for the top of the charts in the company of such music monsters as Puff Daddy, Leann Rimes, Celine Dion and the soundtrack to Leo's mega-hit flick Titanic. Clearly, these Boys were back in town!

Backstreet Boys spent the winter touring around the country (and frequently sharing concert stages with fellow Teen Machine pinups Hanson, Savage Garden and the chart-topping British band Chumbawamba) and appearing at major events like the American Music Awards. Through all the craziness - the frantic rides to airports, the bad road food, the hotel rooms with no hot water - Backstreet Boys have always been thankful for the fans who've cheered them on since the days when they were just five cool kids singing in Orlando, Florida.

"It's a natural high, looking out at the audience," remarks Howie. "We've played arena that, when the lights are out, you can't see the back wall at all. Then, the lights come up and you're like 'Wow, there's that many (people).'

Despite all the fame and acclaim of the past year, the Boys take pride that they have all remained grounded and down-to-earth. "The five of us keep ourselves in check. Our parents and the five of us," explains AJ, who celebrated his 20th birthday on the road in Europe last month. "We don't let any of us act like they're better than the other one. Each of us sing lead fair and we always give each other a chance to shine. There is no Backstreet Boys better than the other Backstreet Boys, we are all equally talented."

It's so true! One of the main reasons that girls all over the world have fallen in love with Backstreet Boys is because the group's members all have diverse talents and personalities. There's a Backstreet Boy that's right for every girl! If you love to laugh and have a seriously romantic side, then adorable AJ is the guy for you! If you're a serious-minded gal who likes to think deep thoughts, well, one look into the deep blue-green eyes of the intense Kevin and you'll know you've found a kindred spirit. Are you a fun andbubbly sports girl who can play with the big boys on the b-ball court? Well, hello Brian! If ou're sensitive and love being a girl - then the generous and thoughtful Sweet D. - Howie - is the guy for you! If you're young (or young at heart) and refuse to take life to serious, then you know that gorgeous Nick is you guy for sure!

Of course, Backstreet Boys have a lot of dedicated fans - even some who've managed to surprise the members of the group with their unrelenting enthusiasm for all things Backstreet. "Dedicated fan," say AJ "They're everywhere. THey follow us everywhere - even back home. They show up at our recording studio in the US, in Germany. You walk in and it's like, 'hel-lo, where di you come from?'" But no matter how loud they scream or how far they travel to see their Boys, all the guys will remain forever thankful to their fans. "We love our fans," says Brian. "Without them we wouldn't be where we are today."

The Future!

What's next for Backstreet Boys? Well, they're spending most of the spring in Europe but they'll be back in Florida next month to play five "Grad Night" shows at Walk Disney World. After that, they're flying up to Boston for another all-star show as a prelude to their first large-scale US tour.

There may even be some new Backstreet Boys projects in the works. If it was up to Nick, you'd be seeing Backstreet Boys follow in the footsteps of the irrepressible Spice Girls with their very own movie soon. "The thing is that we've talked about this a few times that maybe in the future it would be cool to make a movie about ourselves," he says. "I came up with a storyline and I think it would be cool." Backstreet Boys should also be heading back into the studio soon to roduce new music for your listening pleasure.

"When I was little, I grew up dreaming about singing in front of thousands of people and now, I'm getting to do it," say Kevin. Thanks to loyal fans like you, all of Backstreet Boys' dreams have come true!

- Louise Barile, Teen Machine

July 1998