Backstreet Boys...Like You've Never Seen Them Before!

(Twist, Unknown Date)

It was hell trying to pin down the Backstreet Boys on the eve of the release of their smash new album and a massive world tour--between commercial shoots, MTV specials, Saturday Night Live--these boys are busy! But how could they resist Twist? So, we met up with 'em in A.J.'s New York City hotel room and found our suspicions to be true: Take them away from the craziness and they're just, well, five nice, normal guys.

Rolling Stone called your 1998 your "year in hell." Is that true?
Kevin: 1998 was the most successful year of our lives. It looked like we were just having a great time, but there was a lot of internal strife going on. Brian, my cousin, had heart surgery. Me and Brian lost our grandfather. We lost one of the producers we've been working with from the beginning to cancer. Howie lost his sister to lupus. We had legal battles with our past management. We just went through a lot and I think we've learned and grown from that.
Brian: Sometimes, it's so easy to get caught up in our hectic schedules that you kind of lost sight of what life is about--until you look at open heart surgery or losing your grandfather. It's a big smack in the face, because we get a little self-centered sometimes. If you can't have your health and happiness, all the success in the world doesn't matter.
Howie: But at the same time, it's helped us to grow stronger as a group. We all have each other's backs, and I think sometimes you have to take a couple steps back before you can go forward.

Speaking of Brian's heart surgery--yikes! How are you feeling?
Brian: I'm doin' fine--back to 100 percent. This month, I'm supposed to go back and get a checkup, because it's been over a year already. It was May 8th of last year. But I feel fine.

What was the experience like for the rest of the band?
A.J.: It was weird, and definitely scary, 'cause you don't know what to expect--Rok, being so young and going through something like open heart surgery...that is something so scary. We had him in our prayers and just sat back and waited to hear how he was doing. As soon as he got out, he felt better. The doctor said everything went great. It worked out well, but it was definitely a scary experience--it also brought us closer together.

Brian's your best friend, isn't he Nick? Talk about that.
Nick: Brian and I are tightest out of everybody in the group, because our personalities are so similar. He loves to do kid stuff, like me. He's a hilarious person, but also very kind-hearted and mature. He loves sports, just like I love sports. I think of him as a big brother, because when I first got in the group, I was like 12 or 13 years old and I could really look up to him. He's been a very, very good brother to me over the years.

We heard that you guys call Howie "the mediator." Why's that?
A.J.: If he sees something going on, he'll always step in and not play sides and be like, "I hear wht Brian's saying and I hear what A.J.'s saying." and just make sure everybody gets along well. But he also has his own style--he's just a little timid sometimes about trying new things. He was never one to have an earring or grow facial hair--now he's got a beard and two earrings. It just takes him a little while to adapt to different things. He's the kind or person who'll ask everybody in the group, "What do you think about this shirt?" or "What do you thing about this?"

How do you guys explain A.J.?
Brian: A.J.'s probably the most interesting person in the group. He's every unique, and he really differs from the rest of us. He tends to act without thinking first, which is good and bad. He's an only child, so he's always been very independant. Obviously, he stands out a little, but he likes to be quiet, as well.

So, A.J., how do you decide when to change your look?
A.J.: I might wake up one mornin' and say, "You know, it's time for something new." I'm constantly wanting to change myself. That doesn't mean that I'm not comfortable with the way I am--it's just my hobby, you know? I don't do drugs. I don't drink. I gotta find something that's off the wall tha tmakes me feel good. I'm a Capricorn. So, that's my thing--doin' my hair different colors, adding more tattoos, whatever.

So, what's Kevin like?
A.J.: Kevin is definitely a perfectionist. He wants everything to be needle-nosed, pinpoint perfect because he looks out for all of us--he's the big brother. Sometimes he can be kind of annoying when it comes to being so stern about things, but he just wants everything to run smoothly. He's the first person onstage to make sure that the band sounds right, that the stage is right. He's a perfectionist, but that's why he's good at what he does.

Do you guys ever get into fights like you were brothers?
A.J.: We get along like brothers. We argue like brothers. We fight like brothers. You know, we live 24/7, 365 days a year together.
Nick: Sometimes a wrestling match gets out of control or something. Somebody might get slammed on the table or on the floor. Or go through a wall--nothing really serious. WWF style, you know?
Brian: We normally take it out on something else. I know I got mad at Kevin one times and I put my fist through the drywall. My hand was red, but at least I didn't hit the stud. but I did hurt the drywall some.

BSB Pop Quiz

By now, we all know just about everything there is to know about BSB. But, we wondered, how much do they really know about each other?

How well does Brian know Nick?
QUESTION BRIAN's ANSWER RIGHT ANSWER
When's Nick's birthday? January 28 January 28, 1980
Where was he born? Jamestown, NY Jamestown, NY
What other celebrity was born in the same hospital? Lucille Ball Lucille Ball
Name all four of his siblings. Aaron, Angel, BJ...* Aaron, Angel, BJ, Leslie
Can you name the first two big commercials he did? Gosh, I don't know. Florida Lottery and the Money Store
What professional sports team did he sort of used to work for? (He sang before games.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa Bay Buccaneers
What's the capital of New York State? I forget. Albany
What's his middle name? Gene Gene
Can you name all five members of *N Sync? Lance, Justin, J.C., Chris, and Joe Lance, Justin, J.C., Chris, and Joe (or Joey)
*Assistance from A.J. and his not-so-subtle clues

How well does Nick know Brian?
QUESTION NICK's ANSWER RIGHT ANSWER
What's Brian's Birthday? January 22* February 20, 1975
What's Brian afraid of? Heights Heights
What's his dog's name? Lil' Tyke Lil' Tyke (he's a chihuahua)
What's his shoe size? 10 1/2 10 1/2
Name the five orginal Spice Girls. Leaky Spice, Freaky Spice, Jody Spice, Jeffrey Spice Scary, Sporty, Posh, Ginger, Baby
Does Brian have any siblings? He has an older brother, Harold. Harold Jr., his older brother
What college was Brian going to attend if he hadn't joined the Backstreet Boys? A Christian...something Bible... Cincinnti Bible College
*Brian is slightly offended at his best pal's answer, to which Nick responds: "I am so bad at numbers. I don't even know my parents' birthdays."

How well does Brian know A.J.?
QUESTION BRIAN's ANSWER RIGHT ANSWER
Name A.J.'s siblings He doesn't have any. He doesn't have any.
What's his birthday? January 9 January 9, 1978
Where was he born? West Palm Beach West Palm Beach, Florida
What's the capital of Florida? Tallahassee Tallahassee
What dwarf did he play in "Snow White"? Dopey?* Dopey
How many tattoos does he have? Let me see...10?** 10
What's his lucky number? He says it's 69. 69
What kind of truck does he drive? Ford Expedition Ford Expedition (it's gray)
Name his two dogs Panda and Bear Panda and Bear
*With assistance from Nick
**Pause for counting (A.J. is wearing a tank top)

How well does A.J. know Howie?
QUESTION A.J.'s ANSWER RIGHT ANSWER
What's Howie's birthday? August 22 August 22, 1973
Where was he born? Orlando Orlando, Florida
Do you know his siblings' names? Pollyanna, Johnny, and Angie Pollyanna, Johnny, and Angie (his sister Caroline died last year)
What two movies has he been in? Parenthood and...My Girl? Parenthood and Cop and a Half
What role did he play in "The Wizard of Oz" (in middle school)? One of the little Munchkin kid things. A Lollypop Guild Munchkin
What's the name of his condo building company? Sweet D Inc. Sweet D Inc.
What's his middle name? Dwaine Dwaine
Can you name all six actors on Friends? Lisa Kudrow, Courtney Cox, that other girl--from Picture Perfect Lisa Kudrow, Courtney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer
How well does Nick know Kevin?
QUESTION NICK'S ANSWER RIGHT ANSWER
What's Kevin's birthday? October 3, I think.* October 3, 1932
Name his two brothers. Jerald and, oh yeah, Tim. Jerald Jr. and Tim
What kind of dancing did he used to teach? Classical...and ballroom Ballroom dancing
Where was he born? Lexington, Kentucky Lexington, Kentucky
What's the name of the cover band he played in after high school? Oh, man! You're reachin'. What's the first letter?*** Paradise
Name two characters he used to play at Disney-MGM. Aladdin and a Ninja Turtle. Aladdin, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle
What's his middle name? Uh...Scott? Scott
Can you name the four stars of Dawson's Creek?? James Van Der Beek, that's all I know. And Britney Spears.**** Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, Josh Jackson, James Van Der Beek
*Brian is a bit upset here. After all, Nick doesn't know his birthday.
**With hints from the peanut gallery
***For the record, we gave him the letter "P."
****Nick has no idea, but he tells us that he was offered a spot on the show--and turned it down.

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