backstreet boys..like you've never seen them - TWIST - Aug 99
It was hell trying to pin down the Backstreet Boys on the eve of the release of their smash new album and massive world tour--between commerical 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 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 beginnging 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 lose 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 that 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 was he 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 the tightest out of everybody in the group, because our personalitites 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 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 what 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 of person who'll ask everybody in the group, "What do you think about this shirt?" or "What do you think about this?"
How do you guys explain A.J.?
Brian: A.J.'s probably the most interesting person in the group. He's very 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 independent. 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 that makes 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 of 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 real serious. WWF style, you know?
Brian: We normally take it out on something else. I know I got mad at Kevin one time and I put my fist through the dry wall. My hand was red, but at least i didn't hit the stud. But I did hurt the drywall some.
Before we go, is there anything you'd like to say to your fans?
Howie: Actually, the song "Larger Than Life" on the new album is a really big song for us because it's a thank to you the fans for all they've done for us. They're there for us through our ups and downs. This is an anthem to them for that. To us, they are larger than life.
BSB Pop Quiz - By now, we all know just about everything this is to know about BSB. But, we wondered, how much do they really know about each other?
How well does Brian know Nick?
When's Nick's birthday?
Brian's Answer: January 28
Right Answer: January 28, 1980
Where was Nick born?
Brian's Answer: Jamestown, NY
Right Answer: Jamestown, NY
What other celebrity was born in the same hospital?
Brian's Answer: Lucille Ball
Right Answer: Lucille Ball
Name all four of his siblings.
*Brian's Answer: Aaron, Angel, BJ...
Right Answer: Aaron, Angel, BJ, Leslie
Can you name the first two big commericals he did?
Brian's Answer: Gosh, I don't know.
Right Answer: Florida Lottery and The Money Store
What professional sports team did he sort of used to work for? (He sang before games.)
Brian's Answer: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Right Answer: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
What's the capital of New York State?
Brian's Answer: I forget.
Right Answer: Albany.
What's his middle name?
Brian's Answer: Gene
Right Answer: Gene
Can you name all five members of 'N Sync?
Brian's Answer: Lance, Justin, J.C., Chris, and Joe
Right Answer: Lance, Justin, J.C., Chris, and Joe (or Joey)
*Assistance from A.J. and his not-so-stuble clues
How well does Brian know A.J.?
Name A.J.'s siblings?
Brian's Answer: He doesn't have any.
Right Answer: He doesn't have any.
What's his birthday?
Brian's Answer: January 9
Right Answer: January 9
Where was he born?
Brian's Answer: West Palm Beach
Right Answer: West Palm Beach, Florida
What's the capital of Florida?
Brian's Answer: Tallahassee
Right Answer: Tallahassee
What dwarf did he play in "Snow White"?
*Brian's Answer: Dopey?
Right Answer: Dopey
How many tattoos does he have?
**Brian's Answer: Let me see...10?
Right Answer: 10
What's his lucky number?
Brian's Answer: He says it's 69.
Right Answer: 69
What kind of truck does he drive?
Brian's Answer: Ford Expedition
Right Answer: Ford Expedition (it's gray)
Name his two dogs.
Brian's Answer: Panda and Bear
Right Answer: Panda and Bear
*With assistance from Nick
**Pause for counting (A.J. is wearing a tank top)
How well does Nick know Brian?
What's Brian's birthday?
*Nick's Answer: January 22
Right Answer: February 20, 1975
What's Brian afraid of?
Nick's Answer: Heights
Right Answer: Heights
What's his dog's name?
Nick's Answer: Lil' Tyke
Right Answer: Lil' Tyke (he's a Chihuahua)
What's his shoe size?
Nick's Answer: 10 1/2
Right Answer: 10 1/2
Name the five original Spice Girls.
Nick's Answer: Leaky Spice, Freaky Spice, Jody Spice, Jeffrery Spice
Right Answer: Scary, Sporty, Posh, Ginger, Baby
Does Brian have any siblings?
Nick's Answer: He has an older brother, Harold.
Right Answer: Harold Jr., his older brother.
What college was Brian going to attend if he hadn't joined the Backstreet Boys?
Nick's Answer: A Christian...something Bible..
Right Answer: Cincinnati 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 A.J. know Howie?
What's Howie's birthday?
A.J.'s Answer: August 22
Right Answer: August 22, 1973
Where was he born?
A.J.'s Answer: Orlando
Right Answer: Orlando, Florida
Do you know his siblings' names?
A.J.'s Answer: Pollyanna, Johnny, and Angie
Right Answer: Pollyanna, Johnny, and Angie (his sister Caroline died last year)
What two movies has he been in?
A.J.'s Answer: Parenthood and...My Girl?
Right Answer: Parenthood and Cop and a Half
What role did he play in "The Wizard of Oz" (in middle school)?
A.J.'s Answer: One of the little Munchkin kid things.
Right Answer: A Lollypop Guild Munchkin
What's the name of his condo-building company?
A.J.'s Answer: Sweet D Inc.
Right Answer: Sweet D. Inc.
What's his middle name?
A.J.'s Answer: Dwaine
Right Answer: Dwaine
Can you name all six actors on Friends?
A.J.'s Answer: Lisa Kudrow, Courtney Cox, that other girl--from Picture Perfect
Right Answer: Lisa Kudrow, Courtney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer
How well does Nick know Kevin?
What's Kevin's birthday?
Nick's Answer: October 3, I think.
Right Answer: October 3, 1971
Name his two brothers.
**Nick's Answer: Jerald and, oh yeah, Tim.
Right Answer: Jerald Jr. and Tim
What kind of dancing did he used to teach?
Nick's Answer: Classical...and ballroom
Right Answer: Ballroom dancing
Where was he born?
Nick's Answer: Lexington, Kentucky
Right Answer: Lexington, Kentucky
What's the name of the cover band he played in high school?
***Nick's Answer: Oh, man! You're reachin'. What's the first letter?
Right Answer: Paradise
Name two characters he used to play at Disney-MGM.
Nick's Answer: Aladdin and a Ninja Turtle.
Right Answer: Aladdin, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle
What's his middle name?
Nick's Answer: Uh...Scott?
Right Answer: Scott
Can you name the four stars of Dawson's Creek?
****Nick's Answer: James Van Der Beek. That's all I know. And Britney Spears.
Right Answer: Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, Josh Jackson, James Van Der Beek
*Brian is a bit upset. After all, Nick didn'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.