ON A RECENT FLIGHT, A WOMAN SEATED NEXT TO THE BACKSTREET BOYS' NICK CARTER AND HOWIE DOROUGH ASKED WHO THEY WERE. WITHOUT MISSING A BEAT, HOWIE ANSWERED, "WE'RE IN A CHURCH CHOIR GROUP." Keep totally straight faces, Nick and Howie told her they were former juvenile delinquents who once saw some kids fighting on a "back street." Instead of joining the brawl, they started singing, and wouldya believe, it stopped the fight? They told her it was an omen, so now they travel around the world singing as the Backstreet Boys. Hey, it's not often these guys aren't recognized, so can you blame 'em for having a little fun? And that's just what they deserve now that the band has written, produced and delivered album number number two: Millennium. Teen spent some rare downtime with A.J. McLean, Brian Littrell, Kevin Richardson, Nick and Howie and got to hear some personal dish.
nick
He's 19 now, but Nick wears his youngest-in-the-group badge with pride. And this 6'1'' *6'2''* reformed prankster certainly doesn't lack an ounce of confidence. "Remember, when you're dressing me, you're dressing Shaq!" he told our wardrobe stylist.
Was the age difference between you and the other guys ever a big deal?
When we first started I was like 13, so there was a big difference between me and the next youngest, A.J., who was 16 *15*. But I've learned a lot over the years - how to communicate, how to be respectful and how not to be a pest, which I was when I was younger.
So you were annoying on purpose?
Yeah, I like to get a laugh out of things. I was a prankster back then.
How would you describe yourself now?
I'm a very quiet person. I consider myself a modern-day hermit. I don't like to party. I'm happy if I'm in my hotel room just chillin'.
So what do you do when you're off?
I play video games and sports with my friends. I go to the movies and drive around in my car.
Do you have your own place?
Yeah, I'm a real big fan of the beach and the ocean, so my place has just about everything to do with the ocean. It's on a small canal, so I'm thinking about getting a boat.
Do you have a girlfriend?
I'm seeing somebody.
How long have you been seeing her?
That's classified. That's kind of the secret part of my life, you know?
What do you look for in a girl?
You don't really know until you meet the person. She could be tall, or small ...
So you don't date just gorgeous girls?
When I was in school I wasn't very attractive to girls in school. But I remember a girl I dated who was sweet and really kind. I've dated girls who might not have been that attractive, but they were just as kind and as sweethearted as anybody.