Kevin Richardson
At 23 years old, Kevin is the oldest of the Backstreet Boys, the most
reserved of the group. Even though most people know that Kevin lost his
father in 1991, Derniere Heure wanted to take a closer look on how this has
affected the young star. Here is an exclusive interview.
Serious, reserved, and quiet. Those are the words used over and over again
to describe Kevin Richardson. They are surprising traits to be found in
someone his age who already has so much fame and fortune.
You'd expect him to take on the behavior of his friends from time to time -
the joking attitude of Brian and Nick, the excentric style of A.J., or the
seductive charm of Howie. That would be easily understood, because when
you're so famous at such a young age, stardom can go to your head and make
you a different person from who you used to be.
There's no sign of such a transformation in Kevin.
"I try not to let the success go to my head; I try to stay myself, not to
impersonate anyone or take on a personality that isn't my own, because what
has happened to me is truly a gift of destiny."
Kevin has had a wonderful life with the Backstreet Boys, and it would seem
that fate is smiling on him. Almost six years ago, though, Kevin lived
through a difficult ordeal which changed his life. Kevin lost his father.
It's not something he likes to bring up, because it's very personal, and the
emotional wound it left him with has only just started to heal, and he's
still in pain. He doesn't hide, however, the fact that this loss has had an
undeniable effect on his character.
His father is the one who gave him the values he lives by every day, such as
the importance of having a spiritual life, respecting others, and keeping
both feet firmly on the ground.
"My father and I were always close. He was always there, supporting
everything I did, all my decisions. He knew my dreams, my desire to become
an actor or a singer, and he encouraged me to follow my dream. He believed
in me. We were friends.
The only thing that I regret is that he never had a chance to see just how
successful the Backstreet Boys turned out to be, because at that time, we
had just started, and we were nowhere as well-known as we are now.
I would have liked him to be at one of the concerts we're doing these days,
in front of thousands and thousands of people. I would have liked for him to
have seen me travel the world and make a living doing what I've always
wanted to do. I would have liked to have given him the chance to be proud of
me. But he left too soon..."
Kevin is still hurting over his death, but he tries to remember the good
times, such as the last vacation they spent together.
Kevin had left his hometown of Lexington the past year, and had gotten a job
in Orlando as a tour guide. His parents and his brothers had come to visit
him there for a vacation.
"It had been a long time since we'd all been together, the whole family,
like that. It was a wonderful reunion. We spent two incredible weeks together."
But when this vacation was over, his father learned that he had cancer. He
died only a few months later.
"My father's death was a really difficult ordeal for me to live through.The
loss of any loved one is a terrible thing to have to experience, for
anybody, and it's the worst when you're young.
In my case, I know that this misfortune had an undeniable influence on me. I
was already the serious type. I had been away from home, living on my own,
for two years, and, despite the fact that I was only 17, I was getting along
well. But I have to say that his death caused me to become more mature - I
grew up really fast. I had lost my best friend; I didn't know how I could
keep living without being able to count on him and his advice.
Above all else, the ordeal helped me to learn that life is short, and it
could end for me or anyone at any moment, and the only way to enjoy it and
really get anything out of it is to get out there and live it. And that's
what I did..."
Even though he admits it left him with a lot of pain, he wants to make it
clear that he never let it get him down. He'll never forget that the
Backstreet Boys were there for him and helped him to get over his grief. The
group was just starting to blossom into something big, and it was going to
require a lot of work from each of them to make it work. Kevin knew success
was in his reach, and he wanted to do it, if not for himself, then for his dad.
"I felt that we had what it would take to succeed. The mixture of our
musical talents and the union of our separate voices created an unmatchable
harmony, and I was convinced right then that all we needed to reach our
dreams was to work hard and just do it."
His hunch was right - anyone can see just how great a sucess the Backstreet
Boys turned out to be.
But this incredible success never caused Kevin to lose his head. He keeps
his father's words of wisdom in his heart, and he always tries to think of
what his father would be telling him if he were there. Kevin, in a way,
tries to keep his relationship with his father alive.
Because Kevin, despite his young age and stardom, believes in God and
Christian values, and these beliefs help him to have a very full spiritual life.
"I don't talk much about God or religion, because I think it's a subject
that should remain personal, and I think that the faith you have inside you
is more important than what you choose to show.
But, for me, spirituality is a subject which is very important. Through my
prayers, I still talk to my dad, asking for help, asking what he would do.
I'm convinced that whereever he is, he's watching over me...
I know none of this is really clear, it's just something I find reassuring
to believe."
What more can he want from life, when he seems to have everything he's ever
wanted at only 23?
He knows he had to sacrifice some of his youth for the sake of glory, but he
has no regrets.
"I'm living the life I've always dreamed of. I know it isn't easy: we sing,
we eat, we sleep in hotels or sometimes the bus, we fly here and there,
every day in a different city, and it's the same cycle, all the time. It al
happens so fast! But that's just a small price to pay for doing what I love,
and I wouldn't change careers for all the money in the world."
And what about later? Kevin is already looking towards the future. He has
lots of other dreams he'd like a chance to make come true, and he's getting
ready to.
"I know that the Backstreet Boys can't last forever. But I'm trying to get
as much experience and fun out of it as I can while it lasts, even though,
as I said, it's not as easy as it looks. We work hard, very hard, and the
tours we do aren't vacations; we have no time to ourselves, and it can get
lonely. This way of living won't last forever.
That's when it'll be time for each of us, Nick, Brian, A.J., Howie, and me
to think of ourselves and our personal goals.
Personally, I know that I'd like to travel someday. On tour, we don't have
enough time to really see all the wonderful places we visit. I'd also like
to - but right now it's impossible - settle down in a stable relationship
and eventually get married and start a family. There are so many things I
have in my heart and I'd like a chance to make happen.
But like my father always said: one thing at a time. So I'll keep them in my
heart until the time is right..."
Derniere Heure Article
Issue: March 15
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