Johnny Suede, the hottest British rock star to launch a career from Nashville -- much less a Nashville coat label -- sang at his first-ever concert Sunday to an ecstatic sellout crowd.

Not bad for a guy who doesn't exist.

Suede is the alter ego of A.J. McLean, one-fifth of Orlando's Backstreet Boys. It would have been the first solo concert by any member of the pop uber-group but it wasn't, everyone insisted. Pay attention now: That wasn't McLean on the stage, it was Suede.

Confused?

You should have been at the concert.

It was McLean who presented the evening's take of $27,000 plus a $10,000 donation from Time Warner to VH-1's Save the Music Foundation at a news conference before the concert. The oversized check was signed by both McLean and Suede, whom McLean said was getting ready for the show.

"It's the first time he's performed so he's a little nervous," said McLean of Suede. "I'm not, but he is."

Still confused? Keep reading.

The concert opened with a uniformed "police officer" -- perhaps a roadie's alter ego -- unlocking a handcuffed Suede so he could belt out 10 pop, rock, disco, Latin, R&B and Backstreet Boys songs. Odd that the only style he missed was boot-scooting country, Suede's label being from Nashville and all.

"Our old drummer took us to a clothing store [in Nashville], and made me buy a jacket that had the label:

"Johnny Suede -- Dressed to Pimp," explained McLean before the concert. "We dropped the 'dressed to pimp,' but Johnny Suede became a nickname."

Suede strutted and sang like McLean but bantered with a British accent between songs. Suede talked less about himself than one might have thought, but what can you say about a guy wh is basically one-step up from an imaginary friend?

"Wassup Orlando! I just want to take this time to thank A.J. for letting me come up here," Suede said after the fifth song. "It's my first concert here for you all so I appreciate the warm welcome, not to mention all the fine looking ladies in the house. I just want to you all to enjoy yourselves on me -- It's my man A.J.'s birthday. He appreciates you all coming out."

Suede seemed to enjoy his solo venture throughout the evening, but most of all when "surprised" on stage by one of McLean's bandmates.

Brian Littrell, who came as pop star Brian Littrell -- or a guy with a really bad British accent -- drove the teen screamers to a frenzy not seen this side of Liverpool or Dollywood by singing with Suede on Brian McKnight's "Back at One" and "6, 8, 12."

Suede diligently -- but lightheartedly -- kept up the charade throughout the concert. Suede followed that with a song that "A.J. wrote" but Suede sang because "he's not here -- he's backstage with his family. I'm going to sing it for him, hopefully better than he would."

McLean said before that the concert could lead to Suede's first album. And if the concert was any measure, there's clearly an audience just screaming for it.

Garth Brooks/Chris Gaines, eat your heart -- hearts? -- out.

Posted Jan 10 2000 12:18AM