Back to the Future (Part One)

From TV Hits, June 1999

In the first part of our exclusive interview, we join Backstreet Boys on their journey into the millennium…

You’ve been together for seven years now - that's longer than most marriages. How d' you do it?

Howie: Communication - that and still striving for more. We've still got a lot to accomplish - we wanna do a world tour, hopefully get some Grammy awards, maybe some more MTV Awards… Even if we accomplish those goals, there'll always be more we want - we always strive to be better!

AJ: We've had our major ups and downs, but nothing lasts longer than a day. Maybe we'll argue on the bus, but it'll be about who's playing on the Nintendo, or it'll be in the dressing room about who's going to a club, who's doing this, who's doing that… y'know, stupid, petty stuff.

You're adored by so many people, it must be hard staying level headded…

Kevin: Well, it can be, but we have so many people around us that keep us grounded. Our families are always around - and they won't let us get away with too much! When we meet the fans it puts everything into perspective for us - I mean, we don't want people to think we're a bunch of fools. We do have feelings - like, every time we do meet and greets with children who are disadvantaged, it really tears us apart and makes us realize how blessed we are.

Do any of the songs on the album bring back happy memories?

Kevin: Oh sure, definitely. I really like Larger Than Life. It's all about the fans' reaction to the music, the way they act when we play certain songs and how they've supported us over the years. It's kind of like a dedication to them for all their support. It's about how being a celeb isn't always what it's made out to be, how it's not always perfect. It brings back lots of happy memories and is about how they're 'larger than life…'

Nick: I Need You Tonight is really special to me because I've been singing it on tour for years now - it always brings back all those amazing memories of being on stage!

Have you come up with any more fab video concepts? Kevin: We have a couple of ideas for the up-tempo songs on our album. This single is quite simple so we wanted a simple video to go with it. We didn't want this one to be story based - we just wanted beautiful cinematography. But we do have some tricks up our sleeve…

Like What?

Kevin: Oh, they're secret, so you'll have to wait and see! Nick and I have started working on some ideas - he's already sketching scenes, just the same as with Backstreet's Back. When the ideas have taken shape, we'll call up a suitable director and go from there.

Do you always keep an eye on the British music scene?

AJ: Every chance I get I ask my friends what's happening over there. Some of my cousins live in England and there are other friends I've made there too - they're some of the girls that follow us, dedicated fans who've become more like friends, people we can go out with, relax and have lunch with. They sometimes give me a call and every time we speak to one of them we sort of hear what's going on.

Is it annoying when other groups copy you?

Brian: It's very flattering, but yeah, it can also be annoying.

Kevin: It's definitely a little of both. When someone goes after the same writers and producers you've been working with, who've helped you create an original sound that's your own, when other bands try to get the same vibe, that's very annoying.

A lot of English bands have been getting married and having babies….

Brian: Well, none of us are pregnant!

Kevin: No one wants us!

Brian: Actually, Nick's expecting, heh heh!

Howie: Oh, not me. I'm not planning to get married anytime soon. I think right now with my career and that, it's the last thing I'm thinking about. My love is my career - I mean I date still, but I'm trying to enjoy life and take one day at a time.

So Nick, do you think you have finally shaken off the cute, baby image?

Nick: I would hope so. I really hope that now I'm almost 20, people will start seeing me as more mature, as an adult!

You've done so many interviews - do you reckon you could conduct a good interview with someone?

Kevin: Yeah, sure - I must have picked something up.

Brian: I think it's got a lot to do with the person you're interviewing. I mean, cause you know is so personally, it's not real hard to sit down and talk to you…

Kevin: It's completely different talking to you cause we've been doing it since we started, for about four or five years now - and we know you so well, too!

Brian: Most of the US magazines we've been talking to recently, we're talking to for the first time, and we get the same questions over and over again - but it has to happen. We're really exploding in America now, but it's different talking to you rather than talking to someone from a US magazine.

Don't you find it boring promoting the same CD's in every country?

Kevin: I really don't mind - especially now, cause we've arranged it so the album and singles are released in every country at the same time. It makes it much easier. I like doing the interviews and answering all the questions - it's an important part of our careers.

Can you still go unnoticed at home?

AJ: At the moment not that many people know where I live in Orlando, but in a year or so I think I'll probably move. I might move to Los Angeles - I wanna get out of Florida.

How come you lot have never had any kiss 'n' tell stories printed?

Brian: You mean like fans who run around screaming 'I slept with Nick!"

Nick: It's got a lot do with who we hang out with - people in the business don't chit chat so much, back stab, or whatever you want to call it. You have to be quite sensible about who you hang out with, but people are always going to write stories. You can't believe everything you read - except in TV HITS of course!

When are you going to do a greatest hits album?

Brian: In good time! This will only be our second album in America and we've got a lot of high expectations for just normal albums right now. It's hard to think about greatest hits yet!

So what surprises are left for you?

Brian: I think for me, just finding out all the things I want to do for myself outside of the band - you have to find a happy balance.

Kevin: You lose sight of everything - now we've done the groundwork for establishing ourselves all over the world, it's a case of finding a balance and maintaining it…

Brian: … and keeping your sanity.

Nick: I think all the things I don't know about yet that'll happen in my personal life.

What will you be doing on New Years Eve 1999?

Howie: I'm not sure - we might be doing a show in Orlando, our hometown arena… or we might actually have New Year's off which'd be really nice.

Brian: I'd love to be playing Times Square in front of half a million people and have all the proceeds go to five charities we individually donated to - that'd be great!

AJ: Oh man, I really wanna have that night off! You know how I love to party - I just wanna go out and rip it up!

Nick: I guess it'd be neat to be playing somewhere, for us to be together to see in the new millennium. That'd be kinda cool!

Personally Speaking

AJ, tell us about managing your girlfriend's band, Innosence.

AJ: I got involved cause there are a couple of songs I submitted to them. I like to be considered as a friend… as, like, a wise man to them, to help prepare them for what they’re up against. They have the same hunger in their eyes that we had when we first started, and that we still have now because things are starting to really pick up again. I just don't want them to make the same mistakes we did - anytime I can call the girls up or sit down and give them help or advice, I do. They're equally talented, just like us, N'Sync, Boyzone… If two people were talented and three of them weren't it wouldn't work.

And what's happening with your sister Polly Anna, Howie?

Howie: She's about ready to start working on her recording deal. She's hooked up with a guy called Jelly Bean Benitez - he worked with Madonna. She's completed all her demo's so if nothing works out on that, we're gonna shop around to different labels. I'm working with her on it and we might even do a duet, just to introduce hear and that.

Nick, can we expect to see any more Carters hitting the spotlight in the future?

Nick: Well, you never know what could happen…

But will they still have jobs when BSB finish?

Nick: I'm sure they will - they don't all depend on me, you know! Anyways, we're not about to finish anytime soon!

So Kev, have you made any improvements on your house?

Kevin: Yes, I've been laying tiles and hardwood flooring! I really don't get a chance to do that kind of work myself as there just isn't the time, but I do enjoy it. My brother helps me out a lot. When I was younger I used to tear down log cabins and help my father work like that. You know, I'm quite handy!

Brian, has your view of life changed since your operation?

Brian: I didn't think it would at all, but the other day I was talking with Kevin and he was saying he think's I've changed the most over the last year. He thinks I've kinda got more serious, not in a boring way, but I tend to think more about the future and stuff. Wow - see, I'm getting all deep now, aren't I !?!