AJ Mclean as Johnny Suede
AJ sings pop, blues in Suede's shoes Source: Orlando Sentinel
Matthew J. Palm and Leslie Doolittle of The Sentinel Staff
'Johnny Suede.' Backstreet Boy A.J. McLean as Suede gets pimped-up and
pumped-up with a concert set at Hard Rock Live.
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.
Click here for another article!
Email: backstreet5power@hotmail.com
