Howie: It's a matter of timing. It depends what type of music is big at a particular time. Our first single, We've Got It Goin' On, did well on the charts and in the clubs, but rap was the big thing at that time. Now, with the Spice Girls and Hanson around, pop is making a comeback in America.
Howie: I went to college with Chris. He's the oldest one. The Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync are more like partners than competitors though. It's more friendly competition. It's good to have someone to compete against. It makes us work harder.
A.J.: I'm friends with Justin. He lives close to me and we used to play basketball in high school.
What has been the hardest thing to sacrifice to achieve success?
Howie: Being away from home and our families. I missed my mom's home cooking.
A.J.: I missed spending time with friends and family... but we'll make any sacrifice we have to. We could be gone tomorrow, so right now is what counts.
Kevin: We eat, live and breathe Backstreet Boys.
Nick: The hardest thing for me is I never really got to go to high school, and that makes me really sad. The rest of the guys are always talking about it and it makes me realize I have missed something very important. I have missed out on the social life, playing on a team, dating girls. I missed out on all the stuff that is normally part of any young kid's life. Although I missed out on school, I plan to go to college. I want to try out for the college basketball team!
Were you popular in school?
Nick: No, not at all. The guys never liked me because I was different. I was always with the band all the time. I never got any girls either. I can be really shy around girls. If I like a girl, I usually try to ignore her a bit. My stomach gets all tingly and I don't dare to get near her.
What is the girl of your dreams like?
Nick: I have a pretty good idea of what I'm looking for... But who knows? I value inner qualities a lot more than beauty. I want a girl who loves me for who I am, not just for my success in the Backstreet Boys.
Is there any jealousy in the band with Nick getting all the attention?
A.J.: No, not at all. Not even in the studio. We let the producers decide who's best for a certain song. We don't complain at all. We don't even open our mouths. There's no jealousy or animosity...
Does touring really tire you out?
Kevin: Yeah, you feel like that at times, but that's the price you have to pay to be in the entertainment business. At least it means we're successful. People want us, although we can't be everywhere at the same time. When we're out on tour we give everything we can, physically and emotionally. After a show... we're really tired, so we tend to take it easy when we can.
Howie: We try to get together for dinner before each show. After that, we get dressed, warm up then do a group prayer to focus on the show. We thank God for giving us another day.
Nick: After a show we're just exhausted.
A.J.: If I get a day off, I just sleep, I just sleep like a dog! Nobody will see me all day!
How do you keep in touch with family and friends while you're on the road?
Howie: We have a huge phone bill because we make lots of phone calls. I flew my mom and brother over for our last European tour as well. Family and friends help keep you grounded and it's great to experience the world with them. I write diaries and take lots of photos when I'm traveling, otherwise I wouldn't remember the places I'd been to.
How does it feel to have millions of fans looking up to you?
Howie: It freaks us out because we still think we're just normal guys. I guess it's flattering though.
Do you ever surf the Internet looking for things about the Backstreet Boys?
Nick: I'm always on the computer when I'm home. I do use the Internet and check for stuff. Some of it's good and some is not. Seventy percent of it's not true. There's a lot of gossip. We have our official site which is all true. It's amazing how much time our fans spend on that. It's awesome!
Now that you're huge stars, do you have people coming out of the woodwork claiming to be your best friends?
A.J.: Oh yeah, it's happened many times. I had a call from an Aunt Edna and I suddenly realized, I don't have an Aunt Edna!
Kevin: ...Our real friends are really excited about our success. They've kept up to date with the action in Europe, and I'm proud that my teachers, my football coach and people like that can see what I'm doing with my life.
What's good about being in the Backstreet Boys?
Kevin: It's cool to walk into a restaurant where there are no free tables and just mention that you're in the Backstreet Boys and get a table. We've also been to professional football games and basketball games and got the chance to sing the national anthem to the crowd. That was a lot of fun.
Did you ever dream the Backstreet Boys would be this huge?
Kevin: We hoped we would get to hear our songs on the radio; the rest is just a bonus. We never dreamed it would end up like this!
