The Backstreet Boys are heroes and hearthrobs all around the world, yet they're still virtually unknown in the United States. Who's keeping the big secret about cousins Kevin Richardson and Brian Littrell, AJ McLean, Howie Dorough and Nick Carter anyways?

If you don't already appreciate the Backstreet Boys' soulful, harmonizing hip-hop talents, you will soon because these five guys are one of the hardest working groups in popular music. They're going to do their best to get you into them... whether its by meeting them at one of their frequent autograph sessions or stopping and offering a smile when you ask to take their picture.

Recently, we caught up with the Backstreet Boys when they were on tour in England.

What is your idea of paradise?

Nick : Beaches, water, sunshine sand, palm trees, I like relaxing somewhere hot.
Brian : HOME!!! We're on the road so much, I'm never there.

When you go on the road, what special things do you take on tour with you?

AJ : I used to always take my blanket. I've had it for 14 years, and it went everywhere with me. My great-great grand-mother make it for me. But one day, I left if in a hotel bed in America, it looked like a rag and it got thrown away. So I fiddle with my jeans all the time now, I just rub the material together between my fingers.
Howie : I always take the same pyjamas. They are oriental silk PJs and I love them. They're so soft on the skin.
Brian : I have to eat peanut butter and jam sandwiches or I can't survive.
Nick : I love video games so I take my Play Station. I love Mortal Kombat and I love the football games. I beat Brian all the time.

Do you have any backstage rituals?

Howie :-Yeah, we pray together. We get in a circle and focus on the show and then we stretch out, warm up and say good luck!

What do you miss most when you're on tour?

Howie : I miss not driving. I hate being in a bus or a cab. I've got a Mazda 626, it was a present from my parents when I graduated from high school. I love to cruise around in it. I also miss my friends and family alghough they're not really things, are they?

When did you first realize you had musical talent?

Kevin : Brian and I are from musical families. We used to sing in church choirs and perform locally. When our families sould get togeher, we'd sing doo-wop songs, and harmonize Barber Shop Quartet tunes.
Howie : AJ, Nick and I would see each other at auditions at home in Orlando. We were all solo performers experienced in musical theater, commercials, television and film... so I guess we knew we were talented separately a long time ago. We starte to hook up when we were waiting our turn at auditions, we'd harmonize Temptations hits, or whatever we heard on the radio. After a while, our a cappela singing took on a life of its own. Then we met Kevin and Brian and they fit right in. The Backstreet Boys are together 24 hours a day, seven days a week, do you always get along?

Brian : We do argue from time to time, but we usually make up afterward. We have days where we just can't agree on anything at all.

Who gets on the best in the band?

AJ : Brian and Nick are so close they're amazing. Even though Brian is 21, and Nick is 16, they are very, very close. They're like the same person sometimes, a double act. Do you get homesick?

Nick : Yeah I do but when I'm on tour my parents are often with me. It's really weird living out of a suitcase. It's hard to sit and relax. I always feel I should be doing something active.

What's a wild time on the road for you guys?

AJ : We have our moments, usually after the show when the five of us hang out. We grab some drinks from the back of the bus so we don't have to pay for them at the hotel bar.
Howie : I've been really tired since this tour started, so I restrict the partying. I just crash out. Being on tour is cool enough. We don't have throw TVs out of hotels.
Kevin : I love going to clubs, but unfortunately we can't all go together because Nick is only 16. When I'm in London, I always go to Brown's or to The Bluenote.

How wild are your fans?

Howie : They read my sister's name in the magazines and then they phone up the hotels we're in and say I'm Howie's sister. Then I'm like, "You're not my sister, she doesn't have a British accent!"
AJ : Our fans are very wild, but we like it! I mean, what guy wouldn't want all these girls throwing themselves at us? They do all kinds of wild things to get at us. They've tried to climb up the fire escapes... they say they're our maids.

What are some the most outrageous things your fans have done?

Howie : on my birthday a fan flew especially from Europe to America to bring me a gummy bear cake. She flew all the way to my home town, but I was in Germany, so she just gave it to my family. She was so sad that she missed me! But I did call her to say thank you.

Do you have girlfriends?

Nick : I don't have a girlfriend, but if I did, she would dump me when she found out I traveled around the world all the time.
AJ : I don't have one but she would dump me when she found out I was cheating on her and not being honest.

Who has the most annoying habits on tour?

AJ : Well, we don't have problem with smelly feet because we change our shoes as soon as we come offstage.
Brain : We all have very smelly feet anyways. I bite my finger nails and the others can get quite annoyed by that.
Kevin : I chew on my tongue when I get nervous, but I don't think anyone gets annoyed by that. We all sleep in separate rooms so we don't have to put up with snoring.

What's the most embarrassing thing that's happened on stage?

Howie : I've fallen off the stage. One time, I fell over and went hurtling towards the edge of the stage when a securtiy guard caught me and pushed me back on. If he hadn't caught me, I probably would have died, or at least significantly hurt myself.
Kevin : Sometimes I can't keep a hold of my microphone stand. I'm such a butterfingers, it keeps slipping out o my hands.