Where did you get the name Backstreet Boys?
Howie : We took it from a place called the Backstreet Market, it was a local flea maarket, but on the days when there was no flea market, there was a big parking lot. That was where the kids would drive their cars, hang out with their convertibles and listen to music. That's how we got Backstreet. We put Boys on it, because no matter how old we get we'll always be boys.
Did you find that being in a movie town like Orlando you a good kick start?
Howie : Absolutely. You don't have many auditions in Des Moines. And Kevin was actually working with Disney. So being from where we're from definitely helped us out.
When you saw each other at auditions?
Howie : Is was kind of funny meeting the same people all the time, espacially Aj who I burmped into a lot. Me and how would always be at the same audition through different agents. I got to know him through a vocal coach whom Aj worked with as well know at He introduced the two fo us.
Brian's got a southern accent. Does he ever get teased about it back home?
Howie : Yes, Orlando doesn't have an accent, because of so many people from up north. Brian is from Kentucky. It's pretty far north, when people look at the South, they think of Kentucky, North Carolina and southem good ol'boys, ya'll.
Brian doesn't evidence any of the Bubba mentality?
Howie : It's not showing just yet, but it's definitely something to tease him with on the long flights around the world.
you are part of SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions). Did any of you guys have a friend who committed suicide and that got you involved?
Howie : No personal experience. I was in school, I didn't involved in SADD, but I was involved in FRIENDS, role models, choir, drama departement, talking to kids about living a clean life, having fun, goint go school, aboiding drugs. About three years ago, shortly after we formed, we were involved with the Ronald McDonald charity. Then, along with Whitney Houston we got involved in SADD, because we though it was a good way to relate with teenagers.
You began your career at the tender age of three when you jumped on your grand-mother"s bed and belted out a rendition of Baby Face. Has your grandma shared in your success?
Howie : No, grandma died last year. We had just returned from oeverseas and I hadn't had the time and go and see her. She was in a nursing home. The next day she passed away. I didn't have the time to say goodby to her. She always knew I would make something of my life.
You were in the movie Welcome Freshman, which was make for the Nickelodeon channel, whatever happened with that?
We did the original pilot. They evaluated the whole show and they cut the first crew, all the actors were out, including me. Then they recast the show and took off with it. I was pissed, because I was down to the very last call back. There's been so many things where I nearly made it that I could almost taste it. You get a lot more rejection in the business than you do acceptance. You've got to keep on striving. Finally I got my break with The Backstreet Boys.
The Backstreet Boys are the first American vocal pop group to take it to the Europeans. How do you think you're different?
Howie : We think of ourselve as more of a vocal harmony group. The emphasis is a lot on the acapella vocals. We consider ourselves a pop R&B group, because a lot of our style comes from the blues and gospel. Brian and Aj grew up in gospel churches. Even though we live in different areas, we all grew up listening to the same style of music. Groups we listened growing up include Take 6, Manhattan Transfer and The Stylistics.
In your thank you on your album, you acknowledge your vocal coaches, stylists, the choreographers and the musicians. Seems you've got a lot of people giving you input.
Howie : We have the raw talent and we have the basics. All these people have input. Our choreographers worked with Michael Jackson, MC Hammer. The dances we do come from the choreographers. When it comes to freestyle we all do our own thing, but when we're on tour everything is pretty well set. All those guys help us tone our craft top present it to the public, to give it universal appeal to everybody.
Are your stylists the ones that picked out snow boots for Nick to wear onstage?
Howie : Yes, we tell our fashion coordinations that we like this sort of style, and they dress us. We want to be on that cutting edge of what people look at and think, "Wow, that's neat!" But, we don't want to be too overly done, we want people to relate to us, so we get professional advice.
Who comes up with the lyrics and the concepts behind the songs?
Howie : The first album was by the record company who pretty much set us up and gave us a jump start by giving us over to some well know producers i.e. Fun Factory and Baby Face. The recored company thought first impressions would be the producers finally realized we were really talented guys and had creative ideas of our own. Aj wrote one of the raps and I came up with a chorus on one of the other songs. For the next album, which will be out in the spring, we have songs from Mutt Lange and P.M. Dawn. People really relate to those producers. It's going to be a great recored. Listen for it.
