"Nick's like the kid brother I never had!"
It couldn't be better having Nick and Brian sharing vocals on BSB's new single, Quit Playing Games, cause, as we found out, they're the best of mates.... "The main thing I remember about Nick when I very first met him," says Brian, "is how small he was. He was so energetic and full of life - I was like, "WOW!" I was totally bowled over, and then I heard his voice. Man, it was just so big for this little guy."
Nick was pretty impressed, too. "It was weird considering I was so young. I just knew we'd get on - we had so much in common, and Brian was exactly the same then as he is now. We related so well!"
But why are they such good friends? "I think its because we're always together," says Brian. We melded from the start and it's gone on from there. People laugh because where there's one, there's always the other! The guys call us Frick and Frack - I'm Frick and he's Frack. We're always hanging out together, playing video games or passing football, and if Nick's parents aren't on the road with him, then we'll room together." "We really are so close," continues Nick. "It's hard to say exactly why we get on so well...our personalities just seem to have clicked."
Even though Nick is very mature for a 16 year old, Brian is still five years older than him, so you'd think there would be a bit of an age difference problem wouldn't you? Brian doesn't agree. "We get on so unbelievably well, age doesn't come into it. Maybe if we weren't in the band, we wouldn't have got to know each other because I wouldn't have been in the situation where I'd be spending that much time with a guy five years younger than me. And I don't expect him to give me respect just because I'm older - I don't have those sort of power trips! It's a totally equal thing."
The guys have been together practically every day for the past couple of years, so surely they must want to kill each other? Not so, according to Nick. "We truthfully don't have any major arguments over anything except maybe videos and sport! We're both real competitive and if one wins the other rubs it in..." "...Well you do!" hollers Brian. "OK, we've got this competition going with the game Mario Kart where whoever wins 10 games in a row is the champion - and I hold the title right now!" boasts Nick. Brian admits defeat. "It's true, he's just too good for me - so there are times when we get real mad at each other! Then a couple of minutes later its like, 'Hey, Frick,' then, 'Wassup, Frack?' and it's cool."
Being with these two is like being included in a secret club. They know each other so well and obviously love each other to pieces. "Nick is such a great guy," raves Brian. "I've had the chance to watch him grow up over the years, and become what he is today, and I plan on knowing him 50 years from now. I know we'll always be close. We've spent some of the best years of our lives together, we've shared so many experiences....he's like the kind brother I never had."
So does Nick feel the same? "Oh yeah, Brian is sooo cool. I can't think of one bad thing about him, he's so much fun to be around. I think in a way, I've always looked up to him. "One thing's for sure," adds Brian, "If Nick wasn't in the group, it just wouldn't be the same for me."
