YM February 1998
By Bari Nan Cohen
Only a year ago. the Backstreet Boys were leading a double life: Throughout Europe, Asia, and Canada, they were superstars. Paparazzi tracked their every move, and huge arenas were filled to capacity with their screaming fans. But back at the United States, almost no one had even heard of AJ, Brian, Kevin, Howie D., and Nick and their soulful five-part harmonies.
All that changed last summer, when their killer single "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" raced up the charts. Now the B. Boys are are conquering the States with a North American tour and a second rockin' tune, "As Long As You Love Me."
Taking it from the top
Where did thes babes come from? The way Nick, the group's youngest member, explains it, it was fate: "Howie, Aj, and I met at auditions at Universal and MGM studios in Orlando, Fl," he said. "We started harmonizing and wanted to find two more guys to sing five-part harmony with us."
One afternoon in 2993, at yet another audition, the trio met Kevin. He joined the group immediately, saying he knew someone who'd be perfect as the fifth singer: "I grew up singing in church with my family," Kevin says. "Brian and I used to harmonize all the time, so I asked him to fly to Orlando to sing eith us."
All together now
The Boys named themselves after a fave Orlando teen hangout, the open-air Backstreet Market, then hooked up with Lou Pearlman, who signed them up with managers Johnny and Donna Wright.
Johnny scored them gigs at local schools, where they performed songs by Color Me Badd and Boyz II Men. Soon the guys were opening local shows for Brandy, Jon Secada, and En Vogue. Crowdas loved 'em-- and they even went on a small national tour.
Then one night, during a concert in Cleveland, Donna decided to call an exec at Jive Records so he could hear the crowd's reaction to the band. His answering machine picked up, so she just held out her cell phone and let the machine record the screming audience.
Intrigued by the noise of the crowd, the exec jumped on a plane to meet the guys at their next stop. The Boys inled a deal with Jive and cut a single, "We've Got It Goin' On," It take off in the States, so Jive sent the band to Europe on a promotional tour. Within weeks, the same song that had gotten do little play at home was topping the charts in Germany, Spain, and Canada. The Boys became unstant stars: they even scored MTV Europe's 1996 Select Award (it's just like MTV's Viewer's Choice Award here in the U.S.). But as much as they appreciated their European fans, the Backstreet Boys longed to make it big on their own turf.
Coming to America
And now, the buzz at home is only gettin louger as the Boys's U.S. tour picks up steam. Their schedule means the guys spend tons of time together. "Were like a family," says Kevin.
But as close as they are, nothing gets the guys stoked like playing for their real relatives. "We're psyched to have our families and friends see us perform," says Howie. "It means a lot to us to be accepted in our own country."
