BBMAK are finally getting the recognition they deserve in the UK. The trio, who play their own instruments and write their own songs - a rarity in today's manufactured pop world - are at No.5 with their new single Back Here. But they were forced to trek to America last year after coming up against an apathetic pop market in their home country. Unlike most Brit acts, who find themselves unable to match their UK success on the other side of the pond, BBMak have had a dream come true thanks to their American cousins. The lads - Christian Burns, 28, Mark Barry, 22, and Stephen McNally, 22 - have now become household names in the States, where they dominate the charts. The band also play to sell-out crowds of up to 20,000 and are good pals with teen pop idol BritneySpears. In fact, many people are comparing their success in the US to another British band who played their own instruments and wrote their own songs - Duran Duran. Yet just a couple of weeks back, they couldn't get arrested in Britain. Christian said: "We get recognised everywhere we go in America, but it's only starting to happen for us here in Britain. "We get mobbed at our US concerts and we've even been offered film and TV parts. But we're not letting it go to our heads. We're too busy trying to get our music established in Britain." He added: "We toured with Britney and hung out with her. She's very relaxed and likes to have fun. She's a sweet girl." Christian's new found fame has seen him linked to model Caprice and Hollywood beauty Rachael Leigh Cook. But he isn't a fan of Mel C. He added: "She is not my type at all and has put on loads of weight as well. We've heard she is a real rock chick and swears on stage now. Why? "She will always be Sporty Spice to us. But I don't think she likes being Sporty any more." Author not available, We're not home alone now. ,
Daily Record, 02-23-2001, pp 76.
