THEY'RE a smash hit in America and have backed pop
queen Britney Spears.
Yet few here have heard of Brit boy band BBMak,
though they sold a million copies of their debut album
over there and their single, Back Here, was American
MTV's most requested song last summer.
They also scored No. 1s in Japan and four other
Asian countries last year, yet the best they managed
here was No. 38.
But now Christian Burns, Mark Barry and Steven
'Ste' McNally are home and heading your way.
They're going on a British tour as support to
Melanie C and will be at the Edinburgh Playhouse on
February 2.
So how come the boys are virtually unknown at home
after doing so well overseas?
Blond singer and guitarist Christian says: "We
didn't plan it like this.
"We released our first single, Back Here, in the UK
in August '99 and it went to No.38. Then we released
in Asia and it reached No.1 in five countries."
But BBMak hit the big-time when Hollywood Records
found out about them.
The boys jetted out to Los Angeles in January last
year. After several months of living out of suitcases
and touring they couldn't walk down Sunset Boulevard
without being recognised.
Mark says: "What has allowed us to do so well in
America is we play instruments, write and sing live -
different from a lot of the British bands."
Ste adds: "We're the stepping stone between pop and
rock.
"In America there are a lot of amazing pop-and-rock
bands and we're right in the middle. No-one does what
we do."
Despite the trio's year in Tinseltown, they have
remained down-to-earth.
Christian says: "We've had the luxury of being able
to spend a year in America and concentrate solely on
that market. Other bands who are big back home can't
do that.
"Westlife, who are great friends, had a single out
this year in America but just as it was beginning to
gather momentum they had to go back to England because
of their fan base."
The boys admit that in the beginning they had a
problem getting friends in Britain to believe they are
as successful as they claimed.
Ste says: "If you're not from America you probably
won't have heard of BBMak.
"Before we went to the US I was at home for
Christmas. Back Here was a sensation in Asia but none
of my mates believed me. It's frustrating that we're
doing so well in America and our friends and families
are not seeing it.
"But we send videos of us on TV and magazine
articles home and our families come and visit us."
Christian confides: "My mum and dad came to our
headline show in Los Angeles. My dad was crying he was
so proud."
Ste says: "It's important for us to do well at home
because we want Brits to be as proud of us as we are
of our country.
"We're doing really well in the States. We are
having lots of fun and are making money, but we want
to go back home.
"We know that whenever you go to a new territory
you've got to start from scratch, and we're prepared
to do that."
BBMak won't be unknown here for long. Back Here is
released on February 12 and is sure to be a smash.
Christian says: "If it doesn't take off I'll be on
the first plane back to LA. But we'refeeling
confident."
TAMMY HOYLE, We'll Mak it big. , Sunday Mail,
01-21-2001, pp 17.
