Backtreet Boys will never forget the summer of '98, 'cause they're about to conquer America! Howie Dorough, Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson, A.J. McLean, and Brian Littrell have just begun their first major tour of North America, and now everyone can see the show that won them billions of fans overseas. This musical team is a hometown-boys-make-good story, one that begun one fateful night in Orlando, Florida.
As you know, it was nearly 7 years ago that Howie, A.J. and Nick were making the rounds of acting and singing auditions in Orlando (Howie landed roles in the movies Parenthood and Cop And A Half, A.J. did some Disney gigs and Nick was considering his own Disney Deal!) when the guys met Kevin through mutual friends on the music scene. Before long, they discovered how well they could sing together and decided to give it a go as a group-all they needed was one more voice to fill out the sound. Kev suggested his cousin Brian back in Lexington, Kentucky, Brian said yes and the Backstreet Boys as you know them were officially born!
Their story is an exciting one, filled with all kinds of adventures that landed them a record deal, then success in Europe, and then.....but let's let one of the Boys' managers, Donna Wright, who talked with us prior to the exciting tour, fill in the personal details.....
Donna, this Backstreet Boys tour is preceded by Brian Littrell's surgery. What was that operation all about?
Donna Wright: They had to close the hole in Brian's heart.
Did the doctors know years ago, that at some point in his life, Brian...
Donna: ... Was going to [have to have this operation?] Yeah...He was getting very tired. Brian chose to [have ths surgery and] take two months off...
What did that mean for the rest of the guys?
Donna: Mostly, they spent their time writing songs with different producers.
Can we go back to the group's early days? What made you rake them out on a school tour right off the bat?
Donna: We felt that they needed to be seen...While we were on the school tour, during one of the shows...I was on the cellular phone leaving a message on [the answering machine of a record company exce named Bobby Ducket]. I said, "I can't believe that you haven't come out here. You're missing something incredible.' That's when I put the phine behind my back and said 'Howie, tell 'em to stand up and scream.' And Howie did. But when he did that, the fans stood up out of the bleachers and came running towards the Boys. I got scared. I started screaming for the bus driver and everybody to run so we could get to the bus, because it looked like a stampede. Meanwhile, the whole time that I'm running with my cellular phone, this is all being recorded on Bobby Ducket's machine. So the next day, he and David McPerson came out to Hickory, North Carolina...and heard [the Boys]. Next thing I know we're signing a deal. That was Mercury. Then when [the label] decided against getting involved with a teen group--which they are now with Hanson--we got dropped. But David believed in the Boys so much, he said, 'I'm going to another record label with this group.' ....And then we ended up doing the deal with Jive.
And you've been touring ever since! What's the life really like on the road with Backstreet Boys?
Donna: Life on the road is like an everyday routine. Usually, if we have a long haul, something like eight hours, we will travel overnight, get to the hotel maybe very early in the morning, check in, sleep until maybe around noon, get up and get ready to be downstaris somewhere around 1 or 2:00, From 2-5:00 they do Meet 'N Greet and press interviews. The Boys stop around 6-7:00, then they're off to have dinner, relax and chill out. The opening act usually goes on somewhere around 8:00, and about 9:00 the Boys usually hit the stage.
How do they travel now?
Donna: They seems to be doing more flights. Nicky will stay on the bus, because he loves playing his Nintendo games.
Describes the Boys' personalities.
Donna: Nick [is] very quiet, enjoys his time alone. He enjoys being in his room. If we all go to a nightclub or something, Nick goes very seldom. Brian [is the] same way. Brian really enjoys his down time, he loves his days off. He also enjoys staying in his room and either talking on the phone or watching a movie, but he's changing. Kevin and Howie are very much the ones that would be taken out to be entertained...maybe in one of the big clubs...But Kevin has slowed down now; Kevin pretty has slowed down now; Kevin pretty much stays in all the time. It's more A.J. and Howie now--Howie loves to go to the clubs. Howie loves dancing and meeting people. A.J., same thing! He's very much into going to a late movie or going out to one of the clubs with Howie.
Any Changes in Nick when Aaron opens for the Boys?
Donna: He spends a lot of time with his brother. Nick enjoys having a friend or family member out on the road with him tremendously. When that person is out there, they are like glue to him. They stick with him on a 24-7basic. Nick enjoys that company. I think Nick really misses his family terribly when he's away from them.
Do the Boys fly friends and family in to cities where they're performing?
Donna: They do. Howie flew his parents in when they were in Spain, and his sister. Nick flew his family in. Brian had his family in Spain. Yeah, they all did and they had a really good time.
What do they do when they have free time together?
Donna: Usually they go out shopping together, they go to the movies together, they go out to the nightclubs together. Sometimes, Nick will run off on his own. He'll just take one of his bodyguards and go shopping in the malls. He does enjoys shopping....
How do they all get along?
Donna: Pretty well, actually, Kevin and Nick kind of will go at each other once in a while, because there is such a big age difference between the two. I think Kevin expects Nick to act a certain way and Nick gets very hurt if Kevin gets upset with him. He does not like when Kevin gets upset with him....Then there are times Nick needs to confide in Kevin and help him come in and be the peacemaker. Kevin's a perfectionist....
Earlier, you mentioned thing were chaning with Brian. How?
Donna: ...The one thing that's changed in the Boys is that...they understand about publishing and writing their own music and the benefits that that can give them. Brian is writing incredible songs! He has worked very hard and now, instead of [watching] the movies and [making] the telephone calls, he's up in his room writing music with the keyboard player in the band or something. A.J. is the same way. He came home and wrote three or four songs and was in the studio putting them all down on track...he's doing a good job.
So we're going to hear more and more of their own material?
Donna: Absolutely, this new album [they're doing for November] is going to be mostly their writing.
They're going to play the new songs they worked with the producers for one another and then they're going to pick and chose?
Donna: Exactly. It will be put on one tape and everyone will get to listen to it. But of course, it's Jive's last decision as to which songs they really thing they should go for. None of the songs will go to waste. When you put out a record, it always has a B-side. If one of 'em doesn't make the album, it will go on the B-side of a record, which sometimes can turn into a single!
Tell us something nobody about Backstreet Boys.
Donna: A.J., for Mother's Day gave me a beautiful picture of and angel, which I thought was very sweet. Let's see....When the boys did Grad Night at Disney....A.J. always has to be different. Like if the Boys are all in white, A.J. has to put black on! So they hid his black shirt--and all the Boys went out on stage in their black outfits too...it was so funny. Brian told me the story. They were laughing away and they thought it was the funniest thing, because they finally got A.J.
How do the cousins, Kevin and Brian, get along?
Donna: They have their moments, but basically they've been pretty good about it, they always resolve things. Kevin;s had a rough time with Brian being in the hospital. I mean, he broke down at Grad Night during prayer, because his cousin had just been operated on. It was the first time that they were doing something alone.
Other secrets, stories?
Donna: How many backrubs and head rubs I've had to give them...!
You really had to take care of them on the road...
Donna: Well, yeah. In the beginning, I was the mom, the nurse, the friend, everything. Now they have a bigger 'family'--a tour manager, a wardrobe person, a make-up person and so on--so they're able to talk to these people and they've become their family.
What's it like having A.J.'s mom, Denise, on board?
Donna: Denise does a really good job. Denise really kind of grew into this whole job description. She worked with me in the beginning in my office, when we worked on the 95 South and the touring and all that kind of stuff. She kind of learned a lot about that before she actually went on the road...
Does that cramp A.J.'s style a bit or is he happy with it?
Donna: A.J., I think, enjoys having his mother out on the road...he's 19, he pretty much dictates what he does.
What made A.J decide to wear braids at the tornado benefit in Orlando?
Doonna: A.J. loves being different! A.J. will do anything! The other day he showed up with a blond buzz! The problem was the bleach was too much for his head and scaled his scalp! He had to die it black so it wouldn't show. So there's always something with him. So he's now a buzz head. Howie fallen off the stage once or twice. Nick fell off one time too, he didn't realize how far away the edge was and off he went. [Nobody was seriously hurt though.]
Has anyone bought anything special for themselves or their familes?
Donna: Brian and A.J. just bought a house last week. Two different houses, in Florida. A.J.'s been at Bed, Bath & Beyond every day! He loves that place! Everytime I talk to him, that's where he is. Kevin bought a house too. Howie is building a condominium and it's on the water. He's going to live in one of the condos...
Anyone buy a car?
Donna: A.J. just bought a blue BMW. He just came by and showed it to me yesterday. He just says, 'Now I gotta but new wheels. I don't like the wheels...They love jewelry and cars! Kevin not so much. Kevin's happy with just a house and his car. So is Howie. Kevin likes his clothing, so does Howie. They love clothing, A.J. the most--put him in a clothing store and he goes crazy. Nick's more into sneakers. He'd rather but sneakers. He likes his jewelry a little bit, not a lot, but [if he sees] certain pieces he really likes, he'll go after them.
Other funny things?
Donna: Nick would always pull practical jokes. Stuff like gum that has fish eggs in it or gum that turns your mouth black. He just did it to me in Canada. Your mouth will go on fire [from some of the gum]! He's the practical joker, as is Brian. They're always pulling jokes on each other.
Have Backstreet Boys' parents becomes local celebrities?
Donna: Oh yeah, Brian's parents go and visit the [local] radio station all the time...His brother goes up there...Howie's sister, Polly Anna, is his number one fan! She calls and goes everywhere. She went with him to Spain. She actually sis the opening, announcing the Boys before they came out and she talked to the [audience] in Spanish...One of the stores in Tampa told Bob Carter they've had more business than they've ever had because of Nick. People would stop at the local gas station and ask where Nick Carter lived!
Do the guys have a system for handling disagreements? Or do they just sit around and hash things out?
Donna: They sit down pretty much and hash it out. If three of them say yes, then that's what they go with. So three can say yes and two can say no.
What are some of their favorite foods?
Donna: A.J. likes black and white cookies. They eat a lot of McDonalds....most of them just like dessert.
Are any of them experimental when it comes to new foods and stuff?
Donna: Mostly Kevin. A.J. is not experimental at all. I made pasta fagiole one time and it turns out he hates beans. Nick, on the other hand, will eat beans till theu come out his ears...!
