More! Magazine. Oct 20 - Nov 2 1999
KNIGHT TO REMEMBER
He drove girls wild in New Kids On The Block. Now heart-throb Jordan Knight's back with a sexy new single, Give It To You.
What did you do with all the billions of dollars you made with NKOTB?
Put it this way, I don't have to worry. I'm very comfortable. I've got a great house, I wear good clothes and drive a nice car.
Do you still hang out with the lovely Donnie, Joey, Jon and Danny?
We're all spread out so we don't see each other that often. We don't exactly have a play-pool-and-hang-out-at-the-barbecue kind of relationship. Of course, I still see my brother Jon. He's a real estate developer now.
He obviously got fed up with all the screaming fans. Why did you carry on?
It's more about me now. NKOTB were together for eight years and, after we disbanded in 1994, I took time out. It had been pretty crazy. I started to write a few songs and got a record deal. It took a little while but I'm back again.
You make it sound so easy!
It wasn't, don't get me wrong. I signed this record deal and all of a sudden everyone had all these great expectations of me. I felt really rusty, so I started performing at the local bar in Boston to make sure I was ready. It was a small venue and anyone could get up behind the mike. It gave me my confidence back.
So was this place filled with hysterical girls trying to rip off your trollies?
No, it was filled with an older crowd who hadn't even heard of NKOTB. They just thought I was another kid from the neighbourhood. And d'ya know what? It was more scary playing in front of 100 people than it was in front of 70,000. You're a lot more open to scrutiny.
Do you lie awake at night worrying that it might all go horribly wrong?
No, I'm happy because I feel a lot more free.
What's your new single Give It To You about?
Sex.
Ooh! Do go on.
It's about the female gender, in general. The sound is R 'n' B, quirky, inconsistent, off-beat.
So is there anyone out there, ahem, you want to 'give it to'?
Not really. I was just holed up in the studio and the creative juices started flowing.
Where did you get your inspiration from?
I'd just watched a Victoria's Secrets (saucy US lingerie) commercial on TV.
Well, if you ever need more inspiration, Jordan, our knickers are all yours.
*Give It To You is out now. Jordan's album, Jordan Knight, is out October 18.