By MIKE ROSS

Edmonton Sun

In the beginning, there was nothing.

Worse than nothing. There was the '90s. New Kids on the Block were starting to look tired and played out. Grunge was looming. Teens eager for new pop music had little to choose from but out-of-tune guitars and complaining by soggy Seattle slackers dressed like lumberjacks. Bubblegum pop was in a slump.

Then came the Backstreet Boys. Everything changed.

You could argue that if it weren't for the Backstreet Boys, there wouldn't be an 'N Sync, although the latter has since surpassed the former in the quest for the boy band crown. If it weren't for the Backstreet Boys there might not be a Boyzone, 98 Degrees, React, b4-4, Westlife, Plus One, Dreamstreet, Wave, 5ive, O-Town, a1, the Moffatts, Savage Garden, LFO, Boyzone, Marshall Dyllon, I.D., 2Gether, mytown, Creed, soulDecision, BBMak, 911, Take 5 or McMaster & James. (Just threw in Creed to see if you were paying attention.)

Yes, thanks a bunch, Backstreet Boys. They were the originators of the new wave of teen pop, the first commando forces in the boy band invasion of the late '90s, which is only now showing signs of slowing down. A show in Edmonton that fails to sell out - like the one tonight at Skyreach Centre - is one sign, perhaps, as is the sheer number of boy band clones. Think how many disco bands there were on the day that disco died.

There are people who would compare the Backstreet Boys to New Kids on the Block, but there are important differences. The reign of NKOTB really only lasted three years, 1989 to 1992. The Backstreets are still going strong after four years of American success.

As for strength of character, aside from A.J.'s little alcohol problem, these guys have remained determined, focused and relatively free of controversy. The songwriting is better than NKOTB, too, as even Kiss bassist Gene Simmons has pointed out. Then again, he's a bit out there.

If you were forced to pick the best boy band (which for some is like choosing a favourite disease), the Backstreet Boys would win. Hands down.

How did they get here? By almost 10 years of overnight success, that's how:

1992: Orlando, Florida, the happiest place on Earth: pop impresario Lou Pearlmans get a stirring in his loins when he realizes that the world needs a new boy group and he's just the guy who can make all the money. An ad is placed: "Producer seeks male teen singers that move well." The seed is planted. There would be more.

1993: After numerous rounds of auditions, the final lineup is chosen: Brian Littrell, Kevin Richardson, Howie Dorough, A.J. McLean and Nick Carter. The Boys perform their first concert at Sea World. Girls scream. The American music press does not.

1994: The Boys release their first single, We've Got It Going On. It tanks.

1995: But the Europeans love it, being frightfully ahead of the curve on such things. The Boys tour and conquer Europe.

1996: The Boys tour Canada.

1997: Armed with glowing press from the UK (and Canada), the Boys release Quit Playing Games With My Heart, an instant hit in America. The self-titled second album, which would eventually sell 10 million copies, is the No. 3 record of the year. The era of boy bands begins.

1998: Legal battle with Lou Pearlman. Demise of group is predicted, even though the Boys are nominated for "best new artist" at the Grammys. They don't win. Rival boy band 'N Sync appears.

1999: Demise is predicted. Boys release third album, Millennium, which sets a record for the highest first-week sales ever, with 1.1 million.

2000: Demise is predicted. Boys appear on the cover of Rolling Stone without pants, are nominated for five Grammy awards. The merchandising juggernaut hits high gear with everything from comic books to action dolls. 'N Sync snatches the boy band crown with first- week sales of 2.4 million for No Strings Attached. The Boys' fourth album, Black & Blue, is released, .

2001: The Boys announce a world tour, but trouble strikes when the band announces that A.J. McLean will enter rehab for alcohol abuse and depression. Dates are postponed, A.J. is released and the tour continues. Demise of group is predicted, but not as confidently. It seems there are still fans willing to pay $150 for Backstreet Boys concert tickets (also $80 and $100), on sale at Ticketmaster (451-8000).