Title: Kid Rock: Aaron Carter's Age is Showing
Source: Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO)
Source: Entertainment/Eeekend/Spotlight; Pg. 10D
Date: February 18, 2002
Author: Mark Brown, News Popular Music Critic
Topic: 2002 Article/Interview
Ah, to be 14, rich and touring the world.
Aaron Carter sounds as if he doesn't have a care in the world as he kicks back in a Michigan hotel and plays with a puppy that's on the road with him.
Consider:
He roams from town to town, his every need taken care of.
He sings to adoring teen-age fans.
His older brother Nick is a Backstreet Boy.
He's the youngest solo artist to put four hits on the charts.
His prize possession is a cell phone.
While Carter wants to be taken seriously as a singer, he's still just 14, after all, singing pop songs such as a remake of The Strangeloves' I Want Candy. That gives you a different worldview from, say, Marilyn Manson or Bruce Springsteen.
"Journey was actually a big influence. Do you know who Journey is?" Carter says, referring to the '80s rock superstars.
"They've always been a big influence in my life. They help me reach the high standards I have to be at."
After that: "I started getting into classic music and all kinds. I've always liked all kinds of music," he says.
Rapper Will Smith was also a big influence, "probably just the way he had a lot of feeling in his rap," Carter says. "And he was always funny. That's the best part."
Now he listens to "anything I can get hold of, but I love rock music," he says. "I've always loved rock. I love Linkin Park."
Where does he see life going after this?
"I see myself hopefully making it to the top, you know. Everybody has that dream. It's good to dream, because it makes you try harder."
He plans no changes in his music.
"I'll always have the style of music I have right now. That's how I got my fans, and that's what I'll stick with," he says.
He makes more decisions in his career than early on when "I definitely needed a lot more support and people's opinions," he says.
"But now I'm doing the whole thing and helping my parents with the decisions they make."
Home is a big house in the Florida Keys with a built-in studio.
"But it's always more comfortable for me when I'm on tour," he says, even though it means a different hotel every night and daily private tutoring to make up for the school he's missing.
"Music is my life. I really don't feel like I'm at home unless I'm on tour. When I'm at home, I'm uncomfortable.
"My family comes out on the road with me, so I never miss home that much. I miss being in my own bed and stuff like that, but being on the road is my life. This is home to me."
It's far from a normal life; most 14-year-olds are in middle school and hanging out with friends. Carter knows that but has no regrets.
"Do I feel like I'm missing out on it? To a certain extent, yes, I'm missing out on it," he says. "But they're missing out on this.
"Sometimes I'll wish to be normal, but I love my life and how I am. It's great."
INFOBOX
AARON CARTER
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Pepsi Center
Cost: $23.50 to $33.50
Information: (303) 830-8497 or www.ticketmaster.com
NOTES: Contact Mark Brown at (303) 892-2674 or brownm@rockymountainnews.com.;
GRAPHIC: Color Photo, Aaron Carter says Journey and Will Smith have influenced his work.
