Date: Aug. 15, 2002
Title: Where Aaron Carter goes, girls follow
Source: Green Bay Press-Gazette
Source: Entertainment News
Source: http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/news/archive/et_5207067.shtml
Author: By Kendra Meinert (kmeinert@greenbaypressgazette.com)
Topic: Article/Interview
Location: US
As wild as his fans are overseas, there?s one thing Aaron Carter says the U.S. of A. does best.
"I love the screaming girls," Carter said by phone. "That's what I love about America."
If there's anything the 14-year-old pop star should know, it's squealing, adoring fans. Ever since the baby brother of Backstreet Boy Nick Carter stole the show during a concert by that group in 1997 in Germany, female tweens have had a major crush on the singer who fronted his first band at age 7. Where he goes, they follow. It can make casual outings like a trip to the mall or a movie with friends tricky.
"It doesn't bother me, because I'm used to it," Carter said. "Most people treat me as a normal person, and that kind of makes me feel better about myself so I can be normal."
But not many 14-year-olds are known the world over as "the little prince of pop."
"That's just what my mom calls me," he says. "I'm OK with that."
His mom is Jane Carter, and she's also his manager at Spectra Entertainment. When the Carter clan -- Aaron also has three sisters, Angel (his twin), Bobbie Jean and Leslie -- are all home together in the Florida Keys, music careers are seldom the topic of conversation.
"When we're at home, we don't talk about the business at all," he says. "Business is totally separate from our private lives. My brother always told me that."
Carter would rather spend his limited time at home boating, scuba diving or hanging with his 10 dogs, four cats and four birds, he says. At the office, however, there's plenty to talk about, beginning with how his fan base has grown along with his record sales.
After a string of singles that hit it big overseas in 1997, Carter released his first full-length, self-titled album in the United States in 1998. His age aced him out of MTV exposure and Top 40 radio airplay, but Carter found a way to reach his audience through a Nickelodeon special that featured his performance of "(Have Some) Fun with the Funk."
In 2000, he broke through with "Aaron's Party (Come Get It)," which sold more than 2.5 million copies. He opened for Britney Spears on the U.S. leg of her world tour and showed up at high-profile gigs as Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" and Disney and Nickelodeon specials.
His current album, "Oh Aaron," went platinum and fueled a Winter Party Tour as well as the pay-per-view "Aaron's Valentine's Party," which featured a first-time duet with Nick.
There has been much buzz about news that the two brothers will record together, but Carter isn't offering any hints on when. "We're keeping that on the down-low right now," he says.
Last week, Carter launched his multi-act Rock, Rap and Retro Tour -- his biggest outing to date. He didn't want to spoil any surprises, but past Carter tours have been big on eye candy, from trampolines and fire poles to conveyor belts and scaffolding. Carter is known for high-energy performances that have him bouncing and dancing all over the stage.
"There's so much stuff in (this tour). I'm really pumped up about it."
His next album, "Another Earthquake," is slated for fall release. While the sound is similar to previous releases, Carter says there?s more of a focus on his maturing and improving vocals.
"You'll hear the difference," he says.
If you go
- Who: Aaron Carter, with Jump 5, No Secrets and Triple Image
- What: Rock, Rap and Retro Tour
- When: 6 p.m. today
- Where: Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena, Ashwaubenon
- Tickets: $33.75, $28.75; arena box office and (920) 494-3401
