Title: Oh, brother ... Aaron Carter is making a name for himself
Topic: Article/Interview
Source: The Boston Herald
Source: ARTS & LIFE; Pg. 029
Date: February 20, 2001
Oh, brother
Watch out Backstreet Boys! At 13, sibling Aaron Carter is making a name for himself
Careful what you say about the Backstreet Boys. At least one of them has a temper and access to weaponry.
"One time Nick was chasing me around the house," says Aaron Carter, younger brother of the blond BSB hunk, "and he's so big and fat that he can't climb trees, so I ran right up a big oak tree. And he goes 'I'm gonna get you' but he couldn't climb up it, so he went and got a machete from the house and tried to chop the tree down." He adds in a fit of laughter, "To this day there's a big chunk in that tree." But the average teen pop fan shouldn't worry about Nick Carter attacking them. Inspiring murderous rage in the heartthrob is a special skill exhibited only by little brothers who tell their older brothers' girlfriends "his most embarrassing secret."
Little is fading fast as the operative word for the younger Carter. The also blond 13-year-old, who headlines Avalon tonight, is now a rising pop star in his own right, with a debut album approaching double platinum status. Plus, he currently tops out at a not too shabby 5 feet 8 inches.
"I'm not even finished yet," says Carter of his recent growth spurts, on the phone from a Florida tour stop. He's quickly gaining on 6 foot 2 inch Nick, who is still growing at age 20.
Of course, Carter is hoping to have more in common than height and childhood squabbles with his older brother. This should be no problem as he's closely following in his brother's footsteps to success. Like the Backstreeters, Aaron started his career overseas, becoming a pop phenom in Germany and Japan. The he signed with the Backstreet Boys' U.S. record label and launched his first domestic album "Aaron's Party (Come and Get It)" to the shrieks of young girls everywhere. His mother even wrote a book about him, "Little Prince of Pop," just as she did about Nick.
Nick even contributes a cameo appearance on the album, which includes the hit title track, tepid covers of Bow Wow Wow's "I Want Candy" and the New Orleans classic "Iko Iko" and some lite rapping in the vein of Will Smith.
Nick's words of encouragement and gentle teasing appear in the form of a phone message between tracks on the album and were a big surprise to Aaron upon final playback. "I was like, 'What, how did this get on here?' " says Aaron. But then he discovered the concept of cooperative crossover. "He's on the same record company as me and they told him to do it."
In the middle of his first headlining tour, Carter says he's having a great time playing with his band and frolicking with four dancers. But he's still getting his studying done with the help of his tutor, as well as being allowed time to be a kid by his many adult handlers. "I'm used to being around older people," says Carter, "but I still goof off." He has enlisted a friend from home to help him do that.
At 13, Carter - who counts Journey singer Steve Perry among his idols - is experiencing the inevitable voice change.
"It's not really that bad of a concern," he says. "I'm actually working on my third album right now and everything's been fine."
Which is probably a comfort he can pass on to his 15-year-old sister, Lesley, who has her debut single coming out next week. Yep, another one.
"We're definitely going to do some stuff together," says Carter of his brother and sister. "We're going to call it the Carter 3."
Aaron Carter plays an early, all-ages show at Avalon tonight. Doors open at 6, show at 7. Tickets are $ 20.25. Call (617) 931-2000.
