Backstreet Boy Howie Dorough "This is My Life's Mission"

In advance of his annual lupus fundraiser in Orlando, we scored a rare opportunity to chat with Backstreet Boy Howie Dorough about his work with the band and with the foundation he created in order to help fight lupus. His beloved sister Caroline succumbed to the debilitating disease just as BSB's careers were taking off, stunning the tight-knit Dorough clan. But the initial shock did not delay their forceful and postive reaction-The Dorough Lupus Foundation has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to help find a cure. Speaking with Howie we came away with a sense that you can have it all-fame, fortune and also a strong sense of civic duty. Just another way in which BSB have reached out and affected so many millions around the globe!

Popstar: First, tell us some inside infro about the next BSB album.

Howie: We've been together for the last month doing a lot of writing, doing a lot of demos. We've had a chance to work with Glen Ballard, who's really well-known for his stuff with Alanis and Dave Matthews, and we just came from Atlanta where we were working with Jermaine Dupri. We've gotten some good stuff from Diane Warren recently. We're possibly even looking at maybe doing a duet, a collaboration with somebody. Possibly a female artist or a rap artist, depending on which direction the songs go. We're trying to go with a little bit more organic sound, more of the earthier tones, live instruments, trumpets. We're trying not to hit too hard on the electronic sound. We're kind of experimenting, trying a bunch of different styles, seeing what comes out of it for us. We're trying to pick these other people's brains. We're trying to push the envelope a little bit. This album to us is going to solidfy us so if we decide to take a year off, people hopefully won't forget about us.

Popstar: What's your proudest musical moment ever?

Howie:I'd say probably "How Did I Fall in Love," which I wrote-I'm very proud of it. You always say you wanna marry your best friend, someone who really knows you. Group-wise, I'd say our best song was "Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely." "I Want It That Way" is a song I'm surprised has been so successful. We've always joked about it beacuse if you listen to it, it doesn't really make that sense! [Laughs]

Popstar: What's the scoop on Nick's solo career. Are you all okay with it?

Howie:Nicky is actually working on some solo material right now. It's something that he's been wanting to do for a while and each of us, you know, we're in this together as a group but we also support each other in individual stuff, whether it's singing, acting, modeling, whatever-it's a matter of creating the rigt time for everything. Everything is possible, it's all a matter of timing. We're just trying to figure it all out right nw, you know, "Backstreet Boys album first-or vice versa?" I'm not really sure yet for me if I'd do a solo album. I'd possibly like to start out doing some acting first, musical theater. I took a meeting a couple of days ago with a gentleman who wants me to be involved in a new Grease coming out, but I'm not really sure. My first priority is Backstreet Boys so I think of that first.

Popstar: Is there still a mutual respect among BSB's members?

Howie:There has to be or we'd be flying in five different directions and never get an album done.

Popstar: Why did you start The Dorough Lupus Foundation?

Howie:When my sister passed away three years ago, I guess I was trying to grasp the whole reality of it and of life and fame and fortune and what was my purpose of being. Her doctor had said, "You being who you are, you could make a big difference." It's a very, very hushed disease. People don't talk about it and feel it's hard to explain what it's about. I said, "I've been so blessed, this is my way of giving back to something close to my heart." I tried taking the negative and turning it into a positive. Maybe that's my purpose in life.

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