~*~YM Magazine - February 2001~*~
"Our fans know as much about us as our moms, which is pretty scary,"
says A.J. "They have taken so much time out of their lives to learn
about a person they may not ever meet." Fans even know the guys'
schedules better than they do! "I can ask fans where we're going to be
in a few days, and they always know." says Howie.
Fans also know their true personalities. "When we're onstage, we're
entertainers, and we put on a show," says Howie. "But during our
downtime, we don't try to be something we're not. What you see is what
you get."
"Every day is like Christmas," says Howie. "We get stuffed animals,
jewlery, video games, and cool figurines. I've decorated my house with
a lot of fans' gifts." Admirers also send the boys their favorite
foods. More personal packages are what Brian and Nick look forward to
opening. "My favorite gifts are BSB scrapbooks," says Brian. "The
girls spend so much time putting them together to make them look
perfect." Adds Nick, "They also give us things, like crosses, that have
been in their families for generations. We don't want to accept them,
but the girls don't take no for an answer. It's cool that they think of
us as their family."
BSB fans can stop freaking about the guys calling it quits any time
soon. They plan on writing and recording more songs together while
they're on the Black And Blue tour and then concentrating on solo
ventures.
A.J. says somewhere down the road, when he gets married, he thinks his
fans will be very happy for him. "I want to invite about 4,000 fans to
the wedding to let them experience a really close, personal thing in my
life." Nick says he's too young to think about marriage. For now, he's
just having fun. Howie is not ruling out the possibility of finding the
girl of his dreams amongst BSB fans.
Management struggles. Record-label wars. Potshots from the press.
What gets the guys' through this? Constant notes, gifts, and applause.
"Sometimes the political stuff of this business can get the best of
you," says Brian. "But being onstage in front of our fans and looking
into their faces, they light you up." Kevin agrees, "Their support is
like them saying, 'We believe in you.' " BSB made sure to include a
special song for the fans on each of their last albums because the fans
always appreciated their talent. " 'Everyone' is basically a chant song
for the fans about things they've helped us get through." says Brian.
"We wouldn't be performing without their support. They make our albums
and videos number one. Our fans have really made us who we are."
*~*~*~*~*~BSB Article From Puerto Rico~*~*~*~*~*
(sorry translation is not that very good, but make out what you can)
HUNDREDS of young people flooded in afternoon of yesterday, Thursday, a hotel of the capital in an attempt to descry close by to the members of the popular American grouping Backstreet Boys.
It was necessary to redouble the security in the estates of the hotel where Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, A.J. McLean and Kevin Richardson offered a press conference on the concert which they will present/display in the east Island Saturday and Sunday.
"Thanks to come. We had been eight years, since we were based, trying to come for here, but by the complicated thing of the assembly of our spectacles it did not become possible. Thanks to God we obtained the stage for this spectacle... In addition, I feel very contented to be in the Earth of my mother", said Howie, in reference to its Puerto Rican ancestry.
****To questions of a fanatic, Kevin indicated that one of his future goals is "to try to be better composers and artists".****
The young person added that they will sing in both languages, English and Spanish. "It will be a great concert", expressed Kevin. They indicated that this event is in gratefulness to the support that has given Puerto Rico him in its race, where at the moment is fashionable in the radio the Shape "Shape of my Heart".
The ostentadores of multiple platinum and golden records in 45 countries have sold more than 55 million copies anywhere in the world. This one is the first visit that makes the grouping to the Island, and the same form leaves from its tour of concerts denominated "Black and Blue World Tour".
The producer Jose Owner communicated that in two functions about 44 thousand Puerto Ricans will enjoy the spectacle and an impressive "assembly". Owner indicated that the scene erected in the stage "Hiram Bithorn" has 260 feet of length, 180 feet of depth and 80 feet of height. In addition, he will count on three giant screens, fireworks and flame thrower, among other special effects.
Backstreet Boys debuted on the radio in 1995 with the simple "Wé've Got it Going On". In 1999, the grouping obtained five postulations to the Grammy "prizes" and that same year gained four Billboards "prizes", among them album of the year and artist of the year.
*~BSB Arive With Surprises~*
A VARIETY of shouts and emotions became the waiting room to the press conference of the Backstreet Boys, in the occasion of the Black & Blue World Tour, celebrated yesterday, in the hotel Carbe Hilton. Hundreds of girls who hoped from early hours in the outskirts of the hotel, shouted desperate until seeing pass an automobile official. Some with their relatives and others with their friends only hoped to be able to see of distant spot some of the members of the North American quinteto.
But, when the hour arrived, the doors were closed and Kevin, AJ, Howie D., Nick and Brian entered the hall and the shouts intensified. Before they emitted commentary some, two screens, located to both ends of the hall, presented/displayed a small sample of the trajectory of the BSB and, the first round of questions corresponded to him to the four winners of the aid who celebrated the New Day, Passport of Spectacles almost takes you to the press conference of the Then, nervous BSB. and without knowing what to say obtained their charge. Howie initiated the answers saying that "it is as a dream made reality be able to be in the Earth of my mother again. He went why I insisted to him to the boys so that we came to Puerto Rico". As far as the type of spectacle that will offer, Kevin assured that "we will give 120% of the best thing than we have so that the public benefit. In addition, we are going to be interpreting subjects of our three discs. For our followers who have seen others of our presentations we have a few surprises to them and I do not mean more...".
Also, Howie explained to questions of the New Day that "the show of Puerto Rico is going to be different to which we have done in Latin America". This because for different reasons "we could not there transfer all the assembly that we used in the United States, but we made a conscious decision and we are going to have our regular assembly with special effects here and a surprise for all". Also they advanced that "we are going to interpret subjects in Spanish", according to Kevin. To which Howie added that "we have wanted to give to the public subjects to him in Spanish or that somehow they are influenced by the Latin movement, because first is in my blood and second so that they are part of the eyes of the world".
Kevin, AJ, Howie, Brian and Nick are small without pretensions, quite normal and with good sense of humor. Brian was the core of the celebration and the one that said sinnúmeros of jokes. Nick followed the steps to him, where as the reason and the maturity transmitted Kevin with each answer and gesture who did. Howie so was moved that until she presented/displayed to his mother Paula Flores (originating of Fajardo), his father "a gringo", according to said, and his Pollyanna sister. This last one will be in charge of the opening of the Black & Blue World Tour and according to commented to him to the New three Day is going to intone melodías of its responsibility. Between these my heart and Wet appear Andale. "Although I had myself to prepare with only two weeks of anticipation I am very contented of being able to participate in this event", said the sister of Howie. Therefore, Hiram Bithorn prepárese tomorrow and Sunday for "a spectacle different and full" of surprises in the scene of the Stage. Still they are left tickets on sale in 759-5000. And for that they cannot attend, Telemundo will transmit Saturday a special one with some takings of the 9:00 concert p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Shared in common with Vieques "I do not know if my companions are familiarized with the situation of Vieques, but to me he bothers so much to me as to which they do not like the violence. This would not have to happen in any place and much less pumps and missiles would have to exist. I believe that the communication is the best form to solve the problems and I am wanted to unite to which said to Ricky Martin, in a delivery of prizes, of which the bombings must finish already", thought Howie D.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Tiger Beat Magazine:
TIGER BEAT: Your concert tour comes back to the U.S. this month. Which
songs do you most like to perform from your new CD, Black and Blue?
KEVIN: We do "If You Stay," a song that has never been released
commercially as a single, but it was on the Booty Call soundtrack. It's
a good song. And then another one is "More Than That," from Black and
Blue.
NICK: "More Than That" is really cool because we are not really dancing
or anything. It's just emotional. It's a very beautiful, visual song.
A.J.: I like doing "Get Another Boyfriend." I like doing the up-tempos
because I like dancing and having fun on stage.
HOWIE: I would probably say "Time," "The Answer To Our Lives," "How Did
I Fall In Love," and "What Makes You Different Makes You Beautiful."
TIGER BEAT: Nick, if you could pick anyone to be your opening act, who
would it be?
NICK: I would pick a rock group. Limp Bizkit or Korn. A.J. would
probably love it!
A.J.: Oh yeah, me and Fred (Durst) would be dancing on stage.
TIGER BEAT: A.J., are you doing another tour as Johnny No Name?
A.J.: I am trying to work it out, but I am busy for the next 49 weeks.
But probably when I have time. Maybe for some charity. It's fun. Not as
fun as being with these guys, but it's different!
TIGER BEAT: What do you hope to accomplish with your careers, both as
solo artists and as a group?
HOWIE: I think it would be nice to take a Grammy home. We haven't
received one yet.
A.J.: We have a studio bus with us at the moment, and that's great. We
can write songs whenever we feel like it. And there will be another
album - I PROMISE!
TIGER BEAT: When you guys were in high school, who would you have done
anything to see in concert or to meet?
A.J.: Paula Abdul! I finally got to meet her and my mom really
embarrassed me by telling her that I used to have pictures of her all
over my room. I was a part of her fan club. I was crazy about Paula
Abdul - she was adorable.
NICK: I would have to say Nirvana in concert. I think that would have
been one of the greatest things of all time.
HOWIE: I was a big fan of New Edition and Boyz II Men and I got to see
both of them in concert.
KEVIN: For me, growing up it was the Purple Rain album by Prince. Or
the Thriller album by Michael Jackson. I was up in my room playing my
keyboard trying to learn their songs.
BRIAN: I have to agree with Howie - New Edition and Boyz II Men. And
also Kool and The Gang.
TIGER BEAT: How did you talk Howie into being the girl in the video for
"The Call?"
NICK: Howie kind of volunteered. No... I'm just kidding.
HOWIE: I had to take it for the team.
NICK: He had the long hair going on.
TIGER BEAT: Who are your influences?
A.J.: My mom actually influenced me with a lot of different kinds of
music - Zeppelin to Stevie Wonder. Also the group Take 6.
NICK: My family. My dad used to be a DJ and he used to play old
records, some old, old stuff. So when I was a little baby I got
influenced by that.
BRIAN: Kevin and I grew up together, so we listened to a lot of the
same music. When my mother and father were home from work, they would
practice what they were going to sing in church on Sunday. I would
always listen to them, and I think that's where I got my ear for music.
Church was always a big part of my life growing up. And music teachers,
from grade school all the way to high school, have been a major
influence in my life. They made me understand what music is all about. I
listen to Boyz II Men, James Taylor, Vince Gill - anything, from country
to pop.
KEVIN: Like Brian said, church music. My mom sang solos in church all
the time, and on the way to church, the whole family would sing to
whatever we heard on the radio. My mom and dad had a stereo, and
sometimes I heard their music. Anything from Chuck Berry, to Ike and
Tina Turner, to Elvis, to The Bee Gees. And then as my brother started
to get more into music, I started to listen to his records. The Jackson
5, Aerosmith and Van Halen. As I got older, I started listening to
Prince, Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, Elton John, New Edition, stuff like
that.
HOWIE: For me it's my sister, Pollyanna. She gave me confidence.
TIGER BEAT: When you look back at the beginning of your careers, is
there anything you regret?
KEVIN: Some of our old pictures. But then again, it was a learning
process. We learned a lot.
BRIAN: We have made some business decisions in the past with previous
people in our lives... if you could change it all and take it back, it
would be a perfect world. But the point is that you can't, so you just
learn to live with it and not make the same mistake again.
A.J.: Oh my God, MY HAIR at that time, man!!
TIGER BEAT: Do you feel like you had to change your image to be
different from other bands?
A.J.: I think we have, over the years, evolved into our own identity.
We have all become strong individuals, as well as a strong unit. And I
think that makes us different from other groups like us.
TIGER BEAT: Nick, how often do you see your little brother, Aaron?
NICK: I just saw him two days ago. I see him quite often, but not as
much as I'd like to.
BRIAN: I went to a game with Nick the other day, and Aaron was
performing. And I was having flashbacks. Aaron is 13 now, and that was
the age Nick was when I met him for the very first time.
NICK: I love having a little brother, especially when you can start
hanging out with him.
TIGER BEAT: Have you been to one of Aaron's concerts?
NICK: I've been to a bunch of them. He's funny - he's a cool guy.
BRIAN: He's a hard core rapper.
TIGER BEAT: What inspired you guys to become who you are now?
HOWIE: We have had a lot of ups and downs in our eight years as a group.
And to see people supporting us and coming to our concerts really
inspires us. The fans do a lot for us, and that's why we do all the
concerts.
A.J.: One of my favorite things about our fans is that they listen to
everything we say. The music comes first, no matter what we look like.
And that's what's important - making good, quality music. And to be up
on stage and see all of the faces cry, smile, sing. I wouldn't change it
for the world.
NICK: Since we have been together for so long,
eight years now, we have seen the same fans, the same people, since the
beginning. I think to see all the people sticking around makes us want
to stay here even longer - forever!
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