MEDIA

INTERVIEWS

Backstage with the Backstreet Boys! TV HITS MAGAZINE (Australia) January 1999 Issue #125

Australian Exclusive!
Hanging backstage with the Backstreet Boys on their American tour is as good as it gets! Nick back as TV HITS bring you this wicked, behind-the-scenes exclusive...

Backstreet Boys
Authorised Personnel Only
Location: Merryweather Entertainment Centre, Maryland, USA
Crowd: 12, 000 insane fans
Who Was There: The Band - Nick, Howie, AJ, Kevin and Brian (who looks fit and well, but slightly frailer than before) The Fam- Nick's parents Jane and Bob, and AJ's mum and band publicist, Denise. The Employees- Tour manager, Nina and security men Todd and Q... and TV HITS naturally!
Excitement factor: 12, 000/12, 000

7.00 PM
* The guys are busy doing TV, radio and newspaper interviews with people from places like The Washington Post and MTV! It seems like a dream come true for the guys, 'cause less than a year ago American just wasn't interested - can you believe they actually played to a crowd of less than 20 people one night? Mad!

7.45 PM
* Who are all these people? Why are they standing in a long line, giggling, and looking so nervous? Oh, it's all the competition winners who've scored a chance to meet their idols! The guys show hey're total pros in these situations by sharing laughs, signing autographs and making sure everyone leaves with a huge grin on their face. Awww!

8.15 PM
* AJ rocks over to say g'day in a pretty bad Aussie accent - "Gawd blimey, what the bleedin' 'ell are you doin' here then?" Luckily, Nick, Brian. Howie and Kevin spare us their attempts - they're too busy falling over laughing, anyway! Erm.. don't give up your day job, AJ!

8.17 PM
* The boys wanna chat! Like we're gonna say no!
* You all look so chilled and happy at the moment. What do you say to all those rumours that you're splitting up? 
Nick: Whaaat?! No way! I don't know where people are getting this idea from - we're the most successful we've ever been and the happiest. We're working on our next album and we're ready for more!
* I guess with all the talk of you doing a single with your brother, Aaron, people see that as a sign that the band's finished?
Nick: Yeah, I am gonna be doing a single with Aaron, hopefully before Christmas. But that's extra. Not instead of the band!
* Brian! You had us all worried there for a while. How are you feeling?
Brian: Of course the operation did take it out of me, but I was sensible and had a good rest period, and we've got a few days off after this tour, so I'll take it easy and get myself totally sorted. I've gotta get back down to that gym!
* Have you reached that point where you've worked so hard, for so long, that you're finally in a position to sit back and enjoy your success?
AJ: Everything's perfect for us now. We've got houses, cars, a bit of cash, our families and friends, and this crazy, brilliant job!
Nick: It took time when everything first got big for us to settle down. But now it's kinda fallen into place, and we actually get time for ourselves.

8.30 PM
* The guys get the call from stage-side - they're on in five minutes! We'd all been so busy chatting, we'd forgotten the time. Oops! But there is time for just one more question...
* What do you think of 5ive and their success?
Nick: We know of them because of the late Denniz Pop (writer/producer for both Backstreet Boys and 5ive). We worked with him on a lot of our earlier songs, and he's worked with 5ive as well.
AJ: I saw them once and they sang a Denniz song, "When The Lights Go Out". Man, I wish we'd had that song!

Hey, is that the audience screaming? You'd better run, boys - the curtain's just gone up. Quick!

10.45 PM
* The guys walk backstage drenched in sweat. This pop star gig is hard work, you know! Nick, AJ, Howie, Brian and Kevin take it in turns to give the TV HITS crew high fives before heading to their dressing room for a post-concert chill out. We just stand there awestruck - the show was just mad! They were hitting notes so high they could have been hired by the US government to knock meteorites off their collision course with Earth (now there;s an idea for a movie!), while their low notes boomed so deep they could have been drilling for oil!

TOP SECRET!
* During the show, did you know that when it's time for the boys to do their solo songs, the others take it in turn to use the public payphones backstage. We saw ya!

11.10 PM
* Back at the hotel, the guys are still on a high from the show and want a night out on the town, but first, we sneak in a few more quick questions...
* When you're as famous as the Backstreet Boys, how can you just go to a nightclub and not get hassled?
Kevin: We haven't told the club we're coming! If we do, they sometimes tell the press and it gets kinda crazy. We'll just have to wing it!

And off they go, piling into their bus, ready for party. Hey, wait for us, dudes!

11.30 PM
* A little while later, we all arrive at the nightclub, but luckily, the boys don't get hassled. You can see the relief on all their faces. Americans are way too cool to make a scene. Anyway, these boys love partying! Ain't no way fame's gonna stop 'em!

SOMETHING LATER IN THE NIGHT!
* We've forgotten the time again! Everything's just mad - Nick's winding Kevin up, Brian's still cracking jokes, Howie's being the peacemaker, and AJ just keeps talking and talking!

AJ: Have you seen my tattoos? I've gotta get some more now 'cause this arm's kinda naked! And then I might get my belly button pierced. (Howie rolls his eyes, but Nick thinks it's a wicked idea. He wants one too!)

And on and on it goes! Phew... what a day!

Thank you Nick, Howie, Kevin, AJ and Brian and goodnight. We're off to bed!