MEDIA

INTERVIEWS

BSB - IN YOUR OWN WORDS! Smash Hits Magazine (Australia) April 2000

When we were offered an interview with the Backstreet Boys, we knew exactly who should ask the questions - YOU! So, congratulations, here's your interview with the world's biggest boy band...

KEVIN
If you had to make a sponge cake would you know how?
Nope. But I can cook. My mom taught me when I was growing up. I can cook chicken stir-fry with vegetables, my mom's homemade chilli and several casseroles. I can cook a breakfast too!
What parts of your body make you tingle when they're kissed or touched?
Wow! Uhm…(thinks for long time). My stomach is kinda sensitive.
Why did you turn down the chance to be a model for Versace after they offered you a contract? Don't you want to be a model?
I never turned down a contract with Versace- that's a rumour. I have a good relationship with Donatella Versace and she'd done a lot of things for us. She saw our show and afterwards she asked me if I'd like to do some modelling the next day. I said "Sure, I' d love to go!" I was flattered. I'm looking into doing more but we've had the tour and the album so I was kinda busy. I would only model for Versace if I did it. Modelling isn't something that I want to do for a career, but I would like to dabble.
If you could insure one part of your body, what would it be and why?
Wow! I guess I could insure my voice, but that's not really part of my body. Probably my hands cos I want to do music production work later on.
Where's the more unusual place you've had an idea for a song?
In the loo, under the shower, driving down the road. A lot of the time it's when I'm driving. Sometimes I just sit in front of the piano and play- that's how I wrote Back To Your Heart.
Do you ever get bored of touring?
I'm so tired of being on the road. I don't mind the concerts and the performing but I hate the travelling.
If you were reincarnated, what would you come back to Earth as?
I'd like to come back as a bird, I love flying. I've had flying lessons, as you probably know, and I'm hoping that some day I'll be able to buy and fly my own plane.
In the band, whose farts smell the most?
Haha! What a great question! We can all be pretty rotten. Who asked it? Shai? She's wasn't very shy was she?

AJ
You're at a club with your girlfriend, when her ex comes up and starts insulting her. What would you do?
I would definitely stick up for her, I wouldn't let her be verbally abused. Then I would tell her, "You know what? Let's walk!" we'd just try to walk away. Hopefully, he would let her go without starting again.
What do you order in McDonalds?
A double quarter pounder with cheese value meal, super size, Coke, no ice. Every time.
Some people say your nickname Bone means something rude. Is that true?
There are three different interpretations. One is the rude one, one is cos I look like a bone cos I'm so skinny and one is the actual way I got the nickname. One of our security guards called me it cos when I went to London once I bought a bunch of beads and they looked like bones, so the name stuck. These days I don't even answer to AJ, I only answer to Bone!
What's the significance of your tattoo?
A dragon. Some people think it's a snake but it's not. It represents the year of the dragon, which is when I was born. But if I'd been born in year of the chicken, I would have had a chicken on my shoulder. I was lucky!
If you could be anyone else in the band, who would you be?
I would say Howie, so I could have long hair- natural long hair and not braids. Howie has really stuck with his hair. It went through a really bad stage but now it looks cool.
Are there days when you would like to leave the band and just be normal?
I do want to go home sometimes and pretend I'm not in a band but when I get back, I get bored and I want to be back on the road. So what do I do? I go clubbing, go shopping, but it's not the same as being on tour. It's exciting.

NICK
If you were reincarnated, what would you come back as?
As a big shark! A big shark that eats people! Ha ha! Does that sound nasty? I'm in one of those moods. I'm all fired up today. Also, it might be because I was eating crab today. We ate crabs and then smashed the shells so it looks like there's been a shark attack here!
You were bullied at school. Does that affect you now?
It hurt me so much that it stopped me from meeting new people. I used to get very nervous when I met new people, but I started fighting it and I've got loads of confidence now. I'd say to anyone who is being bullied that if I got over it, then anybody can. It's hard, but try and be brave.
If you were a Beanie Baby cuddly toy, which one would you be and why?
Aha! Speaking of Beanie Babies I'm still looking for Bronty or the Royal Blue Peanut, so I guess it would be one of those as they are so rare and precious- like me!
Do you have hairy underarms?
Yes! Well, you know I am officially an adult now so if I didn't have hairy underarms, I'd be a bit worried. I won't show you though- it's gross.
Are you still hoping to make your cartoon book into a movie?
It's still up in the air- I'd really like to but nothing officially has happened yet because we've just been so crazy with the tour. Maybe sometime soon I'll find one minute to think about my cartoons.
You've got a reputation for being nice to everyone. Does this annoy you?
I know the rest of the guys in the band don't see me as Nice Nick! I can be pretty mean and moody when I wake up!
Is it really true that you said your Malaysian fans were stupid and ugly. That's what I heard and I really need to know.
No, I didn't say that at all and I'm not happy that people still think this. I was framed and I'm very, very, very angry about it. I'd never say something like that because our Malaysian fans are cool and loyal. I'd like to thank them for their support over the years.
Why don't you bare your fit bod when the other lads do?
No comment. I like to keep something to myself.
Are you going to go solo soon?
Nah! We have too much to do to even consider going solo. Our schedules are booked up for years! I haven't got any plans to go solo right now, I'm having too much fun with the boys!

HOWIE
On your last birthday in August, what did the other boys get you?
NOTHING! Zilch! We had our after-party at a club so all the guys came out to celebrate but the little runts didn't buy me anything. It is hard though, cos we never have time to go off and buy gifts.
A girl you're seeing is intelligent, caring and exciting, but she's a bit on the chubby side. Do you keep seeing her even though she's not model-type and thin?
If I really cared about this person, I don't think looks, weight-wise or whatever would matter. Beauty comes from within.
Who's the best Bsb to have an argument with?
AJ, cos he stutters when he gets really angry. He does, "Da-da-da-don't say that!" and it makes me laugh. You can always tell when AJ's lying cos he'll start to stutter too.
Have you ever had anything precious stolen?
Yeah, my clothes! When I was going to London I had a bag of stuff stolen from the plane. There were loads of shoes and a lot of jewellery- like the cross my mother gave me ages ago- and an earring that I really cherished. Losing sentimental stuff really hurts me. It's not the price, it's the feelings involved.
When you sing songs like, "I'll Never Break Your Heart", to your fans do you mean it?
That song is a love ballad about trying to gain a person's trust. We do try to gain the trust of our fans and I always say, "We'll never break your hearts" before we sing it. We want them to know that we're not planning to let them down. We're not like some boyfriends who would hurt their feelings.

BRIAN
You've done so much with the band, what other ambitions do you have?
The main thing is for us to enjoy what we do. I'd love to take a long, long break soon but I know the fans deserve to see us so, I don't know.
You said in the last issue of Smash Hits that you want kids. What would you call your children?
I haven't really thought but my dad's name is Harold, so I'd probably call my baby boy Harry.
Near the end of the Backstreet's Back film clip (We know it was a long time ago but we love it), you're sitting on the floor while the others are still dancing around. What happened?
That was sooo funny! I just fell over. I slipped and sat there on my butt looking stunned! The director left it in the clip! I laugh my head off every time I see it!
I love the song 10,000 Promises from your last album. What's the biggest promises you have made but failed to keep?
It's really Kevin's song so you should ask him. I don't tend to break promises. Except when I was a kid and I broke little ones like everyone does. I was always like, "Yeah mom, I promise I did my homework and I'll promise I'll tidy my room". Yeah right!
Why are all the girls in your film clips so perfect looking with longs legs and tiny waists?
I can't really explain this one because we often don't get involved in the casting of clips. Sometimes we need dancers who are really fit and can do the dance routine over and over again, but other than that I don't know why they look like they do. We don't make those decisions- honest!
Do you still play backstage pranks to lighten pre-concert tension?
Nick: You've just reminded me to start doing it again! It's a tradition that on the last show of any Backstreet Boys tour you do little gags and stuff- things that you'd get into trouble for doing at any other time… and I've just remembered I bought some firecrackers that pop when you put them under a toilet seat!