Transcript of Yahoo! Chat with
A.J. of the Backstreet  Boys

July 28, 1998

YahooChat: Welcome to Yahoo! Chat...in just a few minutes we will be  chatting with BACKSTREET BOY A.J.!!!! Send in your questions now! A.J. will be  here in just a couple of minutes...send in those questions now! It's The  Backstreet Boys LIVE on Yahoo! This is the second of five chats....hope you were  here for our last event and will join us for the next one Send in your questions  for the Backstreet Boys now! A.J. will be here any minute..send in your  questions now! Sorry he is a couple of minutes late....the BACKSTREET BOYS are  on tour. The Backstreet Boys are playing Houston tonight and they are tuning up.  What is everyone's favorite BSB song? I'm sure A.J. would love to know. This is  the second of five BSB chats...the next one is on August 11th and if you stay  until the end of this event we'll tell you who is chatting then.

YahooChat: A.J. is here! Let the chat begin!
A.J.: What's up  to all our friends and fans in the chatroom right now with me! Thanks for all of  your support and we appreciate it, I mean it. Please ask me anything you want,  and I do mean anything! And also sorry for being late guys!

BSBgrrl18 asks: How is your US tour going?
A.J.: So far so  good. We've been on tour now for about three weeks. A lot of sold out shows so  far. We are in Houston right now and we have a sold out show here tonight. I  think our most prestigious show so far has been Radio City in New York. It has  been a phenomenal tour so far. This is our first arena tour. We've been selling  out, and it's been great. Perfect.

Sweet_girl_for_u99 asks: A.J. i love your tattoos. Do they have any  meanings to them?
A.J.: Let's see. Currently I have five of them. They  all have a meaning to me. I'm not quite done with them yet. The one on my left  forearm is a comedy mask which represents comedy and tragedy because I grew up  doing theater which is my first love. Right above that is the statement "Laugh  Now". Right above that on my left shoulder is my name written in tribal. On my  back left shoulder is a dragon, since I was born in the year of the dragon. On  my right shoulder is my nickname written in a cross. We have a show coming up in  LA on the 8th, and I want to get a panda bear on my right forearm. Reason being  is because in my eyes it combines a non-racist image, black and white together,  in a uniform symbol. That's all I have so far!

FrickLuva asks: Do you believe in love at first sight?
A.J.:  Actually I do. I really do. I've met someone who, it's like, you meet them and  you have that connection and that vive. There is a strong possibility of that.  It's all about the chemistry. I believe.

RokPower asks: What do you order at McDonalds?
A.J.: I order  a double quarter pounder with cheese value meal. Number four usually. With a  large coke, no ice, and a large fries.

HereTitlePlace asks: What's the best thing about being a Backstreet  Boy?
A.J.: I would say the best thing about being a BSB is the  opportunity at hand. The opportunity to travel the world. Meet the people we've  met. Just do the things we've all dreamed of doing since we were young toddlers.  There are so many things that are positive about being where we are. Some of the  down sides are being away from family, not getting home cooked meals, stuff like  that.

Millaco asks: When you first started out did you think you would  become this successful?
A.J.: You are always hopeful. But you never  know. There's not much that you really know. It's just something you can hope  for and you give it your best shot. You just have a strong belief that if you do  what you've been blessed with to do, and if the fans respond well, then yeah, it  can blossom into something great. And so far, it's been great!

Two_yummy_girls asks: A.J...are you still close to the friends you had  before you became famous??
A.J.: Some. Not as many as I'd like to be.

Danielle_14_98 asks: What is your favorite song to  sing?
A.J.: Ummm, probably, live, "Hey Mr. DJ" and "That's The Way I  Like It". Because they're the most hype songs.

We_LOVE_u_BSB asks: Who would be your first choice to do a duet  with?
A.J.: Either Celine Dion or Mariah Carey. My second choice would  probably be Aliyah.

Go_Backstreet asks: AJ, When and why did you first start wearing your  trademark goggles and glasses?
A.J.: Since 1993. It was just something  that I wore in our first video that we ever recorded for "We Got It Going On".  Our stylist said pop these sunglasses on. Our management said why don't you keep  on wearing them, different styles, etc. It then just became my trademark, and  now I don't really go anywhere without them. Sometimes I even sleep in them.

Rosa5_112681 asks: how do feel when u think about girls obsessing over  u?
A.J.: I don't know. It's kind of , it's definitely flattering, but  it's a little weird. I don't really understand why yet. I wish for five minutes  I could get inside a fan's head to see what causes that hysteria or that  obsession, you know?

Lokahi_CA asks: AJ- it has been said you are a great fan of musical  theatre, which is your favorite?
A.J.: Phantom of the Opera. Has to be  my favorite. And it's the only show on Broadway that I've never seen. I'd love  to see it.

Kaoschild9 asks: If you could have any other job besides music what  would it be?
A.J.: Dancing. Or acting. I don't really know anything  else. This is my life. This is all I know basically.

ThatGirl83 asks: if you were a spice girl what would your spice name  be?
A.J.: Probably Freaky Spice.

B_rok__98 asks: Are you really a big flirt?
A.J.: Oh, yeah.  Oh, yeah.

Sweet_D_Girl_1 asks: Since you travel all over the world, do you  collect anything from all the different places?
A.J.: Sometimes I get  postcards or other things. But not a whole lot of souvenirs really. Howie gets  more souvenirs than me.

BSboysfan123 asks: What is your favorite cartoon  character?
A.J.: I have so many! I love cartoons. I can't even think  off the top of my head that I like the most. Now I'm into Ren and Stimpy, and  all the really gross, nasty, freaky stuff.

Taurus2nd asks: Do you guys surf the internet often?
A.J.:  Nick does. I know Howie does. Some of our band members do. I just got my lap  top. I haven't actually gotten connected yet. I haven't logged on yet. I've done  it at other people's houses and at my mom's place. It's so funny, cause when you  do it, you spend an hour and a half proving it's you. And these girls ask really  complicated questions. And then some of these girls, won't give me their phone  numbers and sometimes they do. And I'll sometimes sing onto their answering  machines.

BSB_Pride_4ever asks: Aj-What is the most important thing in the world  to you?
A.J.: My mom, and then secondly my career, meaning my life. My  family, my grandparents, and then my career.

Belle_hi asks: Have you ever kissed a fan?
A.J.: Where? You  have to be more specific. I've kissed many fans on the cheek and in passing, but  I've never kissed, kissed a fan.

Hamlin81 asks: who is the biggest comedian of the  group?
A.J.: Probably a cross between Brian and Nick. Their whole  personalities, the things they say and the things they do. Kevin being the most  serious because he's the oldest. Howie being the mediator, and me being a  complete lunatic basically.

Sugear98 asks: Who are your favorite current artists?
A.J.:  Hmmm. Eric Benet. Maxwell. Brian McKnight. Jamiroquai. Prodigy. And BSB! Groups  and people like that.

Skittles13_98 asks: are any of you virgins?
A.J.: I'm not.  I'm pretty sure Kevin isn't. He's 27 years old. Myself, Kevin, Howie and Brian  are not. I'm pretty sure Nick is not, but you never know.

Jeynne asks: Why do you change your hair style so  often?
A.J.: You know I don't know myself. I have to change  constantly. I don't like staying the same. Just when people get used to me one  way, I have to change to get the m interested in what I'm going to do next.  Right now it's bright red. Who know's what it'll be on the next tour. Probably  orange or blue.

Luvbsb11 asks: What is the next music video you are going to  shoot??
A.J.: We just finished shooting "I'll Never Break Your Heart"  in Los Angeles. That's going to be the next video. Actually I just found out  this morning that it got added to MTV in full rotation. We recorded it with a  director named Billy Woodruff. He's done groups like Next, Chico Debarge. He's  done incredible work, and he made our video look kick-butt.

SomeGirl53 asks: What's the name of the new album?
A.J.:  We're looking at releasing the album March-ish. We'll be in the studio for about  two months after the tour recording. And there will be stuff hopefully written  and produced by us on there.

Jennesa asks: who were your musical idols
A.J.: Gee, like  Jodeci, Boyz to Men, Shy, all your doo-wop harmony groups. Individually we have  a large variety, but group-wise those are the groups.

Sandra7584 asks: aj how is your day going today?
A.J.:  Pretty stressful. Pretty hectic today. We have a day off in Kansas City in two  days. I'm trying to arrange a trip to NY for that day. And then we do a lot of  press. We just did a shoot for US magazine. We have a meet and greet to do  today. And then we have a four hour bus ride after the show today to Dallas.

Hitz584 asks: If you could have a date with any famous person in the  world who would it be?
A.J.: Right now it would probably be either  Jennifer Love Hewitt, or Aliyah. There's one more, but I don't know her name,  maybe you can help me out. The girl that was the bad guy's girlfriend in the  movie Face Off. She is absolutely gorgeous.

Bbfrack asks: who is the most romantic of the group and  why?
A.J.: I think, geez, probably myself, I've been told. Just  because I don't do big, huge glorious things for a girl right off the bat. I  like to do the simple things. Like if a girl likes Reeces peanut butter cups, I  leave it with her at work, with a note saying I love You. Another girl I'd like  to date, but she's busy right now is Gwen Stefani (lead singer of No  Doubt).

DEV_LUV_BROK asks: who is the biggest slacker of the 5 of  ya'll?
A.J.: Slacker? Don't know if you'd call it slacker, but the  most late, last person downstairs or something, would probably be Howie or  Kevin. I'm always first. Always. I might look like hell, but I'm always there  first.

AJsFunkyGirl asks: CAN YOU COOK?
A.J.: Yes I can. I cook  Italian, Mexican. I can cook a little bit of Chinese, but not a whole lot. I  haven't gotten my wok yet. I need to get one to make my stirfry at home.

Bballfan6 asks: whos your best friend out of your  goup?
A.J.: Hmmm. It kind of varies weekly or daily. But maybe Howie,  I've known him the longest, for ten years.

Uthinkubigtime asks: Are you wearing boxers or briefs?
A.J.:  Ahh, really, ummm, neither right this minute! Cause it's so damn hot over here.  But generally, boxers.

Dawni_b asks: Do you guys ever write poetry???
A.J.: I do.  I've been writing since I was about ten. And I still write on occasion now which  is how I get the inspirations for the songs I write.

WAgirl__98 asks: Where is your favorite place to  perform?
A.J.: Now, my favorite place has been Radio City because it's  probably the most prestigious place we've performed. It's also been the smallest  and most intimate, but also the most prestigious. Just being there you can feel  the presence of all the other artists that have been their, the Rat Pack, the  singers, all the award shows that have been there.

PinayFSA asks: How did you guys like VJing for a day on  MTV?
A.J.: Pretty cool. Since I've watched MTV since I was a kid, I've  always wanted to be a VJ, not permanently, but a guest appearance every so  often. I'm just a ham, I love being on camera somehow. I'm just a ham!

I_LOVE_MRCool asks: What do you think is your best body part,A.J. and  why?
A.J.: Hmmm. LOL! A dangerous question. I've been told my eyes.  And I've been told by many fans, "Dammit would you take off your glasses so we  can see your eyes!" I have long eyelashes, which are a little feminine for me,  but people like them. I would cut them off, but if it works....

Decs6 asks: A.J.--------------DYE YOUR HAIR BLONDE !!!!!!! YOU LOOK SO  HOT WITH BLONDE HAIR!!!!!!
A.J.: I'm considering going back to it. I  went to red, but I'm considering going back to it, maybe, over the next couple  of days. Maybe, maybe not!

Decs6 asks: WILL YOU ASK NICK IF HE'LL MARRY ME???
A.J.: Yes  I will. I'll ask Nick, but Nicks not around me now, but I'll ask, me. And if  Nick says no, then I'll say yes!
YahooChat: We'll ask Nick when he  joins us on Yahoo! Chat August 11th

Pureas_silk asks: Do you want to star in movie in the  future?
A.J.: Heck yeah! Definitely. But I want to be a bad guy.  Everyone likes the good guy, that's a given. But everyone likes the bad guy if  he's a good actor!

Econoline_Crush_Girl__ asks: Are you guys going for a different sound  on your next album? What can we expect?
A.J.: I think a little more  R&B. A little more adult. A little bit more adult comtemporary. Stuff like  that. Basically a growth period for us.

Danielle___1998 asks: Have u ever skinny dipped b4?  When?
A.J.: Yup. I often do it at my house now. It's just me living  there with my roommate.

Pam_n_Jen asks: What is one thing that you can't stand about being  famous?
A.J.: Time. Basically not having enough time to do much. And  not having much of a personal life any more. Just talked to my roommate last  night. She said there's girls coming to the house every day now. Everyone in the  community knows it's me. You don't even have privacy at your own home. It's kind  of weird. But I love the attention, I really do.

Razzleberry21 asks: Do you have any pet peeves?
A.J.: I hate  people who are liars, that's the first thing. People that can't look you in the  eye when they talk to you drive me nuts. Or people that are figidty drive me  nuts. People that sit there and start tapping on a table with a pen, that drives  me crazy.

Giovana_ asks: Do you have any pets?
A.J.: I did. I had two  dogs, one being a tea cup chihuahua, and the other one a German Shepard. The  chihuahua died five days after I got it. And then I gave the Shepard back to the  family I got it from because I didn't have time to take care of it.

Ga_Bu_Powa asks: If you had three wishes, what would you wish  for?
A.J.: Longevity and success, that's one. To be able to take care  of my family for the rest of my life. So they were comfortable and set. And to  be happily married with a family and to be a wonderful father some day.

A.J.: Thank you to everyone that was in this room with me today.  Hopefully I'll talk to you when I log on. And I will do whatever it takes to  prove that it's me whether it means to call you, write you, or maybe you'll  believe right off the bat. Thanks you guys for being so supportive and being  there for us, and hopefully being there for us in the future. Without you guys  and girls there would be no BSB, so thank you very much!

YahooChat: Thanks for joining us. Our next BSB chat is with NICK on  August 11th at 8p.m.ET! Join us!