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| Boy Trouble Date: July 13, 2001 What's next for the Backstreet Boys? -- With AJ in rehab and a tour on hold, the Fab Five are at a crossroads by Dave Karger It wasn't your typical Backstreet Boys visit to ''Total Request Live.'' Usually a meet-and-greet at the MTV countdown show with Gen-Y's original Fab Five concludes with ear-piercing screams and general hysteria from the show's mostly female gallery. But at the end of the group's ''TRL'' interview on July 9, the dazed crowd's sullen silence was broken only by a smattering of applause. Four members of the multi-platinum-selling quintet -- Kevin Richardson, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, and Nick Carter (wearing an incongruous ''Grabbabootie and Pinch'' T-shirt) -- appeared before the cameras to announce that groupmate AJ McLean, 23, had checked into an undisclosed 30-day rehabilitation program July 9 for what Richardson called McLean's ''depression, anxiety, and his excessive consumption of alcohol.'' As a result, the band postponed 20 North American tour dates -- for now. On Today July 10, Dorough revealed that McLean's vices also included other ''substances.'' The development didn't come completely out of the blue. The heavily tattooed McLean, one of the group's three lead vocalists and its resident rebel, had a counselor on tour with him since early June, at the urging of the other Backstreet Boys and their managers. ''When they saw him continuing on partying when they would go home at night, and missing meetings and missing call times, they knew something was up,'' says MTV newsman John Norris, who broke the story. A statement from the group added that a ''key factor causing his depression'' was the April death of his grandmother, who helped his mother raise him in West Palm Beach, Fla. But McLean's troubling behavior dates back even further. Last year, he told Entertainment Weekly that he ''was sick'' during the 1997 recording sessions for the hit ''As Long as You Love Me.'' ''I'm not even on that song,'' he said. ''Nowhere, no backgrounds, nope.... Brian had to teach me the damn backgrounds at the video shoot. 'Cause I didn't even know what the stupid words were.'' This February, he reportedly told a London newspaper that his depression began in 1999 and would lead him to ''sit on the bed, open a bottle of Jack Daniel's and stare at the walls.... I thought about leaving the band so many times.'' To '70s teen idol Leif Garrett, McLean's story strikes a familiar chord. ''Alcohol and depression? The perfect combo. It's like, misery loves company,'' says Garrett, 39, who faced his own battles with drugs and alcohol over the years and praises BSB's forthright approach to the news. ''They probably could have done it privately, but word would have leaked out.'' More cynical observers might note that McLean's announcement comes just as the group is hitting a slump with the ever-fickle teen audience. While competitors 'N Sync have been flying high with the record-setting ''No Strings Attached'' and a successful stadium tour, BSB's most recent album, ''Black & Blue,'' currently sits at No. 98 on the Billboard chart. In comparison, their previous record, ''Millennium,'' was still in the top three at this point in its release. (Sales couldn't have been helped by McLean's opining on CBS' ''The Early Show'' in May that ''Black & Blue'' is an inferior record to ''Millennium.'') Moreover, the guys' now-suspended tour bypassed the stadiums they'd played last summer for smaller arenas -- and still failed to sell out most of their dates. ''Generally, the boy-band trend is waning,'' says Pollstar magazine editor Gary Bongiovanni. ''[BSB's] popularity is a little bit less than it was last year. But still, they're a long way from playing the Moose Hall in Hoboken.'' The Backstreeters' road woes have fueled speculation that the group might call it quits after the current tour. ''When they kept saying on MTV 'There's going to be an announcement,' that's what I thought it was going to be,'' says one label exec who's worked with the band. ''They've been doing this a long time, they've been very successful, and from what I guess they're not hurting for money. At some point, breaking up is something that happens to groups.'' Outwardly at least, the band insists that Backstreet will be back. As Carter told MTV before the latest TRL appearance, ''I don't think there is an end to this group until one of us dies.'' But does that refer to the body or the spirit? Additional reporting by Scott Brown, Bob Cannon, and Chris Willman |
| Backstreet
Boys' Tattooed Rebel Struggled With 'Demons,' Absent
Father Date:
July 11, 2001 Backstreet Boys' Tattooed Rebel Struggled With 'Demons,' Absent Father Bandmates say A.J. McLean's image hid deep-seated despair. Even as A.J. McLean found riches and worldwide fame with the Backstreet Boys, the 23-year-old wrestled with "internal demons" and struggled to find himself, according to his bandmates. His image as a tattooed bad boy hid deep-seated despair, and he drank heavily to try to escape his problems, his bandmates said, leading to the rehab stay that will interrupt the Backstreet Boys' touring schedule for a month (see "Backstreet Boys Postpone Tour As A.J. McLean Seeks Treatment"). The rest of Backstreet said some of A.J.'s problems stemmed from growing up without his father. McLean's grandmother, who recently died, served as a second mother for the singer, Kevin Richardson told MTV News. As a young child, McLean lived with his grandparents and his mother, who divorced his father when he was 4. "I think when [A.J.'s grandmother] passed away, that just sent it over the edge," Richardson said. "But ... he has internal demons he has to deal with that happened before this. He never had a father figure in his life." McLean told MTV News last year that when his father showed up after years of separation, it was difficult to accept him. "My father was never really talked about a lot growing up," he said. "[When he returned], it was kind of awkward, but he kind of expected me to jump back into it and just become [his] son all over again. I couldn't do that." Bandmate Howie Dorough said A.J. "was consistently trying to figure himself out. I mean, fame brings a lot of stuff to people. ... The money and all that stuff doesn't always bring you happiness. "I think A.J. through all this was looking for support and trying to find himself," Dorough said. "As we all know, A.J's the crazy rebel with the tattoos, always trying to find that security." Lou Pearlman, who helped bring the Backstreet Boys together and was later fired as their manager, blamed McLean's problem on years of living in the high-stakes pop world. "A.J. was the first Backstreet Boy and has been under the pressures of extreme success and the rigors of touring for a long time," Pearlman said in a statement. "It is understandable that something like this could happen. Everyone should be supportive of A.J. during this difficult time." The Backstreet Boys sued Pearlman — who also brought together 'NSYNC — in 1998, saying an unfair contract with him had rendered them "indentured servants." The case ended in an out-of-court settlement. McLean told Rolling Stone last year that he struggled with depression and a drinking problem in the early days of the Backstreet Boys. But his behavior became so extreme that his bandmates felt it was damaging the group. In June, they confronted McLean during rehearsals in Orlando, Florida, for their summer tour opener, according to Richardson. "We had a big powwow and we were like, bro, we don't like what we're seeing out of you, we think you have a problem, you need some help," Richardson said. But it was ultimately McLean's decision to enter rehab, his bandmates said. McLean had a tearful meeting with them on Sunday, before leaving for an unspecified rehabilitation center, according to Dorough. "He cried to us. He said he was scared about all this but that he knew it was the right thing to do and he didn't want to let us down, but this is something he had to do with his life in order to be stronger and come back, for us to be a tight unit." Although Dorough raised the possibility of BSB continuing their tour without McLean if he needs more time in rehab, the group's former musical director and drummer said it would be hard to imagine the Backstreet Boys without A.J. "I think he's an amazing talent — he's unbelievable. He has more soul than he knows what to do with," said Tim Berkebile, who worked with the Boys from 1996 to 2000. "He's completely essential to their sound — he delivers that soulful approach, that digging down deep." — Brian Hiatt and John Norris [ Tues., July 10, 2001 8:45 PM EDT ] |
| Backstreet
Boys: 'We Want To Be Honest.' Date: July 11, 2001 It's easy to think of pop stars as glimmering gods, immune to the troubles that afflict the rest of us. But like his fellow stars, the Backstreet Boys' A.J. McLean is all too human, and his problems are very real. His bandmates — Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough and Kevin Richardson — revealed this week that A.J.'s struggles with alcohol abuse, depression and anxiety will delay a month's worth of tour dates (see "Backstreet Boys Postpone Tour As A.J. McLean Seeks Treatment"). When the group sat down with MTV News' John Norris on Monday for an uncharacteristically somber chat — just before appearing with him on "TRL" — their thoughts were on their friend's health, not their touring plans. Nick Carter seemed most affected — he stayed silent through most of the interview, and quietly teared up when he did begin to speak. Norris asked the Boys what happened, how they're dealing with it and what this means for the group's future. John Norris: You guys have been to the MTV studios many times, but I think it's safe to say never under circumstances like this. Can you tell me why you are here today? Kevin Richardson: We recently decided to postpone some of [our tour] dates, due to, firstly, Nick['s] broken hand. ... This gave [us] time [to think about] something else we've been going through, which is A.J. Since the loss of his grandmother, [and] even before that, he's been going through some depression, some anxiety. He's been burning the candle at both ends and partying quite a bit to escape it. His alcoholism is pretty bad. We're worried about him, and ... [when] we were thinking about postponing some dates, he said, "I can't do this out on the road, I need some real help." We've had counselors come out on the road and talk to us and talk to him. We've been trying to help him overcome this without taking the tour down. Norris: How long has this been going on? Brian Littrell: We assessed it initially in Orlando [on June 8] when this leg of the U.S. tour started. We were having meetings about postponing dates even then, just for his well-being. That's when [we talked about getting] counselors, someone he could talk to, someone that could be there for him. His mother was going to come out to support him, and we were all gonna take the necessary precautions for him to be better. Over time, we realized he was lying to himself to think that he could get better on his own. ... It was affecting the show and it really took him a while to be man enough to come to us and say, "Listen guys, I've got a problem and I just need to take care of it." ... [With] alcoholism, your defenses are down. He's our brother. We live and die by what each other does, and that's why we postponed the dates. It's important to us to know that our fans can be there to support us as well as to support him. We're taking a step here and saying we're not the group without him, and we don't want to perform. [RealVideo] Norris: Was there any consideration given to continuing on the tour without A.J.? Howie Dorough: We had been advised that that would have been the easiest way, to hide ... it under the blanket. [To] let A.J. go off and take care of himself and let the tour continue. But we didn't feel that was the honest way of approaching this situation. It's just putting a bandage over it. We felt A.J. really needed our support, and he needs the support of the fans. He's gonna be gone about 30 days, so we're gonna take that month of July [dates] and put them back into September. Kevin: We could have said he broke his leg or something. Brian: It's not about getting by, it's about his health. If he's not healthy, we cannot have a healthy career, and he's part of this whole thing. Kevin: We are put on a pedestal as role models, and we felt the best way to be role models is to step up to the plate and be honest. This happens every day in homes across America and the world. Maybe this could help somebody. Brian: A.J. was born and bred for this business ... he thrives on it. He has such a passion for performing and being in front of people. All the Backstreet Boys fans know that. Norris: You guys probably don't want to speculate too much on what's at the root of this. But you mentioned his grandmother's death, is there more going on with A.J.? Kevin: His grandmother, who he recently lost, was like a second mother to him. His mother and father were divorced. He was an only child and he lived with his grandparents and his mother. I think when she passed away, that just sent it over the edge. [RealVideo] Howie: He was consistently trying to figure himself out. Fame brings a lot of stuff to people. Sometimes it brings happiness, it can bring a lot of money, but the money and all that stuff doesn't always bring you happiness. Each of us has had to deal with it differently and getting back to what Kevin was saying, thank God we came from families that were really together. We had the support. I think A.J., through all this, was looking for support and trying to find himself. As we all know, A.J's the crazy rebel with the tattoos, always trying to find that security. [RealVideo] Norris: Brian, you said discussions about doing something about this went back to Orlando when you started this leg of the tour. When was the earliest that you guys thought maybe there is something to be concerned about? Kevin: If you read the Rolling Stone article, almost a year ago. Brian: As success grows and your career grows, things change and evolve and you're either going to become your own man and deal with your problems or you're gonna become a recluse and take things in[ward]. ... We didn't spend every waking moment together at all times. He went off on his own quite often, but it was something that worried me. ... I was worried about him vocally. I was worried about him physically. He has a lot of duties when it comes to showtime, singing a lot of leads. We want the fans to get the best show they came to see. Kevin: He doesn't have a mean bone in his body and he was changing, he wasn't being himself. He was doing things behavior-wise that wasn't normal for him to do, as far as disrespecting group meetings and things like that. That's not him. He lives for this, so that's when it really became evident to us. Brian: When we approached it, he said he would take the precautions necessary. ... But when you're dealing with someone who has an illness, they have to believe in their hearts that they have to be better. He came to us yesterday and said, "Guys, I need help." I looked at him in the eyes and I said, "I'm proud of you." Because that's the first time he ever said it to any of us. Norris: You mentioned that it was beginning to affect his performance. We were just with you guys in Boston this weekend and from what I hear there was no indication, outwardly anyway, that there was anything going. He seemed fine, fine voice and everything. Kevin: We'd notice vocally more than other people. Brian: We're more critical. Kevin: We remember how his voice used to sound when he used to rest and take care of himself. Norris: How bad did it get? At night when you guys were on the road, would he go off and party until the morning? Kevin: I don't want to get too specific because I don't want to be disrespectful to him. But we would do something together as a group, maybe have some dinner and have a few cocktails at dinner. It would be late and we'd have to do something the next day and after that he would go on his own. He'd just didn't want to go back to the room and go to bed. He wanted to continue. He was becoming a vampire. Howie: The next morning when we'd all have to be together as a unit, he would sometimes call and say he was too tired. After a while it was disrespect[ful] to us. If you have a cancer, a weak link, you have to fix the problem. Norris: Was it just alcohol as far as you guys know? Kevin: As far as we know. Norris: Are you guys confident that it's going to take care of this in 30 days? Kevin: We are confident. We believe in him. That's one thing about A.J., like Brian was saying earlier, he loves to be on stage. When we're off tour, he doesn't know what to do with himself. Norris: Sometimes when people go through what he's about to go through, it's such a reassessment that it comes to a point where they decide, for whatever reason, they have to make changes in one area of their lives. If those changes involve the group or his continuing on as part of the group, are you guys prepared for that? Nick Carter: Sorry I've been a little quiet because I'm just a little sad ... It's just kind of difficult. [Covers his mouth and begins to tear.] Howie: We've talked about it and we're betting on A.J. to come back. We want him to because we don't feel like the Backstreet Boys without A.J. At the same time, if he doesn't feel it in his heart or if this environment isn't the best place for him, we love A.J. If he needs more time, if we have to revisit the idea of continuing on the tour and us covering for him, we might have to do that. Nick: It's not about the group. It's about his life and who he is and that's the most important thing. [Crying] Norris: It's ironic that this would come to a head now. This is a time when there's been speculation about the future of pop groups in general, and talk of everything from solo projects to you guys starting families and wanting more time for that. Do you think this is going to add to that speculation about Backstreet's future? Kevin: It totally will. The press is going to run with this thing, but we were here before the big pop explosion and hopefully we'll be here after. Nick: It's difficult to come here and talk about this kind of stuff. We were kind of scared because no pop group has ever come out and done anything like this. I guess it's a big stepping stone. Kevin: Normally this kind of stuff [comes out] 20 years later. Norris: You talked earlier about those that would say it's better to keep things like this quiet. Do you expect there's going to be some disenchantment on the part of parents of your young fans? Kevin: I'm sure there probably will, but we want to be honest. That's what's more important, us sleeping at night. [RealVideo] Brian: My mom always told me when I was little if you tell one lie, you have to tell four or five to get out of that initial one. There's no way around the truth. We are a group that appeals to young people, as well as to parents and grandparents. Hopefully they'll just honor our decision about being honest and respect us for that. [RealVideo] Howie: I think with us taking a stance like this, instead of them looking at this like a negative thing, hopefully they'll look at this as a positive thing. That we are trying to be role models, and if there are problems, deal with the problems, don't hide it. [RealVideo] Norris: This was voluntary, you guys didn't have to do an intervention. It's not like he's been forced into rehab? Kevin: We contemplated intervention, but we didn't do an intervention. He made the decision on his own. Norris: Was he hostile at all when you approached him? Kevin: At first, yeah. But after he thought about it for a couple days ... We were in rehearsal down there, his mother and his uncle were down there talking to him. He was like, "Maybe it would be good for me to talk to somebody 'cause maybe I don't have a drinking problem. Maybe I just have issues that I need to deal with." Norris: There are rescheduled dates, we shouldn't say this is a cancellation, this is a postponement. All: Exactly. Kevin: We're dedicated to getting these U.S. and Canada [legs] done and just take it one step at a time. Hopefully we'll get to head to Europe and Southeast Asia and Australia as well. Norris: He's going to have to take the time that he needs to do it? Kevin: Exactly. After this 30 days, if he's not ready then we'll have to reassess it and cross that bridge when we get to it. Norris: How would you characterize your feelings right now? Are you angry, just disappointed, hopeful, all of the above? All: All of the above. Kevin: You've got kinds of ... [a] little bit nervous about what kind of reaction we're going to get. Happy for A.J. that he's taken this step, angry a little bit at A.J. Sad and compassionate that he has to go through this. All of it. Norris: When did you last see him? All: Yesterday. Howie: Right before he left. Norris: What did you say to him last time you saw him? Kevin: We told him, "A.J. we're gonna tell them this." Howie: He wanted it, actually. He was like, "I'm glad you guys are telling this because I don't want to live a lie." He cried to us, he said he was scared about all his, but that he knew it was the right thing to do. Howie: We're gonna come back stronger. |
| Celeb Cause of
the Month: Earth Angel Date: July 9, 2001 Backstreet Boy Kevin Richardson is used to raking in the green, but now he's into another kind of green -- the environment. Kevin was fed up reading countless stories about air and water pollution, deforestation, and the deterioration of the ozone layer, so he decided it was time he used his fame to make a change. In December 2000, he formed the organization Just Within Reach. Why he thinks we all need to clean up after ourselves: "When I was a young kid in Kentucky, I could go anywhere and drink the tap water," explains Kevin, 29. "No one does that anymore. Since we're all drinking bottled water now, I'm afraid that one day we might be wearing oxygen tanks in order to go outdoors." Goals of Just Within Reach: "I want to do something now to make sure my kids can swim in the rivers and go fishing like I did growing up," says Kevin. "I hope to raise awareness and hold people, companies, and governments responsible for destroying nature, and to teach personal accountability. Everyone can do a little bit to help." How how's getting the word out: Kevin has been meeting with National Geographic to collaborate on an educational video to be shown in schools, and he has been in talks with Erin Brockovich (the cleavage-baring clean-water crusader that Julia Roberts portrayed in the movie) to work together on public service announcements. Meanwhile, a percentage of BSB's ticket sales for their Black & Blue World Tour go to his foundation (along with Brian Littrell's Healthy Heart Club for Kids, and Howie Dorough's Dorough Lupus Foundation). The guys also take a few minutes out of each show to talk about their organizations, so their fans can get involved. Could he be the first boy-band member to get elected? "Who knows what the future holds? If [former wrestler turned governor] Jesse Ventura could do it, I could," says Kevin, laughing. Maybe he'll be elected the next governor of Florida. Stranger things have happened. |