| july 2-july 9 |
| Backstreet
Boys Postpone Tour As A.J. McLean Seeks Treatment Date: July 9, 2001 The Backstreet Boys have postponed the next month of their Black & Blue world tour to allow the group's A.J. McLean to get treatment for alcohol abuse, depression and anxiety. The other four members of the group told MTV News on Monday afternoon (July 9) that they will postpone all dates of their tour until an August 7 show in Vancouver, British Columbia. "A.J. and we have come to a decision that he's going to receive treatment for depression, anxiety and his excessive consumption of alcohol," Kevin Richardson told tearful fans on "TRL." "[McLean] came to us yesterday — it was the first time we heard him say, 'Guys, I have a problem,' " Brian Littrell said. McLean is 23 years old. The rescheduled dates are expected to run from September 4 at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, to September 28 at Skyreach Centre in Edmonton, Alberta. As late as Saturday, the quintet was up to business as usual at Boston's FleetCenter. Performing their hits to the delight of a screaming, sellout crowd, BSB gave no indication that they were facing strife away from the spotlight. Their followers in Beantown were anticipating shows Monday and Tuesday as well. The world tour was to run through the fall, giving the group almost a year on the road in support of Black & Blue, which was released in November. |
| Water-Logged
Worshippers Date: July 7, 2001 Water-Logged Worshippers It's pretty much a known fact that Backstreet Boy Nick Carter has a precious pad right on the water in Tampa. It's so sweet! Apparently, a few of his fans visiting the Florida coast got word of the location of his house and decided to find it via a water journey rather than land. They thought they would have a better chance security wise. Little did they know how dangerous it could have been. " I live in a gated community and the whole community is surrounded by water. First of all, Apollo Beach is probably one of the number one places for sharks in America. And these kids were swimming. They swam to the back of the house and they crawled up. I wasn't there at the time, and they were all soaked and barefoot, and they had their feet cut up because there are a lot of rocks out there." says Nick. To this day, Nick can't believe the lengths that fans will go to just get a glimpse of him. |
| We Are Family Date: July 7, 2001 Backstreet Boy Nick Carter is definitely going to go ahead with the much talked about Carter family record, according to his little brother Aaron. Aaron, who is a solo star in his own right, confirmed that the track with Nick and their sister Leslie, also an established singer, will be recorded next year. 'We are definitely going to do some stuff together. We're going to call it the Carter Three,' joked Aaron, who at the start of his career was renowned for telling fibs in interviews. Meanwhile, 13-year-old Nick joins his kid brother in the video for Aaron's new single Oh Aaron released next month. The album, also called Oh Aaron, the follow up to his multi platinum Aaron Carter's debut hit album Aaron's Party (Come Get It) is also released next month. Little Aaron kicks off a US tour with sister Leslie and A*Teens today in Oklahoma City, America. It winds up in Minneapolis, on 30 August. Meanwhile Nick Carter's bandmate Kevin Richardson is set to make a move into the film world when the band finish their current world tour. Backstreet Boys have always said they'd take a brief break from the band to pursue solo activities and for Kevin acting is a natural step. 'I'm looking for the right script - in film or television,' he told reporters adding, 'I miss acting. I did a lot of theatre in high school, and after school I did community theatre. I miss playing a character that's just totally not me -- the whole process.' Kevin's wife Kristin Willits is an American actress who has appeared on Broadway and her love for film and theatre have influenced his future career plans. 'I'm really proud of her,' confides Kevin. 'She started acting five years ago and now she's doing it full time. She's going to be in the film Rock Star with Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston, coming out this fall. She's in a commercial for a communications company right now. That's quite a bit of stuff.' |
| BSB's Most
Embarrassing Moments Date: July 7, 2001 AJ: On stage in Germany many years ago, I threw my hat up in the air just a little too high, and it got caught in the lighting rig. Then, because the lights were so hot, it caught fire! Brian: When I was filming Olive Juice, which I loved doing, I kept forgetting my lines and having to do re-takes. It's so annoying cos it's not like I had many lines in the first place! Nick: Once the stage was covered with cuddly toys so I threw a teddy to a girl in the front row. I knew I'd thrown it kinda funny and it ended up hitting her mum on the nose! I couldn't help laughing but it was very embarrassing. Howie: Filming the More Than That video out in the desert was so hot and we were drinking from these huge water bottles. I picked one up by the lid and it wasn't screwed on properly and, well, you can guess. I got cooled down really fast! Kevin: Doing a photo shoot dressed as an apple was pretty embarrassing. I try not to think about it too often. I hope there aren't any photos of that one hiding anywhere! |
| Backstreet Boy
Comments on Boating Accident Date: July 7, 2001 Backstreet Boy Comments on Boating Accident and Makes Waves on Navy's Sonar Plans STUDIO CITY, Calif., July 5, 2001 -- Following a boating mishap near the Seven Mile Bridge in Marathon, Fla., Backstreet Boys member Nick Carter said the incident that stranded his boat on a patch of seagrass was an unfortunate accident that occurred in one of his favorite safe havens, the ocean. Carter said he's concerned with the condition of the area that was disturbed by his 45-foot SeaRay boat. "Everyone knows how much I love the ocean," said Carter, who frequently boats and scuba dives during his time off from recording and touring with the Backstreet Boys. Last January Carter announced during the first leg of the Backstreet Boys' Black & Blue World Tour that he would be doing his part to protect the oceans and marine life by creating a charity campaign to benefit various oceanic causes. "I think the best way to appreciate the ocean is to spend time in it," said Carter. "This was an accident and I feel really bad about it, and I'll do what I can to repair any damage. But I think there are a lot scarier things going on in our oceans than my boat accident." Carter recently learned about the United States Navy's plan to deploy a low-frequency active (LFA) sonar system that would target as much as 80 percent of the world's oceans with sound waves that, when initially emitted from Navy vessels, are millions of times more intense than are considered safe for humans. According to reports, the Navy acknowledged that its recent use of intense mid-frequency sonar off the coast of the Bahamas was responsible for the mass beaching of whales from several different species. One of the species that beached in the Bahamas has virtually disappeared from the area. Some scientists believe that these whales may have bled to death and sunk to the bottom of the sea. Necropsies of the whales showed that the sonar tests caused hemorrhages in the whales' ears. The Navy's own study concluded that their sonar tests were likely the cause of the whales'injuries and their subsequent beaching. "Whales and dolphins depend on their hearing to navigate, find food, talk to each other, breed -- to pretty much survive. So, basically, a deaf whale is a dead whale," said Carter. "Imagine standing next to the Space Shuttle as it blasts off -- think that might hurt your ears? That's pretty much what they want to blow through the oceans." To operate its new low-frequency system, the Navy has requested a waiver of the Marine Mammal Protection Act that prohibits the harassment, injuring or killing of marine mammals. The National Marine Fisheries Service is currently reviewing the Navy's request and is expected to reach a decision by fall of this year. Carter said he's speaking about the issue to increase awareness. "It seems like the only people who even know about this are marine biologists, environmentalists and the Navy," said Carter. "This testing could have a huge impact on whale populations all over the world and it may not even be necessary. People have a right to know what's going on and a right to have input on it before a decision is made." Contact:
Jim Hanna or Vicki Hanna [email protected] |
| Backstreet Boy
Yearns For Acting Action Date: July 3, 2001 By Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith Don't be surprised if Backstreet Boy Kevin Richardson winds up in front of the cameras soon. "I'm looking for the right script -- in film or television," says the senior member of the pop phenomenon that is now in the midst of its "Black and Blue" concert tour. "I miss acting. I did a lot of theater in high school, and after school I did community theater and dinner theater. I miss playing a character that's just totally not me -- that whole process." Richardson, as fans know, married an actress, Kristin Willits, a year ago. He lets us know, "I'm really proud of her. She used to be a dancer. She was on Broadway in 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum' with Nathan Lane. Then she was a Rockette for a while. She started acting five years ago, and now she's doing it full-time. She's going to be in the film 'Rock Star' with Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston, coming out this fall. She's in a commercial for a communications company right now. That's quite a bit of stuff." Kevin says his wife -- who was his girlfriend for eight years prior to the wedding -- has been flying to various tour stops to spend time with him on the Backstreet Boys tour. He notes that he and his bandmates have "tried to make our schedule more balanced. We used to go out on the road for four months at a time. We don't do that anymore. We try to go out for, like, at the most, two-and-a-half to three months, then take a little break -- kind of divide it up so we can see our families and our wives -- and stay healthy mentally and physically." |
| Will Nashville
sign its first Backwoods Boy? Date: July 2, 2001 Originally published 6/26/01 These pop stars continue to try to break in country singers. Britney Spears is working hard to make newcomer Kristy Lee a star. Lance Bass of 'N Sync is having success with childhood friend Meredith Edwards (A Rose is a Rose). Now, Brian Littrell of the Backstreet Boys is trying to help his older brother, Baker Littrell, 29, get a country deal. Currently, Baker is a department store clerk in Kentucky with a longtime interest in country. Earlier this year, Brian came to town with Baker to do some recording. And several labels met with Baker et. al., but no label deal yet at this point. ''I wanted to give him a jump start,'' Brian told me Saturday. The Backstreet Boy said he kept a pretty low profile while he was in town helping his brother record. The only two public places he hit were Legends golf club in Franklin and Ruth Chris steakhouse. And on Saturday, the Boys mostly kept a low profile as well. All the Boys but Howie Dorough got on a bus right after the show to go to Pittsburgh. Howie ended up going to dinner with former BSB drummer David Johnson, now a Nashville resident, at 6 Degrees. Howie then broke it down at Johny Jackson's Soul Satisfaction at the Cantina. |