Band members Nick Carter, 30; A.J. McLean, 32; Brian Littrell, 35 and Howie Dorough, 36, made their initial on-stage appearance busting through a hanging video projection screen that was showing their pictures.

Fans, predominately teens and women who seemed younger than the band members, greeted them and made their best efforts to interact with the performers.

The group opened with “Backstreet’s Back” and “We’ve Got It Going On.” The band then engaged the crowd in “PDA,” which made security guards on alert to control excited fans.

Backstreet Boys, who changed clothes several times, also had four female dancers. One of the most interesting routines was during “Larger than Life,” when performers dressed as robots and effects included computerized features on the projection screen.

Other songs during the 100-minute show included “Shape of My Heart,” “Quit Playing Games,” “As Long as You Love Me” and “I’ll Never Break Your Heart.”

The encore was “Straight Through My Heart.”

Even though they’ve grown up since the band’s formation in 1993, members still have strong voices and are able to rev up a crowd. The unison performing and technology make them even better.

In other words, I enjoyed this concert much more than I thought I would, even though band members mispronounced Nevada.

The Backstreet Boys positive performance made up for the 20-minute odd opener by Christian Berishaj, formerly of Love Arcade.

Berishaj, who ironically calls himself “Christian TV,” had a thick Mohawk hairstyle and wore blue jeans, a low-cut pink undershirt and a leopard-print sweater. He sang songs, such as “When She Turns 18.” Other lyrics had to do with not wanting to be alone at 2 a.m., trying to get someone naked and calling 9-1-1.

Maybe he was intending to strike fear into the hearts of parents in the crowd. But regardless, Berishaj had a decent voice and was somehow able to attract plenty of noise. People even gathered around him for pictures following the concert.

By Carla Roccapriore
July 1, 2010
RGJ

“As artists, we constantly try to evolve, and I feel like the way to do that is to constantly let the music grow — and let it truly be about making good music,” said Backstreet Boys singer Howie Dorough from a mid-June tour stop in Detroit. “That’s something that we are able to pride ourselves on — all of our records have been better than the ones we made before.”

Dorough acknowledged that even today’s top-selling acts are selling a fraction of what his band and others in that style sold in the late ’90s.

“We’re definitely not selling like we were in our heyday, but we are still doing well,” Dorough said. “We’re able to go out and tour around the world, and in good venues. It’s just a new chapter in our lives.”

The Backstreet Boys are returning to Reno, this time in a theater setting on June 30 at Grand Sierra Resort. Dorough is joined by fellow singers Nick Carter, Brian Littrell and AJ McLean.

“This Is Us,” released last October, marks a change in direction toward more upbeat material, with similarities to the band’s ’90s heyday. That change includes use of modern pop or hip-hop producers such as RedOne (who produced some Lady Gaga tracks), techno-rap artist T-Pain and Ryan Tedder (known for his work with pop-rock band OneRepublic).

“We had the idea to go back to our signature sound: good pop tracks, always up-tempo, a semi-electronic feel,” Dorough said.

At the same time, there is a pronounced R&B influence on the new album, both in a modern way and one that harkens back to the vocal-led classics of the genre in the ’70s and ’80s. Dorough said that, too, was an artistic choice this time.

“The songs with a more pop/R&B feel are what we are able to lend our harmonies to property, and they have the best melodies,” he said.

Before “This Is Us,” the band released albums in 2005 (“Never Gone”) and 2007 (“Unbreakable”) that were closer to adult contemporary pop-rock.

“Actually, we were digging that sound at the time,” Dorough said of the band’s last two albums. “After we took that break, we were searching for a sound and trying to evolve. Coldplay and John Mayer were major influences to us at the time. We totally loved their sound. But what happened was, when we took those songs to the stage, it felt like we lost the up-tempo, feel-good songs.”

It was a mix of dance tracks and ballads that were a part of the Boys’ sound from its beginnings 17 years ago. Like other pop groups in history, the four singers — along with original member Kevin Richardson — were formed from auditions around their Florida home base. They started doing concerts in 1993 and released albums in Europe and Asia before their American debut — complied from those non-U.S. albums — was released America in 1996, according to All Music Guide.

That self-titled American debut ended up selling 14 million copies. The group’s second U.S. album, “Millenium,” was released in 1999, sold 12 million copies and went to No.1. Among the group’s hits are “I Want It That Way,” “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back),” “Larger Than Life” and “Shape of My Heart.”

According to All Music Guide, concerns with management and its record label led the band to call a hiatus in 2002, two years after its 8-million-selling “Black and Blue” album was released. Richardson left the group in 2006 to start a family, according to the band’s biography. But Dorough said in his interview that “one of the reasons why Kevin wanted to take a break was because he had a hard time dealing with the way the industry had changed. His heart wasn’t into it. But the rest of us felt like it was a challenge that was exciting. .

“I think we are all competitive and we always strive to win. For us, we don’t mind working hard. It almost challenges us to want to better ourselves and better our craft.”

That evolution includes a stark change in direction for this tour. In the past, the Backstreet Boys used a live band. This time, the group will be singing live and dancing (along with four female dancers) and will be backed by a DJ and keyboardist who will use samples for the backing music. Dorough said that the Boys’ new focus on more upbeat, dance-influenced pop made this a good time to stop using a live band.

“This new album has more of a Euro- dance vibe, and we’ve always wanted to have a DJ with us,” he said. “Actually, we’ve remixed the older songs a bit and done some mash-ups with some of our other songs or some other songs that aren’t ours but that we admire. It’s cool that we could have that mixture in there.”

Backstreet Boys also has another opportunity on the horizon: the band’s next U.S. album, set to be under production in the fall, will be its first without longtime major label Jive Records. Dorough said Jive will release it in Japan, but the band hasn’t yet decided if it will go for another label or if it will release it itself, as so many artists have in past years.

“It’s going to be exciting for us,” Dorough said. “The music we’re working on is exciting, also. We’re keeping it quiet as far as what it sounds like, but I think it’s really going to shock people.”

By Mark Earnest
June 30, 2010
RGJ

“Pop music to me, and to all of us, goes in cycles,” says McLean, 32, whose group stops at Save Mart Center on July 1.

“It goes in one giant circle. If you go back 15 years, when things really kinda hit for us, it was really the big grunge and hip-hop scene.”

Then their debut album struck gold, casting a spell over teen girls around the world with songs like “Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)” and “As Long As You Love Me.”

Soon, they were selling 14 million albums and leading the biggest pop music trend since the days of New Kids on the Block.

Next came ‘N Sync, Britney Spears and many others whose names are only footnotes in the boy-band history books. (O-Town, you out there anywhere?)

“That opened this huge floodgate of pop music,” McLean says. “That’s happening all over again. It seems to happen every 10 years. Pop has changed where it’s [artists like] Chris Brown and Rihanna, and that’s still pop. It’s definitely huge right now and it’s opening up floodgates again.”

The pre-teen girls these days are shrieking over Bieber and the Jo Bros, but the hype also leads to a renewal of interest in the teen icons of the previous generation.

New Kids on the Block, for instance, have enjoyed a revival in the past couple years. Like Backstreet Boys, they played a Save Mart Center date last summer.

In fact, the two groups recently teamed up for a concert in New York City, which got people talking about the possibility of the two teaming up for a tour.

McLean is a tease, saying only, “there’s been talk about all kind of things.”

But if you watch the video online of the two groups performing together, you’d know that boy-band hysteria is still alive and well — just aged.

“Honestly, I think it needed to happen,” McLean says about the boy resurgence of the past few years. “Music on the radio is all over the place. There’s no consistency. There’s a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Things are going a little too left field. There’s no more good melody, There’s no more good lyrics. It’s all the same beat, it’s all the same producer.”

Some might scoff at the idea of a boy-band member condemning bad music, but McLean is nothing if not passionate about pop music.

“Bring back the actual pop music,” he says. “Songs that you can actually sing along to, and dance to, and songs that become memorable. That’s something we pride ourselves on — songs that are timeless.”

But he’s not just living in the past, re-treading those same songs that made them famous years ago. Backstreet Boys’ most recent album, “This Is Us,” released in September, was pretty well received.

Entertainment Weekly wrote: “Considering these guys’ combined age, the result is surprisingly unembarrassing.”

And McLean has a bold statement of his own: “Any song, in my opinion, is equally comparable to anything that Bieber’s got. You can dance along with them. They get stuck in your head.”

By Mike Osegueda
June 29, 2010
California Chronicle

Granted, the boys–men–aren’t performing to sold-out stadiums full of hysterical preteens any more, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have a solid fan base of loyal fans, many who have been fans of the group since the beginning. Which explains why members AJ McLean, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter and Howie Dorough make sure to include a lot of their older hits into their performances. In between plugging songs from their latest album–This is Us, released in October 2009–the group worked in “Quit Playin’ Games with My Heart,” “As Long As You Love Me,” “More Than That,” “Show Me The Meaning of Being Lonely,” “The One,” “Larger Than Life,” and “The Call.” There were even callbacks to old videos, with futuristic costumes donned for “Larger than Life” and the video for “I’ll Never Break Your Heart” playing on the back screen while the Boys sang to the audience and threw roses.

This tour marked somewhat of a return to the high-energy shows of the Boys’ past–almost every song featured choreography, some even had female backup dancers wearing tiny outfits. The group pounded the stage for over an hour and a half, with only a few short breaks for costume changes. The energy stayed high throughout the entire show, keeping fans on their feet screaming and dancing the entire time.

Though they’ve been performing a lot of the same songs for over a decade, the Boys still appear to enjoy thrilling their fans time and again, peppering the audience with waves, winks, and coy smiles–even venturing into the audience for some face-time with fans (which resulted in Nick losing his scarf and nearly his shirt). And the female fans still enjoy indulging in a heavy dose of nostalgia and remembering the days when an attractive pop star could make them swoon.

However, most of the Backstreet Boys are married now–Brian’s son, Baylee, even came on stage before the show to introduce the group–as are many of the fans. But although time has changed the lives and appearance of everyone involved, the solid harmonies, fun songs, and genuine connection with the fans are still there.
By Lauren Taylor
June 28, 2010
The Examiner

The sold-out crowd greeted the performers with a standing ovation at the start of the performance and didn’t sit down – not once — the rest of the night. Instead, there was dancing, arm-waving and singing, lots of singing.

The show is part of the Backstreet Boys’ 2010 This Is Us concert tour that has taken the group all over the world, reviving favorite songs from the 90s and introducing audiences to new sounds, like “Straight Through My Heart.”

Rumor has it that Britney Spears dropped in on the boys backstage before the show, adding to the high-wattage megastar atmosphere of the evening. And, while some may have hoped for a surprise visit to the stage, it was the same sort of thrill the audience felt when the Backstreet Boys came bounding onto the set.

It was electric.

Guests were treated to a flawless stage production of dance and song, with an infusion of contemporary riffs that kept the audience hopping and ears popping. And one thing is for sure – time has not slowed this group’s moves or soured their signature harmonies.

Glowing cell phones snapped open and swayed with emotional performances of “Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely” and “The Shape of My Heart,” just as the rousing anthem “Incomplete” and thrilling production of “Larger Than Life” inspired cheers and robust choruses from the crowd.

Special mention goes to the backup dancers – four talented ladies who brought great stage presence and carried the load of some of the bolder dance moves, when vocals demanded more of the group.

And the set was pretty incredible too, featuring a large screen that blasted background video and a super-charged display of lights and graphics.

Ultimately, though, it was the Backstreet Boys – Nick Carter, A.J. McLean, Howie Dorough, and Brian Littrell – whose showmanship and spark carried the performance.

By Kerri S. Mabee
June 26, 2010
SWRNN

Band member Brian Littrell said fans get to see a new side of the four-member vocal group in concert —- two-minute films that spoof the movies and the singers themselves —- while they are backstage changing costumes for their next number.

Howie Dorough spoofs “The Fast and the Furious,” AJ McLean does “Fight Club,” Nick Carter does “The Matrix” and Littrell spoofs “Enchanted.”

“This show is more theatrical,” Littrell said in a recent telephone interview, adding that while the films are something new on the “This Is Us” tour, the group’s trademark dance moves are here to stay. “There are also four dancers traveling with us; we dance about 80 percent through the show.”

These days, the Backstreet Boys are smaller in number. Littrell’s cousin, Kevin Richardson, left the group in 2006. Since then, he has acted in a film and composed the soundtrack for an upcoming animated film. He and his wife, Kristen, are also parents to a 3-year-old son.

“I always asked him why. Why would he want to leave?” Littrell said of Richardson.

Littrell said he has his own reasons for staying.

“I just feel like there are more dreams to be fulfilled, more music to be made. There’s more to do.”

Richardson’s split from the group was amicable. He sang at the conclusion of 2008′s “Unbreakable” tour, and Littrell said he may be back soon.

“He may come to our show in Los Angeles, depending on his schedule,” he said.

Richardson is not the only one who wanted to see what life on his own would be like. Littrell and bandmates Carter and McLean all have solo albums.

Littrell released “Welcome Home” in 2006 and it reached No. 3 on the Christian music charts. Four singles were released from the album, including “Welcome Home (You),” which he performed on 2008′s tour.

He said that this tour, however, is different.

“It’s all Backstreet Boys music. After all these years, it’s about togetherness,” he said.

He said he believes that communication and time investment are what have kept the rest of the Backstreet Boys together.

“You have to be able to talk things out and share your heart. We spend time on the things we want to be successful in our lives,” he said.

He said he is grateful for Backstreet Boys fans keeping them around.

“The radio doesn’t play us, which is disappointing, but turnout to the shows is a testament to how loyal the fans are, like each ticketholder in Temecula,” he said.

The “Boys” are still selling out venues on this tour. Littrell said he thinks he knows why fans are still buying tickets in this economy.

“People today want stability, something they remember that’s carried them through. They want something that they know,” he said.

During their 17 years together, the guys are not the only ones who have matured. Littrell says that the audiences have grown up with them. He said that fans are now bringing their children to shows, and he said he has even seen seniors dancing in the audience.

“It’s like ‘Staying in Shape With the Backstreet Boys,’” he said.

Littrell has a family of his own who sometimes travel with him. He and his wife of 10 years, Leighanne, have a 7-year-old son named Baylee. Littrell met his wife on the set of the music video for “As Long As You Love Me.” He said that song is one of his favorites out of all of the Backstreet Boys songs because it reminds him of her.

The “This Is Us” tour hit the road last October and is still going strong. Dates are scheduled until December.

“Flat out fun” is how Littrell described the group’s experience on this tour.

The show includes old fan favorites such as “I Want It That Way,” “Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely” and “Quit Playing Games (With My Heart),” but this tour is centered around their latest album, also titled “This Is Us.” It was released in October and is the group’s seventh studio album. Among its 11 tracks is Littrell’s personal favorite, “Undone.”

“‘Undone’ is a traditional love song produced by Ryan Tedder (of OneRepublic) in a way that, listening to it, you would not think it’s the Backstreet Boys. It’s more urban-driven, comparable to Justin Timerlake’s music, which is great,” he said.

Littrell said he and the boys still feel overshadowed by their success in the late ’90s and early 2000s and that their goal is to come out in a new light.

“We have another 17 years; there’s no reason for us to go away,” he said. “We have been through the highest of the highs and the lowest of the lows and we still came out smelling like roses.”

By Hannah Manes
June 24, 2010
North County Times

When the Backstreet Boys first climbed to global consciousness in 1995, success came easily in Europe, but the United States resisted…except in the LGBT community, says group member A.J. McLean. Before radio embraced the Orlando-based boy band, he says, gays did — and that started the ball rolling at home.

Soon Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson and McLean were riding a wave of pop music success that led to sales of more than 130 million records worldwide, nearly half of which were in the U.S. Soon Backstreet racked up a string of inescapable hits at radio, sold all 750,000 tickets to their 1999 Millennium Tour in under an hour and became one the most successful acts in music history.

Since Richardson’s departure from the group four years ago, Backstreet has released two albums, including the 2009 Top 10 set This Is Us. Moving away from the ballads they had focused on just two years before, the quartet has recreated itself in the more dance-friendly vein of early hits like “Quit Playing Games with My Heart” and “Larger Than Life.”

On June 27, the Backstreet Boys headline San Francisco’s Pride main stage. In preparation for the show, McLean tells Bay Times about the group’s long relationship with the LGBT community, shares their first experience performing for gay men and gives a sneak peek at what they have in store for Sunday.

After doing tours around the world and selling out stadiums, why is Gay Pride in San Francisco something that interests Backstreet Boys?

Speaking on behalf of myself, I have a lot of gay friends who are near and dear to my heart. One of my dearest friends, actually, just started the first gay and lesbian Yellow Pages in Los Angeles. I think, for us, we’ve got a very, very big gay following. It’s something I think is really good for us to get involved in, to raise awareness, to be a part of something that’s really positive, and show people our music touches everyone.

At what point did you realize the Backstreet Boys were amassing a gay following?

Geez, I couldn’t tell you the year, but it was right after the whole Divine Brown thing happened with Hugh Grant. We did a show hosted by her to raise money for AIDS research. We did a show in Tampa. We were kind of unaware; we didn’t really know what the show was about. When we got up on stage, we realized the crowd was predominantly guys. We were told afterward. It was as much fun, if not more fun, than a typical Backstreet Boys show. It was a blast! That was when it was kind of eye-opening to us. Since then, I mean, I grew up doing musical theatre and being surrounded by a lot of gay men all my life. All my gay friends would always tell me, “Dude, I love the record! Don’t forget to get us tickets! We friggin’ love you guys!” My fiancée and I go out with our gay friends to all the different gay bars and all the different gay clubs back in L.A. all the time. I don’t really ever go out to a typical hip-hop club. I just want to go, have fun, and it really is – to me – a lot more fun.

When Backstreet Boys first came onto the scene 15 years ago, the first place I ever heard your music – before you broke into pop radio — was at the gay clubs.

That doesn’t really surprise me. I know our music kind of transcended in Europe, through France, then it hit Canada. Then it kind of hit the U.S., but the U.S. didn’t really grab it completely yet. Knowing the gay community did, it was something that opened up doors for us in so many outlets. Again, we’ve got such an amazing following in the gay and lesbian community. It really is just awesome.

One producer on your last album This Is Us is OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder. He is in the news right now feuding with Kelly Clarkson over the “Already Gone” vs. “Halo” controversy – having apparently provided almost identical musical tracks to both Kelly and Beyonce. Did you check to make sure you’re the only group he offered that particular music to?

I’ve definitely heard about [the controversy]. I actually talked to Ryan about three or four days ago. He was telling me he’s dealing with all the stress and stuff. I told him, “Don’t worry, dude, I’ve got your back.” Absolutely, whatever he gives to us, he gives to us. It’s always been presented directly to us. Plus, he’s really good friends with us, so that helps.

So what are you bringing to San Francisco? What have you got planned for Pride?

We’re going to perform two songs, “Straight Through My Heart” and “I Want It That Way.” Everyone knows “I Want It That Way,” so it’s kind of a nice little walk down memory lane. Hopefully the crowd will love it. They’ll go back in their mind and remember where they were when they first heard that song, sing along and have a friggin’ party. It’s all about singing along, having a good time, feeling good about yourself, feeling good about your sexuality, raising awareness and having fun. We’re so honored. I’m stoked on behalf of the group to be part of this. It’s our first time and hopefully not our last.

We’ll be happy to take your Gay Pride virginity here in San Francisco.

Take it all you want! It’s going to be awesome.

By Paul E. Pratt
June 24, 2010
San Francisco Bay Times

Those years have seen many changes, however. The group just left its label, Jive records — a split that member A.J. McLean told us will open new doors for the Backstreet Boys. Now, the four members can be “who they are” — part of which means emulating long-lasting bands like The Rolling Stones and The Eagles — and hone a sound for “the next 17 years.” Soon the group will be hitting the high seas on a Backstreet Boys cruise, with fans who are now older, saucier, and way more intoxicated. Where do we sign up?

Hey, A.J. How are you today?
A.J. McLean: I just had some unfortunate news about my oldest
dog. He got diagnosed with thyroid cancer. It’s been a bit of an
emotional roller coaster.

I’m so sorry. Thank you for taking the time to talk to me.
AM: Absolutely.

How is the tour going?
AM: The show’s been sold out. The fans have been really excited. We’re just looking forward to coming down to San Fran.

What do you think it will be like playing at Pride?
AM: I have a lot of gay and lesbian friends who are stoked that we’re doing this. I want to get heavily involved with the gay and lesbian movement. One of my dear friends just started the very first gay and lesbian yellow pages for Los Angeles, so I’m gonna try to get on board and try to ixnay Prop 8…just try to make everybody equal.

Why did Backstreet Boys split with Jive Records last month after more than a decade?
AM: It was time for us. It was a parting on good terms. It’s now giving us the freedom to be the artists that we are. Fortunately, record companies are becoming more obsolete, [which is] giving the artist a lot more freedom to be creative without having people dictate what songs to do. We’ve all met so many talented writers over the past 17 years that we can easily pick up the phone, call T-Pain and say, “Hey, we’re going back into the studio in September. Let’s make a new record.”

You didn’t have that luxury before?
AM: We did, and then we didn’t. There was a bit of a dictatorship going on, which is the case with most record companies. They kind of run the ship. But towards the end, before we parted ways, we were getting a lot more hands-on with our music. We still have one more record that’s part of the contract, but that’s just going to be released in Japan under the Jive label, and then we start making a new BSB record this coming fall, which will either be on a new label or will be straight distribution. We haven’t decided.

Can people expect a different sound on the new album?
AM: A little bit. This next record is going to be where we’re headed for the next 17 years. We definitely emulate groups like The Eagles and The Stones, and having that longevity and that staying power. We’ve definitely proven that we can do it, but now it’s time for us to just be who the Backstreet Boys are gonna be.

What do you think caused the disappearance of boy bands?
AM: There was this huge pop explosion in the late 90s, early 2000, and it was overwhelming for everyone. There was us, there was *NSYNC, 98 Degrees, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera. It went on as long as it could and then some of the groups just didn’t want to do it anymore. Some of them didn’t have the success that they used to, so they just gave up. And then there were groups like *NSYNC who had members leave who did equally as well if not better on their own. I think [Justin Timberlake] is much better on his own. I think he was really good as part of a group, but I think certain people in groups just stick out more than others. We have always said we would never hold each other back. I just released my very first solo record in all of Asia and it’s about to hit the States, Europe and Canada at the end of the year.

Whose idea was the upcoming Backstreet Boys Cruise?
AM: It was a collective idea. We’ve been talking about it for years now, because we’ve heard other artists have done it, like New Kids on the Block. It’s something cool for us to do with our fans. Whether it’s having a pool party or a gambling night…we’re doing a full concert with our dancers. We might do some weird things. I heard some rumors that New Kids went as a group and knocked on fans’ doors to say hi and hang out.
It doesn’t seem like you guys would have been able to just go and knock on fans’ doors a few years ago with the hysteria that surrounded you.
AM: Yeah, I don’t think that would have been a good idea. But now that our fans are older, they still get crazy. Believe me. There’s still girls passing out, there’s still girls throwing underwear and bras. It’s just as crazy. They’re just older. And now that they’re older, they can drink, so they’re a little bit saucy. They’re having fun, kicking back and letting loose.

Are the people who grew up listening to Backstreet Boys your target demographic?
AM: I would say our core demographic is probably ages 25 to 45. But there’s still quite a lot of young teenage girls coming to the shows, and a lot of kids. Because now our fans who grew up with us are married and have families of their own. Their kids look at us like we’re brand new, so we’re starting the Backstreet fan pandemonium all over again.

Now that you guys are men, how do you feel about being grouped under the boy band umbrella?
AM: It actually makes us feel young again. Nowadays, it doesn’t bother us. In the very beginning, it did. Now we’re being called a man band.

Some of your album titles, such as Never Gone, Unbreakable, and This Is Us, sound defensive. Are they?
AM: I don’t think they’re defensive. I think the only defensive title we’ve had is Black & Blue. During that time, with the record company [lawsuit] and with all the stuff going on with us personally … me going to rehab, Brian having open heart surgery, a couple of us losing family members…it was a rough time. We also went through a break with management. We felt battered and bruised.

The lyrics on your solo CD are more explicit. Is this the direction you’d like to see Backstreet Boys go in?
AM: I think that’s more me than Backstreet Boys. We’re four individuals, but we’re still a group. A couple of the guys are fathers. It might get a little squirrelly if they’re singing lyrics that are risqué and over the top. It’s expected from me, because I’m not one to sugarcoat anything.

For old times’ sake, who is your favorite *NSYNC member and song?
AM: It’s going to be a tie because I’m actually really good friends with JC [Chasez] and Justin. JC and I have worked on quite a few songs together for my solo record and the Backstreet Boys record. As far as songs go — “Gone.” It’s just a great, well-rounded, well-crafted record. It’s one of those records I actually wish we had.

Do you guys ever get together and have boy band reminiscing parties?
AM: If I’m in the studio with JC, we’ll start talking, and it’ll spark a whole conversation about when we were all on tour together. “Remember that place…remember that girl… remember that party… remember that show.” If we wrote a book together, good God, it’d be bigger than War and Peace.

By Taylor Friedman
June 22, 2010
SF Weekly

“I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in, so I can actually perform it and look good, too,” McLean said in a recent phone interview.

He had better be in shape. According to McLean, the tour requires more dancing from the Backstreet Boys than when the show the group took on the road following the 2007 album “Unbreakable.”

“We’ve got four extra dancers. And production wise, we’re doing like a bunch of different gags and stuff,” McLean said. “It’s going to be very theatrical, lots of dancing on our part. It’s going to be very entertaining. It’s going to be really, really entertaining and cool with all the old songs mixed in with the new ones.”

The new music comes courtesy of “This Is Us,” the CD the Backstreet Boys released last October. The album is an attempt to recapture the R&B-influenced dance-pop sound of the group’s early albums, after a bit of a stylistic departure on its 2005 CD, “Never Gone” and “Unbreakable,” which were more pop oriented.

McLean, though, said the musical direction of the group wasn’t the main reason “Unbreakable,” in particular, was less than a smash.

“Honestly, the reason why it didn’t do so well is because the songs weren’t that good,” McLean said.

Seeing lackluster album sales was a new experience for the Backstreet Boys, which was put together by music mogul Lou Pearlman in 1993.

Along with peers N’Sync, the Backstreet Boys (McLean, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell and Kevin Richardson) rose to huge heights in the late 1990s behind the multi-platinum albums “Backstreet Boys” (1997) and “Millennium” (1999). The latter album became the best-selling album of 1999, with nearly 10 million copies sold.

But after the 2000 release of the next CD, “Black & Blue,” things began to fray for the Backstreet Boys. The CD failed to match the popularity of “Millennium,” and even more ominously, the group had to postpone the second leg of its tour when McLean checked into a rehab facility to confront his addiction to alcohol and problems with depression.

After the October 2001 release of “The Hits: Chapter One,” the Backstreet Boys went on hiatus, and it wasn’t until late 2003, when a clean and sober McLean went on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” to share details of his addiction and recovery, that the group started making plans to enter the studio to make “Never Gone” and make a full-fledged return to action.

The group proved it hadn’t lost its fan base, as its world tour was a success. But “Never Gone” – while it topped one million copies sold – failed to reach the heights of previous albums.

And in June 2006, Richardson announced he was leaving the Backstreet Boys. The remaining foursome, though, wasted little time moving forward, entering the studio to make “Unbreakable” just days after Richardson announced his departure.

That album, after debuting at number seven on “Billboard’s” album chart, sank fast and fell out of the top 100 two weeks later.

It’s against this backdrop that “This Is Us” arrived last October.

In re-embracing its R&B/hip-hop roots, the Backstreet Boys teamed up with several A-list songwriters/producers to create songs for “This Is Us.” RedOne was brought on board for the lead single, “Straight Through My Heart,” and others that collaborated with the Backstreet Boys included T-Pain, Max Martin, Claude Kelly and Jim Jonsin.

“We wanted, that’s the goal is to outdo our past, but at the same time sort of just stay fresh and new,” McLean said. “I think by getting with (these) producers and writers it kind of puts like a whole new face (on the songs), but at the same time it’s something familiar from the past.”

By Alan Sculley
June 21, 2010,/i>
Inland Socal