They've dominated the charts throughout
the world, have gone multi-platinum in 16
countries and sold over 8 million records
worldwide. They've scored 4 Top Ten
singles, including the number one sensation
"Quit Playin' Games (With My Heart)."
They've also racked up numerous awards,
including the 1996 MTV Europe Viewers
Choice Award, beating out Oasis, Spice
Girls and Jamiroquai.
They are the Backstreet Boys (BSB) and
they may well be the biggest pop group
you've never heard of... until right now.
Backstreet Boys is the long awaited
eponymous American debut from a group
that has already made its mark on the
international music scene. The brand new
American release contains all the hits from
BSB's self-titled European debut along with
new cuts that find BSB collaborating with
some of the biggest names in music: PM
Dawn, (a startling remake of "Set Adrift On
Memory Bliss"), Babyface ("Say What's In
My Heart"), Diane Warren and Robert Mutt
Lange ("If You Want It To Be Good Girl (Get
Yourself A Bad Boy)"). Armed with powerful
harmonies, groove friendly beats,
passionate ballads, a dynamic stage show
and charisma that will not be denied,
Backstreet Boys are ready to show their
native land what the rest of the planet has
already figured out: that they are more than
a phenomenon, they are here to stay.
Backstreet Boys' incredible saga began four
years ago in Orlando, Florida. It was there
that high school students A.J. McLean,
Howie Dorough and junior high student
Nick Carter began to run into each other at
local acting auditions. The three young men
became friends and formed a singing group,
inspired in part by Boyz II Men and Color
Me Badd. The trio then decided to expand,
by two. They met Kevin Richardson through
a mutual friend. After scouring Orlando for a
fifth member, Kevin thought of his cousin
Brian Litterell, who was in Kentucky. A
phone call was made, Brian relocated and
The Backstreet Boys were ready to write
the first chapter of their story.
At first the group did some of their favorite
cover tunes, a practice that continues even
today. Laughs Brian, "We still do Shai's 'If I
Ever Fall in Love,'" but eventually they
began to find their own distinctive sound.
Stressing their strong harmonies and a
blend of pop and R&B, the fivesome began
to try to secure a record deal. "We'd go to
local labels and sing a cappella in their
foyers," recalls Howie. "We'd sing
anywhere, for anybody."
The hard work began to pay off and within
six months of forming, BSB had become
one of Florida's hottest live acts. They
played everything from a high school
gymnasium, Grad Night at Sea World, to an
opening slot for Brandy. With all that stage
experience and an indie single "Tell Me
That I'm Dreaming" under their belts, BSB
started writing the next chapter. Their
manager Donna Wright was friends with
David McPherson of Jive Records. After
pleading with him to hear the band, she
called him during one of BSB's dates, help
up her cell phone and let him hear the
pandemonium the group generated. "We
got signed right after that," smiles Brian.
In 1995, BSB began to lay down tracks and
released "We've Got It Going On." The
song took off in England and throughout the
continent, where BSB's brand of R&B-Pop
was just gaining a foothold. "Over there
they had a bunch of what's called 'boy
groups,' so we had a ready-made market,"
explains Brian, "but since we were
Americans, we were a fresh new sound for
Europe. We had more of an edge, and
unlike a lot of those other boy groups, we
were more than just a bunch of pretty guys.
We could sing." In a short period of time, "I'll
Never Break Your Heart" began to climb the
charts. Its success laid the foundation for
what was to come.
In 1995, BSB won a Smash Hits Award in
London for Best New Tour Act and
performed the gold single "I'll Never Break
Your Heart" on Top of the Pops.
1996 kicked off with BSB being voted #1
International Group by TV viewers in
Germany. Their next single, "I'll Never
Break Your Heart" went gold in Germany
and hit #1 in Austria. By February, the
up-tempo jam had entered into video and
radio rotation in Montreal. BSB's sold out
shows, with hordes of screaming fans, soon
became legendary throughout Europe and
Canada. If BSB could accomplish all that
with only two singles, just imagine the
reaction when BSB's self titled debut album
was released in April of 1996. That summer
BSB embarked on a sold out 57 date
headlining European tour and earning the
coveted 1996 MTV Europe Viewers Choice
Award. Then it was off to Canada, where
their CD has gone six times platinum and hit
the number one spot on the charts. BSB's
32 shows sold out in under 20 minutes as
the intensity moved closer to the US. "It was
some kind of year," laughs Kevin, and it
only laid the groundwork for the next part of
the BSB story. The homecoming.
Now back home in Orlando, BSB spent the
early part of 1997 in the studio; crafting new
vibrant songs, sharpening up their vocals,
taking a more active role in the creative
process and eagerly looking forward to
bring their infectious sound to a home
grown audience. "We've always wanted to
bring it back home," asserts Nick. "But we
wanted to make sure we brought it back
strong."
