Behind the Music

Episode 185: Backstreet Boys

June 13, 2005 • 60 min

The Backstreet Boys are by far one of the most famous boy bands in music history. They've sold over sixty million albums worldwide and have left millions of screaming girls love sick along the way. These five heartthrobs have managed to stay together for over eleven years but have had to overcome health scares, drug addiction, and several tragic deaths along the way. If you thought being a pop star was easy ... had better guess again.The boys back-story is as unusual as their music journey. In 1978 A.J. McClean was born in West Florida but by age two was abandoned by his father after his parents divorced. By age 8 A.J. fled to the stage performing in local talent shows and mastering the art of puppetry. It was on stage that he met 11 year old Howie Dorough. The two toured the Orlando theme park circuit for several years trying to make it big. Nicknamed the second Hollywood, Orlando had became a breeding ground for young talent and Nick Carter and his family moved to the Disney crazed environment to join in the struggle.In July 1992, with no musical background to speak of Transcontinental Airlines owner Lou Pearlman put an ad in the entertainment circular Blue Note looking for five talented boys to form a new boy band. He was looking for a New Kids on the Block look with a Boys II Men sound. A.J., Howie and Nick auditioned for Lou and were hired. The group was then rounded out by Kentucky native Kevin Richardson and his cousin Brian Littrell.But the US wasn't ready for their clean--cut sounds. In 1994 Lou shipped the boys to a pop friendly place called Europe and it was there that they became an international phenomenon. It would take three long years before The Backstreet Boys would be accepted in the United States as serious pop band. In 1997 "Quit Playin Games With My Heart" was finally played on MTV and the fan following and pressures began to grow at an enormous rate. The Backstreet Buzz had begun to grow and now there was no continent left to conquer.By March '98, the Boys had been touring for over six years straight and had sacrificed sleep, personal health and normal childhood for their fans and demanding press schedules. They were exhausted, and Brian's health suffered the most. In March 1998 he was given news that the congenital heart disease he had since birth had grown dramatically worse due to the strain of touring. Doctors advised three surgeries before Brian finally took a break from performing to undergo the operation. Meanwhile the stress of touring pushed A.J. into full-fledged cocaine and Jack Daniels dependence and after watching his grandmother pass away from cancer A.J. lost control completely. After threatening to quit he finally sought out rehab instead and his patient bandmates watched as twenty-six year old A.J. was finally getting control over his life.The exhausting tours, health problems and out of control addictions had soiled the Backstreet Boys' spirits as a group and after their last tour in September 2001, they decided it was time to take a break from each other.In their four year hiatus, Brian Littrell became a father, Kevin found the Broadway stage, Nick sought out a brief solo career and Howie has kept busy as a real estate mogul. A.J. continued battling his addictions and cleaning up his life.In 2002 the Backstreet Boys reunited again and started working on their new album. Edgier, more mature and honest, BSB hope Never Gone can recapture the same success they had years before. They are more determined to remain a family and stick together no matter where the road takes them. This is not your typical boy band ... but this is their story.