BACKSTREET BOYS

The core of Backstreet Boys is found in cousins Kevin Richardsonand Brian Littrell. The two began singing while they were children,and the remaining members, Howie Dorough, A.J. McLean, and NickCarter met each other through auditions for local commercials,theatre, and television. At one audition, the three discovered thatthey shared affection for classic soul and could harmonizetogether. In no time, they were singing as a trio. Shortly afterthe trio had formed, Richardson moved to Orlando, where heeventually met Dorough, Carter, and McLean, and the four decided toform a group, inviting Littrell to join shortly afterwards to forma quintet.

Through a friend, record producer Louis J. Pearlman, the bandsecured management who put the group out on the road, andeventually Jive Records signed the group in 1994. After scoringEuropean hit single with "We've Got It Goin' On", and "I'll NeverBreak Your Heart," the group released their eponymous debut albumin Europe and Canada in late 1996. It was a huge success, spendingseveral weeks in the Top Ten in most of the countries where itcharted.

Despite their popularity in Europe and Canada, the American versionof Backstreet Boys was not released until 1997. Combining theirinternational singles with new tracks, the album finally began topropel the Backstreet Boys towards U.S. success. The spin off hitscontinued into 1999, with "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)," "I'llNever Break Your Heart," and "All I Have to Give" all landing onthe US and international charts; both the former and the latterwere platinum Top Five hits, and the album ended up with sales ofover 13 million copies.

In the meantime, the group saw its share of turmoil; Littrellunderwent surgery in 1998 to correct a congenital heart defect, andthe Boys became embroiled in lawsuits against Pearlman and the restof their management over royalties for most of the rest of theyear. When the dust settled, Pearlman remained the group's manager(though the rest of the team was fired), and the Boys began work ontheir follow-up album.

"Millennium" was released in the summer of 1999, and debuted at theUS number one with first-week sales of over a million copies.Despite the fact that no singles were officially released from thealbum in the U.S., "I Want It That Way," "Larger Than Life," "ShowMe the Meaning of Being Lonely," and "The One" all hit the chartsbased on airplay alone. By the end of the year "Millennium" waswell on its way to sales of 12 million copies in the U.S. alone,and the boys released a special Christmas album.

Issuing "Black & Blue" in autumn 2000, a tour supported thealbum, but after 7 years of non-stop touring and recording, theband agreed it was time for a break. Brian Littrell became afather, while Kevin Richardson tried his hand at Broadway and tooka starring role in the musical Chicago. Nick Carter released hissolo album "Now or Never" in 2002, Howie Dorough did charity workfor the Dorough Lupus Foundation in honour of the sister he hadlost to the disease, and A.J. McLean made headlines with his stintin rehab.

As teen idols, they sold more than 13 million copies each of theirfirst two albums, "Backstreet Boys" (1997) and the No. 1 (in 25nations) "Millennium" (1999). "Black and Blue" followed (2000),moving 8 million copies, and then "Hits: Chapter One" (2001),scored them another platinum triumph. And now, nearly 5 years aftertheir last studio album, the Backstreet Boys are set to make aresolute return with their 5th album, "Never Gone" on June 20th.Watch out guys - Backstreet's Back Alright!

HH