Japanese Fans Injured in Crush for Backstreet Boys

Back - Index - Submissions - - What is RSS? Date: Nov 18, 2000 Source: Reuters / Yahoo! News Submitted By: Melody TOKYO (Reuters) - For thousands of screaming Japanese girls the biggest thing to come out of Tokyo Bay on Saturday was not Godzilla but the American pop group the Backstreet Boys (news - web sites). A.J., Brian, Howie D., Kevin and Nick -- the five heartthrobs who have sold 55 million records -- floated on a glittering ship to a concert at a Tokyo Bay front venue as part of a world tour in which they plan to circle the globe in 100 hours with stops in Tokyo, Sydney, Cape Town, Rio de Janeiro and New York. But it was not all fun and games when the group arrived at Tokyo's Narita airport, where 1,000 fans staked out spots to see the boys on arrival on a chartered jet. At least 10 people were injured when a crush of fans with cameras in hand swarmed around the bus carrying the group as they drove away. Later, the boys, dressed in black and blue to support their new album ``Black and Blue,'' thrilled screaming hordes of Japanese girls when they slung their arms around each other's shoulders on the ship's deck and sang a song from the new album. As girls brandished placards bearing the name of their favorite Backstreet Boy, fans on the shore showed their appreciation by shouting, ``Take me to America'' and ``ai shiteiru,'' which means ``I love you.'' ``We are in the making of history. Nobody has done this before. We appreciate the fan support because if it wasn't for the fans we wouldn't have these countries to go to,'' group member Brian Littrel told Reuters Television. Despite the airport trouble and the hordes of fans on the waterfront, seeing the Backstreet Boys was the thrill of a lifetime for some. ``I love the Backstreet Boys. Their songs always cheer me up when I'm feeling sad,'' one teenage girl said. Comment on this item. Recent Comments Submitted by: oem software VG13Lg Yeah, it is clear now !... Just can not figure out how often do you update your blog?!... Submitted by: ppionerka Submitted by: kipetok Submitted by: barrycmster Comment on this item. Next Item: Canadian Chart Talk: Back on Top Prev Item: World Tour Itinerary