Hot & Red Hot

Back - Index - Submissions - - What is RSS? Date: Nov 21, 2000 Source: Jam Showbiz Submitted By: Aimee Amid mass hysteria, the fab five launch their new CD By MIKE ROSS -- Edmonton Sun If there's any doubt the Backstreet Boys are an international phenomenon, it's being banished with glowing dispatches from around the globe. To wit: They're not big. They're huge! To promote their latest album, Black & Blue, hitting stores today, the fab five are on a whirlwind promotional tour of the entire planet, hitting six continents in 100 hours on a private jet. They've already met a tame cheetah in Africa and caused a near riot in Japan. Ten teenage girls were injured in a crush surrounding the boys' bus as it drove from the airport. Japanese girls had staked out the group for hours, brandishing signs printed with the name of their favourite member and shouting,"Ai shiteiru!" ("I love you"). During a press conference, Boy Brian Littrell pulled a George W. Bush for TV cameras, reportedly saying (though something may have been lost in translation), "We appreciate the fan support because if it wasn't for the fans we wouldn't have these countries to go to." That's right: without its fans, the world wouldn't exist. Other stops on the 42,000-km journey include Stockholm, Sydney and Rio de Janeiro. The group, in New York today announcing tour dates, is accompanied by hype that makes the Subway Series look like a Little League tournament. MTV devoted an entire day to following the boys around. Wal-Mart stores across America are gearing up huge sales. The record label has reportedly shipped seven million copies to U.S. stores, 500,000 to Canada. The Backstreet Boys - A.J., Brian, Howie D., Kevin and Nick - are banking heavily on Black & Blue, a more mature album that some observers predict will open a new chapter in the ongoing boy-band war. There's no sign of a burnout yet. They've already sold more than 55 million records worldwide and, while the all-time record for first week sales falls to 'N Sync (2.41 million for No Strings Attached last spring), the last two Backstreet Boys CDs have sold more overall. As A.J. boasted to Teen People magazine, "I bet we can break their record and our record combined the first week out." -- With files from Sun Media, CP Comment on this item. Recent Comments Submitted by: ppionerka Submitted by: peto4ok Submitted by: cirkyl Submitted by: Ann Elisabeth Submitted by: Michael Pollitt Submitted by: James Submitted by: Lemat Submitted by: Shawn Submitted by: Carol Clark Comment on this item. Next Item: BSB expected to leave competition 'Black & Blue' Prev Item: Backstreet Boys Invade Times Square