An Interview with the BSB (Smash Hits)

Back - Index - Submissions - - What is RSS? Date: Oct 23, 2098 Source: Smash Hits Magazine Submitted By: Thanks to Liz (Brian Lover) [davidcoe@goldsmith65.freeserve.co.uk] for sending this in. Smash Hits Heart-to-heart - Backstreet Boys Series In the first part of our exclusive Backstreet Boys series, AJ talks about wanting to settle down, getting his nipple pierced and what really turns him on! AJ - the flirty one Are you happy with the Backstreet Boys’ squeaky clean image? No. I’d rather we could be ourselves more, express ourselves more. I’m starting to be that way as much as I can. I’m not saying we should go to extremes and have green hair or anything, just that we could be more open-minded and have a little more say about things - especially what we wear. It’s happening slowly but surely. Would people be shocked if they knew what you get up to behind the scenes? I think they’d be really shocked. They’d be shocked just to know what we’re like when we’re like when we’re chillin’ at home. I don’t think it would make our fans like us any less - I just think they’d sit back and have a laugh. We’re five guys - five single guys - and those of us who live on our own get a little crazy sometimes. Y’know, I live with Brian and we party our little butts off! If you could be anyone else in the band for a day, who would it be and why? In this band? Oh wow, that’s tough. You know what? I’d like to be Nick, just to experience life as a ‘superstar’ through the eyes of a 17 year old. To feel what he feels when we’re onstage and someone introduces him as Nick Carter. I think it would be weird to be in his position at 17 and be looked upon as a teen idol. There’s got to be a lot of peer pressure involved, but then again it’s got to be pretty cool too, hah! What’s the biggest sacrifice you’ve ever made for the band? (Seriously) I think.... my right kidney. (Breaks into a grin.) Nah, just not being at home, being away from everybody. Things have gotten to the point where I might as well not even have an apartment back home, cos I’m paying out the butt in rent but I’m never there! Does it all ever get too much? Yes and no. When we’re on tour, we want to go home, but when we’re home for, say, more than three or four days, we start climbing walls and want to get back on the road. Do you think you’re good-looking? Do you think I’m good-looking? (That’s not the question AJ!) I can’t answer that. (OK then, yeah.) Well, there you go. I mean, I think I’m OK. There are a couple of things I wouldn’t mind changing, like my nose! I’ve got a big nose. And I’d get a couple of body piercing, if I could find the time and had the guts to do it! I’d like to get one right here (Pinches bottom lip) and in my eyebrow. A nipple would be possible, too! Do you ever wish your mum didn’t travel everywhere with you? No, I like it. It’s more like having a big sister there - she lets me do what ever I want. She’s very down-to-earth and cool. I’m glad she’s like that, cos if she wasn’t, it might make things a little uncomfortable. She’s a little mom for the others, too. Are you as tough as you look? Mentally, yes. Physically.... erm, I can hang on for a little while, but I’d probably get the crap beaten out of me in a good fight. Describe your first sexual experience? Wow! Erm, I was 16 and it was kind of weird cos it was more like a rushed situation. It was a wonderful thing and it was all done right, but it wasn’t with someone I was in a strong relationship with at the time. We did actually end up getting into one, though. It was a little awkward as first, but it was cool and I liked it! I’d do it again.... You have a reputation as being a bit of a ladies man. How trustworthy are you? Hmmm, when I’m in love I’m very trustworthy. But when I’m not sure about it, I may just go out and have my fun. Y’know, I’m only 20 and I’ve still got a lot to learn about love and relationships. But the next girlfriend I find - wherever she may be - I’ll wanna settle down with. Not get married, just have a commitment. What turns you on? In a woman? Doh, of course! Her eyes. And I love women with long fingernails cos it feels good on my body. I like a woman who isn’t afraid to do something on the spur of the moment - like go skydiving or white-water rafting, or make love naked on a beach in Tahiti. Something just totally off the wall! Have you ever snogged a fan? No, I haven’t - unless they've lied to me and made out they’re a regular person. I’ve kissed fans on the cheek, but I’ve never officially, properly snogged a fan In part 2 of our BSB series, we get up close and very personal with Kevin. We discover what makes him mad, when he gets lonely and why he wants to become a dad! Kevin - the serious one What’s the hardest thing about the age gap between you and Nick? Sometimes Nick’s attention span is a little short, but I’m not sure if it’s down to the age gap, or just the sort of person he is. I like to work, get stuff done and then go play, whereas Nick likes to work and play at the same time. We have very different personalities, but that doesn’t cause massive problems or anything. What’s the difference between Kevin Richardson and Kevin Backstreet? Kevin Richardson’s a little more laid-back and less serious, much more chilled out. I like to goof off and play around when I’m not working. Sometimes I just need to hang out with my friends and get rowdy. Kevin Backstreet’s very focused and hardworking. Who do you talk to when things get on top of you? It depends. Sometimes I’ll run things by Howie, or Brian, or AJ. And occasionally Nick and I will talk about things he’s going through. I also talk to my big brothers when I go home cos they’re my best friends. Have you ever felt like giving it all up and leaving the band? There are times when I’m on the road and it gets frustrating. Sometimes I miss home, or I’ll not be getting on with the other guys. There have been times when I’ve thought, ‘Maybe this isn’t for me.’ It’s not always easy, but the feeling fades and it all blows over. I think you need to go through times like that to appreciate what you’ve got. Do your strong religious beliefs prevent you from having fun? No. The fact I was brought up the way I was just instilled certain morals in me and certain ways I feel in my heart. I always make decisions based on how my heart feels. Have you ever been in love? (Cagily) Uh-huh. When? It was like four or five years ago, and it felt great. I felt like I was totally happy when I was with this person. Have you ever had your heart broken? Yeah, when I was in eighth grade in high school I took a girl to a dance and as soon as we got there she ran off. I really liked her. She was a lot older than me and I had a massive crush on her, so I guess she kind of broke my heart. Is it tough not being able to have relationships? Yeah, it gets lonely. sometimes you wonder what people’s motivation is when they’re sucking up to you - you wonder whether they’re being genuine. All these people who, in the beginning, wouldn’t have given you the time of day suddenly start kissing round you. We just stick with the people who were there in the beginning - they keep us grounded and real. How do you deal with the loneliness? When we’re out on the road, we have each other. Occasionally, we’ll party and maybe meet someone and try to date them. We also try to date girls when we’re back home. It’s not easy, but.... well, that’s just the way it is. The loneliest times are when you’re lying in your hotel bed late at night and you wish you had someone there to cuddle and watch TV with you, I miss the everyday relationship-type things. Do you want to settle down eventually and have a family? I definitely want that someday, because I come from a big family. I love kids - every time I see a baby, I’m like ‘Aaaaahh.’ When I was at the airport yesterday, a lady asked if I’d have my picture taken with her baby because I was playing around with her so much. (Thinks) yeah, I definitely want a family someday. Do you ever feel like telling fans to leave you alone? Sometimes I have to say, ‘Hey, calm down or my security will take me away!’ I never get angry if I see them out - if it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be here. But if I’m asleep in my hotel room and a fan calls.... well, that’s a different matter! When you’re old, what will you remember most about the Backstreet Boys? There are tons of great things. Probably just the fact I got to see the world, to see so many happy faces and make a lot of people happy. What’s been your happiest moment? Oh, that’s really hard - I’ve had so many great moments. One of them was when we signed our record deal. Another was when we won our first award - it was actually a Smash Hits award. And winning five Smash Hits award last year as well.... I mean, how cool was that ?! It’s the third part of our exclusive Backstreet Boys series and this issue Howie talks about working hard, falling in love, learning about sex and going solo! Howie - the sweet one You guys seem to work non-stop these days - are there times when you feel overworked? I’m a workaholic, so I keep going until my Energiser batteries run out! Every once in a while, there are periods when our schedules get a little bit crazy and it’s like people forget that we’re only human! But, like I say, I love to work. This is my life and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. Do you know each other’s secrets? Yeah, we all confide in each other a lot - we’re like brothers. I don’t think there’s any information about any of us that the others don’t know. We know which buttons to push, we know about each others private lives, we know about secrets.... we know everything! It’s cool. Do you ever need to spend time on your own? I’m a real people person, but sometimes it’s weird because the only time I have my own space is when I go to bed at night. But I also get bored and lonely easily if I’m hanging round my house back home, I’ll call AJ or Kevin and ask them if they wanna do something. I like being around people. So who’s your best friend in the Backstreet Boys? Wow, it’s really hard to pick just one best friend cos we all have such different qualities within ourselves. I probably turn to Kevin or AJ most, because we’re the most alike. We go out together to clubs and stuff. We have the same kind of personalities. Are there ever arguments? Sure, hahaha! We’re like brothers - we have our good and bad moments. Brian, Nick and I sometimes clash when it comes to the amount of work we do. That’s just our different personalities and that’s what makes us who we are. Do you ever feel jealous that Nick gets the most attention? (Laughs) I think there’s enough room for all of us. He’s the youngest and most of our audience is around his age. If I was their age and I was a girl, I’d probably go after Nick. I mean, they may look at me and Kevin and think we’re too old! Have you ever thought about leaving the band and going solo? We’ve all talked about what we want to do in the future, and what we’d do if we got offers for solo projects, be it singing or acting. We’ve all said I’d be a group decision and we’d do what ever benefits the group the most. It could mean all of us taking time to do solo stuff and then coming back together. There’s enough room for us all to shine and to have everything we want in life. Are you as sweet as people say? I don’t know! The guys nicknamed me ‘Sweet D’ cos they say I have a big heart. I grew up with a big family, so I’ve always had a lot of love around me. I’ve never wanted to hurt people’s feelings. Don’t you ever feel like being more rock’n’roll? I guess my hair is about as rock’n’roll as I get! I never thought I’d have an earring, so I’d say this business really does open your eyes to change. But I feel comfortable with the way I am, so I don’t want to change too drastically. Do you still get homesick? Yeah, I do, but I’ve always had a really fast-paced lifestyle, so I’m kinda used to life on the road. I miss my family, my Mum’s home cooking and my bed, but these days our fans are like our family, and the rest of the guys are like another family to me. What one thing would improve the quality of your life? (Thinks for a bit) Erm, decisiveness. If I could make decisions really quickly, and not have to spend as much time contemplating them, I’d have a better life because I’d get a lot more accomplished. Have you ever been in love? Sure. What does it feel like? It’s a good feeling. It’s a great feeling knowing somebody loves you, especially as it’s someone outside your family - someone who has a deeper inner love for you. It’s a little bit frightening too, as you don’t know exactly how long it’s going to last. It’s especially hard with my career, y’know, trying to find somebody who’ll put up with my schedule. Right now, I’m putting love on the back burner. My love is my career, and there’ll be time for a settled relationship later on. When did you first learn about sex? (Shocked) Wow, what kind of...? Wow! I’ve never been asked that before! Ummm, I guess I learnt things from my friends, but there wasn’t any particular age when I learnt everything! This is the ‘90s and I think sex is talked about a lot more openly, which is a good thing. At least people aren’t naive and they’re aware of how they can protect themselves. Do you want to have kids one day? Oh yeah, definitely. I can’t see it happening in the near future because my career’s really taken off. Planning a family definitely takes timing. I’d hate to have a kid and not be able to be there for him all the time. When I do get married and have a family, I want to be able to devote all my time to them. In part 4 of our BSB series, we get deep with Brian B-Rok. Read on to discover why he rucked with Howie D, what he got up to in a sauna and what’s his favourite part of a woman’s body. Brian - the cheeky one Do you ever think that the Backstreet Boys are too good to be true? (Chuckling) I’m not sure what you mean! Sometimes I think it’s too good to be true being in one of the most popular bands in the world and having the privilege of travelling all over the place, performing to so many wonderful people and hanging out with the best bunch of guys. But if you mean that we’re a bit too clean-cut, then you probably don’t know us that well! What’s the difference between Brian Littrell and Brian Backstreet? Hmmmm...... Brian Littrell is a bit more serious sometimes and thinks about stuff a little more. Because I’m writing songs now, some of Brian Littrell comes into the writing and sort of becomes Brian Backstreet. Also, Brian Littrell likes to sleep in more than Brian Backstreet is allowed to! When was the last time you fell out with one of the guys and why? It was with Howie, actually. On the Canadian tour, we had a fluffy toy sleep on the bus and we called it Barbara. Anyway, we used to put it in each other’s beds for a joke, and one day when I was feeling really tired and a bit grumpy, Howie started trying to keep me awake by hitting me with the sheep, so I just snapped at him. I regretted it afterwards. You can’t stay angry with D, because he’s such a great guy. He never gets angry! Have you ever felt like giving it all up and leaving the band? You always have those rare occasions where you’re on your own in some hotel room a long way from home and you’re completely exhausted. You know that the next day you have to get up at, like, 5 am and get on the bus and travel for seven hours. Then you get to another hotel room and you think to yourself, 'Why am I doing this?’ But then you do a show and see how happy everyone is to be there and you just feel like the luckiest guy in the world to be able to lead that kind of life. What’s it like living with AJ? (Thinks) Well, we’re rarely at home any more, so I’ve almost forgotten. We’re both fairly good with the housework, though. He’ll make someone a good husband one day! Which of your emotions are you most in touch with? Fear... of the next question! Who was the last person you kissed? Barbara the sheep! (We said ‘person’!) Oh, then it would have to be Nick’s mom - on the cheek when we hooked up for Nick’s birthday bash! Which Backstreet Boy are you closest to and why? Nick, simply because we’re best mates. Even though he’s a few years younger than me, he’s like a brother to me. If I’m having a tough time, he’s always there to have a good talk. That’s what friends are for. Do you miss having relationships? (A little sadly) Yep, I mean, it would be really hard to keep a relationship going with our schedule. Some of us tried it in the early days, but it just didn’t work out. It’s not fair to expect someone to wait for you when you’re away from home for months on end. What turns you on? Girls. (He grins cheekily) What has been your most passionate experience to date? Oh man! It was a long time ago, I can tell you that much! (We probe deeper) It was over a year ago. I don’t want to go into details, but there was a sauna involved! What’s your favourite part of a woman’s body? Her face. I really like faces, especially eyes and mouths. But, of course, if they don’t have a good personality I’m just not interested. How do your religious beliefs affect your pop lifestyle? They don’t really affect it at all, you know. We don’t really buy into the whole rock’n’roll myth of trashing hotel rooms and stuff like that, but that’s not because of our religious beliefs - it’s just because we don’t see the point of taking advantage of our position. What’s the point of smashing up stuff when you’ll only have to pay for it in the morning? Do you want to have a family one day? Definitely. I could probably settle down in about ten years time. I’ll still be making music, hopefully, but it would be great to record songs during the day and then go home to a wife and kids and say, ‘Hi, honey, I’m home from a tough day in the studio!’ When did you last have a cry? A couple of weeks ago when I go back to Kentucky to see my family. It had been a long time and I’d missed them a whole lot. What one thing would improve your life? A subscription to Smash Hits! Apart from that ? Hmm, let me think... Well, it’d be great to have a bit more time to myself so that I could just hang out at home and see my family and friends more than I do at present. But really, being in the Backstreet Boys is like having a second family, and I wouldn’t change that for anything. In the final part of our exclusive Backstreet Boys series (sob!), nice boy Nick opens his heart about wanting a tattoo, what kind of girls he likes and his little showbiz brother Aaron... Nick - the cute one Do you ever get sick of being labelled ‘the cute one’? Er, I dunno, really. I don’t really think about it. I suppose it is a little bit embarrassing these days cos I’ve grown up a lot, especially in the last year. Aaron’s cuter though! Is it difficult being the youngest in the group? Sometimes it’s tough when we’re on the road. I mean, Kevin’s seven years older than me and there are times when you can really notice the age difference. We’re like brothers and we’re together a lot, so naturally we do fight, but that’s nothing to do with my age. It sounds as though if you were to fight with anyone it’d be Kevin - is that true? (Thinks for a bit) Actually, I probably argue with B-Rok but that’s usually just competitive stuff about basketball or computer games. Kevin’s more serious than me, so sometimes if I’m messing about, he thinks I’m not interested and he’ll get a little uptight. Nothing too bad, though. How do you cope with the pressures of fame? I dunno. (looks puzzled) You become accustomed to it over the years, so you don’t really think about it. This is all I’ve known for the fast five years. We’ve all adapted gradually, so it doesn’t seem like something to be coped with. It just feels like life - a pretty strange life at times! Have you ever felt like quitting the Backstreet Boys? No way. The guys in the group are my best friends! You’re quite a shy person - do you enjoy photo shoots? Yeah, having your photograph taken is like acting in a way. When the photographer tell you to smile, you have to smile, and sometimes if you’re not feeling in a good mood you have to find the strength from deep inside. Shoots can be fun too, cos they make you do weird things. Are you comfortable with the way you look in photographs? I don’t know. I’m not too pleased with some photos, but you’re always your own worst critic, aren’t you? Sometimes you see photos you like and think, ‘Wow, that looks good!’ or ‘Oh no, I look terrible!’ It depends, though - sometimes pictures can make you look better, like if you’ve got a zit. What’s the saying? Pictures are worth a thousand words...... or something like that, hahaha! What don’t you like being asked in interviews? I don’t know. Just personal stuff, nothing specific. I don’t really like talking about my family back home, but that’s about it. Oops, you might not like this next one, then! Do you think Aaron is too young to become a pop star?! No, cos he loves it. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t be doing it. No-one’s forcing him, and my mom’s always there to look after him. He’s a great little singer and a good dancer, so it’s right that he should be where he is. He’s doing really well and I’m really proud of him. Having been a child star yourself, what kind of problems could Aaron face? Homesickness could be the biggest. but, right now, either mom or dad travels with him on tour, so he’s OK. Have you been able to help him much? Yeah, whenever I’ve been able. When we’re together, he mostly likes to play, but we do talk about music, and Brian and I co-wrote a song on his album. (That’s the song ‘Ain’t That Cute’, Aaron fans!) Do you ever feel like you missed out on any part of your childhood? No, I just had a different childhood from most kids. But it’s been a lot of fun. I may have missed out on a few things along the way, but I’ve also travelled the world - not many people of my age can say they’ve done that, can they? Howie says the most rock’n’roll thing he’s ever done is had his ear pierced - are you tempted to do the same? No, I wouldn’t get an earring, but I would get a tattoo. It would be cool to get a tattoo. My dad has two tattoos - I’d like something like that. What would I have done? I’d like a tattoo of the sun right on my back. Do you like girls with tattoos? Yeah, I do. It depends on where they are and who’s wearing them, but yeah, they can look cute. What about pierced belly buttons on girls - do they do anything for you? Yeah, I think they’re cool too. What kind of clothes do you like a girl to wear? I like girls to dress casual. I like things like jeans and a T-shirt or whatever.... some kind of top. Just casual, y’know? Would you date someone older than yourself? (Laughing) Oh yeah. Well, a little older, like 19 or 20, or something. What’s the most romantic thing a girl has ever done for you? Romantic? Erm, one girl bought me a Chicago Bulls jersey, which was really cool cos I love Chicago Bulls. What’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever done? I dunno. Taken a girl to Burger King, hahaha! I really don’t know - it’s been a long time. Which is worse - being dumped or having to dump someone? Being dumped by someone is worse. If you really like a girl and she just goes.... that’s horrible. Have you ever had your heart broken, then? Not exactly. When I was at school, I used to look at all the pretty girls and wish they’d go out with me, but they were only interested in the cool guys who were really into sport. I wasn’t very popular at school, because of my singing and acting and stuff. The girls just didn’t want to know. How did that make you feel? It hurt, I guess. How has it affected you? Well, now the first thing I look for in a girl is a good heart. Looks definitely come second. It taught me not to judge people by the way they look - it’s what’s inside that counts. Who do you talk to when it all gets a bit too much? Well, I’m pretty close to Brian, so he’s good for that. And sometimes I’ll turn to Howie because he’s a great listener too and he’s never judgmental. What’s the difference between Nick Carter and Nick Backstreet? (Shyly) Nick Backstreet lives on a stage, in front of a camera or in a recording studio. I guess the real me is a little more reserved off stage. Sometimes the two do cross over though, and Nick Carter is hoping to write some songs for Nick Backstreet in the next couple of years, hahaha. Where do you see yourself in ten years time? Hopefully doing the same thing with the same bunch of guys, and hopefully still making great records. Do you want to have kids one day? Definitely. But not for ages - there’s still so much we want to do. Backstreet is our priority. Would you let your children go into showbiz? If that was what they wanted and they had the talent, yeah, of course I would. How could I say no when it’s what I’ve done? Do you have a message for the Smash Hits readers? See you on tour! If you couldn’t get hold of tickets for this one, make sure you come to the next. It’s gonna be great and we can’t wait to see you all! Comment on this item. Recent Comments Submitted by: johnansog http://imrdsoacha.gov.co/silvitra-120mg-qrms Submitted by: suba suba xyRNoj Wow! This can be one particular of the most useful blogs We ave ever arrive across on this subject. Actually Magnificent. I am also a specialist in this topic so I can understand your effort. Submitted by: cheap backlinks CZty5s Major thankies for the blog post.Really thank you! Awesome. Submitted by: Anti Aging Products For Men Comrade kill yourself. Submitted by: Wayne Boich bzV2vb I must admit, the webmaster has written cool..! Submitted by: cheap oem software w1z2ls Author, Shoot yourself a knee..! Submitted by: temnotak Submitted by: cirkyl Submitted by: barrycmster Submitted by: Shawn Click here to see more comments. Comment on this item. 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