Generations of fans

Back - Index - Submissions - - What is RSS? Date: Dec 03, 2099 Source: St. Petersburg Times Submitted By: KJStanley@aol.com for sending this in. The young girls came, of course, to see the Backstreet Boys. But the moms came too - and not just to chaperone. By SARAH SCHWEITZER © St. Petersburg Times, published December 3, 1999 TAMPA -- The mother and daughter stood waiting outside the Ice Palace on Thursday night, one with bated breath and the jitters. This, after all, was the moment she'd been awaiting for weeks and weeks. "I like them because they're so cuuuuuute," crooned Jeannine Fiallo, 12, as she wrung her hands in anticipation of the big event -- the Backstreet Boys concert. Her mother looked on approvingly. "They're a wholesome group," Mary Fiallo said. But truth be told, she added in a feigned whisper, the music is kind of catchy -- not to mention the hoopla. "It's like a flashback to my own youth," said the 43-year-old paralegal. The Fiallos were among hundreds of mother-daughter teams who showed up Thursday night for the first of two sold-out concerts at the Ice Palace. While older teenagers ventured arm-in-arm into the arena, giggling and cooing to each other, the younger girls -- the bulk of the crowd -- stayed close to moms. While some parents were good sports, chaperoning teeny-boppers in the thrall of the hunky quintet while they secreted ear plugs in their purses, many more were happy participants who bought tickets because they are fans, like their children. "I like their music. We dance to it in the house, and I crank it up in the car," said Betty Knowles, 43, of St. Pete Beach, who is a registered nurse. Knowles, who brought her two daughters and a friend of one daughter to the concert, said the Backstreet Boys are not the only bubble gum group she likes. "We were at the 'N Sync concert in May. It was a blast," she said. For Beverly Baker, long before her daughter's room was plastered with posters of the Backstreet Boys, their catchy songs had piqued her interest. "I asked her who sang the song I kept hearing on the radio, and she taught me all the words," said the 39-year-old software company client support worker. But it wasn't just preteens and their moms. Lisa Miller, 24, could have managed without her mother. Indeed, she manages every day just fine in Orlando, where she works at a bank, without her mother. But no one besides her mother, it seems, was willing to indulge her self-described Backstreet Boys fanaticism. "I went with friends to the concert in Orlando last night," she said. "But I couldn't find anyone to come with me to the concerts in Tampa." Mom to the rescue. "I like them. They are really clean-cut," said Eleanor Miller, 60, of Fort Myers. But third row was a bit close, she said, patting her purse where a pair of earplugs was nestled. Comment on this item. Recent Comments Submitted by: Halz Submitted by: Lemat Submitted by: Jennifer Submitted by: Paulo Submitted by: Eugene Submitted by: Carol Clark Submitted by: Monika Submitted by: William Submitted by: Edd Comment on this item. Next Item: Floyd can't beat Backstreet Prev Item: A 29-year-old's guilty pleasure? Would you believe the Backstreet Boys?