[149], On April 1, 2016, Carter told Entertainment Tonight the group signed a deal with Live Nation for a nine-show "test residency" in Las Vegas. No. Richardson also performed with the group in the show's studio later that day, making it the second time he had performed with the group since his departure. Timeline of events in the history of Backstreet Boys. The group also performed at an Old Navy event "Fit For Fall Fashion Show for All" in Bryant Park, New York on September 14, 2012. [104] Two singles were released from this album: "Straight Through My Heart" and "Bigger". [171] On July 12, they officially announced their return to Las Vegas for a holiday residency scheduled for November and December 2021. McLean added that Saturday's . 92 for the chart dated March 18, 2017, which was the group's first return to the chart since 2007.[154]. [174] Unfortunately, due to the pandemic the album failed to meet the deadline to finish production,[175] forcing them to reschedule the album release to late 2022 and cancel their 2021 holiday residency. When the dust settled, Pearlman remained the group's manager -- though the rest of the team was fired -- and the Boys began work on their follow-up album. [227], The group has supported multiple charities over the years including Children's Miracle Network, City of Hope, Kids Wish, Live Together, and Lupus LA. Richardson was living in Kentucky but relocated to Orlando in 1990 to work at Walt Disney World . While the Backstreet Boys may not have the same legendary persona as the big names they are among, what warrants their place in the list has to do with album sales in excess of 130 million! That same year, they signed a deal with RCA Records and issued the single "Don't Go Breaking My Heart," which landed on their ninth full-length, DNA. It's been nearly three decades since Backstreet Boys made its debut, but the legacy of the American 90s boy band strongly lives on. In their prime, in the 90's, they were a pop juggernaut, breathing new. The first single from the album, "Last Christmas", hit number 1 on the Billboard AC charts, and the second single "Christmas in New York" reached number 19. During the show in Staples Center, LA, in July 2011, Richardson once again joined the group on stage.[113]. The Boyskings Kevin, Brian, Nick, Howie and AJwere originally five teenagers from Florida plucked from various high school classrooms (except Kevin, who was always Old As Shit) and turned. "I just didn't know who they were and I was just questioning, 'How could these kids afford an airplane?'" Pearlman told ABC News in a 2000 interview. The two self-titled albums, the international debut and the U.S. debut sold more than 28 million copies worldwide. In addition to issuing their first compilation, The Hits: Chapter One (which featured the single "Drowning"), Brian Littrell became a father while Kevin Richardson tried his hand at Broadway and took a starring role in the musical Chicago. They then met Carter through auditions and decided to form a trio. On . Backstreet owe much of their success to the creator of boybands the late Lou Pearlman, who died in prison in August 2016 aged 62; he was serving a 25-year sentence for a $300m (229m) fraud. 20 years of "I Want It That Way" have really flown by! [159] Unfortunately, they had to postpone the tour on March 15, 2020, due to coronavirus pandemic. He had been in talks to join the tour but ultimately decided not to. At 13 years old, Carter, AJ McLean, Brian Littrell, Howie Dorough, and Kevin Richardson formed the vocal group the Backstreet Boys on April 20, 1993. Mercury Records nearly signed them in 1993, but the deal fell through at the last minute because longtime Mercury recording artist John Mellencamp threatened to leave the label if they got into the boy band business. April 19, 1993: At 2 p.m., 18-year-old Brian Littrell is called away from his American History class to answer an urgent phone call. Remember, they were born during the backlash of the New Kids on the Block with the lip sync scandal which is why they'. July 28, 2009", "Search results of the Japanese Oricon Weekly Albums Chart, second week of October 2009", "Backstreet Boys' Brian Littrell Diagnosed With Swine Flu", "Brian Littrell Diagnosed with Swine Flu", "Backstreet Boys part ways with longtime label JIVE: 'This is the best thing that could happen to us', "Rising Pop Star Ashlyne Huff is Set to Join This Summer's NKOTBSB Tour as the Opening Act", "The Fans Have Spoken! [16] Pearlman decided to call them Backstreet Boys, after Orlando's Backstreet Market, an outdoor flea market near International Drive which was also a teen hangout. The group postponed the tour until July 1998 to give Littrell time to recover. [110] Prior to the tour, they released a compilation album of their biggest hits, also titled NKOTBSB, which also includes a mash-up and two new songs. McLean on Fiery Solo Song, Nick Carter Zombie Western", "Undateable: Backstreet Boys, Weezer, and Charlie Puth to make appearances | EW.com", "EXCLUSIVE: Nick Carter Confirms Backstreet Boys' Las Vegas Residency, Teases New Album", "Backstreet Boy A.J. "But I support my kids in whatever they want to do." 1 on Billboard's Holiday Digital Songs chart.[125]. Richardson himself was thrilled to be back with his old bandmates, saying that they have a chemistry and a bond. Millennium became the best-selling album of 1999 in the U.S., selling 9,445,732 copies. In the following year, they released their second international album Backstreet's Back . [12] The three, realizing that they could harmonize together, decided to form a trio. Exactly 25 years ago, the iconic boy band was formed. The Backstreet Boys have been together since 1993 and theyve been a number-one hit-producer since 1997. . Shortly after that, they began touring Asia and Canada. THE Backstreet Boys have sold more than 65 million albums around the world, a number that few pop acts have surpassed. We looked at ourselves as Shai, Jodeci, and Boyz II Men, the true vocal groups. ", The group went on a world tour to promote Unbreakable, starting in Tokyo, Japan, on February 16, 2008. In addition to the book, a series of flash-based webisodes was also published in 2000. Shortly thereafter, Richardson moved to Orlando, where he became a tour guide at Disney World and concentrated on music at night. [28], Their popularity grew in Europe. [119][120], The Backstreet Boys moved into a house together all by themselves in July 2012 as they started working on their new album with producer Martin Terefe in London. [81] It was also certified platinum by IFPI for selling over one million copies in Europe. It reached number 17 on the US Billboard 200 charts and number 1 on the Billboard Holiday charts. : AJ & Nick Talk New Album After Florida Georgia Line Collab", "Backstreet Boys To Perform Las Vegas Residency", "Backstreet Boys Announce 2017 Las Vegas Residency", "Backstreet Boys Announce New Single 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart', "Backstreet Boys Announce Massive 70-Date World Arena Tour: See the Dates", "Backstreet Boys and The Offspring cancel their concerts in Brazil on COVID-19", "Backstreet Boys' Nick Carter on Grammy Museum Exhibit & Renewed Success: 'We're Just Living in the Moment', "The Backstreet Boys Are Releasing Their First-Ever Christmas Album", "Backstreet Boys' 'I Want It That Way' Turns 20: The Story Behind the Hit's Mystery Lyrics", "Backstreet Boys Honored with Iconic Handprint Ceremony at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas", "Backstreet Boys discuss 'DNA' tour, tease Christmas album", "Baylee Littrell and Toad talkin' music, Backstreet Boys, women in Country and more", "Confirmed: Britney Spears Is Dropping A Song With The Backstreet Boys | Hit Network", "Backstreet Boys Are Recording Their First-Ever Christmas Album", "Backstreet Boys back in Las Vegas for a Christmas residency", "Backstreet Boys to Perform Christmas-Themed Las Vegas Residency: 'We Schemed Such a Glorious Show', "Here's What AJ McLean Says Is the Backstreet Boys' Most 'Hated' Song", "Two new dates added to Backstreet Boys South African tour", "The Backstreet Boys Announce Las Vegas Shows Ahead of Their DNA World Tour: 'Vegas Is in Our DNA', "US pop band Backstreet Boys evokes Chinese nostalgia with 44 million tuning in for concert on Tencent's WeChat", "Dave & Jimmy's Celebrity Softball Classic", "Ep. [34] The U.S. self-titled debut peaked at No. 196 | Backstreet Boys | Behind the Music", "Kevin Richardsons Interview by Chet Cooper", "Backstreet Boys Hope New Album Shows 'Evolution', "Backstreet Boys' Unbreakable: An Undeniably Strong Album", "Review: Backstreet's Back 'In a World Like This' And They're 'Alright', "Album of the Week: Backstreet Boys' 'DNA', "Review: Backstreet's Back With Contemporary-Pop Magic on 'DNA', "Sears Launches New Marketing Campaign for the 'Sears Presents Backstreet Boys Into The Millennium Tour', "Zap, pow, click! The early core of the Backstreet Boys was comprised of cousins Kevin Richardson and Brian Littrell, both of whom hailed from Lexington, Kentucky. [165] At their Las Vegas residency, they received keys to the Vegas strip as the mayor declared the 10th Backstreet Boys Day, and during the 20th anniversary of "I Want It That Way",[166] the group participated in a handprint ceremony to commemorate the ending of their two-year residency at Planet Hollywood and were also presented with a check donation to the Boys & Girls Club of Southern Nevada. At the end of December 1994, the group flew to Sweden to record some songs with Max Martin and Denniz PoP, including "We've Got It Goin' On," which ended up being their first single and completed their work in January 1995. It started in high . On November 9, they released the single "Chances" and announced the title of their ninth studio album, DNA, which was released on January 25, 2019. According to no less an authority than the RIAA, Boyz II Men are the most commercially successful R&B group of all time. NKOTBSB Track Listing Revealed! Pearlman got his start in the blimp business in the early 1980s. [168] During an interview, Littrell confirmed that they're going to sign for another Las Vegas residency soon as the DNA tour is over in 2022. They also became the first boy band to top the U.S. album charts in three different decades. Soon Backstreet Boys were one of the biggest pop groups in the world. [76] It also included a previously unreleased song, "Drowning". [11][143] The movie chronicles their entire career journey up to the making of their 2013 album In A World Like This. Backstreet Boys (BSB) sold more than 130 million records worldwide, making them the best-selling boy band in history. [99] Richardson rejoined the rest of the group on stage at the Palladium in Hollywood, Los Angeles on November 23, 2008, for the last North American stop of the tour.[100]. Millennium was released in the summer of 1999 and debuted at number one, with first-week sales topping one million copies. More Top 40 singles followed, including "The Call" and "Shape of My Heart," and Black & Blue followed its predecessor by selling over one million copies during its first week. Here we have five young boys who had no clue just how huge their fame would get when they formed a band called the Backstreet Boys way back in 1993. [150] McLean confirmed the deal, telling Us Magazine that the residency would begin in January 2017. Tragically, Lee was among 92 people killed when the hijacked plane crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. The group alleged that Pearlman still owed them $3,451,456.04, and they asked for $87,728.58 in legal fees for having to fight him in court for years. I think it was the right decision. After auditioning hundreds, Nick Carter, Brian Littrell, Kevin Richardson, AJ McLean, and Howie Dorough were selected and thus became The Backstreet Boys in April of 1992. The Backstreet Boys finally announced that Richardson had rejoined them permanently during a show in London on April 29, 2012. Seventeen-year-old Kevin, 15-year-old Joe, and 12-year-old Nick Jonas signed with Columbia Records in 2005 and they were originally called Sons of Jonas. [199] The comic book, titled Backstreet Project, was released in 2000 and was available for purchase at their concerts and online stores in 20002001. [49][50] Four singles were released from Millennium: "I Want It That Way", which is widely regarded as one of the greatest pop songs of all time, "Larger than Life", "Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely", and "The One". Lee was interested in the concept; however, they ultimately decided to make it into only one issue. Billboard Hot 100 and charted within the top 10 in 13 countries. At one audition, the three discovered that they shared an affection for classic soul and could harmonize well together. The tour included shows in Australia, Japan, Mexico, the UK, Europe, Asia, Canada, and the United States. [153] The song entered the Hot 100 at No. [194] On DNA, they combined their harmony-driven contemporary pop sound with R&B, country, funk, and EDM. [203] The commercial featuring the group started airing on September 19, 2012. 11 Claims", "Backstreet Boys get recordings, posters in final Pearlman payout", "Backstreet Boys -- We Got Our Music Back! [111] At the conclusion of 2011, the tour placed 17th on Billboard's annual "Top 25 Tours", earning over $40 million with 51 shows. [200], In January 2000, the Backstreet Boys signed a deal with Burger King. [187], The Backstreet Boys' musical style has evolved over the years. 20 years after they first topped the Billboard 200, Backstreet is officially back, as the Boys have proven that they've still got it goin' on. As he had announced before on On Air with Ryan Seacrest in October 2011, Richardson hosted a beach party, part of the group's second annual cruise, in the Bahamas on December 3, 2011, where he performed with them. The band hoped to finish the album before the next Backstreet Boys cruise in May 2016. "Quit Playin' Games (With My Heart)" and "As Long as You Love Me" proved to be popular singles, with the former track climbing to platinum status and peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 (their highest charting single). Littrell, Carter, and McLean usually sing the melody in choruses, with Dorough harmonizing above the melody and Richardson covering the bass parts. Their first collection of new material in half a decade, Never Gone continued their musical maturity, centering on a smooth adult contemporary style with singles "Incomplete," "Just Want You to Know," and "I Still" In 2006, after the conclusion of an international tour, Richardson quietly parted ways with the group. In 2012, to the delight of longtime fans, Richardson reunited with the Backstreet Boys -- he had been performing live gigs with them on occasion -- and as the group worked on a new album, they released a holiday single called "It's Christmas Time Again" that November. The album titled Unbreakable was released on October 30, 2007. [13] McLean, who was the first to audition for Pearlman in his living room, became the group's first member. 2 in Japan and was certified Platinum for shipments of 250,000 copies. [102] The group's first independent album, In a World Like This, which is also their first album back with Richardson, is a mixture of modern pop, adult contemporary, and dance music, with a hint of singer-songwriter genre as demonstrated on "Try", "Madeleine", and "Trust Me". I mean, it wasn't just girls, boys, everybody has a . [151] Howie Dorough met Warner Bros. executive producer Leigh Boniello in 2000 and they began dating shortly afterwards. Initially, he paid them $75 a week, according to the band's documentary. [107] In late October 2009, the group embarked on the This Is Us Tour, which lasted over a year and consisted of 123 shows. Finally, the tour concluded on February 2, 2006, in Melbourne, Australia. [62] They began recording the album on July 1, 2000, in Stockholm, Sweden, and wrapped up the recording sessions in September. [30], "Anywhere for You" was released as the last single from their international debut album on February 17, 1997. The Backstreet gang adds superpowered animation", "Backstreet Boys Plan New LP For October; Burger King To Issue Promo CD, Video", "Backstreet Boys Fans 'Have It Their Way' at Burger King(R) Burger King Corporation Launches Unprecedented CD and Video Promotion", "Backstreet's Back And You Can Get Their Jeans! American boyband The Backstreet Boys, circa 1995. Shortly after returning to the Black and Blue Tour, the group faced a severe loss with the occurrence of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. [88][89] Never Gone was certified platinum in the U.S. and four singles were released from the album. For almost 30 years, the Backstreet Boys have been some of pop music's biggest stars. [10] They also released their first documentary movie, titled Backstreet Boys: Show 'Em What You're Made Of in January 2015. [206] The song was also released as a single on iTunes by the company in several countries. Thus, April 20 became their anniversary date. Backstreet Boys is a 1990s boy band consisting of co-vocalists Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, AJ McLean, Keith Richardson, and Brian Littrell. The Backstreet Boys first formed in Orlando, Florida after Dorough and McLean met each other through a mutual vocal coach. Take a look. how old were the backstreet boys when they started. They worked on their debut album for the remainder of 2005 while touring with pop acts including Kelly Clarkson, The Cheetah Girls, and the Backstreet Boys. [31] "Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)", originally released in Europe as their fourth single in October 1996, was released in the U.S. in May 1997 for their upcoming self-titled U.S. debut album, Backstreet Boys (1997). Released throughout Europe in late 1995, the record enjoyed considerable success, spending several weeks in the Top Ten in most Continental countries where it charted. Donn Saylor. When songs from their recording sessions were leaked online, the group took the setback in stride, using their fans' feedback to help steer the remainder of the recording process. The album debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200, making the Backstreet Boys the first act since Sade to have nine US top 10 albums, and the only boy band to do so. It was the first cruise to feature all five members. A total of 44.2 million viewers watched the live broadcast, and 25.5 million cheers were received during the performance, according to Tencent. Then, joining with fellow boy band veterans New Kids on the Block, they embarked on a co-headlining tour under the supergroup moniker NKOTBSB. It received positive reviews and opened at number seven on the Billboard 200, selling 81,000 copies in its first week of release. American boy band who ruled late-'90s teen pop before maturing into the 21st century with adult-oriented pop. The following morning Littrell's wife Leighanne had planned on catching a flight back to Los Angeles aboard American Airlines Flight 11, along with set carpenter Daniel Lee, who was returning home to Los Angeles to see his wife, who was due to give birth to their second child. July 31. However Licata and Edwards left in early 1993 for personal reasons. [58][59] The concert at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, was the 5th most attended concert in American history and the most attended concert by a pop artist. [72] A week earlier, the group began the "Black & Blue Tour", which featured shows in five continents. Richardson permanently rejoined the group in 2012. [48], The album entered the Billboard 200 at No. Ultimately, the band continued and finished the final recordings in 2009 and released them in October. The Backstreet Boys were a dynamic boy band until the early to mid-2000's, when they took a hiatus. The advertising promoted back-to-school sweepstakes, which gave each of the five fans the chance to win a $2,000 Sears shopping spree with their favorite Backstreet Boys member and a trip for four to the group's concert on December 1, 1999, in Tampa, Florida. Despite the Backstreet Boys' popularity in Europe and Canada, "We've Got It Goin' On" stalled in the lower reaches of the U.S. charts in 1995. 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