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Updated: 08-24-01:
The Boys have just finished taping a video for a new song called Drowning. It should hit the airwaves on or around September 17. There are currently no plans to release it as a single but it is slated to appear on their Greatest Hits compilation, due October 23.
Your vote counts! Please remember to vote for The Call in the Viewer's Choice category of MTV's 2001 VMAs. The Boys have also been added to the list of presenters who will be handing out Moonmen. They'll be the first presenters of the night so they'll have plenty of time to make it to their show in East Rutherford, NJ. The show broadcasts live from New York's Metropolitan Opera House on September 6 at 8 p.m. ET on MTV.
Updated: 08-25-01:
Backstreet's Back: Tour Resumes With A.J. And Lots Of Love
Date: August 25, 2001
Source: MTV
Submitted by: Gina Cates
MILWAUKEE Boys, even Backstreet Boys, will be boys.
At the band's first show since A.J. McLean left a rehabilitation center where he was treated for alcoholism, depression and anxiety, more than 14,000 fans at the Bradley Center welcomed the group back Friday with screams and shouts of "We love you, A.J." The Backstreeters themselves, however, welcomed A.J. back with Silly String, dousing the mustachioed singer with the sticky stuff, along with hugs, as they wrapped up their first show in almost two months
While that might have been the group's playful way of saying, "Welcome back, bro," the Boys did take time out to thank their fans for waiting for the group's Black & Blue tour to resume as McLean sought help. After the opening salvo of "Everyone," "Larger Than Life" and "Not For Me," Brian Littrell spoke for the whole group, saying, "As you guys know, we took a little break. If it wasn't for you guys, we wouldn't be here tonight. But the Backstreet Boys aren't the Backstreet Boys without all five of us."
After Littrell got the mostly female, mostly teenaged crowd to cheer for each of the group's three albums, he turned the stage over to McLean. Wearing a white suit and hat similar to what he donned for last year's solo tour as his alter ego Johnny No Name, McLean told the crowd he was trying not to cry as he thanked them for their support.
"I just wanted to say I wish I could go out and hug each and every one of you," the choked-up McLean said. "Thank you for letting me go through what I needed to go through to get myself better. I'm celebrating 51 days sober today.
"One day at a time," he added, drawing on a well-known motto of 12-step addiction recovery programs.
The audience didn't need Nick Carter's exhortation to "scream as loud as we can for A.J." McLean consistently got the biggest cheers of any of the Boys throughout the 110-minute show. Looking trim and sharp with a fresh buzz cut, McLean took every opportunity to give love back to the crowd, kissing a video camera during "Don't Want You Back," hitting his solo with extra-soulful flourishes during "I Want It That Way" and hamming it up at any opportunity.
All five Boys conveyed a sense of excitement and relief throughout the show, exchanging knowing glances and smiles and hugging each other often. While the concert relied as much on spectacle as on music with pyrotechnics and pre-taped skits occasionally slowing down the pace the Backstreet Boys' camaraderie and love for their fans came through loud and clear.
The group's rendition of "Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely," delivered from a smaller, circular stage at the back of the arena, was almost somber, even as each of the Boys waved and smiled at the crowd, all the while accepting stuffed animals and other offerings from adoring fans. Crossing a bridge over the audience back to the main stage as they sang "Time" from Black & Blue, each Boy took time to reach over and grab a hand or two.
The audience's unconditional love for the group, and particularly A.J., came through loud and clear every time one of them took a close-up on the video screen. And while some audience members admitted that the group's disclosure of McLean's substance abuse problems might have let a little bit of the air out of the Boys' balloon, most said that the group's forthrightness more than made up for it.
"It's cool that they would be honest with their fans and not lie about it," said 14-year-old Kristen Robbins of Madison, Wisconsin, referring to McLean's difficulties. "But they used to say, 'We don't drink, we don't smoke because it ruins the vocal cords.' They lied in one sense, but told the truth in another."
Nine-year-old Nicholas Benson of Milwaukee, wearing a fresh BSB T-shirt, was more forgiving. "A.J. was sick, and I'm just glad he got better," he said.
And in the end, A.J., with Silly String hanging off his head, just smiled. Backstreet's back, all right.
Eric Schumacher-Rasmussen
Updated: 08-28-01:
Backstreet Boys Prep Hits LP, Shoot Video For New Track
Date: August 28, 2001
Source: MTV
Submitted by: Karen
With A.J. McLean back in the fold, the Backstreet Boys are preparing to release a compilation of their greatest hits but don't even think about calling it that.
"We were thinking about it," Nick Carter said this weekend during the group's tour-resuming show in Milwaukee. "We're not gonna be calling it 'greatest hits,' because we think it's like, once you put out the greatest hits, everybody's like, 'That's it, they're gone.' "
Instead, the collection, due October 23, may be titled something like Chapter One, according to fellow BSB member Kevin Richardson.
"We're gonna put out something that means the end of a chapter in our lives and the beginning of another," Richardson said.
The hits collection BSB's first release since last November's Black & Blue will also include "Drowning," a previously unheard track from the sessions for that album.
Carter and Richardson described the song's sound as a mix of "Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely" and "I Want It That Way," with a bit of country group Lonestar's "Amazed" thrown in.
"We wanted to put [the song] on the album, but we never got to it," Carter said.
The group has already shot the song's video, which finds the group performing in front of aquatic-themed backdrops: waterfalls, fountains and rivers.
Backstreet Boys' next tour stop will be Monday night (August 27) in Kansas City, Missouri. Their tour delayed while McLean was treated for alcoholism, anxiety and depression is slated to end October 20, three days before the hits collection's release.
The group is scheduled to present at the MTV Video Music Awards, which will be broadcast live from New York's Metropolitan Opera House on September 6.
Updated: 08-29-01:
Greatest Hits, Chapter 1 - Track Listing
Date: August 29, 2001
Source: The Official Site
Submitted by: LeLe
BACKSTREET BOYS fans can look forward to the October 23 worldwide release of the group's first-ever collection of hits package, CHAPTER 1 (see attached track listing by country) and an accompanying home VHS video and DVD. The group--NICK CARTER, HOWIE DOROUGH, BRIAN LITTRELL, AJ McLEAN and KEVIN RICHARDSON--shot a video in Los Angeles last week with director Paul Boyd (Sting, Shania Twain) for the album's single, "Drowning," which features KEVIN on piano and will be released September 17. Following their U.S. tour, look for BACKSTREET BOYS to support the new single and album with television appearances across the globe.
BACKSTREET BOYS GREATEST HITS ALBUM
U.S. & Canada
Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)
Everybody (Backstreet's Back)
I Want It That Way
As Long As You Love Me
All I Have To Give
I'll Never Break Your Heart
Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely
Larger Than Life
Shape Of My Heart
More Than That
The Call
*The One
**We've Got It Goin' On
**Get Down
New Track: Drowning
*Not on Canada CD
**Canada CD only
UK & SOUTH EAST ASIA
We've Got It Goin' On
Anywhere For You
Get Down (You're The One For Me)
I'll Never Break Your Heart
Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)
Everybody (Backstreet's Back)
As Long As You Love Me
All I Have To Give
Larger Than Life
I Want It That Way
Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely
The One
The Call
Shape Of My Heart
More Than That
New Track: Drowning
AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND/JAPAN
Anywhere For You
Get Down (You're The One For Me)
I'll Never Break Your Heart
Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)
Everybody (Backstreet's Back)
As Long As You Love Me
All I Have To Give
Larger Than Life
I Want It That Way
Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely
sThe One
The Call
Shape Of My Heart
More Than That
New Track: Drowning
Bonus Track: The Perfect Fan
EUROPE (excluding Spain)
We've Got It Goin' On
Anywhere For You
Get Down (You're The One For Me)
I'll Never Break Your Heart
Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)
Everybody (Backstreet's Back)
As Long As You Love Me
All I Have To Give
Larger Than Life
I Want It That Way
Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely
The Call
Shape Of My Heart
More Than That
New Track: Drowning
SPAIN
We've Got It Goin' On
Anywhere For You
Get Down (You're The One For Me)
I'll Never Break Your Heart
Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)
Everybody (Backstreet's Back)
As Long As You Love Me
All I Have To Give
Larger Than Life
I Want It That Way
Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely
The Call
Shape Of My Heart
More Than That
New Track: Drowning
Bonus Track: Nunca Te Hare Llorar (Spanish version Of "I'll Never Break Your Heart")
SOUTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA (excluding Brazil)
We've Got It Goin' On
Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)
Everybody (Backstreet's Back)
As Long As You Love Me
All I Have To Give
Larger Than Life
I Want It That Way
Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely
The Call
Shape Of My Heart
More Than That
The One
New Track: Drowning
Bonus Track: Nunca Te Hare Llorar (Spanish version Of "I'll Never Break Your Heart")
Bonus Track: Donde Quieras, Yo Ire (Spanish version Of "Anywhere For You")
BRAZIL
We've Got It Goin' On
Anywhere For You
I'll Never Break Your Heart
Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)
Everybody (Backstreet's Back)
As Long As You Love Me
All I Have To Give
Larger Than Life
I Want It That Way
Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely
The Call
Shape Of My Heart
More Than That
The One
New Track: Drowning
SOUTH AFRICA & OTHER TERRITORIES
We've Got It Goin' On
Get Down (You're The One For Me)
I'll Never Break Your Heart
Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)
Everybody (Backstreet's Back)
As Long As You Love Me
All I Have To Give
Larger Than Life
I Want It That Way
Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely
The Call
Shape Of My Heart
More Than That
The One
New Track: Drowning
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Backstreet Boys' tour itinerary, according to the group's publicity firm:
8/24 - Milwaukee, WI @ Bradley Center
8/25 - Cincinnati, OH @ Firstar Center
8/26 - Maryland Heights, MO @ Riverport Amphitheatre
8/27 - Kansas City, MO @ Kemper Arena
8/29 - Houston, TX @ Compaq Center
8/30 - San Antonio, TX @ Alamodome
8/31 - Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Arena
9/4 - Uniondale, NY @ Nassau Coliseum
9/6 - East Rutherford, NJ @ Continental Airlines Arena
9/7 - East Rutherford, NJ @ Continental Airlines Arena
9/8 - Boston, MA @ FleetCenter
9/9 - Boston, MA @ FleetCenter
9/10 - Boston, MA @ FleetCenter
9/12 - Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
9/13 - Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
9/14 - Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
9/15 - Ottawa, ON @ Corel Centre
9/17 - Montreal, QC @ Molson Centre
9/18 - Buffalo, NY @ HSBC Arena
9/19 - Cleveland, OH @ Gund Arena
9/20 - Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills
9/22 - Tinley Park, IL @ Tweeter Center
9/23 - Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center
9/26 - Calgary, AB @ Pengrowth Saddledome
9/27 - Calgary, AB @ Pengrowth Saddledome
9/28 - Edmonton, AB @ Skyreach Centre
10/1 - Vancouver, BC @ General Motors Place
10/2 - Portland, OR @ Rose Garden Arena
10/4 - Nampa, ID @ The Idaho Center
10/5 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Delta Center
10/7 - Albuquerque, NM @ Journal Pavilion
10/10 - Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
10/12 - Phoenix, AZ @ Cricket Pavilion
10/13 - Devore, CA @ G.H. Blockbuster Pavilion
10/15 - San Jose, CA @ Compaq Center at San Jose
10/17 - Bakersfield, CA @ Centennial Garden
10/19 - Las Vegas, NV @ MGM Grand Garden
10/20 - Chula Vista, CA @ Coors Amphitheater
Updated: 09-06-01:
All-Star Lineup To Record Marvin Gaye Classic
Date: September 6, 2001
Source: MTV
Submitted by: MillenniumMN23@aol.com
Britney, 'NSYNC, All-Star Lineup To Record Marvin Gaye Classic
'NSYNC, Britney Spears, Destiny's Child, Alicia Keys and Ja Rule are among the artists who are lending their voices this week to an all-star remake of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" to benefit AIDS research.
U2 frontman Bono and hip-hop/R&B producer Jermaine Dupri are organizing what Dupri has called a "We Are the World"-like project. Backstreet Boys, Wyclef Jean, Christina Aguilera, No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani and the Roots' ?uestlove are also participating in the recording, according to organizers.
Jennifer Lopez, Radiohead, Jagged Edge and Usher may also contribute, Dupri told MTV News last week.
Hundreds of artists are in New York this week for the MTV Video Music Awards on Thursday (September 6) and the Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration, The Solo Years tribute shows on Friday and Monday.
Dupri said that Bono asked him to lead the project, dubbed Artists Against AIDS Worldwide. Proceeds from sales of the single, which will be released as soon as possible, will go toward AIDS research in Africa.
"He basically reached out to me to be the producer for the project," Dupri said. "He'd been calling me from London. I guess he's really lived with it. He's been [making] some suggestions of what we could do at the end of the record to make it bigger."
Unlike "We Are the World," the recording of the song will not be handled in one huge session. Dupri is running several sessions at Battery Studios in New York with performers stopping in beginning Wednesday (September 5) and going through the end of the weekend.
A video will also be filmed for the song, organizers said, though the details are still being finalized.
Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones organized USA for Africa's "We Are the World," which was recorded the night of the Grammy Awards in 1985 and featured Bruce Springsteen, Sting and others. It won the Song of the Year Grammy the following year.
Corey Moss, with additional reporting by David Basham and Erika Clarke
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Updated: 09-13-01:
According to Much Music, Leighanne was slated to be on flight 11 to Los Angeles on Tuesday but cancelled.
In an interview with Much on Wednesday, Kevin, in an unusually candid and somber mood wondered if Americans had become too arrogant a people in the eyes of the rest of the world and if the government had done something behind the scenes to provoke this tragic situation.
According to Nick, most of the Boys were glued to the TV on Tuesday and could hardly believe their eyes. Howie was worried that a war of some sort may be the result of this incredible tragedy.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of the families affected by the terrible events in New York and Washington on Tuesday. We would also like to express our condolences to the family of BSB crew member, Daniel Lee. He was aboard one of the planes that was hijacked. He was returning home to see his wife who was expecting a baby soon.
Updated: 09-14-01: Muchmusic has announced that they are cancelling the 2001 MuchMusic Video Awards in light of the tragic event that happened to our nation on Tuesday.
Updated:09-17-01:
A message from Kevin Richardson
Date: September 17, 2001
Source: Just Within Reach Foundation
Submitted by: Linda
*** The following statement from Kevin Richardson was dictated to his environmental publicist Vicki Hanna on Sunday, September 16, 2001.***
I'd like to thank you all for your love and support you've shown our crew and fellow Americans who have suffered a devastating tragedy the last few days. I hope you know that our thoughts and prayers are also with your families and we hope you are safe and well.
I want to just take a minute to clarify my views that I shared in a recent interview on Much Music. It's been brought to my attention that my comments have been misunderstood and I just want to make sure that you all realize where I'm coming from. I thought putting it in my own words would be best.
When I said that I think our nation is a bit arrogant, what I meant is that as a world Super Power, I think we've become overconfident and taken our opportunities and freedom for granted. I feel like we've taken on the attitude that we, as a country, are untouchable. How did we get that way?
I wholeheartedly appreciate the freedom and opportunity we have in the United States. But I think this is a wake up call for us all to take notice that these freedoms are not a given. How many of us have watched the news coverage of terrorism going on in other countries and said, "Oh, how sad," and then just turned the channel? Have we mourned their losses the way they're mourning with us now? I don't know.
I also commented on how war is good for the economy. History shows us time and time again that wars do boost economics. But my comment was sarcastic. It bothers me that something as destructive and terrible as war can help build our prosperity.
I don't apologize for my comments, but I am sorry my thoughts were incomplete. I didn't intend for them to come across as insensitive. I know how far-reaching this event is. Almost all of us know someone who was directly affected by this disaster. And nobody - nobody - will walk away from this experience unchanged.
Regarding the attacks on my patriotism, I believe there are so many other more important things to think about right now, that I don't even want to respond to it. But out of respect for you, I will respond to it just so you're clear about how I feel. It frustrates me that people think that I hate our government. I don't hate anything, I just have strong beliefs for a number of issues and policies and I believe it's important that we always ask questions about the policies that affect us. My dad was a serviceman in the U.S. Army and I myself was enlisted in the Air Force before joining the Backstreet Boys. And so it hurts me that people would think I would betray the American values that were taught to me by my father. I know that we need to defend our freedom and way of life. But I also know that nobody ever really wants war.
Thank you for hearing me out. I hope we can all continue to support one another and be strong for each other. I hope that all our families and friends and neighbors will remain safe and free.
And I pray that God walks with our leaders and our allies so they make the right decisions for our safety, our future -- for our world.
In Peace,
Kevin Richardson
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