How the Backstreet Boys jumpstarted the boy-band craze

It is not so easy to take the Backstreet Boys for granted. It was, after all, because of them that the "boy-band" craze started. Aside from this, of course, are the million selling albums which they recorded, and the music that continues to reverberate in our ears. And who would forget such tunes as Quit Playing Games (With My Heart), Everybody (Backstreet’s Back), All I Have To Give and I Want It That Way?

As teen idols, Backstreet Boys made music history by selling more than 13 million copies each of their first two US albums, Backstreet Boys (1997) and the No. 1 (in 25 nations) Millennium (1999), Black and Blue followed (2000), moving 8 million copies, and then Hits: Chapter One (2001), another platinum triumph. Along the way, the group logged 12 Top 40 hits, eight of those reaching the Top 10. Today, Backstreet Boys continue with their ride to stardom.

The Backstreet Boys composed of AJ Maclean, Kevin Richardson, Brian Littrell, Howie Dorough and Nick Carter remains the "biggest boyband in history," selling close to 100 million records; a figure in the league of collective sales attributed to such icons as Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Michael Jackson and Madonna.

Backstreet Boys was formed in 1993 by aviation entrepreneur Lou Pearlman (whom I had the privilege of doing a private conversation a couple of years ago) via rigid auditions. However, the success of the Backstreet Boys was far from being "overnight." Before hitting it big worldwide with their breakthrough song, Quit Playing Games With My Heart, the boys played in malls and in high school parties in the hope of attracting attention from major labels.

When they finally did in 1994, still, it was not a bed of roses for the boys. Their very first single, We’ve Got It Goin On stalled in the US charts finding only mild success in some parts of Europe. As a result, their 1995 eponymous debut album was released only for a time in Europe, Canada and Asia. However, only after selling 8.5 million records outside US territory did Backstreet Boys conquer America about the same time Hanson and the Spice Girls were making it big in the US market.

Hits after hits followed after the release of Quit Playing Games with My Heart. Among these were I Want It That Way, All I Have To Give, Everybody (Backstreet’s Back), Shape Of My Heart and Drowning culled from four albums namely 1997’s Backstreet Boys, 1999’s Millennium, 2000’s Black And Blue and 2001’s Hits: Chapter One.

Among the four albums, Millennium was the biggest. The CD went to No. 1 in 25 countries and was honored as the fastest and biggest selling album in the US on top of a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. In Europe, the first single of Millennium dubbed I Want It That Way was credited for finally shattering Elton John’s stranglehold on the chart zenith with Candle In The Wind (Elton’s tribute to the late Princess Diana).

At the height of their popularity, members of Backstreet Boys took a sabbatical to pursue other things. Brian became a dad, Kevin took on Broadway and London’s West End with a starring role in Chicago, Nick put out a solo project, Howie continued his efforts with the Dorough Lupus Foundation (motivated by the loss of his oldest sister Caroline in 1998) and AJ McLean entered a rehab.

Years later, Kevin would explain the reason behind the break-up: "We were almost living in a bubble; had lost perspective on a lot of things. We needed the time to take care of ourselves and rest and be able to reflect."

In May last year, five years after putting out their last studio album, Backstreet Boys returned with Never Gone. A foray into rock music while retaining Backstreet trademark harmonies, the album burned up the charts with the first single Incomplete (later sung by American Idol Anthony Federov in the famed singing contest). The following months saw the release of Just Want You To Know and I Still… as singles. Backstreet Boys collaborate with Billy Man, Switchfoot’s John Fields, Five For Fighting’s John Ondrasik (responsible for hit single, Superman), and long-time producer Max Martin (who has also chalked up hits for Britney Spears and Ace of Base).

On Jan. 20, Backstreet Boys will be in Manila for a one-night engagement at Araneta Coliseum. Never Gone Tour is produced by Viva Concerts and Events tel. nos. 687-1125/687-6181 local 715 and 620. Presentors are OHM, Smart Buddy, Skechers and PLDT. Media partners are The Philippine STAR, Manila Bulletin, ABS-CBN and Myx.

Tickets priced at P5,000 (Patron), P4,000 (Lower Box), P3,000 (Upper Box A), P1,000 (Upper Box B) and P500 (General Admission) are available at SM Ticketnet outlets and at the Araneta Coliseum at 911-5555.