This week, Backstreet Boys, one of the greatest boy bands of all time, are releasing their new album In A World Like This, commemorating 20 years of boy-band magic and glory.
The boys “will survive almost any pop-culture apocalypse,” wrote LA Times’ August Brown. “BSB's album is a grown-up mix of tunes talking about love and commitment,” wrote the AP’s Cristina Jaleru. Yes, they are grown, up, as are their fans, who have been busy making families and raising babies, apparently. "It's not screaming teens anymore," Brian Littrell told MTV News. "It's more soccer moms."
Things have changed, the boys are now men. To show you how they got there, we present this celebrospective of the Backstreet Boys:
Nick Carter
Ok so first things first: nearly all the Backstreet Boys are married. More on that later.
Only Nick “Bowl Cut” Carter remains footloose and fancy free, for now. But don’t get your hopes up, Carter die-hards: he’s engaged to a fitness trainer with abs that are probably shaped like his initials. Nick and Lauren Kitt are planning to marry sometime this year, in classic celebrity fashion – aka on television. Apparently networks want to film their wedding and we’ll probably watch it. To be honest, we’re just glad that the whole Paris Hilton phase is over.
Oh. And he's also written three screenplays, including a horror film in which he'd play a villain. Early career foreshadowing?
AJ McLean
The fact that AJ Maclean is still in the band/alive is a testament to the Brotherhood of the Backstreet Boys.
In 2001, Kevin Richardson (the quiet one with the facial hair) confronted AJ about his drug and alcohol abuse and persuaded him to check into rehab. And again in 2002. And 2011. REGARDLESS, we are happy to hear that AJ is happy and healthy and on tour with the boys.
What was he up to in between rehab stints? Why singing songs of course! AJ went solo with Johnny No Name (more like Johnny No Game – amirite!) which bombed. He also made an It Gets Better Video, got married and had a bebe. If that news is hard to bear, you should probably read this.
Howie 'D' Dorough
In perhaps the biggest twist of the BSB story thus far: Howie Dorough looks to be the most financially successful of the group. Since the band quietly slipped into retirement, he’s started a whole wack of companies including HC Entertainment, 3 Street Management and Sweet D. We’re not sure what any of these companies actually do, but they all sound like boy bands. #nostalgia
But it hasn't all been bland business for Howie D. In 2011 (while AJ returned to rehab) Howie joined Britney Spears on her Femme Fatale tour of South America. That was weird.
Recently, People magazine produced a nice little spread of recent pics of Howie (sporting a much-improved haircut) and his baby. Honestly, at this point it’s more like Backstreet Dads.
Brian Littrell
During BSB’s more restful later years – absent the occasional cruise and tour with New Kids on the Block – Brian Littrell has been busy at work on his family marketing machine.
His son Baylee, 10, is performing on the BBS tour. His wife, a model he met at the As Long as You Love Me music video shoot, runs a clothing business that sells $72 sequined shorts.
Littrell has also has a moderately successful Christian music career, takes a lot of selfies and survived swine flu.
Kevin Richardson
This album marks the comeback of Litrell’s cousin (yes, cousin!), Kevin Richardson – the only BSB member to ditch BSB. Of course, the abandoned foursome was courteous back in 2006 when Richardson’s departure was announced:
Earlier this year, after much soul searching, Kevin Richardson came to us and told us that he had decided to leave the group and pursue other interests. He gave his blessing to continue the music without him.
Those other interests were mainly comprised of acting in Chicago and the vampire themed musical The Bloody Indulgent, the motto of which is: “Some suckers are hard to swallow.”
Of course, during his six-year BSB hiatus, he managed to fit in appearances with his bandmates on The Oprah Winfrey Show and at the band’s concerts and beach parties – he never could stray too far away.
About that new album …
If you're curious about how the music has evolved, here's the first single, In A World Like This. Do you approve? Tell us below.
