TWEC chat transcript

May 15, 2000

BBMak has already caused a stir in England and now are hitting the U.S. with their debut album Sooner or Later. This trio of talented musicians write their own music and put on a powerful live show. Mark, Ste, and Christian stopped by to chat with online fans about their success in the UK, their growing popularity Stateside, musical influences and more!

twec.com: twec.com would like to welcome BBMak to tonight's chat, do you want to say anything to your fans online before we start?
BBMak: Thanks for logging on!
Karizma: I heard you got signed by playing outside record labels, that takes a lot of...um guys, could you tell us who's idea that was?
BBMak - Mark Barry: It wasn't my idea. It was all of ours. The only thing to do was to do this ourselves. We just decided to go down to London and rather than waste money, we didn't go through the regular channels.
Amy: What would you guys want to be if you weren't singers?
BBMak - Christian Burns: I would probably do something in sales.
BBMak - Mark Barry: I was going to be a fireman.
BBMak - Ste McNally: I was a security guard before I was involved in music.
Amy: Who were your biggest influences musically?
BBMak - Christian Burns: I'd say I speak for the whole band when I say we've got a wide range of musical influences from the Beatles to Stevie Wonder to the Jackson 5. We love all sorts of music. We don't listen to just one sort of music.
mz molly: Do you write your own songs? If so, do you write for anybody else?
BBMak - Mark Barry: We do write our own songs, and we co-write as well. We have a backlog of songs we will probably use for other bands once we get established.
Karimia: Where are you from, I can't place the accent, although it's very cute!
BBMak - Christian Burns: I'm from Wigan.
BBMak - Mark Barry: I'm from Manchester.
BBMak - Ste McNally: I'm from Liverpool.
BBMaks_Cutie_Pie: What do you think of other boy bands??
BBMak: We like them. Some of them we wouldn't buy. Anyone who is doing what we're doing, working as hard as we are, we respect that whether we like their music or not. We like the Backstreet Boys *NSYNC. We wouldn't go out and buy the albums probably, but we respect them.
bbmakbabe: Do your songs have to do with anything you have experienced in your life so far? For example, "Back Here?"
BBMak - Mark Barry: I think everyone's experienced love and so it's easy write about that. We just make up stories if we need to!
KimNRach: Mark, when did you start playing the bagpipes?
BBMak - Mark Barry: 11 years ago. When I was 10 I started playing. I was successful with them - 4 times the English solo champion. I've been all over the place playing them.
Amy: Do your old friends treat you differently now that you're famous?
BBMak - Mark Barry: You find out who your real friends are, not that we've been on the road and getting a real following. People are thinking you've changed, but it's not you who've changed but your friends. Our real friends are happy for us.
BBMak - Ste McNally: The people who didn't like me, hate me now. You know what, I don't care!
BBMak: They're jealous 'cause they can't sing.
musicstar03: Do you guys have serious girlfriends right now, or are you just dating around, or what?
BBMak: We're all single and we love to mingle!
KimNRach: What is the most romantic thing you guys have ever done for a girl?
BBMak - Christian Burns: I once baked a cake for a girl and it didn't work out proper and I had to go to the shop and buy one. I put salt in the cake instead of sugar.
BBMak - Mark Barry: I cooked a really nice Italian meal for this girl. And appetizer, main course and dessert.
BBMak - Ste McNally: I bought a girl a box of chocolates once several years ago and I put a ring inside.
HansonDude: What do you look for in a girl?
BBMak - Christian Burns: Someone who's funny, a gold credit card (just kidding!), someone who takes it easy and stands up for herself.
BBMak - Mark Barry: I like outgoing girls, nice eyes, and someone who likes to go out and have a good time.
BBMak - Ste McNally: I like anyone who buys our album!
BBMak - Christian Burns: I like blonde hair. I like Britney Spears. We're going on tour with her.
BBMak - Mark Barry: I like all colors!
BBMaks_Cutie_Pie: Do you miss your family a lot while on the road? I know I would.
BBMak - Mark Barry: All the time. We're all really close to our families. We always phone them, every day or every other day.
JBKR: How did you get to be on All My Children?
BBMak: The guy who produces the show got a hold of one of our albums and was a big fan. He got a hold of our record company and asked us to come on and perform.
BBMak: On Wednesday and Thursday, we'll be on.
lilcalico: What's it like going on tour with someone as big as Britney Spears?
BBMak: We don't know because it hasn't started yet. We're really excited. We start the tour on June 20th and we have our own web site. You can get tour information at ____.
bbmakbabe: It's said that you guys are going to be in New York City this Saturday at Coconuts is this true?
BBMak: That's true. It will be in Nyack, NY. All the details are on the web site. We'll be in Times Square at 1 p.m. doing a special.
Dancer432: Do you have any pre-show rituals?
BBMak: We do like a chant before every show.
jenna69_ShepardsBush: when will you come back to the UK?
BBMak: We'll be back in the UK on the 11th of June for a week's holiday. We'll be back after the tour with Britney. We can't plan too far ahead because we have to play it by ear.
KimNRach615: What is the lamest pick-up line you guys have ever used on a girl?
BBMak: Are you tired? Because you've been running through my mind all day.
BBMak: We don't really use them.
BBMak: You know what would look good on my pillow? Your hair.
KimNRach615: Do you guys have any nicknames for each other?
BBMak - Ste McNally: We call Christian, "Crisp."
BBMak: We call Ste "Snack-Attack" cause he's always snacking.
BBMak - Mark Barry: I don't have a nickname.
BBMak_luver: What's your next video you guys are going to make?
BBMak: We don't know. We've got a few to choose from.
BBMak: We honestly don't know.
BBMak: When you buy our album, go to to our web site, and place your vote on which songs you like best.
Karamia: Do you have any problems with your label?
BBMak: Everything's fine. Everyone is looking after us in America.
HansonDude: Do you have any other CDs out besides Sooner or Later?
BBMak: We've got the Japanese version of the album which is slightly different. In the US, no, just the single and the album are out now.
robin: What's the coolest gift you have ever gotten from someone or a fan?
BBMak: In Japan, we got these musical boxes that when opened had chimes. When we opened them, they played "Back Here."
Amy: What kinds of things do you guys like to do when you're not performing?
BBMak - Mark Barry: I like to chill out and watch a movie. Go to the gym. When we get a couple weeks off we like to see friends.
BBMak: We go out for drinks and hang out.
BBMak: It's nice just to chill out.
BBMak: When we go home though, we won't see each other for a week. We'll spend quality time with our family. When we are away, we hang out together.
BBMak: When we signed our record deal, we went to Cypress together.
BBMaks_Cutie_Pie: Do you guys ever go to fan pages?
BBMak: Sometimes, when we've got free time. It's hard to find time, but it's interesting to see what the fans have to say. We go on and post a message sometimes. People never believe it's us, but we do post messages.
Jeanie130: What are all your zodiac signs? Mark, I'm a Scorpio just like you! I love you
BBMak - Christian Burns: I'm a Capricorn, Ste is a Cancer, and Mark is a Scorpio.
HansonDude: Do any of you have pets? If so, what kinds?
BBMak - Christian Burns: I have a couple of birds. A couple of dogs too, Jik and Chleo and Cleo.
KimNRach615: What is the best piece of advice you have ever gotten?
BBMak - Mark Barry: If you've got a dream in your life, just go for it and you'll get it.
BBMak - Christian Burns: A winner never quits and a quitter never wins.
BBMak - Ste McNally: My dad always says to be yourself.
ARTICUNONUM144AOLC: Which one of you guys is the messiest and which one is the cleanest?
BBMak - Mark Barry: Christian is the messiest and Ste is the cleanest.
Karizma: How tall are you guys?
BBMak Christian Burns: 5'10"
BBMak - Mark Barry: 5'9"
BBMak - Ste McNally: 5'9"
Amy: Which is your favorite song to perform?
BBMak - Ste McNally: My favorite song is "Unpredictable."
BBMak - Christian Burns: "Back Here."
BBMak - Mark Barry: "Unpredictable."
Summer: Who do you want to tour with?
BBMak: There are a few people, Stevie Wonder...that's a tough one. Someone who has loads of funds so we can pinch him! *laughs*
KimNRach615: What do you guys think about the US? Is it a lot different than the UK?
BBMak - Mark Barry: It's different. There's a lot more radio. It's bigger, and fun to see all these states.
musicstar03: Did you guys go to college, or do you plan on going?
BBMak - Christian Burns: Not for me. I left school when I was 16. It was my decision, I'm not saying it was right or wrong. BBMaks_Cutie_Pie: Would you guys ever get earrings or body piercings?
BBMak - Christian Burns: I used to have a belly-button ring but I took it out.
musicstar03: Do you have an official fan club?
BBMak: If you go to ____, you will find all the details for the fan club. All information should be there. If it's not there, it's not ready yet.
Jeanie130: Why don't you ask us some questions? I love you Mark!
BBMak: Where did most of you hear of us?
BBMak:We want to say hello to everyone in Asia! We miss you!
lilcalico: What song on the album are you most proud of?
BBMak - Christian Burns: I think out of them all, "Back Here" is the one we're most proud of.
BBMak - Mark Barry: I'm proud of them all. They are all little babies.
BBMak - Ste McNally: They're all great.
twec.com: twec.comwould like to thank BBMak for joining us tonight, is there anything you'd like to say to your fans online before you go?
BBMak: Thank you from BBMak. Thanks for taking time to chat with us and we hope to see you around.
BBMak: We really appreciate all the support and don't forget to watch All My Children on Wednesday and Thursday!