It seems like the Backstreet Boys have the perfect lives-jetting off to Europe for a concert, hopscotching across the United States for radio staion appearances and getting mobbed by loving fans like you everywhere they go. Their globe-trotting lifestyle definitly has its perks, and A.J. McLean, Nick Carter, Brian Littrell, Howie Dorough, and Kevin Richardson will gladly admit it! "The best part of the job is touring and traveling the world," A.J. tells BOP enthusiastically. However no matter how exotic the destination, after a while all of the airplane food, time changes and traveling stress catch up to these babes, leaving them too pooped to party. "That's the thing," 19-year-old A.J. groans. "There is so much work invloved with the press and photo shoots and all these things that happen.But there is still a lot of fun invloved with it."

SHUTEYE ON THE RED-EYE

Spending most of their time on airplanes is what really drags these songbirds down. After all, being cooped up in a jet for 10 hours or longer can be a major drag. "What I do is, when I'm flying across the Atlantic, I stay up the night before," 25-year-old Kevin confesses. "Say we're going to leave at noon or 11 o'clock or maybe 8 o'clock in the morning. I'll stay up the whol night before, so as soon as I get on the plane, i'm out. I sleep the entire way." Kevin who prides himself on watching what he eats and taking care of himself, also uses a natural supplement to regulate his internal clock instead of taking sleeping pills. "I take meatonin," the green-eyed hunk explains. "It helps you sleep, so when you wake up you don't feel groggy." Seventeen-year-old Nick takes Kevin's lead, admitting ot BOP: "I don't sleep the night before, too." Howie is also on the no-sleep-and-melatonin bandwagon. "That way I sleep the whole flight and then my body is back on my regular time clock when I get back," the 24-year-old babe explains. As for A.J.,well, he has a slightly different trick for conking out in flight. "I take Dramamine," the 19-year-old sweetie says. "That stuff helps me to sleep." The guys definitly have their jet lag cures down to a science, and it seems to be working. "We don't get much jet-lag anymore because we fly so much," A.J. laughs. And as for lucky Brian, it was never much of a problem in the first place! "I don't have a lot of tricks," the 22-year-old admits. "Just the atmosphere of the plane makes me sleepy anyway. It doesn't matter if I stay up or go to sleep the night before. I just try to deal with it."

EATS-NOT ALWAYS TREATS

Once the guys get to their destination, there's another hurdle to tackle when their stomachs start to rumble: FOOD!! While the guys find the same kind of eats all ofer America, when they amble out of the continent, they're usually in for a surprise. "What you realize when you go to Europe is, besides McDonald's, they don't have some of the things that we have to eat," Nick explains. But A.J. for one, is mighty glad that McDonald's can be found almost anywhere the band goes. "A.J. eats a lot of McDonald's," Howie sighs. "He's just not as experimental, although every once once in a while he'll try something new." As for Howie, he'll try almost anything-once. "It's not so much of a culture shock for me, because in America, I had already tried different stuff, like Oriental food," the curly-haired cutie says. "And I've tried sausages and sauerkraut, so when I go over to Gernmany, it's not such a big thing."

HOMESICK HEARTS

But even if they're well-rested and well-fed,that can't stop the gnawing feeling in the Backstreet Boys' hearts. Being far from family and friends can be a real bummer.But oldest member Kevin has found a way to feel at least a little more at home, if not to get rid of his yearning for his mom's yummy Kentucky cooking or his bedroom back in Orlando. "I just make time to plan fun things to do, like go to a movie, go bowling, or go out to a club," Kevin comments. He also makes sure he drags along the rest of the guys to get them out of their homesickness funk as well. "We try to make more time for ourselves because you need it," he explains. "It helps you feel more normal" The boys definitly have their busy lives under control,except for one little thing.Turns out as many fans as they have, the Backstreet Boys haven't figured out how to keep a girlfriend in the picture. "Being away and not being able to call, and her phone bill being enormous and mine too, it just doesn't work," A.J. groans. "And then you try to date people overseas, but eventually you leave them and go back home. It's almost impossible unless you have somebody with you 24-7." Sounds like going solo, inducing in-flight snoozing and eating not-so-cool gruel is the price these dedicated guys pay to bring their music to you. It kind of makes you love them even more, doesn't it??? BACK