Mark Hardie, a 28-year-old African-American lawyer who is campaigning for the mayoral position as a self-described "progressive" candidate, began using "One," a song off the Backstreet Boys' new album, "Millennium," at political rallies last month.

But after several discussions with the group's licensing director, Hardie and the Backstreet Boys' reps have amicably decided that the song should be kept out of a political forum at the group's request.

In talking with MTV News, Hardie said he wasn't upset with the band's decision and actually credits the group with helping infuse increased teen awareness in his campaign and message (even though a large number of Backstreet fans don't meet the minimum voting age required by law). "I'm definitely a supporter of the Backstreet Boys," Hardie said, "and I'm still definitely a fan."

Representatives for the Backstreet Boys stated that the group had no official comment on the matter. Hardie says that his primary goal in the campaign was to get more youths involved in the political process, and his platform includes such ideas as creating a Department of Women's Rights for San Francisco and funding new programs to combat youth violence in the city.

Countries where 'I Want It That Way' made all to #1: U.K., Belgium, Italy, Spain, Holland, Canada, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Singapore, Malaysia, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Croatia, Germany, Pan Europe.

7/19 

Offspring Assault Backstreet Boys? Offspring's Noodles Backstreet Boys watch out: the Offspring are out to get you. At an Offspring concert this past Sunday in Berkeley, California, vocalist Bryan "Dexter" Holland bludgeoned the band members (or, rather, life-sized inflatable representations of A.J., Brian, Howie, Kevin, and Nick) with a bright orange whiffle bat as a crowd of frenzied fans cheered him on.

When he was through with his dirty work, the band celebrated by launching into "Cool to Hate" from the 1997 album Ixnay on the Hombre. These and other between-song antics made the afternoon show at the Greek Theatre a visual as well as auditory spectacle.

Highlights included Holland's dousing the mosh pit with a fully charged firehose, an almost entirely naked man running loose on stage, and an unusual intermission during which Holland, guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, and bass player Greg Kriesel sat in inflatable chairs. Claiming to be "tuckered out," as Holland said, they sat back and relaxed while a backup singer served drinks to sweaty fans in the front row. Once properly rested, the band roared back with "Come Out and Play." Offspring's Dexter Musically, the Offspring offered about an hour and a half of energetic pop-punk, including "Self Esteem" and "Gotta Get Away" from Smash, "Gone Away" and "All I Want" from Ixnay on the Hombre, and several songs from their latest album, Americana.

Near the end of the show, Holland took a moment to be honest with the audience. "We're going to go away and pretend we're done," he said frankly, "but then in a few minutes we'll come back out and play a couple more songs." They did as he said they would, returning with two encores: "Why Don't You Get a Job?" and "Feelings." You can catch the Offspring next when they hit Fresno, California tomorrow night.

7/21 

The new Single will be Larger Than Life. The Boys are talking to different video directors now, trying to formulate the concept of the video. The video will be shot at the end of August. No release date for the Single has been set.

7/22 

Backstreet Boys Bump Limp Bizkit From Top Of Chart Backstreet Boys Limp Bizkit's reign of terror atop the "Billboard" album chart is over... for now. After three weeks at number one, the band's "Significant Other" drops to number two next week as the Backstreet Boys reclaim the top spot, according to sales figures released by SoundScan on Wednesday.

The B-Boys moved another 271,000 copies of their "Millennium" last week, as opposed to 238,000 for Limp Bizkit. With the sales goose, the B-Boys are closing in on sales of 4 million for the album, which has moved more than 3,974,000 copies in nine weeks in stores. While Limp and the Boys of Backstreet duked it out in the rarified air of chart land, the greatest threat either of them saw in the form of a new arrival came from Too Short.

The rapper's "Can't Stay Away" (which features input from Puff Daddy, Eightball & MJG, Scarface, Daz, E-40, and producer Erick Sermon) debuts at number five on the chart next week after selling more than 144,000 copies. Other notable debuts include "The Wood" soundtrack at 16, Lil' Cease's "Wonderful World Of Cease A Leo" at 26, Gang Starr's "Full Clip" retrospective at 33, Chris Rock's "Bigger & Blacker" at 48, Mr. Bungle's "California" at 144, the Elvis Presley box set "Artist of the Century" at 163, the soundtrack to "Eyes Wide Shut" at 174, and the "Black Gangster" compilation featuring Jay-Z, DMX, Ja Rule, and others at 176.

7/27

 Backstreet Boys Go Back To School With Sears Backstreet Boys A.J. in Toughskins? The Backstreet Boys recently shot a television commercial for Sears based on the 1964 Beatles' film classic, "A Hard Day's Night." The small-screen pitch for the department store sees the quintet pursued by a mob of teenage fans (a stretch, to be sure), ducking into restaurants and double-decker buses for reprieve.

The adverts will run in August and promote Sears' back-to-school sweepstakes in which fans will have the chance to win a $2000 shopping spree with their favorite B-Boy and a trip for four to the BSBs' December 1 tour closer in Tampa, Florida. The spot was helmed by director Nigel Dick, the auteur behind Britney Spears' "Sometimes" and "Baby One More Time" videos. The Boys are currently on tour in Europe and are set to launch the U.S. leg in mid-September.

7/29 

Korn, Ricky Martin, Will Smith, TLC Lead 1999 Video Music Award Nominees; Martin, Backstreet Boys, TLC To Perform. Backstreetboys got nominated for 4 categories in the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards. They will also be permforming. The 4 categories that Backstreet Boys are nominated for are the following:

1. Video of the year for I Want It That Way
2. Viewers choice for I Want It That Way
3. Best Group video for I Want It That Way
4. Best pop video for I Want It That Way

8/4 

The Backstreet Boys called in to MTV's "Total Request Live" on Wednesday to announce the details of a U.S. tour that kicks off on September 15 in Ft. Lauderdale.

8/11 

After Limp Bizkit rode a post-Woodstock wave to the top of the album chart this week, the Backstreet Boys will reclaim the top spot next week according to sales figured released by SoundScan on Wednesday.

8/14

 Tickets for the Millennium Tour went on sale

8/18 

The Backstreet Boys remain on top, with Limp Bizkit riding shotgun yet again. The Boys sold just under 250,000 copies of their "Millennium" to stay at number one.