THE NEW ALBUM - A TRIBUTE. A.J., Brian, Kevin, Nick and Howie in the Backstreet Boys have been through a really hard year with many losses, not least Denniz PoPīs death. -Our whole album is about loosing someone you love, says Kevin
"Denniz Pop was like a second father"
Backstreet Boys are back - after their year of hell
NEW YORK. Backstreet Boys are back.
After a year of hell, when the swedish friend Denniz Pop death was one of many terrible things to happen.
-He was like a second father for us, says Nick Carter.
Outside on the street stands numbers hysterical screaming girls.
Inside the world famous Studio 54 the teenidols the Backstreet Boys meet the worldpress to market their new album Millennium.
Brian Littrell, 24, Kevin Richardson, 27, Nick Carter, 19, Howie Dorough, 25 and Alexander "A.J." McLean, are looking fresh like boys becomming men just before the millennium.
They are on to a Europetour with 42 gigs in 13 countries, the tour starts June 2nd in Belgium and the final is in Scandinavium, Gothenburg (August 5) and in The Globe, Stockholm (August 6 & 7).
The Backstreet has sold to date over 29 million albums.
"We are looking forward to tour again"
-Millennium is the best we have ever done. We are very proud of this album - and we are looking forward to tour again, says Kevin Richardson.
But behind the group is a time that the magazine Rolling Stone is called Backstreet Boys year of hell.
- It sounded a little strong at first. But it is true, we was going through a lot of pain last year. The whole album Millennium is about loosing someone you love, says Kevin.
Howieīs sister died of Lupus. Kevinīs and Brianīs grandparents died. Brian did heartsurgery. And the swedish producer Denniz Pop, 35, lost his struggle against cancer.
- Denniz was a unbelievable person. So charming. I hope that he is up there and following us, says Nick Carter.
"It felt like he was standing next to us"
The groups sorrow and missing was described in the ballad Show Me The Meaning, Popīs last composition.
- If you listen to the song you can hear how much Max Martin is missing his friend. It was a strange feeling to do the recording in Sweden. I felt like Denniz was standing there, right next to us, says Nick.
Kevin Richardson also pay tribute to the song writer Max Martin.
- We love Max. The person chemestry is working perfect. He is developing us. We hope to work with him in many, many years, says Kevin.
All the tragedies have done Backstreet Boys to a stronger group, according to Howie Dorough.
- We have matured. All the examination, with the sorrows and the fights with our manager, have made us to a stronger group. It almost feel like a new start for the Backstreet Boys, says Howie.
Bengt Olsson, Aftonbladet
Translating: Katarina (editor of the Larger Than Life: Backstreet Boys)
