Click here to see a photo of Howie that features in the latest issue of the english magazine BIG!
Christina Aguilera is the opening act for BSB in the US.
Source: Infobeat
VH1 in Orlando this week
(Launch) - VH1 camera crews are in Florida this week, filming a Behind the Music special on the Orlando music scene. The crew is visiting music hot-spots and talking to the locals about the music scene. Trans Continental Records founder Lou Pearlman will be featured in the special, along with some of the bands he founded including the Backstreet Boys, 'N Sync and up-and-coming acts Innosense and Take Five. The show is scheduled to air in November of this year.
Mary J. Blige Comes On Strong, But Backstreet Stays At Number One
In a pop world ruled by the Backstreet Boys, perhaps number two is as good as any artist can hope for.
Mary J. Blige will play runner-up next week when the "Billboard" album chart arrives; she debuts at number two, right behind the Boys. According to sales figures released by SoundScan on Wednesday, Blige sold more than 239,000 copies of her "Mary" album to land in second place.
Blige's album arrives nipping on the heels of the Backstreet Boys, who sold another 242,000 copies of "Millennium" to hold on to number one.
Also making a fine first impression next week will be the latest effort from Mobb Deep, "Murda Muzik," which debuts at number three. The rappers moved 194,000 units of the album in week one to crack the top five.
Other notable debuts include the "In Too Deep" soundtrack at 28, Moody Blues' "Strange Times" at 93, John Mellencamp's "Rough Harvest" at 99, and "Juxtapose" (Tricky's collaboration with DJ Muggs and Grease) at 182.
The week also brings good chart news to Powerman 5000, whose "Tonight The Stars Revolt" gets a bit of a goose from the band's slot on tour with Sevendust as well as its hook-heavy single "When World's Collide." The album jumps from 43 to 34 after seeing its one-week sales bounce from 34,000 to 40,000.
Moby also gets a rise out of his new single, as the release of "Bodyrock" sees his album "Play" leap from 155 to 129 on the chart.
Static-X also returns to the top 200 with "Wisconsin Death Trip," which has been in stores for five months (perhaps a stint on tour with Fear Factory and a new single, "Push It," are breathing new life into the album).
Source: Launch
Backstreet Boys Just Won't Back Down
(8/25/99, 1 p.m. PDT) - No big surprise this week: The Backstreet Boys remain on top of the SoundScan charts, for sales of approximately 242,555 copies. There's plenty of interesting action throughout the rest of the top 10, however.
Mary J. Blige's Mary makes the most impressive debut this week, coming in at No. 2 for sales of approximately 239,186. Also bowing in the top 10 is rapper Mobb Deep, whose Murda Muzik enters at an almost equally impressive No. 3. These two entries subsequently manage to knock former second-placers Limp Bizkit down to No. 4 for the week, and former third slot-holder Britney Spears to No. 5.
Elsewhere in the top 10, the various-artist compilation Now That's What I Call Music Vol. 2 falls one place to No. 6, and Ricky Martin's self-titled English-language debut takes a dive from No. 4 to No. 7. The Runaway Bride soundtrack and Kid Rock's Devil Without A Cause both fall two places, to No. 8 and No. 9, respectively. Santana's Supernatural is the only steady holder in the top 10 besides Backstreet, clinging firmly to the No. 10 spot.
Other notable debuts this week include the In Too Deep soundtrack at No. 28, the Source Music Awards 1999 disc at No. 53, the Moody Blues' Strange Times at No. 93, and John Mellencamp's Rough Harvest at No. 99.
Source: Infobeat; Entertaiment news (through e-mail)
Hall of Fame to include teen artists
(Launch) - Pop music acts that cater to teen-agers will be getting their due respect from a
very unlikely source soon. Performers such as 'N Sync, the Backstreet Boys, 98 Degrees,
Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera will soon be featured in an exhibit at the Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame. Jim Henke, curator for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, said that in addition to
honoring the legends of rock and roll, the Hall of Fame intends to pay tribute to some teen
pop acts of today. "We're trying to show the popularity of teen-age music right now. So
we're getting lunchboxes and stuff that has their images on it and it's actually ended up being a
lot of fun." There are currently no plans for the bands to perform at the hall, but the vast
amount of merchandise they offer fans will be on display. Everything from key-chains and
notebooks to hats and clothing bearing images and logos of the teen idols will be on display.
Backstreet earn award
COLOGNE, Germany (Billboard) - Backstreet Boys were among the winners at this year's Comet awards, one of Germany's most prestigious music awards presented in connection with the Popkomm music fair here. The Comets are awarded by VIVA, Germany's top music channel. In the Friday awards event, The Backstreet Boys snatched the audience appreciation award, indicating that German fans haven't forgotten the clean-cut boy band that got its start here before breaking into the U.S. market.
Source: The Lexington Herald-Leader
Putting his heart into it
Published Tuesday, August 24, 1999, in the Herald-Leader
Lexington native, Backstreet Boy Brian Littrell helps dedicate YMCA Dedicating this one to good health
By Heather Svokos
HERALD-LEADER POP CULTURE WRITER
There probably aren't many occasions in which you'd find a teen idol giving a keynote speech at a YMCA groundbreaking.
But then, there's only one Brian Littrell.
Yesterday, along with U.S. Rep. Ernie Fletcher, hospital personnel and other dignitaries, the world-famous Backstreet Boy/Tates Creek High grad was on hand at the groundbreaking for the new Beaumont Centre Family YMCA.
The new center will be one of several locations that will house the Brian Littrell Healthy Heart Club for Kids, a program coordinated through St. Joseph Hospital.
Littrell, who sat on stage next to his mother, Jackie Littrell, was born with a heart defect; last year he underwent corrective heart surgery.
Through the Healthy Heart Club for Kids, he hopes to teach children and parents about pediatric heart disease.
``It means a lot to me that we could do this,'' Littrell said. ``It's a big achievement to leave the city of Lexington six years ago to pursue a career and to come back and help the community.''
At age 5, Littrell was diagnosed with bacterial endocarditis. The question of surgery was put off, and he lived with the disease without a hitch until last year, when a complication -- enlargement of the heart -- set in. In the midst of a skyrocketing career, he underwent a trying surgery in early 1998.
When he was younger, his parents studied up on heart disease, but they couldn't always find the answers. While Brian yearned to play soccer and basketball, his parents balked, saying doctors warned against too much physical activity.
After some study of his own over the years, Littrell started learning more about what people with heart disease can and can't do.
``It's good for you to be physical,'' he said. ``It's good for you to eat right. It's good for you to take care of yourself, and that's what we're really focusing on. I am a walking example of things to come.''
Littrell's mother said her son was destined to be involved with a project like this.
``When Brian was in serious health at the age of 5, and in the IC (intensive care) unit at St. Joe, doctors were telling us, `This illness has a 100 percent mortality rate -- go make your plans.' ''
Jackie Littrell said she appealed to her higher power.
``I said, `God, if you choose to leave him here, he must have a great work to do.' ''
About 200 people turned out for the ceremony, including several young fans.
A group of elementary-age girls stood in the front row, clutching pinup magazines, quietly but fervently kissing Brian's picture on the pages, and alternately gazing up at the real Littrell, a strawberry blond in a gray suit.
For fan Lauren Bradley, a bit older at 12, a video camera was prop enough.
``(His speech) was really touching, and he's really sweet to think about things like this when he's busy with the tour and everything,'' said Bradley, a Lexington home-schooled student. ``To take time out for work, it's really special.''
Littrell seemed more than happy to do it.
``I've been blessed with many miracles in my lifetime -- a wonderful family, and health and happiness and a wonderful career,'' he said. ``Hopefully we can continue to do things like this that will affect these little ones.''
Even though it's tough for Littrell to get back home as often as he'd like, he plans on dropping in on the children in the Healthy Heart Club when he can.
As for living in such a bright spotlight, he doesn't find it hard to balance the fame with serving as a good example.
``It's just me being myself,'' he shrugged.
Source: The Lexington Herald-Leader
Who knew that a little ol' boy group could make touring giants Garth Brooks and Madonna look like Molly Hatchet on the Holiday Inn circuit?
Get out your record books for this one, Backstreet Boys fans.
According to the group's management, Backstreet Boys sold 765,000 tickets on Saturday, and in the process sold out all 53 dates of the group's Into the Millennium Tour, which runs from Sept. 14 through Dec. 12. (They hit Rupp Arena on Nov. 26.)
So that means the heartbroken in Lexington who missed out on tickets Saturday were not alone in their despair.
Yes, 765,000 people across North America will get to see the group (which includes Kentucky cousins Brian Littrell and Kevin Richardson), but plenty walked away empty-handed.
Ticket brokers, who no doubt scooped up thousands of Backstreet Boys tickets, are said to be asking about $85 for upper-arena tickets for the Cincinnati show; $150 for lower arena; and up to $500 for the first four rows.
Backstreet Boys Near Five Million Sales Mark For
Backstreet Boys will retain the No. 1 spot on next week's Billboard album chart, The Billboard 200, as their Millennium held off the closest competitor, Limp Bizkit's Significant Other, by a healthy 57,000 copies this past week. Total sales for Millennium are now staggeringly close to topping the 5 million mark (4,925,463).
Next week's only top 10 debut belongs to Violator: The Album, which features Q-Tip, L.L. Cool J, Busta Rhymes, and Missy Elliot, among others, at No. 8.
From there, it's a long way for the next debut. Coming in at No. 51 is Rahzel's Make the Music 2000, followed by Coko's Hot Coko at No. 68, Machine Head's Burning Red at No. 88, and Lynyrd Skynyd's Edge of Forever, at No. 96.
-- Kevin Raub
Boys Still 'Larger Than Life' On Billboard 200
Backstreet Boys stay in the No. 1 spot on The Billboard 200 for the second consecutive week, as their Jive album "Millennium" racks up sales of another 250,000 units, according to SoundScan. It's the second major triumph for the Boys in the past seven days, as the group also set records earlier this week by selling out all 53 dates of its North American tour in one day.
Source: UltimateTV
Stars of The WB series "Felecity," Amy Jo Johnson and Scott Foley, along with radio deejay Rick Dees announced the nominees for the first ever "WB Radio Music Awards" Monday afternoon on the WB lot. The WB's first live big event special will be broadcast live from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Oct. 28 at 8 p.m. ET. Here is a list of the nominees:
*Favorite Make-Out Song*
- I DON'T WANT TO MISS A THING - Mark Chesnutt
- HAVE YOU EVER - Brandy
- I'LL NEVER BREAK YOUR HEART - The Backstreet Boys
- I'LL BE - Edwin McCain
- (GOD MUST HAVE SPENT) A LITTLE MORE TIME ON YOU - 'N Sync
*Artist of the Year-Adult Contemporary*
- RICKY MARTIN
- BACKSTREET BOYS
- SMASH MOUTH
- SUGAR RAY
- SARAH MCLACHLAN
- GOO GOO DOLLS
*Song of the Year-Urban*
- DOO WOP (THAT THING) - Lauryn Hill
- NOBODY'S SUPPOSED TO BE HERE - Deborah Cox
- CAN I GET A ... - Jay-Z
- NO SCRUBS - TLC
- THESE ARE THE THINGS - Dru Hill
- HAVE YOU EVER - Brandy
*Song of the Year-Country*
- WIDE OPEN SPACES - Dixie Chicks
- AMAZED - Lonestar
- I DON'T WANT TO MISS A THING - Mark Chesnutt
- STAND BESIDE ME - Jo Dee Messina
- HOW FOREVER FEELS - Kenny Chesney
- PLEASE REMEMBER ME - Tim McGraw
*Song of the Year-Alternative/Modern Rock*
- FLY AWAY - Lenny Kravitz
- TURN THE PAGE - Metallica
- NEVER THERE - Cake
- WHAT IT'S LIKE - Everlast
- ONE - Creed
- EVERY MORNING - Sugar Ray
*Song of the Year-Adult Contemporary*
- LULLABY - Shawn Mullins
- ONE WEEK - Barenaked Ladies
- IRIS - The Goo Goo Dolls
- EVERY MORNING - Sugar Ray
- ANGEL - Sarah McLachlin
- BABY ONE MORE TIME - Britney Spears
*Artist of the Year-Urban*
- 112
- DESTINY'S CHILD
- GENUWINE
- LAURYN HILL
- JAY-Z
- TLC
*Artist of the Year-Country*
- DIXIE CHICKS
- JO DEE MESSINA
- SHANIA TWAIN
- KENNY CHESNEY
- GEORGE STRAIT
- LONESTAR
*Artist of the Year-Alternative/Modern Rock*
- RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS
- BLINK 182
- GODSMACK
- ROB ZOMBIE
- OFFSPRING
- SMASH MOUTH
*Radio Personality of the Year*
- KID KRADDICK - KHKS Dallas
- RICK DEES - KIIS Los Angeles
- KEVIN & BEAN - KROQ Los Angeles
- HOWARD STERN - WXRK New York
- THE DOG HOUSE - KYDL San Francisco
- GERRY HOUSE - WSIX Nashville
- MANCOW - WKXQ Chicago
- MJ KELLI & BJ HARRIS - WFLZ Tampa
*Favorite Driving Song*
- FLY AWAY - Lenny Kravitz
- WILD WILD WEST - Will Smith (Feat. Dru Hill & Kool Mo Dee)
- BECAUSE OF YOU - 98 Degrees
- CAN I GET A ... - Jay-Z
- HOW FOREVER FEELS - Kenny Chesney
*Parents Just Don't Understand*
- KID ROCK
- MARILYN MANSON
- INSANE CLOWN POSSE
- KORN
- ROB ZOMBIE
- LIMP BIZKIT
MTV awards lineup set
NEW YORK (Billboard) - Following up on earlier briefs, Lauryn Hill, Nine Inch Nails, Jay-Z, Kid Rock and DMX will perform during the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards at the Metropolitan Opera House Sept. 9. Previously announced performers include Ricky Martin, Backstreet Boys and TLC. Presenters include Janet Jackson, Freddie Prinze Jr., Sugar Ray's Mark McGrath, Denise Richards and "The Blair Witch Project" cast members.
Click here to see some news on BSB fro, Entertaiment Tonight.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
In an unprecedented show of popularity, popsters Backstreet Boys have sold all 765,000 tickets for their North American tour in just one day, generating an estimated $30 million. Tickets for the 11-week, 39-city arena tour, which kicks off Sept. 14 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., sold out as soon as they went on sale Saturday -- the vast majority within an hour. The boxoffice activity for the Sears Presents Backstreet Boys Into the Millennium Tour, which runs through Dec. 2 and reaches the Forum in the Los Angeles area on Oct. 19-20, is unprecedented in the concert business. "This is kind of exciting. This sale shows this band's career is clearly on the upswing," said Jeff Kwatinetz, co-founder of the Firm, which manages Backstreet Boys. "We are going to have sold-out audiences seeing one of the best shows they will ever see, and that will take this band to the next level."
Backstreet Boys Sell Out 53 Shows In One Day
Tickets for the Backstreet Boys' fall tour, "Into The Millennium," went on sale Saturday, and all 40 shows -- plus an extra 13 that were added due to demand -- sold out the same day. The act moved 600,000 tickets, for a gross of about $27 million.
The tour now begins a day earlier -- Sept. 14 -- with a pair of performances at National Car Rental Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. SFX Entertainment will handle about half the dates, with the rest going to local and regional promoters.
The Boys recently wrapped up a 42-city European outing. Their sophomore Jive disc, "Millennium," is completing its eighth week atop The Billboard 200.
THE BACKSTREET BOYS are back in the studio recording their new "Larger Than Life" video after finishing their huge European tour! Read on for the scoop on their new video and how they deal with success.
Entertainment Tonight: You guys are sitting here -- the largest band in the country. How does it feel? Did you ever think you would get this big?
Kevin Richardson: Nope.
Howie Dorough: It's larger than life.
Kevin: We dreamed about having some success and selling a couple of records but this is pretty much beyond anything we could imagine. We're excited -- it's pretty crazy.
ET: What does the song "Larger Than Life" mean to you guys?
Howie: It's actually a thank-you song to the fans. It's something we want to give back to them. Like you said, us being very fortunate -- we're very successful with the new album and everything -- with our whole career. It's almost like telling them it's because of them. They're larger than life to us because they make us who we are. They give us all this. They give us the opportunity to do what we love and to make a living out of it. It gives us a chance to travel the world and meet so many people and spread happiness to everybody. For that, they're larger than life for us.
ET: You guys mention in the song that sometimes when you're down, your fans bring you up?
Kevin: It's just a reference to performances -- going out on stage, the rush you feel. It's pretty incredible hearing a crowd of 19 to 20 thousand people just going crazy and smiling and dancing -- having a great time. If that can't lift your spirits, I don't now what can. That's basically what that's about.
Backstreet Boys score fast sellout!
The Backstreet Boys have scored the fastest sellout ever for The Palace with their Into The Millennium tour.
Fans scooped up the 20,000 plus tickets for each of the three shows in less than one hour. The shows are scheduled for November 6,7 and 8.
The first show sold out in a record 8 minutes. Breaking Madonna's old record of 10 minutes. The second show only took an additional 18 minutes to sell out.
The Backstreet Boys join a handful of artists who have sold out The Palace for three or more concerts. The other artists are Garth Brooks, Neil Diamond, ZZ Top, Elton John and Michael Jackson.
Backstreet Boys' Littrell pens song for labelmate
(CDNow.com) - Backstreet Boys' Brian Littrell, who co-wrote three songs for the No. 1 album "Millennium," has co-written "How Did I Ever" with producer/songwriter Eric Foster for balladeer Don Philip. At press time, it was undecided whether the track will make it onto the as-yet untitled Philips album, slated for an early 2000 release. For more, visit CD Now
Backstreet Back On Top As Memphis Bleek Makes Big Debut
You can't keep the Boys down for long.
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.
The Boys' "Millennium" will return to the top of the "Billboard" album chart next week after selling another 233,000 copies. While Limp Bizkit is no longer number one, the band's "Significant Other" isn't far behind after selling another 220,000 copies.
Backstreet Boys to talk on MTV
(Launch) - The Backstreet Boys, fresh off the European leg of their "Millenium" tour, will talk to MTV about their U.S. tour on Thursday. The band will chat live with VJ Ananda Lewis and will also take calls from fans. "Backstreet TV: Live in Orlando" airs at 8 p.m. ET.
WINNERS OF THE 1999 TEEN CHOICE AWARDS' ANNOUNCED
Source: INTERNET WIRE http://www.internetwire.com/
The following artists were honored tonight at the BARKER HANGER in Los Angeles at the 1999 TEEN CHOICE AWARDS, which will air Thursday, Aug. 12 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX:
Freddie Prinze, Jr. - Choice Actor - Film
Jennifer Love Hewitt - Choice Actress - Film
Cruel Intentions - Choice Drama - Film
Rachael Leigh Cook and Freddie Prinze, Jr. - Sexiest Love Scene - Film She's All That
Sandra Bullock - Best Hissy Fit - Film Forces of Nature
Sarah Michelle Gellar - Choice Actress - Television Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Dawson's Creek - Choice Drama - Television
Brandy - Choice Female Artist - Music
TLC - Choice Group - Music
98 Degrees - Breakout Artist/Group - Music
"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" - Love Song Of The Year Aerosmith
"Baby One More Time" - Single Of The Year Britney Spears
" N Sync" - Album Of The Year N SYNC
Kobe Bryant - Choice Male Athlete
Tara Lipinski - Choice Female Athlete
Stone Cold Steve Austin - Choice Pro Wrestler
Tyra Banks - Choice Model
Freddie Prinze, Jr. - Male Hottie Of The Year
Jennifer Love Hewitt - Female Hottie Of The Year
"Big Daddy" - Movie Of The Summer
"If You Had My Love" by Jennifer Lopez - Song Of The Summer
The following awards were non-televised:
"All I Have To Give" - Music Video Of The Year Backstreet Boys
James Van Der Beek - Breakout Performance - Film Varsity Blues
There's Something About Mary - Choice Comedy - Film
There's Something About Mary - Most Disgusting Scene - Film
There's Something About Mary - Funniest Scene - Film
Friends - Choice Comedy - Television
Joshua Jackson - Choice Actor - Television Dawson's Creek
Keri Russell - Breakout Performance - Television Felicity
Ricky Martin - Choice Male Artist - Music
"My Name Is..." - Rap Track Of The Year Eminem
City of Angels - Soundtrack Of The Year
Shaun Palmer - Extreme Male Athlete Of The Year
Jennie Waara - Extreme Female Athlete Of The Year
THE 1999 TEEN CHOICE AWARDS will be executive produced by Bob Bain and Mike Burg. Paul Flattery and Michael Levitt are producers. Morris Abraham is the director.
For 55 years Seventeen has been the unparalleled voice for teenagers and young adults on everything from fashion to beauty to relationships and entertainment. With a circulation of more than 2.4 million, and a readership of more than 14 million, Seventeen currently reaches one out of every two teenage girls in America and more than two million teenage guys each month.
BSB had a press conference on Saturday August 7 here in Sweden.
I got some pix from it, but it they are real bad pix, itīs from swedish newspapers, and the main thing was 2 fans who had won, and you can just see BSB in the background, I think that the press wasnīt aloud to take pix on BSB, I donīt think itīs BSBīs fault, I think it was the record lable people.
Well, here is the pix:
Wanna see when a fan won to be on the pressconference in the swedish newspaper Aftonbladet?
Well, just click here. The quiestions is in swedish, so Iīm gonna translate them in order:
1. What makes you cry?
2. Doesnīt it feel strange to be famous?
3. Is it true that is special rooms for girls who passed out during the concerts?
4. Brian isnīt you afraid of hights?
5. How was to work with the swedish producer Max Martin?
6. Does you compete with the other bands that he has produced?
Source: MTV
Backstreet Boys Announce U.S. Tour, Video Plans
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.
Speaking with MTV News' John Norris, the Boys' Brian, Kevin, and A.J. called from the group's tour stop in Helsinki, Finland on Wednesday to announce dates for a tour that runs through early December. The tour will mark the group's first Stateside dates since the release of their chart topping "Millennium" in May. Tickets for all dates on the tour will go on sale on August 14.
The guys also said that they will return to their hometurf of Orlando next week to shoot a video for their next single, "Larger Than Life."
If you want to see the Boys in concert, here's where to look:
