Look for the Backstreet Boys to soon regroup in the studio to begin
work on their next Jive album. "I've done a lot of writing in the past
year," group member Howie Dorough tells Billboard. "I've written about 12
songs individually and about 15 songs group-wise. I think we'll get
together again in March, after [group member] Kevin [Richardson] gets done
with 'Chicago' and [group member] Nick [Carter] gets done with his solo
tour. I'm hoping to have the new album out at least by September, [but]
I'd like it to be by the summer."
As previously reported, the group in November filed a massive lawsuit
against Jive parent Zomba, seeking to dissolve its contract. However,
Dorough now says he expects the suit to be settled amicably. "I think
eventually it's all going to work out," he said.
The upcoming set will be the follow-up to 2000's "Black and Blue,"
which debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 and has sold 5.37 million
copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan.
In the meantime, the artist says he is looking to join Richardson by
breaking into acting. "Little by little, I'm auditioning for stuff," he
reveals. "I'm mainly doing the acting classes, trying to get my chops
really brushed up to do it properly. Believe it or not, I'm trying to go
for a bit more of the darker stuff. 'Kingpin' is the kind of type of
role I'd go for, or something on 'The Sopranos' [or] 'NYPD Blue.'"
-- Melinda Newman, L.A.