Group Name:Backstreet Boys.
Origin
Orlando, Florida, United States
Genre(s):
No Wave.
Black Metal.
Death Metal.
Hardcore Punk.
Gangsta Rap.
Horrorcore.
Shock rock.
Scum punk.
Industrial.
Noise rock.
Years active:
1992–present.
Label(s)
Sony BMG, Jive
Website
http://www.backstreetboys.com/
Members:
Brian Littrell
A.J. McLean
Nick Carter
Howie Dorough
Former members
Sam Licata
Charles Edwards
Kevin Richardson
History:
Lou Pearlman, an aviation entrepreneur based in Florida, was inspired by the success of the New Kids On The Block in the 1980s to create his own clean-cut band. After a series of auditions in 1992 and 1993, he recruited Nick Carter (at 12, the band's youngest member), Howie Dorough, 19, Alexander James McLean, 14 and following the departure of two members - Sam Licata (later performing as Phoenix Stone) and Charles Edwards - Kevin Richardson came aboard in March 1993, who was 21. The group took its final shape on April 19, 1993, when Brian Littrell, cousin of Richardson, joined the group after a phone audition. Their first concert, on May 8, 1993, was performed for 3,000 teenagers at SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida. Pearlman later booked them at grade-school assemblies and shopping malls, and assigned management duties to Johnny Wright, who had worked with New Kids on the Block.
After a possible Mercury Records deal failed,[citation needed] the band was spotted in Cleveland, Ohio by Jive Records, an independent label best known for its hip-hop acts, in February 1994. By June, they were recording their first single; an urban pop song by writer/producer Denniz PoP called "We've Got It Goin' On". The single struggled in the US and reached only #69 on the Billboard charts; but it sold well in Europe, later earning the band their first Gold record in Germany. In the summer of 1996, the band's first self-titled album was released in Europe and Canada, going gold within weeks in Europe.[2] Jive and Pearlman kept the band busy overseas for the next two years, sometimes putting on tours for five straight months.
European popularity grew, and the Backstreet Boys kicked off 1996 being voted the No.1 International Group by TV viewers in Germany - "I'll Never Break Your Heart" went gold there and hit No.1 in Austria. The group earned their first Platinum record in Germany and toured Asia and Canada.
As Long As U Love Me - Backstreet Boys
