MONDAY  11:30PM
Brrrr! It's colder than an Eskimo's fridge freezer, there's enough snow on the ground to make a snowman the size of Wembley Stadium, and the icicles hanging from the street lights are spikier than Søren Aqua's hair..  But who cares!  You see, we're snuggled up in a warm restaurant with the most famous pop band on the planet.  Nick, Howie, Brian and Kev are busy scouring the menu - poor old AJ's gone to bed early with a 'nauseous stomach'.  The cosy eatery is just about the only place the boys can enjoy a few hours of privacy and we're  under strict orders to keep the location top-secret! "What a show, " says Brian, "it was high energy!"  The guys are coming to an end of their sell-out Canadian tour but there's no sign of them lagging yet, despite the gruelling travel involved.  Grubs up!

1AM
We've a busy day ahead of us, and being dedicated popsters, the boys are keen to get a few hours kip.  Hey, there's no time for rock'n'roll behaviour when you're superstars!  The BSB's entourage are staying in the swanky Westin hotel slap band in the centre of the city and the entire female population of Montreal appear to be camped out in the foyer.  "Come morning there'll be over 200 fans here!" says Denise (AJ's mum and the band's publicity person). Yikes!

TUESDAY 11AM
No one surfaces 'till mid-morning.  "When we're on the road we turn into vampires," confides Denise.  "Up all night and sleeping all day."  The fans have cottoned on that the boys are on the move and the poor hotel manager's looking mightily harassed as about 100 cram into one lift in the search of Nick and co.

1.30PM
Things have been so hectic on the fan front that the guys have stayed holed-up in their rooms all morning.  After a quick sprint to the hire car we all finally manage to set off on our planned shopping spree.  "These guys, " says Nick pointing to their burly security geezers, "are actually very kind and gentle. They just look scary!"

1.40PM
AJ informs us his 'squitty stomach' is on the mind as we arrive at Roots, a cool clothing store on the main shopping street in Montreal.  He whips his hat off for a glimpse of his new hair do - a frizzy affro creation.  "it's kinky isn't it?" he jokes.  "I had it permed and fixed in twist, but it got way too annoying not being allowed to wash it so I brushed it all out.  Like it?"  It's very you AJ.

2PM
Fleecy jackets are flying and the mound of sweatshirts is growing as the guys pick out a few choice numbers for free!  Howie appears to be well chuffed with his find - a cuddly beige zip-up top - while kind-hearted Nick's given his security geezer, Andrez, a red sweatshirt.  Aaw!

3PM
Back at the hotel the guys are getting showered and spruced up for the evening's gig and the swanky platinum disc-giving ceremony the Canadians have laid on for them.  Ooh, I say!

4PM
It's like a military operation just travelling form the hotel to the concert venue a few blocks away.  Police escorts lead the way as the van crawls along the treacherous icy roads.  You don't get this happening on The Bill, do you?!

4:10PM
The band have already tuned up their instruments so all that's needed is a quick run through any tricky songs.  I leave the boys to it and arrange to meet later at the awards ceremony.

6:15PM
Canada's most prestigious music boffs and journalists are gathered at a restaurant called Mise Au Jeu located next door to the concert venue.  We're joined by Sonja, a famous Canadian chat show host (think Richard and Judy and you're almost there).

6:30PM
The boys enter the room to a round of applause and the head geezer at BMG Canada doshes out their awards for selling two million units (er, that means squillions of records.)  "Yes! Yes! Way to go!" shouts Nick.  "Hey they've spelt my name correctly!" cries Brian in amazement.  Kevin steps up to the mike to thank, well, the whole world, as the guys shout, "Kevin for President!"  Meanwhile the BSB's ice statue towering behind the boys is beginning to melt, much to their amusement.

7PM
Time is ticking on but they till manage to squeeze in a quick TV interview with the Canadian Music Plus channel in one of the rooms backstage.  Perched on tall stools the guys give it 100%, chatting about the Everybody... (Backstreet's Back) video (apparently Howie wanted to turn into a bat ad fly away but the effects were too tricky) and what it's like to feel married to each other.  They round the interview off with a splendid a cappella version of All I Have to Give.

7:25PM
Backstage at a BSB's' concert is not how you'd imagine.  An area the size of a netball court is portioned off by huge black curtains.  The ceiling is way up above us (about 50m KEvin's high!) giving a draughty feel to the place.  There's a ping pong table in one corner and a neat pile of cuddly toys - presents from the fans.  The boys dressing room complete with security guards is off a corridor and the catering room - stocked with healthy grilled fish, vegetables and potatoes - is just next door.  There's a small curtained off area directly behind the stage.  It contains a rail of BSBs outfits and a long mirror with fairy lights around it.  This is the 'kit off' room where the guys do their costume changes.  Bet that mirror gets well steamed up!

7:40PM
A quick chat with Nick's dad.  "It's a shame you missed Aaron here yesterday, " he says.  Our little mate joined the boys on stage to perform Crush On You and went down a storm.

7:55PM
Boing de boing ker thud! Brian's practising at the basket ball net which is set up backstage at every gig.

8PM
The guys take it in turns to have their make-up done.  Angie the make-up artist says that Nick's a right fidget bottom and as for AJ, he's such a chatterbox, she repeatedly has to tell him to "zip it" so she can concentrate on the job in hand.  Body Shop products are the only make of slap the boys sensitive skin can handle.  yes, even popstars get zits!

8:10PM
Kev's the Sporty Spice of the bunch.  "I wanted to go skiing yesterday, " he confides, "but it was too rainy."  He did manage to hire out a stadium in a nearby Quebec so him and his mates could enjoy a private game of five-a-side ice hockey.  Cool!

8:15PM
Just over half an hour to go.  The screams from the audience outside are deafening but eh boys show no signs of anxiety.  Not even a droplet of sweat.  Nick calmly tells us about the recent trip to the movies.  "We went to see An American Werewolf in Paris but it wasn't scary enough."  In fact no on e in the cinema screamed until the lights went on and a gang of BSBs fans spotted the guys!

8:30PM
A strange man in the corner ties a pair of stilt to his legs and proceeds to scamper around like an ostrich.  Apparently he's part of the grand finale.  AJ shows off his new blue contact lenses while Howie limbers up.

8:40PM
Suddenly Howie's sister Pollyanna grabs my hand and pulls me towards the big circle that's formed.  We all bow our heads as Randy the head of security recites a brief prayer.  Then everyone reaches their right arms into the centre of the ring, hands touching.  "Backstreet!" we shout before breaking into cheers.  As the guys sprint towards the side of the stage, the atmosphere's is electric.  It's show time!
 
 

Words:  Michelle Garnett
 

Back to Interview jump off page
 
 
 

General Disclaimers and the likes thereof:
Live & Kicking Magazine is published by BBC Worldwide Publishing.
Printed by Southern Print (Webb Offset) Ltd.
 
This interview is reproduced without permission of any sort whatsoever. I am making absolutely nil money out of this little endeavour.  I am unfortunately skint, so if you do want to sue me (please don't!), I haven't got any money to pay the fine.