Teen Beat(TB): How does it feel to be so successful on your home turf?

Kevin Richardson: Real nice.

Howie Dorough: It's different. The feeling is important to us. This is our homecountry and we've been waiting to come home. And we kind of took the backwards approach--going around the world then coming back here. But I think it's a good decision. We got the chance to actually go into these countries and see the culture, visit some of the really small cities.

TB: How are American fans different?

Nick Carter: I think the one thing that's really cool about them is that they pay attention to you. They study it. And in a way it's very cool, becuz you know they're paying attention to what you're sounding like. Over there, it's a little more crazy.

Kev: At some of our shows, it seemed like we were in Germany. Crowds were going nuts. We were scared at last night's show in New York cuz people were getting hurt, crushed up against the barricades.

Brian Littrell: Last night when we was doing the show, I was thinking I wasn't going to be nervous. We've done the show 50 million times--I know it like the back of my hand. Right before the curtain dropped, I was thinking, this is New York City! And I mean, that's all you have to think about. Not only is this America, but this is New York City. I mean, how rough and tough can you get, or how American can you get? I clammed all up there for a second, and then I heard the music and I calmed down--we'll be all right. And it turned out really well. We got a great response and I was really excited.

TB: Have any family members who haven't seen you perform seen you this time around?

AJ McLean: Some of my cousins came to the show. And then back in Orlando...

Kev: We have family galore there.

Bri: I don't know if we sold out in Orlando or if we just gave all the tickets away!

TB: Where's your next stop?

AJ: Sweden. We're going to start recording for the next album.

TB: Do you have the material picked out for the next album?

Nick: Basically. We just put out the second album in Europe, and we're going to record some more songs. Basically for the nest album here.

AJ: You can never have enough material for the future.

Kev: We're also going to write with some of the producers we've worked with in the past. We don't have everything all planned out yet.

Howie: Some of the songs are songs we didn't get a chance to finish for the last album.

Bri: Two of the main priorities are songs that weren't a priority then, but now they are. There were songs before that got done, and they were on the back burner, and now they're up to the plate and we've got to do those. We've cut background vocals, and now you have to go back and cut leads and put it all together.

TB: Did you mention the title of your second album overseas?

AJ: Backstreet's Back.

Bri: Did you hear about our new video? It's dope. We did a mini-movie. It's like a 1990's modern day "Thriller." We're all differrent characters.

Nick: Kevin's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

TB: How did you come up with the idea?

Kev: We were just talking about what we could do for a video. First we talked about being superhero characters and went, nah. Then we wanted to do monsters.

TB: Do you hang out together when you have free time?

Howie: When we have time on the road we hang out together. Sometimes when we go home, we go with our families. But we always call each other.

TB: How are your friends at home handling your success?

Howie: They're excited about it.

Kev: Teachers and stuff.

Howie: We had a big autograph signing for Blockbuster. I had so many friends from high school and an ex-girlfriend showed up.

TB: Have you got a chance to buy anything nice for your families?

Howie: I put central heat and air conditioning in my family's house.

Kev: I refinanced my mom's home for her.

Bri: I got my brother a car.

Kev: This year is going to be a cool Christmas because we actually have time to shop. Last year we had 3 dates before Christmas. This time we have 2 weeks, so I'd like to plan something with my family.

Bri: Go on a skiing trip!

Nick: I was thinking about going up to New York to visit my grandparents.

Kev: I'd like to be in New York for Christmas.

TB: You're going to be in Canada for New Year's Eve.

BSB: Yes!

Howie: One year we have to have it here in New York.

AJ: Central Park.

TB: Are there any new pop groups that you like?

Kev: We know some of them. We worked with Boyzone over in Germany. We met 98 degrees when we were doing a show out in Washington.

Howie: We know No Mercy--we like them. We've done shows with 'em over in Europe and that's where the friendship came from.

TB: What's the hardest part about all this success?

Nick: A lot of travelling!

AJ: You'll be in one city in the U.S. and you have to fly to Spain for one day. You don't get enough sleep.

Howie: You get jet lag a lot.

TB: Is there anything printed about you that you wish people would stop printing?

Kev: In Europe they said a couple of things. In Europe they're just inventing stuff.

Howie: According to them, we all have kids.

TB: We've gotten a couple of letters asking if Brian is married.

Bri: Nope--not last time I checked.