AMSTERDAM -- 11 A.M., and 50 Dutch girls are standing sentry outside the Grand hotel Krasnapolsky. They've been there since yesterday- shouting, crying, and pressing themselves up against the hotel's imposing iron gates.
Inside the Grand-and out of the fans' reach- is an extraordinary roster of rock's biggest stars (the members of Hanson, Aerosmith and U2 among them), who will be attending tonight's MTV Europe music awards in nearby Rotterdam. But when a passerby asks the crowd who they are waiting for, the answer rises up in a shrieking wall of sound: "Backstreet Boys!"

Back in the United States, this five-man vocal group from Orlando (Nick Carter,18; Howie Dorough,24; Brian Littrell,23; A.J. Mclean,20; and Kevin Richardson,26), which has been performing together since 1993, has caught fire with the chart topping singles " Quit Playing Games (With my Heart)" and "As long as you Love Me." But in Europe, the band's records have outsold albums by the Foo Fighters, LL Cool J-even Puff Daddy.
"In Europe, there's no walking-anywhere-without a bodyguard," says Howie from the hotel's lobby, where the Boys have convened after getting a post-noon wake-up call. To prove that theory, A.J. and Nick head outside to greet some of the fans before climbing aboard their private bus, which will take them to Rotterdam, where they'll be performing as well as presenting and- hopefully- winning an MTV award. The band's five bodyguards are not amused by the Boys' boldness. "When teenage girls all push in a group, you can't stop them," says head guard Lonnie Jones. As he speaks, the crowd erupts. A cluster of girls breaks free and charges towards Nick. Lonnie (who is bigger than most refrigerators) quickly intervenes, directing the other guards to keep the rest of the band at a safe distance.

Reflection on the Road

Once the Boys are safely aboard the bus, Nick shakes his head at the girls pounding their fists against his window. "It's really weird. They think they know who we are but they don't." Brian sighs and points out the irony of the situation: None of the Boys has a serious girlfriend. "People say, 'Who cares? You're loved by thousands of screaming girls," he says. " But it's not like there's somebody I can call anytime and say, 'This is how I feel.' There isn't someone who knows me inside and out."
They peer out the window as the bus passes the Gelredome in Arnhem. " You guys sold that out in 20 min.," says one of their managers, Johnny Wright. " You almost beat the Spice Girls. They did it in 16." Everybody groans. Tonight the band is up against the Spice Girls, as well as Hanson and Puff Daddy & Faith Evans, for the MTV select award (the boys took this prize for which viewers cast the votes, last year). " If we don't win, I want Puffy to," says Howie. " I think he's really creative."
" The only musician I would be sorry to lose an award to is that Marilyn Manson dude," says Brian, " and we'll never be in the same category as him anyway, which is good."

Dress Rehearsal

At Rotterdam's Ahoy Stadium, the musicians are rehearsing for the big night on the eerie, sci-fi-themed stage. Aerosmith's Steven Tyler walks over to the Boys and shakes their outstretched hands. AJ whispers to a photographer, "Can you get our picture with him?"
Moments later, the guys are practising their routine for their five-and-a-half min. medley, which features lasers, 20 dancers and a costume change. The fact that the show will be airing in the states seems to be on everyone's mind. " A lot of people [ in the U.S.] look at us as just a 'boy group," says Brian. " We may have a lot of screaming fans, but that doesn't mean we don't put on a good show. It's [ important] to us that we be respected by other artists and by people who are older than teenagers."
As the Boys head to their dressing rooms for hair and make-up (even guys need this for TV), Kevin walks right into Missy Elliott. " O, hey, girl!" he says casually. When he catches up with the group, he reports excitedly, " I just bumped into Missy Elliott!" The Boys are clearly psyched to be in the midst of so much musical talent.
"When Steven Tyler gave me a high five and a hug, I was like, yikes!" says A.J. "He was showing us his guitar strings bracelet- you get a hundred of them and put them on your arm."
"Do you think Janet Jackson is going to be here tonight?" asks Howie. "I'll talk to her if I have the nerves."
"The only thing I don't like about awards shows is that I don't think you should single out individuals and say they're better than anyone else," says A.J. "It wouldn't hurt to win, though…."

The Show

The Boys make their red-carpet entrance and take their seats. Hundreds of fans hold up "Backstreet Boys" signs. The band members talk among themselves, unfazed. ("Prodigy is over there, a few rows down…. Did you see who's sitting to our left? It's 98 degrees.")
The show begins, and the boys place bets on the winners. When Bush is announced as a nominee for best rock act, A.J. groans. "You wanna kill Gavin, A.J.?" Nick asks, laughing. AJ has a huge crush on Bush singer Gavin Rossdale's girlfriend, Gwen Stefanie. "As long as he doesn't win," A.J. mutters. Oasis takes the award. A.J. smiles.
Finally, it's time for the MTV select award. "Look the camera's on you!" yells Johnny Wright as the envelope is being opened. "That means you've got it!" A.J. buries his face in his hands. "Don't say it until it's true!" But it is true, and all five Boys jump out of their seats and run to the stage.
They return to the spotlight an hour later for their end-of-show performance. The Backstreet Boys rocked the house, bringing the crowd to it's feet.
And then suddenly it's all over. The music fades and the boys shepherded back to their dressing room, the screams of the audience echoing behind them. As they eye their prize, their thoughts turn to home: "After tonight's performance, I think people will start to really grow up about us," says an exuberant Brian. "We're not just a teen group. We're gonna be around for a long time."