Howie D
The Private Lives Of Backstreet Boys!

Did you have a strict upbringing?
Not so much strict, just decent. I've got four older brothers and sisters so my parents had been through all the traumas by the time it got to me, so I guess I got away with a lot more! I loved being the youngest by so much because it was like having an extra bunch of mummies and daddies around taking care of me.

Do they worry about the effect the music business is having on you?
Actually, my parents have always been very encouraging of me being in the business, especially my mom. She always used to take me on my auditions and got me dance and voice lessons. They always knew it was what I wanted to do and they've been so supportive along the way.

Do you phone home if you've got a problem?
Yeah, I do actually. I tell my family everything, particularly one of my sisters and my brother Johnny, who's the next up from me. They're like my best friends. Johnny's great for advice on girls!

How has your fame affected your mom?
Oh, she's loving it! One of the German magazines printed our home addresses and the name of the school where she works, so she's constantly getting calls and fans turning up. But she's the most humble person and she loves meeting them! Some fans turned up last Mother's Day and brought her flowers! She was so pleased she ended up inviting them in to eat dinner with us - they were tripping out, I can tell you! A lot of fans write to my mom and dad and they write back letting them know what we're up to.

When do you think you'll get married?
Whoooah! I don't know. My brother got married when he was 30. I used to think that sounded really old, but now it sounds just about right. I want to totally make sure I've found the right girl for me because I only want to get married once. I'm gonna have a big Catholic wedding in the Church I've gone to all my life. Hopefully by then I'll have had a chance to see the world and meet loads of girls until I'm sure I've found the right one!

How many children will you have?
I think three sounds about right. It's my favourite number and a family of five is cool!

Would you be worried if they wanted to go into the business, too?
If that's what they wanted then I'd definitely support them and try to help them as much as possible, but I'd never push them into it.

Where will you live?
We'd probably have our main house in Orlando 'cause I want to live near all my family, then I'd like to have an apartment in New York or California as the entertainment business is big there, and I wouldn't mind having a place in Europe as well, maybe even London - I love it here!

Are you scared about becoming a dad?
I love kids. My brother's just had a baby, well, his wife actually (er, yes!), and I've had loads of nieces and nephews around since I was four! I guess I'm a big kid at heart. When I'm home I get in trouble because I chase them round the house and tickle them and get them all excited, and my dad goes crazy!

Do you think you'll be strict with them?
I don't think I'll be strict as such, I just want to be like my parents and guide them along the right path. I want them to feel they can come to me for advice, but I'll also let them make their own mistakes, give them a bit of slack and let them take their chances.

Do you play new BSB tracks to your family?
If I get the chance to see them, then definitely. I've recently had a song written for me by a group called Full Force and the first person I played it to was my sister, Pollyanna. She's a musician and she was the one who first got me involved in the business. She's working on her own career now so I'm helping her wherever I can to repay the favour. Her stuff's a bit of a cross Gloria Estefan and Mariah Carey.

How often do you get to see your family now you're so successful?
Over the last two years it's been a bit hectic with all the travelling I've been doing, so I reckon if I counted up every day I'd seen them it'd come to about three months in total. My mom, dad and brother came to visit us when we played in Canada, but I'm going to arrange for my mom and sister to come and see us in Europe real soon and I can't wait...

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