Backstreet Boy Howie Dorough: "This is my life's mission!"
Source: Popstar! magazine From backstreet.net
In advance of his annual lupus fundaiser in Orlando, we scored a rare
opportunity to chat with Backstreet Boy Howie Dorough about his work
with the band and with the foundation he created in order to help fight
lupus. His beloved sister Caroline succumbed to the debilitating disease
just as BSB's careers were taking off, stunning the tight-knit Dorough
clan.
But the initial shock did not delay their forceful and positive
reaction-The Dorough Lupus Foundation has raised hundreds of thousands
of dollars to help find a cure.
Speaking with Howie, we came away with a sense that you can have it
all-fame, fortune and also a strong sense of civic duty. Just another
way in which BSB have reached out and affected so many millions around
the globe!
Popstar!:First, tell us some inside info about the next BSB album.
Howie:We've been together for the last month doing a lot of writing,
doing a lot of demos. We've had the chance to work with Glen Ballard,
who's really well-known for his stuff with Alanis and Dave Matthews, and
we just came from Atlanta where we were working with Jermaine Dupri.
We've gotten some good stuff from Diane Warren recently. We're possibly
even looking at maybe doing a duet, a collaboration with somebody.
Possibly a female artist or a rap artist, depending on which direction
the songs go. We're trying to go with a little bit more organic sound,
more of the earthier tones, live instruments, trumpets. We're tyring not
to hit too hard on the electronic sound.
We're kind of experimenting, trying a bunch of different styles, seeing
what comes out of it for us. We're trying to pick these other people's
brains. We're trying to push the envelope a little bit. This album to us
is going to solidify us so if we decide to take a year off, people
hopefully wont forget about us.
What's your proudest musical moment ever?
Howie: I'd say probably "How Did I Fall in Love," which I wrote-I'm very
proud of it. You always say you wanna marry your best friend, someone
who really knows you. Group-wise, I'd say our best song was "Show Me the
Meaning of Being Lonely." "I Want it That Way" is a song I'm surprised
has been so successful. We've always joked about it because if you
listen to it, it doesnt really make that much sense![Laughs]
What's the scoop on Nick's solo career. Are you all okay with it?
Nicky is actually working on some solo material right now. It's
something that he's been wanting to do for a while and each of us, you
know, we're in this together as a group but we also support each other
in individual stuff, whether it's singing, acting, modeling,
whatever-it's a matter of creating the right time for everything.
Everything is possible, it's all a matter of timing. We're just trying
to figure it all out right now, you know. "Backstreet Boys album first,
Nick album first-or vice versa?"
I'm not really sure yet for me if I'd do a solo album. I'd possibly like
to start out doing some acting first, musical theater. I took a meeting
a couple of days ago with a gentleman who wants me to be involved in a
new Grease coming out, but I'm not really sure. My first priority is
Backstreet Boys so I think of that first.
Is there still a mutual respect among BSB's members?
There has to be or we'd be flying in five different directions and never
get an album done.
Why did you start The Dorough Lupus Foundation?
When my sister passed away three years ago, I guess I was trying to
grasp the whole reality of it and of life and fame and fortune and what
was my purpose of being. Her doctor had said, "You being who you are,
you could make a big difference." It's a very, very hushed disease.
People dont talk about it and feel it's hard to explain what it's about.
I said, "I've been so blessed, this is my way of giving back to
something close to my heart." I tried taking the negative and turning it
into a positive. Maybe that's my purpose in life.