Backstreet Boys Speak Out Against Rumors, Still Aiming For
August 7 Return
By Joan Anderman Yahoo News
Saturday July 14 02:57 PM EDT
(7/14/01, 7 a.m. ET) -- The Backstreet Boys have restated their intention to return to the road on August
7, following AJ McLean's completion of a 30-day stint in rehab for anxiety, depression, and alcohol
abuse. The group issued the statement in response to speculation in a nationally syndicated gossip column
that the tour had been completely scrapped, and the group's crew was advised to seek work elsewhere.
"Despite rumors to the contrary, Backstreet Boys (news - web sites)' Black & Blue World Tour 2001
has not been canceled, nor has the crew been told to find other work," the statement reads. "Backstreet
Boys' touring personnel have been instructed to be on hand when the tour resumes Tuesday, August 7 in
Vancouver, British Columbia."
Skip Rickert of the group's management company the Firm added, "This tour will resume in Vancouver
as planned. Any conjecture or assumption to the contrary is merely that, and we all hope that people will
respect the group's wishes to give AJ the time he needs for himself."
Backstreet Boys rescheduled several dates to allow McLean to undergo rehab treatment (LAUNCH,
7/9). The group said in a statement that the time off will also give member Nick Carter time to recover
from a broken hand he suffered on July 7 in Boston.
-- Craig Rosen, Los Angeles