Backstreet's Back: Tour Resumes With A.J. And Lots Of Love
Source:BSB Jive Site
Aug 25 2001
McLean's fans, bandmates celebrate his return
from rehab at concert in Milwaukee.
MILWAUKEE � Boys, even Backstreet Boys, will be
boys.
At the band's first show since A.J. McLean left a
rehabilitation center where he was treated for
alcoholism, depression and anxiety, more than 14,000
fans at the Bradley Center welcomed the group back
Friday with screams and shouts of "We love you, A.J."
The Backstreeters themselves, however, welcomed
A.J. back with Silly String, dousing the mustachioed
singer with the sticky stuff, along with hugs, as they
wrapped up their first show in almost two months.
While that might have been the group's
playful way of saying, "Welcome back,
bro," the Boys did take time out to
thank their fans for waiting for the
group's Black & Blue tour to resume as
McLean sought help. After the opening
salvo of "Everyone," "Larger Than Life"
and "Not For Me," Brian Littrell spoke for the whole group, saying, "As
you guys know, we took a little break. If it wasn't for you guys, we
wouldn't be here tonight. But the Backstreet Boys aren't the
Backstreet Boys without all five of us."
After Littrell got the mostly female, mostly teenaged crowd to cheer
for each of the group's three albums, he turned the stage over to
McLean. Wearing a white suit and hat similar to what he donned for
last year's solo tour as his alter ego Johnny No Name, McLean told the crowd he was
trying not to cry as he thanked them for their support.
"I just wanted to say I wish I could go out and hug each and every one of you," the
choked-up McLean said. "Thank you for letting me go through what I needed to go
through to get myself better. I'm celebrating 51 days sober today.
"One day at a time," he added, drawing on a well-known motto of 12-step addiction
recovery programs.
The audience didn't need Nick Carter's exhortation to "scream as loud as we can for
A.J." � McLean consistently got the biggest cheers of any of the Boys throughout
the 110-minute show. Looking trim and sharp with a fresh buzz cut, McLean took
every opportunity to give love back to the crowd, kissing a video camera during
"Don't Want You Back," hitting his solo with extra-soulful flourishes during "I Want It
That Way" and hamming it up at any opportunity.
All five Boys conveyed a sense of excitement and relief throughout the show,
exchanging knowing glances and smiles and hugging each other often. While the
concert relied as much on spectacle as on music � with pyrotechnics and pre-taped
skits occasionally slowing down the pace � the Backstreet Boys' camaraderie and
love for their fans came through loud and clear.
The group's rendition of "Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely," delivered from a
smaller, circular stage at the back of the arena, was almost somber, even as each of
the Boys waved and smiled at the crowd, all the while accepting stuffed animals and
other offerings from adoring fans. Crossing a bridge over the audience back to the
main stage as they sang "Time" from Black & Blue, each Boy took time to reach over
and grab a hand or two.
The audience's unconditional love for the group, and particularly A.J., came through
loud and clear every time one of them took a close-up on the video screen. And
while some audience members admitted that the group's disclosure of McLean's
substance abuse problems might have let a little bit of the air out of the Boys'
balloon, most said that the group's forthrightness more than made up for it.
"It's cool that they would be honest with their fans and not lie about it," said
14-year-old Kristen Robbins of Madison, Wisconsin, referring to McLean's difficulties.
"But they used to say, 'We don't drink, we don't smoke because it ruins the vocal
cords.' They lied in one sense, but told the truth in another."
Nine-year-old Nicholas Benson of Milwaukee, wearing a fresh BSB T-shirt, was more
forgiving. "A.J. was sick, and I'm just glad he got better," he said.
And in the end, A.J., with Silly String hanging off his head, just smiled. Backstreet's
back, all right.
For a feature interview with Backstreet Boys about A.J., check out "Backstreet Boys:
'We Want To Be Honest.'"
� Eric Schumacher-Rasmussen