So boys, how are you feeling about the tour?
Brian Obviously we're really excited! We've been so busy
recording the new album, we haven't had time to go out and meet the fans lately.
Kevin Yeah! Even though it's really great being locked up in a
studio writing and recording music, performing live feels like it's more real.
Howie You get that feedback from the fans - that's rally important
to us.
Nick Yeah! When you're standing on a stage with 3,000 screaming fans
watching your every move, you just can't beat it!
Kevin Also, it's really great to feel we can still play such huge
venues - we've come such a long way since we started out, and doing this tour is like
showing everybody just what we've achieved.
How many people travel with you?
Nick Sometimes it seems there are hundreds of'em! You wouldn't
believe the number of people it takes to put on a show as big as ours. It's amazing!
AJ As well as all the musicians, dancers and support acts, we've got
make-up artists, dancers, lighting technicians, stagehands...
Kevin You name it - we got it!
Howie There are so many people, we have to go in this big convoy of
trucks and coaches. You'll hear us when we arrive in your town - it's like the circus
has come!
Which countries are you most looking forward to visiting on the tour?
Brian It'll be really cool to come back over to the United
Kingdom. We came over a little while back to promote the launch of the album.
Howie Europe was where we made it big first of all, so it's really
nice to get back and see everybody.
Nick Yeah! We've always had such an amazing response from the
British fans - it almost feels like we're coming home!
Aren't you a bit miffed you won't be getting a summer vacation?
AJ No, not really. The tour's going to be a lot of really hard work, but it's what we do, isn't it? We're a pop band, after all!
Kevin Touring can be tiring - not so much the being on stage part, but all the travelling can really knock you out. But at the end of the day, we're doing what we love.
Nick Yeah, we're doing the best jobin the world. Travelling all over the place, singing our songs, meeting loads of cool people - and we're getting paid for it!
Howie Touring can sometimes seem like a vacation anyway! We have such a great time together when we're on the road - some days it doesn't even seem like work!
Brian We'll probably get to take some time off when it's all over. That's always something to look forward to - y'know, when you're feeling a little bit tired or run down. But most of the time it's fun!
Who's the most fun to tour with in the band?
Kevin That's really h ard to say, actually. We all get on so well.
Brian I guess we all know each other well enough to be ourselves and goof around if we know one of us is on a bit of a downer.
Nick Brian always manages to make me laugh though, whatever's happening. He'll come in with a stupid wig on or something, with a real serious look on his face. He really cracks me up!
How do you prepare yourselves for life on the road?
Howie There's only one way - long, hard rehearsing! It's a little boring sometimes, but it's well worth it in the end.
Nick You have to look after yourself, too - all that dancing can really drain you if you're not careful. We all try and find time to work out if we can.
AJ You have to be really disciplined - watch what you eat, not stay out too late... the usual kinda stuff.
Do you still get nervous before a performance?
Brian I guess we do, don't we?
Kevin Oh yeah! When you're waiting backstage and you can hear everybody going totally wild out front, it's like, the weirdest feeling.
Nick You're standing there and your mind's, like, totally blank! You can't even think of the first line to something like Backstreet's Back - you just go kinda numb.
AJ But then you go out there and it all comes out - it's like you're on autopilot or something!
Howie It's a good thing for you to get nervous before a show, though - it's part of the whole adrenalin rush, y'know? If you didn't feel like that. I don't think you'd be at your best.
Kevin You just accept it's something that goes with the whole performing thing. That's part of the reason you do it - because you just love it!
What's the worst thing that's ever happened when you've been on stage?
Nick Oh, man! Loads of things.
Kevin Like the time I came running on stage and yelled, 'Hallo, Munich!' - and we were in Frankfurt! That was so embarrassing. I don't think anyone noticed, though - they were screaming so loudly by that time!
Howie There are so many things that can go wrong on stage - you can forget your moves or which song comes next.
Nick There was this time when the top button went on my pants, right in the middle of Quit Playing Games. I could feel them starting to slip gown my butt and I was like, 'Oh my God!' I had to hold them up with one hand and carry on. The others guys all realised what was happening, which made it really hard - I couldn't look at them without laughing. I don't know how I managed to get through that one with a straight face! It was crazy!
AJ That's why live shows are such a buzz, though - you know that at any moment, absolutely anything could go wrong and you have to find a way out of it!
Kevin But it keeps you on your toes - you can't fall asleep up there, man!
Which country has the best fans, then?
Kevin I'd have to say Britain. We love you guys!
Brian Yeah! We can't wait to see you - make sure you come and see us, won't ya?!
Nick Yeah! You guys are so cool - we made it big in Britain and Germany before anyone else took any notice back home.
Do you hang out with your support acts?
Howie sure, we'll go for a meal and stuff after a show or a rehearsal. We're not, like, big superstars that hide in their dressing room and don't come out until they're needed on stage
Nick It's really cool'cos they come and ask us for advice and stuff.
AJ Actually, it reminds me a lot of how we were when we started out - it's kinda cute!
(Text has been taking from the "TV HITS summer special 1999")