Bravo met the Backstreet Boys in Colognia where the boys spent some time appearing at the Charity Show 'Hand in hand with children', doing several TV appearances and AJ spending 3 days with his g/f Amanda at their hotel.
BRAVO: Your German fans are anxiously waiting for your third album. When are you done with it?
A.J.: We have to record 5 or 6 more songs. We just came from Sweden, where we were working on new tunes with our producer Max Martin.
BRAVO: What will the new songs sound like?
Howie: Very varying, something for everyone: from Hip Hop to Pop and Rock'n Roll to Country. The uptempo songs are really wild, and the ballads will be very smooth, in the style of the unplugged concert.
Nick: My song 'Heaven in your Eyes', which I only sang live till now, will be on the new album as well. {yay!} We redid it though, the new title for it is 'I need you tonight'.
BRAVO: How many song did you write for the new album?
Brian: Kevin wrote the song 'Back to your heart', and I wrote the song 'Where can we go from here', as well as 'The perfect thing' - which is dedicated to all our moms.
Nick: We wrote two more songs, which we already presented on the 'Night Out With The Backstreet Boys' album: the midtempo song 'I'll be the one' and a very thoughtful ballad, which we sing together. The title is 'Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely'.
A.J.: That's a total goosebump tune. Probably because of the acoustic spanish guitar.
BRAVO: When will the new album and a new single be released?
Brian: The new single will be released in February. We don't know yet which song we will pick, though. The new album is supposed to be released end of March. We dedicate it to our producer Denniz Pop, who made us famous, and unfortunately died this year.
Howie: I am also dedicating it to my sister Caroline.
BRAVO: 1998 was probably the most turbulent year in the history of the BSB...
Howie: True. We had a rough year. Two close people died. Brian's surgery, the separation of our management. But we stuck together and are stronger than ever now. We leared a lot this past year.
BRAVO: What about your solo-plans?
Nick: Each of us still wants to pursue solo plans outside the group. But that doesn't mean the Bsb will break up! Right now we concentrate on our worldtour. It has total priority right now. That's why I'm postponing my solo album.
BRAVO: Where will you rehears for the tour?
Kevin: In Orlando. We will put up the stage before tour starts - most likely at the Universal Studios. We will need at least 6 weeks to rehears the new show. We will invite our families to dress rehearsal! And on April 26th we'll come to Germany!
Howie: The pyros we planned are amazing! The fans can expect many surprises. We already got the dates set for 70 shows. After Europe we will tour America, South America, Canada, {yay!} and Asia.
BRAVO: Let's talk about your private life - A.J. and Brian have girlfriends now, how about the others?
Kevin: Howie and I are singles (the all look at Nick)
Nick: (grins and fidgets) I have a steady girlfriend now, for the first time - and I am very, very much in love!
BRAVO: What's her name, and how did you two meet?
Nick: I won't tell her name, because we have been together for a few weeks only. I met her in Tampa. She is a singer as well, and is going to have her big breakthrough very soon. She is blonde and kinda looks like my sister B.J. But she is not a member of the group 'Innosense' (he laughs)
BRAVO: Will you move to Los Angeles with your parents?
Nick: No. I will stay in Tampa and bought a house there two months ago. It would be a bit hard for me, with all that's going on with the BsB right now, to organize everything from LA. I will visit my family there of course, and also spend Christmas there at their new house! On New Years Eve I'll be in Florida however. We will perform at the arena in Orlando, the last concert of our big U.S. tour. And after that we'll all have a huge party!
Howie: We actually all bought houses in Florida. We were going to do that for a while now, but this year we finally had the time to do that, since we stayed in the States for a while.
BRAVO: Nick, your mom Jane wrote a book about you recently. Did you read it yet?
Nick: Of course, and I think it's great! She gives advice for kids who want to make it big in the show business, and their parents. I know about the sacrifices my parents made for me, and I really appreciate it. Without them, I wouldn't be what I am today. The book hit the 'New York Times Bestseller list' on 12, and is still climbing - Mommie is really happy! I am very proud of my mother!