Backstreet Boys facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Backstreet Boys
Backstreet Boys at the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles, California. From left: AJ McLean, Kevin Richardson, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell.
Background information
Origin	Orlando, Florida, U.S.
Genres	Pop dance-pop R&B teen pop adult contemporary
Years active	1993–present
Labels	K-BAHN RCA Jive BMG Legacy
Members	AJ McLean Howie Dorough Nick Carter Kevin Richardson Brian Littrell

The Backstreet Boys (often called BSB) are a famous American music group. It includes Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, AJ McLean, and cousins Brian Littrell and Kevin Richardson. They started in 1993 in Orlando, Florida.

The group became very popular with their first international album, Backstreet Boys (1996). The next year, they released Backstreet's Back (1997) and their first U.S. album, Backstreet Boys (1997). These albums made them even more famous worldwide. They became superstars with their third album, Millennium (1999). This album had the huge hit song "I Want It That Way". Their next album was Black & Blue (2000).

After a short break, they came back with Never Gone (2005). In 2006, Kevin Richardson left the group for a while. The group then released two albums as a quartet: Unbreakable (2007) and This Is Us (2009).

Kevin Richardson rejoined the group for good in 2012. In 2013, they celebrated 20 years together and released their first independent album, In a World Like This. Their album DNA (2019) went to number one. This was more than two decades after they started. They were the first boy band to top the U.S. album charts in three different decades. In 2022, they released their first Christmas album, A Very Backstreet Christmas. They celebrated their 30th anniversary on April 20, 2023.

The Backstreet Boys have sold over 100 million records around the world. This makes them the best-selling boy band of all time. They are also one of the world's best-selling music artists. They are the first group since Led Zeppelin to have their first ten albums reach the top 10 on the Billboard 200. Their albums Backstreet Boys and Millennium sold so many copies that they were certified diamond.

The group got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 22, 2013. They also released a documentary movie called Backstreet Boys: Show 'Em What You're Made Of in January 2015. In March 2017, the group started a concert series in Las Vegas called Backstreet Boys: Larger Than Life. It lasted for two years.

How the Backstreet Boys Started

1993–1995: Forming the Group and Early Days

Howie Dorough and AJ McLean were from Orlando, Florida. They met through a singing teacher. Later, they found Nick Carter through auditions. The three realized they could sing well together and decided to form a trio.

Cousins Kevin Richardson and Brian Littrell were from Lexington, Kentucky. They sang in church choirs and at local festivals when they were kids. Kevin moved to Orlando in 1990. He worked at Walt Disney World and focused on music at night.

In 1992, Lou Pearlman put an ad in the Orlando Sentinel. He wanted to create a vocal group that looked like "New Kids on the Block" but sounded like "Boyz II Men". AJ McLean was the first to audition for Pearlman. He became the group's first member.

Between late 1992 and March 1993, Pearlman held many auditions. Hundreds of young singers tried out. Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, and Kevin Richardson were chosen. Brian Littrell flew from Kentucky to Orlando to join the group on April 20, 1993. This day became their anniversary. Pearlman named them Backstreet Boys after Orlando's Backstreet Market. This was a popular outdoor market and teen hangout.

The Backstreet Boys performed their first show at SeaWorld Orlando on May 8, 1993. They kept performing in different places that summer. They sang at malls, restaurants, and a big charity event. They started touring schools across the U.S. to gain fans and find a record deal.

In February 1994, Jeff Fenster and David Renzer from JIVE Records saw the group. They signed the Backstreet Boys to their first record deal.

At the end of 1994, the group went to Sweden. They recorded songs with Max Martin and Denniz PoP. One song was "We've Got It Goin' On," which became their first single. It was released in September 1995. The song was a small hit in the U.S. but became very popular in Europe. This led them to tour Europe.

1996–1997: First Albums and World Success

The group finished their first album, Backstreet Boys, in spring 1996. It came out internationally on May 6, 1996.

Their fame grew in Europe. "I'll Never Break Your Heart" sold many copies in Germany. They were voted the top international group there in 1996. They also toured Asia and Canada. They won awards for being one of the most successful new artists.

"Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)" was released in the U.S. in May 1997. It was part of their first U.S. album, Backstreet Boys (1997). This song reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. It sold over one million copies.

The group started working on their second album, Backstreet's Back, in October 1996. This album was released internationally on August 11, 1997. Their U.S. album, Backstreet Boys (1997), came out the next day. It included songs from both their 1996 international album and Backstreet's Back. The U.S. album sold 14 million copies.

The most popular songs from these albums were "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" and "As Long As You Love Me". The two self-titled albums sold over 28 million copies worldwide.

In November 1997, doctors found a problem with Brian Littrell's heart. He had surgery on May 8, 1998. The group delayed their tour so Brian could recover.

1998–1999: Millennium and Becoming Superstars

Brian Littrell had problems with their manager, Lou Pearlman, in 1998. He said Pearlman was not honest about the group's earnings. Other members joined the lawsuit. This led to agreements being made.

On Valentine's Day 1998, the group performed in Latin America for the first time. On October 7, 1998, the mayor of Orlando gave them the "keys to the city." This was to honor a concert they held to help tornado victims. That day was also named Backstreet Boys Day in Orlando.

They started recording their third album, Millennium, in October 1998. The song "I Want It That Way" became a worldwide hit. It topped charts in over 25 countries. This made people very excited for Millennium. The album was released on May 18, 1999.

Millennium sold over 1.1 million copies in its first week. It became the best-selling album of 1999 in the U.S. It sold over 9.4 million copies that year. Four singles were released from Millennium: "I Want It That Way", "Larger than Life", "Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely", and "The One".

On June 2, 1999, the Backstreet Boys started the Into the Millennium Tour. They had 115 sold-out shows in 84 cities. The tour broke sales records. A concert in Atlanta was one of the most attended concerts by a pop artist ever.

By October 1999, the Backstreet Boys signed a huge new record deal with JIVE Records. It was worth $60 million.

2000–2001: Black and Blue and The Hits – Chapter One

The group went to the Bahamas in May 2000 to write songs for their fourth album. They started recording in July 2000. The album, Black & Blue, was released on November 21, 2000.

To promote the album, they traveled around the world in 100 hours. They visited Stockholm, Tokyo, Sydney, Cape Town, Rio de Janeiro, and New York City. The album sold over 5 million copies in its first week worldwide. In the U.S., it sold 1.6 million copies in the first week. This made them the first artist since The Beatles to have two albums sell over a million copies in their first week.

Three singles from Black & Blue were released: "Shape of My Heart", "The Call", and "More than That".

On January 28, 2001, the Backstreet Boys sang the American national anthem at the Super Bowl XXXV. A week before, they started the "Black & Blue Tour". This tour had shows on five continents and ended in November.

After the tour, the group faced a sad event. On September 11, 2001, a hijacked plane crashed into the World Trade Center. A set carpenter for the band was on that plane and died. The group honored him and all victims at their next concert.

The Hits – Chapter One, their first collection of hits, came out on October 23, 2001. It included a new song, "Drowning". The album sold almost six million copies worldwide by 2002.

2002–2004: Taking a Break

In 2002, the group wanted to leave their management company. However, Nick Carter decided to stay with them for his solo career. The rest of the group started recording their next album without him.

Their relationship with JIVE Records also got worse. The Backstreet Boys sued JIVE's parent company for a lot of money. They said the label promoted Nick's solo album more than the group's music.

In November 2003, AJ McLean talked about his struggles with fame on The Oprah Winfrey Show. The other members surprised him by showing up to support him. This was the first time the Backstreet Boys were together in public in almost two years. The group began to work things out and planned to record a new album.

2004–2006: Never Gone and Kevin Leaves

Backstreet Boys at KISS FM Jingle Bell Bash 8

The Backstreet Boys went into the studio in January 2004 to record their new album. They also started performing together again. They did a small tour in Asia and Mexico.

The first song from the album, "Incomplete," was released on March 28, 2005. The song reached number 13 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It was a top 10 hit in 13 other countries.

Their comeback album Never Gone was released on June 14, 2005. The album sold 291,000 copies in its first week in the U.S. It was certified platinum in the U.S. Never Gone sold about 3 million copies worldwide.

The Backstreet Boys started their Never Gone Tour on July 22, 2005. The tour ended on February 2, 2006.

On June 23, 2006, Kevin Richardson announced he was leaving the Backstreet Boys. He wanted to do other things. Both Kevin and the group said he left on good terms. They also said the door was open for him to return. The group decided not to change their name or find a new member.

2006–2011: Unbreakable and This Is Us

Backstreet Boys performing without Richardson on Unbreakable Tour

Two days after Kevin left, the Backstreet Boys started recording their sixth album. The album, Unbreakable, came out on October 30, 2007. It received good reviews. It sold 81,000 copies in its first week in the U.S. It did very well in Japan, reaching number 1 on the charts. They released two songs from the album: "Inconsolable" and "Helpless When She Smiles."

The group went on a world tour to promote Unbreakable. It started in Tokyo, Japan, on February 16, 2008. The tour included shows in many countries. Kevin Richardson joined the group on stage for a show in Los Angeles on November 23, 2008.

On October 6, 2009, the group released their next album, This Is Us. This album brought back their dance-pop sound and had more R&B. It debuted at number 9 on the Billboard 200. It reached number 2 in Japan. Two songs were released from this album: "Straight Through My Heart" and "Bigger".

Brian Littrell got the swine flu after promoting the new album in Japan. This caused the group to cancel some events. In late October 2009, the group started the This Is Us Tour. It lasted over a year and had 123 shows.

The Backstreet Boys, including Kevin Richardson, filmed a part for The Oprah Winfrey Show on October 22, 2010. Kevin also performed with the group on the show. This was the second time he performed with them since he left.

2011–2012: NKOTBSB and Kevin Returns

In May 2011, the group announced they had left their record label, JIVE Records. In the same month, they went on a tour with New Kids on the Block. This joint tour was called NKOTBSB. Before the tour, they released an album of their greatest hits, also called NKOTBSB. The tour earned over $40 million. It lasted until June 2012, with 80 shows. Kevin Richardson joined the group on stage during a show in Los Angeles in July 2011.

Kevin Richardson hosted a beach party in the Bahamas on December 3, 2011. He performed with the group there. He had said he would love to "perform with the group again more often." This made people wonder if he would rejoin the group for good.

The Backstreet Boys finally announced that Kevin Richardson had rejoined them permanently. This happened during a show in London on April 29, 2012. The group was very happy to have him back. Kevin said they have a special connection.

In July 2012, the Backstreet Boys moved into a house together in London. They started working on a new album. On August 31, 2012, they performed in Central Park, New York. This was their first performance as a group of five since Kevin rejoined. They also announced their third fan cruise for October 2013. It was the first cruise with all five members.

Their first new song with Kevin's vocals in six years was a Christmas song. It was called "It's Christmas Time Again". It came out on November 6, 2012. The song reached number 1 on Billboard's Holiday Digital Songs chart.

2013–2015: 20th Anniversary and Documentary

The Backstreet Boys celebrated their 20th anniversary on April 20, 2013. They had a fan event in Hollywood. They received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame two days later. April 22, 2013, was declared Backstreet Boys Day in Hollywood.

In May 2013, the group started their 20th-anniversary tour, called In a World Like This Tour. The tour lasted over two years. It had over 170 shows around the world. It was one of the highest-earning tours in 2014.

"In a World Like This," the first song from their eighth album, was released on June 25, 2013. The album, also called In a World Like This, came out on July 30, 2013. It was the group's first independent album. It reached the top 5 in many countries. By January 2015, it had sold 800,000 copies. They released another song from the album, "Show 'Em (What You're Made Of)", in November 2013.

The group appeared in the 2013 movie This Is the End. They performed their song "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)". They won an award for "Best Musical Moment" at the 2014 MTV Movie Awards. In December 2013, they performed their Christmas songs at the "Christmas in Washington" TV special. The President of the United States, Barack Obama, was there.

Their documentary movie, Backstreet Boys: Show 'Em What You're Made Of, was released in theaters in January 2015. The movie tells their whole story up to their 2013 album.

On April 10, 2015, Kevin Richardson and Brian Littrell were honored in the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame.

2015–2020: Dead 7 Film, Las Vegas Shows, and DNA

In August 2015, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, and AJ McLean filmed a movie. Nick Carter wrote it, and it was called Dead 7. It was about a group fighting zombies. The movie came out on April 1, 2016.

In October 2015, AJ McLean said the group was working on their ninth album. They hoped to finish it before their next fan cruise in May 2016.

On April 1, 2016, Nick Carter said the group signed a deal for a concert series in Las Vegas. AJ McLean confirmed it, saying it would start in January 2017.

In July 2016, the group performed on ABC's Greatest Hits. On August 19, 2016, they released "God, Your Mama, and Me" with Florida Georgia Line. This song was their first time back on the Hot 100 chart since 2007.

On September 23, 2016, the Backstreet Boys confirmed their Vegas show. It was called Backstreet Boys: Larger Than Life. They performed 80 shows between March 1, 2017, and April 27, 2019.

The Backstreet Boys released their new song "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" on May 17, 2018. This was the first song from their new album. On November 9, they released "Chances". They also announced their ninth album, DNA, which came out on January 25, 2019. The group started the DNA World Tour on May 11, 2019. They had to stop the tour on March 15, 2020, because of the coronavirus pandemic. They rescheduled the dates for 2022.

On April 8, 2019, the band opened their exhibit at the Grammy Museum. It showed their tour outfits and childhood items. That same month, the group said they would release their first Christmas album. They also received keys to the Vegas strip.

In December 2020, Britney Spears released a song called "Matches" that featured the group.

2021–Present: DNA World Tour and 30th Anniversary

The Backstreet Boys performing in Sydney, Australia in March 2023

Because their tour was delayed, the Backstreet Boys started working on their first Christmas album in March 2021. They announced a holiday show in Las Vegas for November and December 2021. However, the album was delayed, and the holiday shows were canceled.

The Backstreet Boys started their DNA tour again in April 2022. It will finish in May 2023. On February 23, 2022, the group announced four shows in Las Vegas to start the DNA world tour.

On June 24, 2022, the Backstreet Boys held a virtual concert for users in China. It was watched by 44.2 million viewers. This was the highest audience for an international artist on that platform.

In October 2022, the group released their first holiday album, A Very Backstreet Christmas. It reached number 17 on the US Billboard 200 charts. The first song from the album, "Last Christmas," hit number 1 on the Billboard AC charts.

Their Music Style and Impact

The Backstreet Boys are proud to be a vocal harmony group. They often sang a cappella (without instruments) to show their real singing talent. They wanted to be like vocal groups such as Boyz II Men. Brian Littrell said they saw themselves as "true vocal groups."

The Backstreet Boys often use polyphonic harmony. This means different voices sing different melodies at the same time. This makes their sound special. Brian, Nick, and AJ usually sing the main melody. Howie sings higher harmonies, and Kevin sings the lower parts.

Their music style has changed over time. Their first albums mixed R&B and dance-pop. With Millennium and Black & Blue, they moved more towards pop and pop rock. Songs like "I Want It That Way" show this change.

In 2005, they changed their style a lot with Never Gone. This album used only live instruments. It was more "organic" and had fewer synthesizers. Their first album without Kevin, Unbreakable, was similar. It had interwoven harmonies, piano, and guitars.

With This Is Us, they went back to dance-pop and electropop. It also had more R&B. Their first independent album, In a World Like This, mixed modern pop, adult contemporary, and dance music. On DNA, they combined their harmony-driven pop sound with R&B, country, funk, and EDM.

Other Projects and Deals

The Backstreet Boys have worked with many companies. The second part of their Into the Millennium Tour was sponsored by Sears. This included TV ads and a contest where fans could win a shopping spree with a band member.

Nick Carter, who liked comics, met comic book writer Stan Lee in 2000. Nick told Lee about his idea for a comic book series. It would feature the Backstreet Boys as superheroes called "Cyber Crusaders." They made one comic book called Backstreet Project. It was sold at their concerts and online.

In January 2000, the Backstreet Boys made a deal with Burger King. This included exclusive CDs with new songs and live performances. It also had a VHS tape with behind-the-scenes footage. Later, the deal included TV commercials and toys in kids' meals.

In August 2012, the Backstreet Boys starred in an Old Navy commercial. Kevin Richardson said it was a good way to show people they were back. They also performed at an Old Navy event in New York.

In March 2014, the group filmed commercials for a Swedish company called NetOnNet. They even recorded a song called "Lager Than Life," which was a new version of "Larger Than Life."

During Super Bowl LIII in 2019, the band was in a commercial for Doritos with Chance the Rapper. In 2022, the Backstreet Boys started appearing in commercials for Downy detergent.

Band Members

• AJ McLean (1993–present)
• Howie Dorough (1993–present)
• Nick Carter (1993–present)
• Kevin Richardson (1993–2006, 2012–present)
• Brian Littrell (1993–present)

Albums (Discography)

• Backstreet Boys (1996)
• Backstreet's Back (1997)
• Millennium (1999)
• Black & Blue (2000)
• Never Gone (2005)
• Unbreakable (2007)
• This Is Us (2009)
• In a World Like This (2013)
• DNA (2019)
• A Very Backstreet Christmas (2022)

Movies and TV Shows (Filmography)

Awards and Recognition

The group has been nominated for nine Grammy Awards. They received five nominations in 2000. They have also won two American Music Awards, five Billboard Music Awards, two MTV Video Music Awards, a Juno Award, and many more.

Charity Work

The Backstreet Boys have supported many charities. These include Children's Miracle Network, City of Hope, Kids Wish, Live Together, and Lupus LA. In April 2022, they gave $25,000 to a young band called First Day of School. This money was for the young band to donate to their favorite charities. Individually, members also give to charities. For example, Nick Carter hosted a holiday dinner for Home for the Holidays.

Concert Tours

Main Tours

• We Wanna Be with You Tour (1995–1996)
• Backstreet Boys: Live in Concert Tour (1996–1997)
• Backstreet's Back Tour (1997–1998)
• Into the Millennium Tour (1999–2000)
• Black & Blue World Tour (2001)
• Never Gone Tour (2005–2006)
• Unbreakable Tour (2008–2009)
• This Is Us Tour (2009–2011)
• In a World Like This Tour (2013–2015)
• DNA World Tour (2019–2023)

Tours with Other Artists

• NKOTBSB Tour with New Kids on the Block (2011–2012)

Las Vegas Shows

• Backstreet Boys: Larger Than Life (2017–2019)

Promotional Tours

• Round the World in 100 Hours (2000)
• Up Close & Personal Tour (2005)

Collaborations

• Smooth Tour with Florida Georgia Line, Nelly and Chris Lane (2017, some dates)

See also

In Spanish: Backstreet Boys para niños

• List of best-selling music artists
• List of best-selling boybands
• List of best-selling music artists in the United States
• List of best-selling albums in the United States
• List of best-selling albums