The Backstreet Boys is one of the most popular boy bands of all time. Some of their most popular hits include “Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)”, “All I Have to Give”, and “I Want It That Way.” Where are they now in 2024?
Their Early Years
AJ McLean and Howie Dorough had the same vocal coach. They later befriended Nick Carter and together, they formed a trio after realizing that they could perform together. In 1992, McLean responded to an ad in a newspaper- one that was seeking performers for a vocal group. After a successful audition, he became their first member.
Dorough eventually joined, followed by cousins Brian Littrell and Kevin Richardson, the latter of whom had flown to Orlando after receiving the call. The group, later known as the Backstreet Boys, formally came together on April 20th.th
A month later, they performed for the first time at SeaWorld Orlando. They also performed at charity galas, restaurants, and shopping malls. Not only that, but they also toured various schools across the country in hopes of building a fan base.
Their hard work eventually paid off. In February 1994, they were offered their first record deal by David Renzer and Jeff Fenster of Zomba Records, who had seen their performance at a Cleveland high school. The group subsequently flew to Sweden where they began recording various songs with Dennis PoP and Max Martin. The first single, “We’ve Got It Going’” was later completed in 1995 and soon made its way to the radio. It was also given a physical release on September 5, 1995. A minor hit, it reached number 69 in the U.S. and also charted within the top 5 in France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Germany.
The Backstreet Boys’ International Debut
The group went on to release their debut album, Backstreet Boys, on May 6, 1996. Produced by Max Martin, Denniz PoP, and Kristian Ludin, it featured 13 tracks including “We’ve Got It Goin’ On”, “Quit Playing’ Games (With My Heart)”, “Let’s Have a Party”, “Roll With It” and “Nobody But You.” It also spawned five singles, all of which were commercial hits.
As for the album, it peaked at number 12 in the UK and topped the charts in Austria, Canada, Germany, Hungary, Malaysia, Switzerland, and Taiwan. It also charted in Belgium, Finland, Sweden, New Zealand, Norway, Japan, and several other countries. By the end of the year, they had become one of the best-selling new artists in the world.
Continuing to record, they eventually dropped their next studio album, Backstreet’s Back, on August 11, 1997. Their second international release, it consisted of 11 tracks and spawned three singles including “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)”, “All I Have to Give”, and “As Long As You Love Me.” Another commercial hit, it peaked at number one in Norway, Belgium, Finland, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands. Not only that, but it also sold more than five million copies in Europe.
That same year, the group embarked on their first concert tour- Backstreet’s Back Tour- which began on December 27, 1997. A year-long tour, it included many performances across North America, South America, and Europe. During the tour, Littrell also underwent heart surgery to correct a congenital defect. As a result, the group postponed a couple of show dates. Fortunately, he was able to rejoin the tour after a few weeks.
Their next album, Millennium, was released on May 18, 1999, through Jive Records. Their first album to be released in the same form in the US and internationally, it included 12 tracks including “No One Else Comes Close”, “Larger Than Life”, “The One”, “The Perfect Fan”, and “Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely.” To promote the album, the group also hit the road for the Into the Millennium Tour, which included 123 shows.
Another commercial success, the album entered the US Billboard 200 at number one, where it remained for a total of ten weeks. It also topped the music charts in Taiwan, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Portugal, Italy, and several other countries. Not only that, but it also received five Grammy Award nominations. To date, it remains one of the best-selling albums of all time, with more than 24 million copies sold.
After a trip to the Bahamas, the group released their fourth album, Black & Blue, on November 21, 2000. A mix of country, hip-hop, rock, and R&B, it featured 13 tracks including “More Than That”, “Get Another Boyfriend”, “The Call”, “Shining Star”, and “Time.” To promote the project, the group traveled around the world in 100 hours and made numerous public appearances.
Praised for its dance numbers and ballads, the album debuted at the top of the US Billboard 200 chart with more than 1.6 million copies sold in the first week; it also performed well internationally with over 5 million copies sold.
The following year, they performed the national anthem at the Super Bowl XXXV. They also embarked on the Black & Blue Tour, which included 110 shows in five continents, and released their first compilation album, The Hits – Chapter One. It would go on to chart within the top 5 in the U.S., Canada, Germany, and the UK.
Hiatus and Eventual Comeback
In 2002, the group left their management company. Carter, however, chose to stay. As a result, they began recording their next project without him. They also filed a lawsuit against their recording company, claiming beach of contract.
Their hiatus ultimately continued until 2003. That year, McClean appeared on television to talk about his addictions. To his surprise, the rest of the group also showed up; this marked the first time that the band appeared in public together in nearly two years. They later reconciled and began working on a comeback album.
Titled, Never Gone, the album was eventually released on June 14, 2005. Unlike their previous releases, it featured only live instruments. Preceded by the single, “Incomplete”, which debuted at number one in Australia, it consisted of 12 tracks (14 in the tour edition), including “Poster Girl”, “Never Gone”, “Safest Place to Hide”, and “Just Want You to Know.”
In the United States, the album entered the Billboard 200 at number three with more than 290,000 copies sold during the first week. It also charted within the top 5 in Greece, Canada, Austria, Mexico, Spain, and Sweden, among a few other countries. They also began travelling for their Never Gone Tour, which ran until February 2, 2006.
Shortly afterward, Richardson left the group to pursue solo projects.
Opting not to find a new member, the group released their next album, Unbreakable, on October 30, 2007. As with their previous albums, it was met with positive reviews upon its release. It also debuted on the US Billboard 200 chart at number seven. Not only that, but it also performed well in Spain, Japan, Germany, and Canada. By 2008, the album had spawned two singles, “Helpless When She Smiles” and “Inconsolable”, the former of which had been leaked on the internet previously.
They also went on another world tour to promote the album, which included shows in Mexico, Australia, Canada, Asia, the UK, Japan, and the US. And to everyone’s surprise, Richardson rejoined the group on stage during their last stop in North America.
Their seventh album, This Is Us, followed in 2009. Unlike their previous album, it went back to their original dance-pop beats and featured more R&B tracks. In the U.S., it peaked at number nine and sold more than 42,000 copies within the first week. It also charted in the UK, Switzerland, Japan, Canada, Brazil, Ireland, and Italy. I
And like before, they supported the album with another concert tour, which continued for over a year, from October 30, 2009, to March 26, 2011.
Richardson’s Return to the Backstreet Boys
In 2011, they went on a joint tour with the boy band, New Kids on the Block and like before, Richardson joined them on stage. They also released a compilation album titled, NKOTBSB, which included a couple of new songs as well as a mash-up.
A few months later, Richardson hosted a beach party in the Bahamas, where the performed with the rest of the members. He also stated that he would love to perform with them again, which led many to speculate that he would be rejoining the group.
The suspicions were ultimately confirmed during a show in 2012. The group later revealed that Richardson had actually rejoined them in 2010, though he opted not to participate in the tour as a regular member. They subsequently moved into a house together, where they began working on their next studio album.
They also performed in Central Park, New York, for Good Morning America’s Summer Concert Series, which was their first time performing together as a fivesome since Richardson’s return.
Their eighth album, In a World Like This, eventually came out on July 30, 2013. Released under its own label, it reached the top five in Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Taiwan, Switzerland, Canada, and the U.S., It also spawned two singles – “In a World Like This”, and “Show ‘Em (What You’re Made Of)”. And once again, they hit the road for a concert tour to promote the album.
What are the Backstreet Boys Doing Now in 2024 – Recent Updates
In 2019, the Backstreet Boys released their ninth studio album, DNA. A collaboration with RCA Records and their own record label, it featured tracks a number of pop tracks including “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”, “Just Like You Like It”, “Is It Just Me”, “New Love”, and “Chances.” In the United States, it debuted at number one, making it their third album to achieve such a feat.
To promote the album, the group also embarked on their eleventh concert tour, which consisted of more than 150 shows in the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Australia. However, it was ultimately cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
They have since rescheduled the remaining shows for 2022 and 2023 (after previously rescheduling for 2021). As of now, it’s scheduled to continue until March 11, 2013, in Auckland, New Zealand.
That’s not all, they’ve also revealed that they’re working on their first holiday album, which will be titled, A Very Backstreet Christmas. For those who are interested, you can pre-order it from their official website.
Outside of the band, the members have also been pursuing individual projects.
What Is AJ McLean Up To?
McLean recently competed on the 29th season of Dancing with the Stars, which premiered on September 14, 2020. He and his professional partner, Cheryl Burke, ultimately finished in seventh place after being eliminated during the eighth episode. That same year, he launched his own nail polish line, which was inspired by his daughters. He has also been completely sober and has been following a strict grain-free, plant-based diet since 2020.
What Is Howie Dorough Doing in 2024?
Dorough released his third solo album, Which One Am I, in 2019, which spawned the singles “No Hablo Espanol”, “Monsters in My Head”, and “The Me I’m Meant to Be”. He also starred in a musical titled, Howie D: Back In The Day, which is based loosely on his life. That’s not all, he also made appearances in the reality shows, Dirty Dancing, and Long Island Medium: There in Spirit.
What Is Nick Carter Up To?
In 2020, Carter appeared in the fourth season of The Mask Singer, where he competed as “The Crocodile.” He also appeared on Dancing with the Stars, Good Morning America, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and Entertainment Tonight. More recently in 2021, he and his wife welcomed their third child, a daughter named Pearl. They also have a son named Odin and an older daughter named Saoirse.
Where is Kevin Richardson in 2024?
Richardson recently appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show with the rest of the Backstreet Boys. He also made an appearance in the TV special, The Most Magical Story on Earth: 50 Years of Walt Disney World.
While he has recorded several singles for a solo album, they have not yet been released as of 2024.
What’s Brian Littrell Up To?
In 2019, Littrell performed a DNA heritage test, which revealed his ancestry to be 90% British Isles, 2% Scandinavian, and 7% Finnish.
In terms of his solo music career, he hasn’t released any new albums since Christmas with the Littrells in 2011. It’s currently unknown whether or not he’ll be recording any new solo singles.
