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| {{About|the band|their self-titled album|Backstreet Boys (album)}} | |||
| {{Infobox musical artist | |||
| | Name = Backstreet Boys | |||
| | Img = Backstreet Boys Concert 2.jpg | |||
| | Img capt = Backstreet Boys | |||
| | Img size = | |||
| | Landscape = | |||
| | Background = group or band | |||
| | Alias = | |||
| | Origin = ], United States | |||
| | Genre = ]<br/> ]<br/> ] <br/> ]<ref name="genre">{{cite web|title=allmusic ((( Backstreet Boys > Overview )))|url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:wjfqxq8gldfe|accessdate=2008-08-23}}</ref><br />]<ref name="genre" /><br/> | |||
| | Years_active = 1993–present | |||
| | Label = ] | |||
| | URL = | |||
| | Current_members = ] <br />] <br />] <br />] | |||
| | Past_members = ] | |||
| | | |||
| }} | |||
| '''Backstreet Boys''' are an American ], formed in ] in 1993. The band originaly consisted of ], ], ], ] and ]. In 2006 Richardson left the group to pursue other interests leaving the band as a four-piece,<ref name="Kevin">People.com (2006). . Retrieved October 16, 2006. </ref> but the remaining members didn't rule out a possible return of the singer.<ref></ref> | |||
| The band has released 7 studio albums to date and has sold over 130 million records worldwide,<ref name="Backstreet Boys Back in Seoul in February">{{cite web |url=http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2010/01/143_58459.html|title=Backstreet Boys Back in Seoul in February|publisher=]|accessdate=2010-01-13|date=2010-01-05}}</ref> making them one of the biggest selling groups of all time. According to the US ], the Backstreet Boys is the first artist since ] to have each of their albums reach top 10 on the chart.<ref name="billboard1">{{cite web|author=Up for DiscussionPost Comment |url=http://www.billboard.com/album/backstreet-boys/never-gone/717756#/column-chartbeat/chart-beat-thursday-michael-buble-michael-1004022719.story |title=Never Gone – Backstreet Boys |publisher=Billboard.com |date=2005-07-02 |accessdate=2009-10-19}}</ref> | |||
| ==History== | |||
| ===Formation and early years: 1992–1994=== | |||
| ], who had been inspired by ] in 1989, decided to create his own clean-cut boy band. After newspaper advertisements and auditions from June 1992 to early 1993, he recruited ] in August 1992, ] in October, and ] in December, who eventually met each other in several auditions and became friends.<ref name="The Backstreet Boys Get Their Start">{{cite web|url=http://www.kidzworld.com/article/211-backstreet-boys-biography|title=The Backstreet Boys Get Their Start|publisher=Kidzworld.com, Inc.}}</ref> Following the departure of three previous members, Burk Parsons (pursued a career in ]), Sam Licata (later performing as Phoenix Stone) and Charles Edwards, ] came on board in March 1993. He met the other guys through a co-worker,<ref name="Backstreet Boys Biography:">{{cite web|url=http://www.starpulse.com/Music/Backstreet_Boys/Biography/|publisher=StarPulse.com|title=BSB Biography}}</ref> and the four decided to form a group, naming themselves after an Orlando flea market.<ref>{{cite web|last=Burrough|first=Bryan|date=November2007|url=http://www.vanityfair.com/fame/features/2007/11/pearlman200711?currentPage=3|title=Mad About the Boys|publisher=]}}</ref> The group took its final member on April 9, 1993, when Brian Littrell, Richardson's cousin, joined the group after a phone audition.<ref></ref> Pearlman had spent around $3.5 million of fraudulently obtained money (he has been convicted of operating a ] during this time frame) on his search to form the group, and then spent more to launch their career.<ref>The Fat Man Sings</ref> They officially became a group on April 19, 1993. | |||
| Afterward Pearlman called on Bob Curiano to write and produce for the Backstreet Boys. Their first concert, on July 8, 1993, was performed for 3,000 teenagers at ] in ]. Pearlman booked them at grade-school assemblies and shopping malls, and assigned management duties to ] and Donna Wright,<ref name="Full Biography">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/backstreet_boys/artist.jhtml#bio|title= Full Biography|publisher=]}}</ref> the former of whom had previously worked with ]. The Wrights organized performances for the group and invited several A&R representatives to the shows, which resulted in having a contract with ] in 1994.<ref name="Backstreet Boys' Biography on Billboard">{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100#/artist/backstreet-boys/bio/171765|title=Backstreet Boys' Biography on Billboard|publisher=]|accessdate=2010-01-24}}</ref> Jive introduced the Backstreet Boys with such producers as Veit Renn and Tim Allen who helped them with their first album.<ref name="Backstreet Boys' Biography on Billboard"/> The album was released throughout Europe and enjoyed rather big success spending many consecutive weeks on the Top-10 charts in most countries.<ref name="Backstreet Boys' Biography on Billboard"/> In the first few months of recording for Jive Records, they worked mainly at studios located in Florida. In June 1995, they were sent to ], ] for a week to record at ] with producers ] and ]. | |||
| ===Rise to stardom: 1995-1998=== | |||
| The first single that was chosen to be released was ] which was released in September 5, 1995. The song was a minor success in the States peaking at only No. 69,<ref name="Backstreet Boys' US singles chart-positions">{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100#/artist/backstreet-boys/chart-history/171765|title=Backstreet Boys' US singles chart-positions|publisher=]|accessdate=2010-01-24}}</ref> the single; however, enjoyed quite a success in Europe entering the top-5 in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France and the Netherlands.<ref name="Backstreet Boys' German singles chart-positions">{{cite web |url=http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/BACKSTREET+BOYS/?type=single|title=Backstreet Boys' German singles chart-positions|publisher=Musicline.de]|accessdate=2010-01-24}}</ref><ref name="Backstreet Boys' European chart-positions on We've Got It Going On ">{{cite web |url=http://www.swisscharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Backstreet+Boys&titel=We%27ve+Got+It+Goin%27+On&cat=s|title=Backstreet Boys' European chart-positions on We've Got It Going On |publisher=swisscharts.com|accessdate=2010-01-24}}</ref>. European success sent them on a summer tour there and shifted the Backstreet Boys' promotion being mostly done in Europe. They finished recording their first album '']'' in April 1996 and filmed their second music video, ] in Germany. On May 6, 1996, their debut album was released internationally, with an exception of the US and the Canadian markets. It was later released in Canada on February 1, 1997.<ref name="Backstreet Boys' Canadian albums chart-positions">{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100#/artist/backstreet-boys/chart-history/171765?f=309&g=Albums|title=Backstreet Boys' US singles chart-positions|publisher=]|accessdate=2010-01-24}}</ref> | |||
| European popularity grew and the Backstreet Boys kicked off 1996 being voted the No. 1 international group by TV viewers in Germany, in the meantime, "I'll Never Break Your Heart" reached a Gold status there for selling 250,000 units.<ref name="Gold/Platin-Datenbank">{{cite web |urlhttp://www.musikindustrie.de/gold_platin_datenbank0/|title= | |||
| Gold/Platin-Datenbank|publisher=Bundesverband Musickindusrie (IFPI Germany) ]|accessdate=2010-01-24}}</ref> The group earned their first platinum record in Germany for selling 500,000 units and toured Asia and Canada.<ref name="Gold/Platin-Datenbank"/> They became one of the most successful debut artists in the world. | |||
| The Backstreet Boys began recording their second album '']'' in January 1997, releasing the first single "Quit Playing Games With My Heart" in June. They also recorded the song, "]", for the ] soundtrack in January 1997. While the album ''Backstreet's Back'' was released internationally (with an exception of the US market) in August 1997, their self-titled U.S. debut, which consisted of songs from ''Backstreet's Back'' and the previous self-titled international version of ''Backstreet Boys'', was released in U.S. on February 1, 1998.<ref name="Backstreet Boys' US albums chart-positions">{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100#/artist/backstreet-boys/chart-history/171765?f=305&g=Albums|title=Backstreet Boys' US albums chart-positions|publisher=]|accessdate=2010-01-24}}</ref> | |||
| The U.S. self-titled debut peaked at No. 4 on the U.S. album chart, which eventually sold 14 million copies at their home.<ref name="Backstreet Boys' Biography on Billboard"/> Meanwhile, the second international release ''Backstreet's Back'' had already peaked at No. 1 in Germany, Norway, Switzerland, Finland, the Netherlands, Belgium and Austria,<ref name="Backstreet Boys' German albums chart-positions">{{cite web |url=http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/BACKSTREET+BOYS/?type=longplay|title=Backstreet Boys' German albums chart-positions|publisher=Musicline.de]|accessdate=2010-01-24}}</ref><ref name="Backstreet Boys' European chart-positions on Backstreet's Back ">{{cite web |url=http://www.swisscharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Backstreet+Boys&titel=Backstreet%27s+Back&cat=a|title=Backstreet Boys' European chart-positions on Backstreet's Back |publisher=swisscharts.com|accessdate=2010-01-24}}</ref> selling well over five million units in Europe alone.<ref name="IFPI (Europe) Certification-awards 1998">{{cite web |url=http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_news/plat1998.html|title=IFPI (Europe) Certification-awards 1998|publisher=IFPI]|accessdate=2010-01-24}}</ref> The two self-titled albums, the international version and the U.S. version of ''Backstreet Boys'' sold more than 28 million copies worldwide, 14 million of which were sold in U.S.<ref name="Backstreet Boys To Tape Concert Special As New Single, Album Prepare For Release">{{cite web |url=http://www.livedaily.com/news/Backstreet_Boys_To_Tape_Concert_Special_As_New_Single_Album_Prepare_For_Release-25.html|title=Backstreet Boys To Tape Concert Special As New Single, Album Prepare For Release|publisher=Musicline.de]|accessdate=2010-01-24|date=199-04-05}}</ref> | |||
| In 1997 the band brought a lawsuit against ], as he was taking an unusually high percentage of the profits made by the band, leaving the Boys barely enough to survive after credits to writers and performers were given separately. The case was settled in 1998.<ref name="Kevin">. Retrieved June 26, 2006.</ref> After the band hired a new manager team called "The Firm", they sued Pearlman several more times, until he renegotiated the settlement on terms more favorable to the band. | |||
| ===Further commercial success: 1999-2001=== | |||
| Work on ''Millennium'' began in September 1998, with recording taking place from October 3, 1998 to early March 1999 in multiple cities. ''Millennium '' entered the Billboard 200 at #1, where it remained for 10 non-consecutive weeks. It sold 1,134,000 copies in its first week of release.<ref name="Britney Scores Second Best Soundscan Week">{{cite web |url=http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/miscellaneous-retail-retail-stores-not/4603413-1.html|title=Britney Scores Second Best Soundscan Week|publisher=AllBusiness|accessdate=2010-01-18|date=2000-05-24}}</ref> Four singles were released from ''Millennium'': "I Want It That Way", "]", "Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely", and "The One". | |||
| ''Millennium'' became the best-selling album of 1999 in the U.S., selling 9,445,732 albums.<ref></ref> ''Millennium'' remained on the Billboard chart for 93 weeks, eventually selling over 12 million copies in the United States and being certified 13 times platinum.<ref name=" 2009 U.S. Music Purchases up 2.1% over 2008; Music Sales Exceed 1.5 Billion for Second Consecutive Year ">{{cite web |url=http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20100106007077&newsLang=en|title= 2009 U.S. Music Purchases up 2.1% over 2008; Music Sales Exceed 1.5 Billion for Second Consecutive Year |publisher=businesswire.com|accessdate=2010-01-18|date=2000-05-24}}</ref><ref name="Search Result: Backstreet Boys ">{{cite web |url=http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=2&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=Backstreet%20Boys&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2010&sort=Artist&perPage=25|title= Search Result: Backstreet Boys |publisher=]|accessdate=2010-01-18|date=2000-05-24}}</ref> As of the end of December 2008, the album stands as the fourth best selling album in the US of the SoundScan era.<ref name=" 2009 U.S. Music Purchases up 2.1% over 2008; Music Sales Exceed 1.5 Billion for Second Consecutive Year "/> In 2003 it was also reported as being the fourth biggest seller for Music Club sales in the US over the past 14 years with sales of 1.59 million. In Canada, the album is seventh biggest selling album since 1995 in the Canadian Soundscan sales era up to end of December 2007. | |||
| Millennium was honored with five 1999 Grammy Award nominations including "Album of the Year." Also "I Want It That Way" was rated number three on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 90's. Also by the end of 1999, the Backstreet Boys faced new problems declaring their current Jive contract null and void, soon striking one of the largest record deals ever valued at $60 million with Jive.<ref></ref> | |||
| In November 2000, the group released a new album, '']'', that recorded the best international sales in a week for album in history by selling over 5 million copies in its first week of sales, achieving platinum status in over 30 countries and gold certification in 10 regions around the world during its first week of release. Despite the excellent sales, Black and Blue never matched up to the hype that their first two albums made. The first single off the album was "Shape of My Heart," followed by "The Call" and "More Than That." ''Black & Blue'' sold 24 million albums worldwide. In the first week of release, ''Black & Blue'''s first single "Shape of My Heart" was played on 170 out of 171 of the Top 40 stations in the U.S. and peaked at #9 on the ].Meanwhile overseas, the song immediately jumped into the Top Five in Sweden (#1), Norway (#1), Canada (#1), Germany (#1), Switzerland (#1), Austria and Holland (#1). Towards the end of 2000, the album's second single made the Top 10 in the UK and the third single "]" made the Top 20. | |||
| In 2001, the Backstreet Boys kicked off the first leg of their "]", in which they were to perform on five continents. The tour also had extremely expensive production costs. The second leg of "The Black & Blue Tour" was put on hold when it was reported that A.J. McLean had checked himself into rehab to battle alcoholism, cocaine addiction and depression after Richardson had held an intervention for him at a Boston hotel.<ref name="Backstreet Boys' Kevin Richardson talks about bandmate A.J. McLean">{{cite web |url=http://www.allpop.com/AllPop-BackstreetBoys/010710_postponed-sun.html|title=Backstreet Boys' Kevin Richardson talks about bandmate A.J. McLean|publisher=all pop music|accessdate=2010-01-18|date=2001-07-10}}</ref> | |||
| '']'', released on October 30, 2001 was a collection of the Backstreet Boys's classic hits and one new song, "Drowning". Originally, the Backstreet Boys didn't want to release a Greatest Hits album feeling it was far too early, but were forced to do so by their management label. The album peaked at #5 in the ], #5 in the], #4 in ] and ] and number one in ] and ].The album has sold over 14 million copies to date becoming the biggest selling compilation album by a ] and the ninth biggest selling boy band album. | |||
| ===Hiatus, comeback and Kevin's departure: 2002–2006=== | |||
| In 2002, the band expressed a strong desire to leave their management company, The Firm.<ref></ref> Nick Carter chose to remain with The Firm to manage his solo career. It became apparent that this was reason for their lack of resistance to the Backstreet Boys moving on and this unexpected move forced the band to take a break. The relationship with ] worsened when the Backstreet Boys filed a $75–100 million lawsuit against ] (Jive's parent company) claiming breach of contract.<ref></ref> The group stated the label promoted Nick Carter's solo album ''Now or Never'' at the expense of the group who wanted to promote their fourth album. According to the suit, in November 1999, the Backstreet Boys revised their 1994 contract and committed to releasing two further albums for Zomba. In exchange for delivering them on time as part of a predetermined schedule, the group would receive multiple non-returnable payments that would serve as advances against future royalties. | |||
| In December 2003, A.J. McLean appeared on the ] where he talked for the first time in public about his addiction to alcohol and drugs, and his struggles rising to fame. The rest of the band surprised him by arriving in person to give him support, marking the first time the Backstreet Boys had appeared together in public in almost two years. The band began to reform and reconcile their differences to start recording a comeback album. | |||
| In 2004, the Backstreet Boys started performing together to promote their return to the music scene. In September they kicked-off a small Asian tour, visiting ], ], ] and ]. Based on the success of this tour, they announced a ] tour, visiting ] and ] and performing all new material. | |||
| After a three-year hiatus, their single, "]", was released to radio stations on March 28, 2005. On June 14, 2005, the Backstreet Boys released their comeback album '']'', which they spent more than a year recording. The album debuted at #3 on the ] chart with first week sales of 291,000 copies, and #1 debuts in ], ], ], Germany, India, ], ] and ]. ''Never Gone'' was certified ] in the US and four singles were released from the album. Their first single was "]", the second single was "]", and the third singles were "]" for the US and "]" internationally. ''Never Gone'' has sold approximately 10 million copies worldwide.<ref></ref> | |||
| Backstreet Boys' second single "]" hit the top 10 in the ], but was not as successful in the United States. It was one of the group's weakest performing U.S. singles, only peaking at #70 on the ]. The third international single "]" debuted at #1 on the Japan International Singles Chart. The third ] single, "]" peaked at #15 on the ]. | |||
| In June 2006, Richardson left the Backstreet Boys to pursue other interests, issuing a statement on band's website on June 23, 2006. <ref>Backstreet Boys – the Official Site (2006). . Retrieved June 23, 2006.</ref> | |||
| ===As a four-piece: 2007–present=== | |||
| The Backstreet Boys' sixth album '']'', was officially launched on October 30, 2007. It was their first effort since Richardson's departure. While the album had received positive reviews, it did not perform as well as its predecessor, '']''. '']'' opened at #7 on ], selling 81,000 copies in its first week of release.<ref></ref> Two weeks after its debut, the album dropped out of the top 100. However, it performed well in Japan, debuting #1 on the Japanese ] weekly album charts and staying there for another week. | |||
| On July 25, 2007, the first single was confirmed as "]," a piano-driven ] similar to ]'s "]." It reached #21 on the US Adult Contemporary Charts, but managed only #86 on the Billboard Hot 100. "]" was the next single to be released from ''Unbreakable''. It only managed to reach #52 in the US Adult Contemporary charts and in turn failed to reach the Billboard Hot 100 charts. | |||
| The group went on a 45 date World tour to promote ''Unbreakable'' in Tokyo, Japan on February 16, 2008. Dates were confirmed for the tour being titled the ] in Australia, Japan, Mexico, UK, Europe, Asia, Canada and The United States. They recorded a tour DVD in London's ] which can be seen on ], but has yet to be released. Richardson rejoined the rest of the band in Los Angeles at the Palladium in Hollywood on November 23, 2008 for the last North American stop of the Unbreakable Tour.<ref></ref> | |||
| In 2009, the group began working on a new album that was released on October 6, 2009, called '']''.<ref></ref> and were confirmed to be working with ],<ref></ref>, ] singer ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], many others.<ref></ref> | |||
| It was announced on the official website that Sony would be releasing a second Backstreet Boys greatest hits album on January 26th 2010. The compilation is titled '']'' and is part of a series of similar Playlist albums issued by Sony Legacy. | |||
| ==Solo work== | |||
| {{main|Nick Carter (musician)|Brian Littrell|A.J. McLean|Howie Dorough}} | |||
| ==Discography== | |||
| {{Main|Backstreet Boys discography}} | |||
| * '']'' (1996) | |||
| * '']'' (1997) | |||
| * '']'' (1999) | |||
| * '']'' (2000) | |||
| * '']'' (2005) | |||
| * '']'' (2007) | |||
| * '']'' (2009) | |||
| ==Awards== | |||
| {{Main|List of Backstreet Boys awards}} | |||
| ==Tours== | |||
| * ] (1995–1996) | |||
| * ] (1996–1997) | |||
| * ] (1997–1998) | |||
| * ] (1999–2000) | |||
| * ] (2000–2001) | |||
| * ] (March/April 2005) | |||
| * ] (2005–2006) | |||
| * ] (2008–2009) | |||
| * ] (2009– Spring 2010) | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| ==References== | |||
| <div class="reflist4" style="height: 250px; overflow: auto; padding: 3px" > | |||
| {{reflist|2}} | |||
| </div> | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| * {{official|http://www.backstreetboys.com}} | |||
| * {{myspace|backstreetboys}} | |||
| {{Backstreet Boys}} | |||
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