Anyone following The Backstreet Boys for the past 15 years probably figured they had a one in a million chance of seeing the American pop foursome perform in St. John's.
But even though they're doing shows here July 29 and 30, not everyone was able to get tickets, leaving some die-hard fans inconsolable.
Some people lined up at Mile One Centre early the day the tickets went on sale so they wouldn't be in a panic if phone lines and computers were overloaded.
The Backstreet Boys have attracted fans worldwide, and tickets disappeared faster than you'd drop a hot cinder.
According to concert promoters, the boys (Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell and A. J. McLean - original band member Kevin Richardson amicably parted ways with the band in 2006) have sold more than 75 million albums and have scored a dozen Top 40 hits, including Top 5 singles "Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)," "As Long As You Love Me," "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" and "All I Have To Give."
Special guests for both St. John's shows will be American pop girl group, Girlicious.
The band's performances in St. John's are part of its Unbreakable World Tour.
Following is a recent interview 30-year-old A.J. (Alexander James) McLean did with the Telegram.
Q: What can Backstreet Boys fans expect when the band performs in St. John's?
A: Definitely a lot of energy from start to finish. The show is actually a really fun show. We kind of went back to the Backstreet Boys that everybody knows. ... It's about 85 per cent dancing. There are four solos - one from each of us where we get a chance to use the stage on our own to show and share some of our solo music from upcoming records. You'll hear all of the hits as well as much of the "Unbreakable" CD. There are some twists and turns here and there. Some really cool remakes of some of the old songs. ... We're really excited about the tour and we're really anxious to bring it over there.
Q: You've spent the last several months performing solo in Europe. How does it feel to be on stage alone compared to performing with the other Backstreet Boys?
A: It's definitely different. Initially when I first did it I was a little anxious. I was a little nervous. I was looking behind me, over my shoulder, kind of expecting the other fellows to be there. But ... for me, just being on stage - whether I'm with the guys or I'm on my own - it's where I really, truly belong. ... So I felt great, honestly. It's where I'm most comfortable and most happy.
Q: Are you still expecting to release a solo album in November?
A: We're looking to have a single out hopefully around October or November and then probably have the album out the top of the year; then a tour to follow.
Q: What can you say about your charitable work?
A: I had a charity called the JNN (Johnny No-Name) Foundation that I actually dissolved about four years ago. I'm really trying to find a new charity that deals with animals, especially raising more awareness to have a lot more no-kill shelters built. I'm just trying to find the right organization to team up with. Once that happens I'll be moving full steam ahead with that.
Q: One of the tracks on your new solo album will be a song you've written called "Sincerely Yours." You've described it as a message towards your dad for not being there for you. (McLean was raised by his mother, Denise McLean). You sang that song in Paris recently when your dad was in the audience. How did that feel?
A: It was actually very therapeutic. Initially it was kind of nerve-wracking to know he was there. I pretty much gave the exact same speech that I would give before that song in every show that I'd done on my tour. And I wasn't going to change it. I wasn't going to candy coat it because my dad was there. I definitely wanted him to hear exactly how I felt. ... I briefly spoke to him before the show and kind of gave him a little head's-up about it. He had never heard the song, so it was even more of a shock for him. ... It was pretty difficult to do I but it felt great afterwards. I got through it with flying colours and I felt like this huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
Q: Are fans the same no matter where you perform?
A: They vary from country to country, from city to city. ... Fans that have never seen us before are usually a little bit crazier than those that have. It should be fun. Hopefully we'll have a little bit of time to go and explore the city and enjoy our time there. ... Hopefully, we can get out, spread our wings and have some fun.
Q: You've made a name for yourself as the bad Backstreet Boy. You've been on "Oprah" talking about your alcoholism and drug abuse. Do you think you can use your personal experience to help others who might be struggling with a major issue in their lives?
A: I would love to be able to. ... I struggle with it every day still. ... There are good days and bad days. ... With what I've said and what I go through on a daily basis with my words and my experiences, hopefully I can help as many people who struggle with the same demons that I do.
Q: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
A: I'd just like to tell our fans in Newfoundland, thank you so much for so many years of dedication and so many years of patience. I look forward, as well as the rest of the guys, to coming and putting on an absolutely phenomenal show for you guys. We love you and thank you for all the years of support.
source LD
追隨新好的蹤跡
任何一個追隨了新好長達15年的歌迷大概都無法想到他們能夠有見到這個美國四人流行組合在聖約翰市進行表演，這種可能性幾乎是百萬分之一。
但即使新好7月29到30號在這裏開演唱會，卻不是每個歌迷都有幸能拿到入場券。這讓一些死忠歌迷門傷心欲絕。
一些歌迷在一早開始售票時就在一英里廣場排起長隊，以此避免因為電話訂票占線或是電腦頁面超載而心情恐慌。
新好男孩吸引了全球的歌迷，演唱會門票甚至在你撣落煙灰的瞬間內銷售一空。
據演唱會宣傳人員透露，新好男孩（包括在在2006年離開團隊的kevin）有著七千五百萬張的傲人唱片銷量以及許多美國公告牌單曲榜前40的歌曲，包括排名前5的單曲"Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)," "As Long As You Love Me," "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" and "All I Have To Give."
以下是The Telegram與新好男孩的成員，30歲的AJ McLean進行的獨家專訪：
Q：你覺得新好歌迷們在你們聖約翰市舉行的表演中最期盼的是什麼？
A：當然是自始至終的激情釋放啦！這場表演其實非常有趣，我們都感覺像找到了那時家喻戶曉的新好。大約有85%的舞蹈部分，有四個單獨表演，我們每一個人都有機會在舞臺上展示自己的個性音樂，這些歌曲都是從我們的個人專輯中挑選的。你們幾乎會聽到專輯“Unbreakable”中所有的歌曲。不過我們總會時不時帶給歌迷驚喜，我們把一些老歌做了很酷的重新編曲。我們非常期待這場表演，而且都迫不及待地想把精彩演出帶給大家。
Q：你在歐洲進行個人巡迴演出已經好幾個月，你覺得一個人開演唱會與和新好們一起開最大的不同是什麼？
A：有太多不一樣了。說實話，一開始我還是有點緊張焦慮，我甚至會回頭看我的周圍，真希望新好們在我身邊，不過對於我來說，只要站在了舞臺上，不管是一個人還是和大家一起，才能真真切切的感受到“這才是屬於我的地方”。接著，我感覺越來越棒，舞臺就是我覺得最舒服最開心的地方。
Q：你是不是還是很期望能在今年十一月份發行一張個人專輯呢？
A：我希望在十月、十一月的時候能夠找到一首單曲，然後在明年初發行專輯，接著就是巡演。
Q：你是怎麼看你的慈善事業的？
A：我曾經有過一個叫做“JNN (Johnny No-Name)”的慈善基金會，但在四年前結束了。我非常想加入到動物慈善行動中，特別是在我強烈意識到一定要多造些動物庇護所時。我正在尋找這方面的機構來幫助我建立起這個事業，一旦成功了，我會全力以赴的。
Q：在你的個人專輯中有一首你自己寫的歌，叫做《Sincerely Yours》，你說它是寫給你一直不在身邊的父親（AJ從小被他的媽媽Denise McLean撫養長大），你在巴黎為你的父親演唱了這首歌，他當時就坐在觀眾席上，你當時有什麼感觸嗎？
A：這對改善我們的父子關係太有效了。其實一開始我知道他就坐在台下時，有點神經質。但我還是在演唱這首歌之前，說了與其他所有巡演一模一樣的話，我不打算去改變這個環節，我不會因為我的父親就坐在台下而變得軟弱，我就是想讓他聽到我的真實想法。其實在演出前，我已經對他簡短說明了一下這個環節，給了他一點點提示。但是他從沒聽過這首歌，所以對他來說，才是一個震撼。雖然做這件事情很困難，但後來我感覺好極了，我覺得我在閃爍的舞臺上如釋重負。
Q：不管你在哪里演出，你的粉絲是不是都表現得一樣呢？
A：國家與國家，城市與城市，粉絲們都在變化！從沒親眼看過我們的歌迷當然比那些看過的要瘋狂些，這很有趣。我們還是很希望能在一個城市多呆幾天，可以去逛逛，消遣一下。多想能自由自在地走出去，開開心心地玩一次啊！
Q：你曾經給你自己取了個“壞新好”的綽號，你也上過“Oprah”訪談節目談到你戒酒戒毒的經過。你覺得你可以用自己的個人經歷去幫助那些在生活上也遇到嚴重問題的人嗎？
A：我非常願意去做這件事。事實上，我每天都還會掙扎，有好的時候也有糟糕的。如果道出我每天都要親歷的過程和我的過往，能夠幫助那些和我有同樣問題的人，我希望可以幫到越多越好。
Q：你還有什麼想對大家說的嗎？
A：我就是想對紐芬蘭省的所有新好迷們說，感謝你們這麼多年來的奉獻與耐心，我們都期望著能馬上帶給你們一場異常精彩的表演。我們愛你們，謝謝你們多年的支持。
留言列表
