The man band's Howie D on 20 years of music and bad haircuts
Ahead of the Backstreet Boys' appearance at Shanghai Grand Stage on Tuesday 28 May, the man band's Howie D talks to Time Out
You're celebrating your 20th anniversary as a band this year. Did you ever think you'd last this long?
We want to keep going as long as the fans will have us. We really pushed and pushed and focused on the music and voices. I feel like our harmonies made us stand our from the rest of the groups out there at that time.
If you were able to give your 1993 self one piece of advice now, what would it be?
My hairstyle, oh man. AJ and I had the craziest hairstyles back in the day. The fashion sense in those days was just weird. Now Kevin and Nick have the best hair.
There have been a number controversies over the years, notably AJ going to rehab. Has it been difficult being in the spotlight for so long?
We have encountered tough times as any group who has been around for 20 years would. Each of us loves the music that we make and enjoy getting on the stage every night and performing in front of the fans. We will never change this.
Do you ever get sick of playing the old hits? Do you listen to them much?
It will never get old, though I am excited to be playing new music for you guys. I hope people embrace our new music and love it as much as we do. When we are prepping for the tour, I listen to the music a lot. It gets stuck in my head. 'Siberia' is a favourite and some of the songs we don't get to perform all of the time like 'Don't Want You Back'.
How do you feel about being a 'man band'?
I guess we technically are a boy band, we are just grown men. Being called a boy band helps bring clarity to our style, we embrace it.
You used to get some crazy fan reactions in the '90s. Have things calmed down now?
We are all still wild! We have such amazing fans, we are blessed. Great memories.
What do you make of the current crop of pop acts? Any advice?
There is a new group of boy bands out there, which shows just how powerful and strong the genres is. Just stay true to yourself and keep making good music.
You played a Chinese New Year gala in Shenyang earlier this year. How was that?
It was great travelling to China and to be part of such a big celebration
You're here plugging the new album...
I am anxious to get it out there. The album is called In a World Like This. Our first single is called 'In a World Like This' and was produced by our good friend Max Martin who started it all with us by producing 'I Want it That Way'. We are very proud of this new album. Having Kevin back feels right to the group; celebrating 20 years of BSB without him would not be the same, so I am happy that he's back.
http://www.timeoutshanghai.com/features/Music-Music_features/12115/Interview-Backstreet-Boys.html
