First of all, we would like to say that this is not our own article, and we did not write it! We have (sadly) never met the Backstreet Boys, and we have reproduced this article for the enjoyment of fans of the BSB's everywhere. It was originally taken from an article published in SMASH HITS (Australia, August 1998, pages 30-32, by ALEX NEEDHAM/KRISTIN WATSON). If anyone from SMASH HITS (or part of its company) has any objection to us displaying it on our site,
EMAIL us and we will remove it as soon as possible! THANKYOU! :)It's
not all glamour being a Backstreet Boy. Sometimes you have to fit in interviews wherever you happen to be- even in the toilet! Yep, Smash Hits' most recent interview with the Boys took place in a loo in Birmingham, England, with the fellas squeezed between the sink and the cubicles! (We kid you not!) However, as always, the Boys were perfect gents! (Haha!)As they talked, Smash Hits examined the fellas' body language. What did they really think of the questions? Which ones didn't they like answering? What did their clothes say about them? Were they calm or jittery, and how did they react to one another? And what innermost thoughts were they trying to hide?
A.J
WHAT'S HE WEARING?
Outrageous furry army trousers, a white vest showing hi huge "Da Bone" tattoo, silver ropes on his neck and wrist, and two big rings on each hand.
WHAT DOES HE LOOK LIKE?
Beneath his trademark shades, you see him trying to catch your eye. Make contact and you're sucked in - AJ simply oozes charisma. His tight, brown curls peek over his goggles.
WHAT DOES HE SOUND LIKE?
His voice shifts between flirty and comical (his English accent is brilliantly over-the-top), which means you have to take most of what he's saying with a pinch of salt. When he's being serious, he'll go quiet and lean towards you. But mostly he leans back and lets rip - he wants the whole room to hear his jokes!
WHAT IS HE REALLY LIKE?
Sharp and brimming with confidence, AJ fields questions with ease, and his answers are accompanied by extravagant hand gestures. Towards the end of the interview, however, AJ's energy begins to flag and he sprawls back on a nearby sink.
BRIAN
WHAT 'S HE WEARING?
A fluffy maroon tank top and a blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up, showing his hairy arms and a silver watch. Pale-blue baggy jeans and maroon work boots complete the casual-but-smart "look".
WHAT DOES HE LOOK LIKE?
When you talk to Brian, he looks you straight in the eye. His piercing blue peepers sparkle when he's on the subject of basketball, and his voice sounds warmer too. He's freckly with a fluffy fringe.
WHAT DOES HE SOUND LIKE?
Brian has a Southern American accent (i.e. he tawks lahk theeyus). He also imitates other accents during the interview - for instance, he slips into Irish when he mentions Dublin. He's polite and never swears. He also imitates the noise of cars and guns extremely convincingly!
WHAT IS HE REALLY LIKE?
The poor fella's voice trembles when he mentions his recent heart surgery. He also dislikes answering questions about Aaron Carter - when asked he folds his arms and tiptoes around the subject. At all other times though, his unguarded body language demonstrates what a straightforward chap he is.
NICK
WHAT IS HE WEARING?
Dark-blue Guess jeans with turn-ups, a white Seal Team T-shirt with an eagle motif, white zip-up Nike trainers and a huge gold BSB medallion he designed himself.
WHAT DOES HE LOOK LIKE?
His long, blonde, highlighted hair is soft and glossy. He has the odd zit (but still looks gorgeous), and his lips are pink and full. His fingernails are calcium-flecked and bitten.
WHAT DOES HE SOUND LIKE?
Nick is cheeky, friendly and chatty in conversation. He used to be a bit shy in interviews but has blossomed in confidence.
WHAT IS HE REALLY LIKE?
Relaxed and laidback, Nick maintains eye contact and tilts his head when listening to people. He's expressive with his hands, touches his heart area a lot and leans forward when discussing subjects he feels passionate about. When thinking hard, he gazes upwards and smacks his lips together. Under pressure, however, Nick's body language changes. He crosses his arms and legs defensively and taps his foot nervously, fiddling with his necklace and trainers until he's back on safer ground.
HOWIE
WHAT'S HE WEARING?
A black-and-white dogtooth-patterned swearshirt, smart black jeans and shiny black lace-up boots. His hair's neatly slicked back, and he's wearing a gold ring and earring.
WHAT DOES HE LOOK LIKE?
Howie's face is very open and he smiles a lot during conversation. He maintains eye contact unless asked a personal question, when he becomes a bit shy and looks to AJ for support. AJ usually comes back with a saucy comment, causing Howie to break into an embarrassed grin.
WHAT DOES HE SOUND LIKE?
He has a warm, soft-high voice which shows the warmth of his character, and with his big brown eyes it's no wonder they call him Sweet D.
WHAT IS HE REALLY LIKE?
Compared with AJ, Howie's very quiet. He apologises for being late and takes care to shake hands with everyone. He tries to answer every question interestingly and sincerely, even coming up to Smash Hits after the interview to answer a question we asked half an hour before! He and AJ are obviously great mates - the perfect double act!
KEVIN
WHAT'S HE WEARING?
A knitted hat with the American flag on it, a black Stone Island fleece over a grey T-shirt (with the label sticking up at the back), green combat trousers and black work boots. He has a diamond earring, a black beard and moustache. He's wearing a silver watch, like Brian, and leather bands on his wrist.
WHAT DOES HE LOOK LIKE?
Kevin smiles secretly to himself a lot. His browny green eyes are often a bit downcast, but he perks up no end when the discussion turns to trendy restaurant Momo. Despite this passion for posh grub, he's quite thin.
WHAT DOES HE SOUND LIKE?
He's a softly spoken chap, but he has a very sudden laugh when he opens his mouth really wide and bends down as if to elbow you in the ribs. What tickles him? AJ's enormous baggy trousers.
WHAT IS HE REALLY LIKE?
Kevin folds his arms definsively when he's talking when he's talking, and sometimes strokes his beard thoughtfully. He's also a very gentle fella - when he spots a spider in the room, Kev carefully rescues it and puts it outside.
