UPDATED:3-27
FROM SAMATHA STONE BREAKER!
FROM CHAPTER [4] PAGES 6,7! WHAT DO THE BOYS DO BEFORE ONE OF THEIR CONCERTS?
The usually do their own thing before the concert. The band gets along for the most part, which is cool. A lot of times they have competitions, like who can teach one of their guards to throw a football the farthest. In Europe they don't play American-style football, so it's funny competition to watch.
The boys are constanly playing pranks on each other. One night, Brian and Nick got together and after a little convincing by Brian, Nick pooped into a sock! Then they placed the sock inside the drummer's bass drum. That night during the show, everyt ime their drummer, Tim, hit the bass drum, a terrible smell came out. Tim was so angry. He promised to get them back. Nick and Brian thought it was so funny that they barely made it through the concert.
But Time did get back at Nick. The next night, he put melted chocolate all over the drumsticks and drums. When Nick went to play the drums, he got sticky chocolate all over him. Nick was professional about it, though. He finished the song and the show, covered with chocolate. We all had a good laugh about it that night.
FROM SAMATHA STONEBREAKER,"ONLY A GIRLFRIEND CAN TELL."
FROM CHAPTER 3, PAGES 4,5. DO THE BACKSTREET BOYS WEAR BOXERS OR BRIEFS? WHO LOOKS THE BEST IN THEM?
For the most part, the boys wear briefs, Brian wears both, but most often choooses briefs. Brian is very proud of his body (as he should be!) and loved to have pictures taken of himself in his underwear. He would pose for just about any picture.
Kevin looks the best in his undergarments. Kevin is very into his body and working out, so you'll often see him without a shirt. There is nothing hotter than Kevin pumping some iron! When I was on tour with the BOYS, I enjoyed working out at the same time as kevin. (Wouldn't you!)
I've been asked in the past why Nick never takes his shirt off like the rest of the band members. I think it's because he would rather impress people with his music than with his body. He's very proud of his music and his voice, and he should be. He's also a bit shy about his body, which I think is so cute.
WHAT WERE SOME ROMANTIC THINGS BRIAN DID FOR YOU? CHAPTER [2] PAGES 2,3!
IN THE BEGINNING, we were both so taken by one another that we were constanly doing things for each other. One day while I was at school, brian snuck into my locker and left dozens of roses, some frozen yogurt, and a note that said, "Meet me outside and we'll share." We both love frozen yogurt. That was very romantic, and I'll never forget it.
One of the most romantic things Brian ever did for me wasn't so private. A lot of the Backstreet Boys' songsare abput our relationship. "That's WHAT SHE SAID" was written when we broke up for a breif period. The argument we got into hurt both of us. Brian put his feelings into words. Funny, our breakup lasted only two days, but the song will stand forever. Brian told me that he felt like the victim in our fight, and the song definitely reflects that. The song makes me out to be heartless, which isn't true. There are always two sides to an argument. I must not have been too heartless, because we did get back together. "That's What She Said" still touches me when I hear it and really brings back some vivid memories. When we made up, he played the song for me, and the Boys recorded it soon after.
"Where Can We Go From Here" was written after our four-year relationship ended. Brian and I were best friends, and it's tough to let go of someone you're that close to. We were so young and needed to let each other go. We needed to grow, and we'd reached a point where it couldn't happen together anymore. Knowing all this didn't make anything easier, and the lyrics express the pain. Brian has mastered the art of putting his emotions into touching lyrics.
We also had a favorite song: "How Deep Is Your Love"-the Luther Vandross verison. Brian even started performing it in concerts. Every time he did, I knew it was for me. I loved that.
Brian also gave me a "promise ring." The ring is a princess-cut diamond band he picked up in New York while the Boys were working in the recording studio. When he came home to Kissimmee, he led me up to my bedroom. As tears flowed from his eyes, Brian said he loved me and the ring was promise that we would get married soon. He always thought we would get married and have a house full of kids. It was so cute. He even said that we'd have a son one day and name him Devon Thomas Littrell.
HOW DID SAMANTHA STONEBRAKER(BRIAN'S EX-GIRLFRIEND) MEET BRIAN?
I Knew Alex Mclean (also know as aj), one of the Backstreet Boys, from the NEW SONG SHOW CHOIR, NEW SONG is a musical ensemble branching from the Osceola High School Chorus in Oseola, Florida. Alex was my partner in the show choir. Being a new member of New Song was hard on Alex, but we soon established a brother/sister relationship. We have always been really good friends and remain so today. One day, Alex came to class and told me he had joined a singing group put together by a local entrepreneur named Lou Pearlman. The freshly assembled group was the Backstreet Boys, and they sang at our chorus banquet. After the performance, Alex told me that one of the band members wanted my phone number. It was Brian. Alex said Brian was shy but really wanted to call me. Later I found out Alex was telling Brian the same thing, that I wanted his phone number! Alex was playing matchmaker the whole time. Of course, Brian and I hadno idea. For some reason, Alex thought we would make a cute couple. I decided to give Alex my number so Brian could call me. That same night, Brian called. We stayed on the phone together for over three hours. We just immediately clicked. At that point, we simply had to see each other. We agreed to meet at a spot halfway between our homes.
You won't believe it, but the spot where we met was a Lil' Champ Convenice store off of John Young Highway in Kissimmee-not the most romantic place, to say the least! While I was waiting for him to show up, my car died. No matter what I did, I just couldn't get it to start. I was so embarrassed when he showed up that i almost pretended it wasn't me he was supposed to meet. But when I saw him, I just had to get to know him better. He was so cute. We ended up having a good laugh about my car sitation and eventually went back to my parent's house. We stayed up until three a.m., just talking. The attraction was so quick and mutual that we couldn't get enough of each other from that moment on.
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EMINEM UPDATED:3-27
For a musician to be considered a "bad boy" or rebel, does he need to flaunt his smart mouth and attitude on stage? Does controversy usually follow him wherever he goes? No matter how "bad" you might think stars like Eminem, Fred Durst, Sisqo and AJ Mclean appear, J-14 found that these tough guys have a soft spot it's just a matter of finding it.
A SOFTER SLIM SHADY
To some, Eminem is as bad as they come, from his controversial lyrics to his recent troubles with the law. But those who know the real Slim Shady, a kid named Marshall who grew up in a tough environment, and grew up to be a good father to his daughter Haile, confess that there is more to this bad boy than just a tough outer shell.
MINDING HIS MANNERS
When Marshall was young, he bounced around from town to town, and it was tough for him to make friends as his family moved. However, many adults who came in contact with the young Eminem remember a polite, quiet kid. "He was taught manners by someone," says Ramona Dorsey, an old neighbor of the Mathers family.
Even when Marshall became SLIM SHADY, he never forgot his roots. When he goes home, he makes sure to stop at GILBERT'S LODGE, a resturant that he used to work at in ST. CLAIR SHORES. His former co-workers recall a "friendly and funny" cook working long hours to put food on the table for his family. "He was a good worker," says the manager at the resturant. Eminem even entertained his friends by rapping the menu!
THE FAMILY MAN
Em's life changed when Hailie was born. Suddenly, the hard-nosed-rapper knew what it was like to have real-life responsibility. "Hailie was born on Christmas, and the first two years of her life, I couldn't buy her anything," he says. "The second Christmas was the worst because I only had $40 to spend. I remember crying. I was like, 'I have to do something now."
Eminem's rise to stardom helped him take care of Hailie; she was the inspiration that drove him to success. And behindthe scenes, Em is not afraid to show his tender side, especially to his daughter. During "The Real Slim Shady" video shoot, Eminem called home: "Hailie, guess what I'm wearing? The Tom Green ' Bum Bum Song' suit. I'm gonna run around and you're gonna get to watch it. Blow me a kiss. [Eminem then blows her a kiss]. Catch it?
A REGULAR GUY
SLIM SHADY'S public persona has drawn criticism, but his private self is a whole different story. "Maybe I'm so successful because I am a regular person. I don't think I come across as arrogant, I come across as me."
FROM J-14 APRIL 2001 ISSUE!
REMEMBERING 2GETHER'S MICHAEL CUCCIONE
Devasting and tragic are the perfect words to describe the death of 16-year-old Michael "Q.T." CUCCIONE. Known as a warm and enthusiastic lover of life, the former 2GETHER band member's lungs collapsed on JANUARY 13 while fighting pneumonia.
Michael, who suffered from HODGKIN'S DISEASE a form of cancer-as a child, endured radiation and chemotherapy treatments which made his lungs weak. Last fall, during the early stages of 2GETHER:The Series, Michael's respiratory problems worsened and he had to take a hiatus from the series. Although Michael loved all the guys, he was particularly tight with KEVIN FARLEY (DOUG LINUS). "He's like a big kid," Michael told J-14 in one of his last interviews, "but when we need him, he's there for us."
Aside from MICHAEL'S gig as a member of a fake boy band, he was also known as a major advocate for cancer research. He released the indepent CD MAKE A DIFFERENCE, which raised over $100,000. he co-wrote the book THERE ARE SURVIVORS: THE MICHAEL CUCCIONE STORY. And last summer, he raised $500,000 for cancer research for the B.C. CHILDEREN'S HOSPITAL, through the MICHAEL CUCCIONE FOUNDATION. In addition, the hearthrob was also planning a slew of U.S. fundraisers. "There are a lot of people out there suffering with cancer," MICHAEL told J-14, "so that's why I'm doing my best to see that people don't have to suffer anymore."
MICHAEL CUCCIONE accomplished more than most do in their entire lives. His talent and desire to help others are things that he will always be revered and remembered for. At press time, an MTV spokeperson reported that the future of the boy band parody is uncertain.
I HAVE UPDATED THE FOLLOWING MUSIC ARTICLES, AJ THANGS, BIRAN THANGS AND IN WEEKLY THANGS I HAVE FINALLY ADDED "YOU ARE" BY BRIAN LITTRELL FOR THE LYRIC OF THE WEEK!
AJ MCLEAN....the bad a** of the BACKSTREET BOYS. MR. MCLEAN is the BACKSTREET BOY with the longest sideburns, most sunglasses, most cowboy hats and most tattos. Aj is always having fans coming up to him asking him for a hug or an autograph....but, does this bothers AJ? "I love the attention....most of the time, except when I'm eating," AJ CONFESSES. "Sometimes I'll be eating and fans will come up, drop the paper right in front of me, and they're like, sign this, sign this!" Well AJ hates when fans interupt him when he is stuffing his face." I am like, I am not an object so don't treat me like one." AJ is very happy, when fans come up to him, just be patient and wait for an autograph when he is done eating. "I'll tell them to wait till I'm done, sure enough right after I dumb my tray the fans are there waiting," AJ says.
JESSICA SIMPSON: "I'M IN LOVE WITH LOVE."
A STROLL IN THE PARK ON A SUNNY DAY. A SURPISE BOUQET OF ROSES. A HANDWRITTEN LOVE NOTE. THESE ARE THE SWEET TOUCHES Jessica woons for. This multiplatinum singing sensation who took the world by storm with her debut single "I Wanna Love You Forever," is a sucker for all that all the time," she explains. Luckily, she's found an equally sensitive love interest in her boyfriend Nick Lachey. Like Jessica, Nick often sings emotional ballads with his groupmates from 98 degrees, like "My Everything," which is a song Nick wrote for Jessica. "Naturally, having that relationship is going to influential," admits Nick. The two love birds make a great team because they put their feelings first.While some stars keep their relationship well-hidden from the fans, Jessica and Nick wanted to be completely honest from the beginning. "Everyone, from the press to our fans have been really supportive," says Nick. When they first met two years ago, Jessica was the opening act for 98 degress. Nick fell in love with Jessica's warm
personality, and she fell in love with his self-confidence oh, and his lips. "I love lips," she says. "If he's got good lips, he's good to go." she says with a giggle. They both make time from their super busy schedules to see each other. Right now, Jessica is in New York putting the finishing touches on her album.
Jessica says she gets a lot of her inspiration from her fans and tells us we can expect some hot new songs. "Nick and I have been writing together. The up-tempo songs are a little more R&B but the ballads are still very pop. I cannot wait to finish so I can share it with all of you," she says. Expect to see Jessica second new album in March.
FROM POPSTARS MARCH ISSUE 2001. O-TOWN!
Because of our unique support of O-TOWN from the very beginning, and because you guys have made them your #1 new write-in faves. POPSTAR! was fortunate enough to land an exclusive cover shoot for this month's Valentine's Day *LOVE* issue.
But what you *can't* see from looking at these hot pix is the *real* story of what happened at the shoot and at their "Liqiud Dreams" video shoot-and how it might just end up as an episode of ABC'S second season of MAKING THE BAND!
HERE'S THE SCOOP!
We stayed at a hotel on the Sunset Strip in L.A., right next door to where O-TOWN was staying.
The shoot was set to take place late at night, after a typically full day for the boys. First, they had a fitting in the morning for the outfits they would wear in the next day's filming of the first-ever music video, the eye-popping clip for "LIQUID DREAMS." Then they spent about seven hours with no breaks at an exhaustive dance rehearsal. The guys needed to get their moves tight, plus they needed to learn new steps cooked up for them by the amazing choreographer SWOOP.
But while they worked, the POPSTARS! staffers weren't sitting around soaking up the sun! Instead, we had to make a perilous journey in a cab full of nine-foot seamless background paper (red, white and lavender) and set up a back lobby in O-TOWN'S hotel for the shoot. It was cool, open space with huge portraits of 30's movie stars, a cool black ART DECO COUCH and a piano, not to mention a panoramic view of the CITY OF ANGELS.
By the time the place was all set, the guys arrived from their dancing rehearsals looking beat. Still, Jacob and Ashely had hugs for us and all the guys showed signs that if they could just shower they'd get a second to wind to help us bring pur readers the best pictures ever.
At this time, the camera crews from MAKING THE BAND arrived and had everyone in the room (even the photographer's daughter!) sign releases and pose for Polariods...we were going to be filmed for the show!
It *seemed* like a fun idea. For those of you wondering what it's like when the crew is around, it's isane! There are two producers who float from conversation to conversation, alays monitoring who's saying what and directing the camera guy and the guy holding a boom mike on a stick. You'll be talking with someone and suddenly the mike will silently descend between you and someone will be all up in your face recording your every word, nervous glance and-yes-extra pound!
ARGH!
When the guys returned, Dan and Trevor hopped onto the makeup stools to get the star treatment and began razzing Ashley for all his extra pinups in the teen magazines. Whenever Trevor said something funny, we teased him that we were going to credit it to Ahley! They also playfull bullied Ashley into changing his shirt to better match the "back in black" look we were going for. We chatted with ERIK MICHAEL about his parents, who we'd met at our Orlando Planet Hollywood mag signing.
Jacob arrived with a bright red bandanna tied around his head and immediately became embroiled in a tug of war from all sides on whetehr or not it looked good in the shot. He seemed to take it in stride, but the bandanna war, the sudden appearance of the cameras and a long day of rehearsals piled up. It's incredible what the band hat to go throught to get from Point A to POINT B.
The shoot began with some solo shots that looked good on the birhgt red backdrop, but when it was Jacob's turn, he left the set, saying he didn't want to continue. The cameras- thrilled for any little kernel conflict-chased Jacob into the nearby elevators. We freaked, thinking he was walking out on the entire shoot, leaving us high and dry after traveling 3,000 miles to shoot O-TOWN.
When Jacob returned from his break, our editor implored him to reconsider and to do some more solos and group shots, which he did with no problem.
We were able to put up the white backdrop and get some great shots on the sofa that helped the guys loosen up, ending the shoot early to give them time for slumber before one of the most important days of their careers so far-the day they would begin lensing their first music video.
As people tricked out, we were left with nagging feeling that must haunt the members of O-TOWN every day that they're filmed: WHAT WILL MAKE THE SHOW? DID I SAY WHAT I WANTED TO SAY? HOW WILL PEOPLE SEE ME?
The next day was the video shoot that we showed you last issue, but we left out the following tidbits so we could clue you in all at once.
During the course of the two-day shoot, Jacob's mother, sister and grandmother visited him on the set. Nice people!
At one point, Jacob was showing his mom the O-TOWN feature in the December 2000 issue and he expressed his dislike of trivial questions (like, "WHAT'S YOUR FAVE COLOR?"). Of course, the cameras were right there to try to pick up anything controversial.
In Jacob's defense, he doesn't like to be asked about his ideal dream girl and stuff, but as you guys know, Popstar! prides itself on asking good questions about music as well as trippy personal stuff.
When the episode airs, if *anything* is used from this time period, hopefully the footage won't make it look like Jacob was dissing POPSTAR!, the teen mag that has given O=TOWN the most love. Hey, at least we didn't yell at him and call him a lab rat, right!
The second day, our editor did one-on-one interviews with each guy. Each guy is miked all the time, so the MAKING THE BAND producers could tell when the boys were giving interviews answer and the crew would surround us wheter we were out in the sun (like we were with Dan) or tucked away in a food tent (as we were with Jacob).
During the one-on-one with Jacob, he displayed all the positive aspects of his personality that have made him one of O-TOWN'S most beloved members: when he's feelin' it, Jacob has a magnetic star qyality, oozes charm and is incredibly articulate about his goals and about his love for music.
The interview was sort of a make-up session between popstar and Popstar!, and the perfect closure for what on film might seem like a shocking episode-even if it never does end up becoming an *actual* episode of MAKING THE BAND.
WHAT THE GUYS OF O-TOWN ARE REALLY LIKE
Since we spent so much time hanging with O-TOWN in LA. (and London-see next ish!) you might wonder what we thought about the guys. Here are our little valentines to each guy along with *exclusive* interviews they granted us on the "Liquid Dreams" video set:(LOOK FOR THE INTERVIEW OF O-TOWN COMING ON MARCH 9, 2001!)
JACOB
Our impression of Jacob is that he's very serious about his music, easily upset by any suggestion that he and his band are not to be respected (as a teen mag we can relate!), quick to react and unpredictable. He gives O-TOWN a funky edge with his Jacko moves (maikng him JAKE-O?) nad he is drop-dead for real about getting his ideas and opinions heard. He is fascinating. Just don't make him n=mad! He is on his way to becomming a musical legend.
DAN
What a sweetheart! Dan is totally real, eager to get things right and a hilarious one-man show who gets the band energized and keeps everyone in earshot entertained. He's got a big heart instead of a big ego. When Dan would (rarely!) blow a take on the video set, he would compensate by making fun of it. Our fave Dan memory was when he returned without the ohter guys to turn in early one night only to find about six frenzied female fans waiting for him in front of the hotel. Intsead of being grumpy, Dan spent a good half hour with them, chatting and indulging their every autograph and photo request. He even used their cellphones to leave hysterical answering machine message for them. Ikaika is a wonderful person, but Dan belongs in O-TOWN.
TREVOR
The guy who was so sure he wouldn't make the band seems to be one of it's hardest workers, spending down time practicing and taking every opportunity to sing to himself whem music comes on the radio. Trevor is a huge flirt with pretty girls, and you gotta agree that his sleek moves in "LIQIUD DREAMS" reveal him to be a natural loverboy. TREVOR is also a watchdog for the group, keeping everyone together and keeping it real. You get the impression he won't let jokes turn offensive or behavior to get too wild. Still, he's the first guy to be ready to party and have fun when the work has been done. Trevor is knowing smile of the group. He gets what O-TOWN is and what O-TOWN can be.
ERICK-MICHAEL
If you like this guy the best, you've got plenty of good reason to. He's supersweet and personable, plus he wears his heart on his sleeve. One thing we noticed about him right was his excellent artistic eye-he is an amateur photographer who kept spotting great natural setups and whose instincts about how everyone should pose were often incorporated into the final product. ERIK-MICHAEL (who gets called "Erick" despite his preference for the longer verison) would pose for any picture, any time, and would do it with a smile. He is a fan magnet, too! He's also got a secretly spicy funnybone that can really spark a laugh riot. Most memorable video outtake? ERIK-MICHAEL doing an over-enthusiastic butt-flop into the water the guys were dancing in. He took it with total grace and kept shooting even though he was soaked. He's anything but all wet.
ASHLEY ANGEL
Probably he is in eprson about 110% of what you'd expect-the guy just sparkles with a movie-star aura, has an open California personality, is full of genuine compliments and loves attention without taking it too seriously. He takes a lot of teasing from the other guys for repeating a joke that someone else just said and getting a bigger laugh with it, but that's because he's got superb timing. Not to mention a flawless Austin Powers impression. He and ERIK-MICHAEL are unstoppable in the goof-off category, and once they start up, the end result is guaranteed to be a spontaneous skit that should have been recorded! Fave Ashley moments we spotted might include his blushing reception of a thong from one BRITISH FAN, his insistence that he is the best speller ever followed by missing the next four words in a row or his warm and generous interplay with fans who were hounding the guys at the airport. He lives up to his name!
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