Do you ever get sick of being labelled 'the cute one'?
Er, I dunno, really. I don't really think about it. I suppose it is a little bit embarrassing these days 'cos I've grown up a lot, especially in the last year. Aaron's cuter, though!

Is it difficult being the youngest in the group?
Sometimes it's tough when we're on the road. I mean, Kevin's seven years older than me and there are times when you can really notice the age difference. We're like brothers and we're together a lot, so naturally we do fight, but that's nothing to do with my age.

It sounds as though if you were to fight with anyone it'd be Kevin - is that true?
(Thinks for a bit) Actually, I probably argue more with B-rok™ but that's usually competitive stuff about basketball and computer games. Kevin's more serious than me, so sometimes if I'm messing about, he thinks I'm not interested and he'll get a little uptight. Nothing too bad, though.

How do you cope with the pressures of fame?
I dunno. (Looks puzzled.) You become accustomed to it over the years, so you don't really think about it. This is all I've known for the past five years. We've all just adapted gradually, so it doesn't seem like something to be coped with. It just feels like life - a pretty strange life at times!

Have you ever felt like quitting the Backstreet Boys?
No way. The guys in the group are my best friends!

You're quite a shy person - do you enjoy photoshoots?
Yeah, having your photograph taken is like acting in a way. When the photographer tells you to smile, you have to smile, and sometimes if you're not feeling in a good mood you have to find the inner strength from deep inside. Shoots can be fun too, 'cos sometimes they make you do weird things.

Are you comfortable with the way you look in photographs?
I don't know. I'm not too pleased with some photos but you're always going to be your own worst critic, aren't you? Sometimes you see photos you like and think , 'Wow, that looks good!' or 'Oh no, I look terrible!' It depends, though - sometimes pictures can make you look bette, like if you've got a zit. What's the saying? Pictures are worth a thousand words...or something like that, hahaha!

What don't you like being asked about in interviews?
I don't know. Just personal stuff, nothing specific. I don't really like talking about my family back home, but that's about it.

Oops, you might not like this next one, then! Do you think Aaron is too young to become a pop star?
No, 'cos he loves it. If he didn't, he wouldn't be doing it. No one's forcing him, and my mom's always there to look after him. He's a great little singer and a good dancer, so it's right that he should be where he is. He's doing really well and I'm really proud of him.

Having been a child star yourself, what kind of problems could Aaron face?
Homesickness could be the biggest. But right now, either mom or dad travels with him on tour, so he's OK.

Have you been able to help him much?
Yeah, whenever I've been able to. When we're together, he mostly likes to play, but we do talk about music, and Brian and I co-wrote a song on his album. (That's the song Ain't That Cute, Aaron fans!)

Do you ever feel like you missed out on any part of yoour childhood?
No, I just had a different childhood from most kids. But it's been a lot of fun. I may have missed out on a few things along the way, but I've also travelled the world - not many people can say that, can they?

Howie says the most rock'n'roll thing he's ever done is had his ear pierced - are you tempted to do the same?
No, I wouldn't get an earring, but I would get a tattoo. It would be cool to get a tattoo. My dad has two tattoos - I'd like something like that. What would I have done? I'd like a tattoo of the sun on my back.

Do you like girls with tattoos?
Yeah, I do. It depends on where they are and who's wearing them, but yeah, they can look cute.

What about pierced belly buttons on girls - do they do anything for you?
Yeah, I think they're cool too.

What kind of clothes do you like a girl to wear?
I like girls to dress casual. I like things like jeans and a T-shirt or whatever... some kind of top. Just casual, y'know?

Would you date someone older than yourself?
(Laughing) Oh yeah. Well, a little older, like 19 or 20, or something.

What's the most romantic thing a girl has ever done for you?
Romantic? Erm, one girl bought me a Chicago Bulls jersey, which was really cool 'cos I love the Chicago Bulls. What's the most romantic thing I've ever done? I dunno. Taken her to Burger King, hahaha! I really don't know - it's been a long time.

Which is worse - being dumped or having to dump someone?
Being dumped by someone is worse. If you really like a girl and she just goes...that's horrible.

Have you ever had your heart broken?
Not exactly. When I was at school, I used to look at all the pretty girls and wish they'd go out with me, but they were only interested in the cool guys who were really into sport. I wasn't very popular at school, because of my singing and acting and stuff. The girls just didn't want to know.

How did that make you feel?
It hurt, I guess.

How has it affected you?
Well, now the first thing I look for in a girl is a good heart. Looks definitely come second. It taught me not to judge people by the way they look - it's what's inside that counts.

Who do you talk to when it all gets a bit too much?
Well, I'm pretty close to Brian, so he's good for that. And sometimes I'll turn to Howie because he's such a great listener too and he's never judgemental.

What's the difference between Nick Carter and Nick Backstreet?
(Shyly) Nick Backstreet lives on a stage, in front of a camera or in a recording studio. I guess the real me is a little more reserved off stage. Sometimes the two do cross-over though, and Nick Carter is hoping to write some songs for Nick Backstreet in the next couple of years, hahaha.

Where do you see yourself in ten years' time?
Hopefully doing the same thing with the same bunch of guys, and hopefully still making greta records too.

Do you want to have kids one day?
Definitely. But not for ages - there's still so much we want to do. Backstreet is our priority.

Would you let your children go into showiz?
If that was what they wanted and they had the talent, yeah, of course I would. How could I say no when it's what I've done?

Do you have any message for the Smash Hits readers?
See you on the tour! If you couldn't get hold of tickets for this one, make sure you come to the next. It's gonna be great and we can't wait to see you all!

16: Now that things are happenign in the US, what does it feel like?
Kevin: Real Nice!

16: Is reaction here differnt from the rest of the world?
Howie: It's a lot differnt. The feeling is important to us. This is our home country and we've been waiting so long to come home. We kind of took a backwards approach, going around the world then coming back here. But I think, looking back on it, it was a good decision.
Brian: I was thinking last night, when we were doing our New York City show, I thought I wasn't going to be nervous, we've done the show 50 million times, I know it like the back of my hand. And right before the curtain dropped, I was thinking THIS IS NEW YORK CITY! Not only America, but this is New York City! I mean, how rough and tough can you get? I clammed up for a second, then I heard the music and calmed down.

16: When your singels started climbing the US charts, were you surprised?
Brian: Definitely. I was in my Jeep at home, and I turned on the easy listening station and heard a mix of "Quit Playin' Games" I had never heard before, it was so cool I got cold chills.

16: How are fans in America differnt from the fans in other parts of the world?
Nick: I think one thing that is really cool is, American fans pay attention. They study you. And in a way it's very cool, because you know they're paying attention to what you sound like.
Howie: And yet, at some of our shows, I really thought we were in Germany! The crowds were going nuts! In Europe, we did a lot of shows where there was standing room only, but in the US there's been seating, which kind of keeps people clam. But when there's a wide open space, people will push up agianst the barricades and it can get kind of scary.

16: Are you thinking about your next album yet?
Nick: We're getting ready to record some new songs!
AJ: You can never have enough material for the future.
Howie: We hardly ever have spare time, but when we do, we get to the recording studio.
Kevin: We're always thinking ahead for our next album or the next video -- what we can do better. Can we be more creative, go to another level? And with the writing, especially for the third album -- we're really excited about the writing because we've learned a lot ove rthe past couple of years, and eventually we want to be writing a producing our own stuff.

16: Will you be changing your sound at all?
Nick: Not really.
Kevin: I think if anything, it's just constant growth. Hopefully, our music will keep getting stronger and better.

16: Any idea what the next album will be called?
AJ: Backstreet's Back...Again! We're back!

16: When you're traveling around the world, do you get to do much sightseeing?
AJ: We played golf in Milan!
Brian: That is the most sightseeing we could do. We got lost -- we played the first seven holes and then we skipped to number 14 or something.

16: Whoa...do all you guys play golf?
All: Not all of us!
Nick: Old men play golf!
AJ: It's fun! We all got sets of golf clubs during our tour, now Howie has to learn how to play becuase he's got a brand new set of clubs. It's peaceful, it's something different to get out and walk!

16: Is it getting difficult to walk around by yourselves here in the US?
Kevin: Not like it is in Europe. In Orlando, the locals are knowing us, and especally the tourists. So when I go to the mall now, usually I get stopped.

16: Have you bought yourselves anything special?
Howie: I finally got me a new car! They all beat me, I held out the longest. I bought a Corvette.
AJ: I have a BMW.
Brian: You live in Florida, everyone has tinted windows!

16: Anybody got a steady girlfriend these days?
Nick: Nope. Just a steady job!

16: How do you spend most your down time, when your alone?
Howie: Sleep! (laughs) We're picking up soem instruments actually. I'm learing guitar and Brian is also. AJ 's learning the bass. Nick already plays the drums and Kevin plays the keyboards. We're not trying to be something we're not, but we're definitely willing to try lots of new things.

Aashna: Whats a quality that a girlfriend of yours has to have?
Kevin Richardson: Has to have a good heart...
Nick Carter: She has to be able to put up with what we're doing

Aashna: So all your touring...
Nick: Yeah, really supportive.
Kevin: Patience
AJ McLean: A really laid back kind of personality, kind of go with the flow kind of person.

Aashna: Does she have to be able to sing?
Backstreet Boys: No...
AJ: No, I mean if she does cool, if she doesn't, doesn't matter.
Brian Littrell: She's gotta be career oriented, cuz were never home or were always gone, so you need someone who will keep to themselves pursuing something that will make their dreams come true.

Aashna: Have their own life as well.
Brian: Exactly
Howie Dorough: Also be very communicative, because relationships are all based upon communication.

Aashna: Do any of you guys have girlfriends?
BSB: No

Aashna: No? All single guys!
Howie: Definitely.

Aashna: I know that AJ, Nick and Howie met while auditioning for acting jobs, is that something you still want to pursue? Or is that on the back burner for now?
Howie: Well, this field that we're in, opens the doors to several different things. So I think that within time we would all like to get back into acting. Kevin and Brian have even had a chance since we've been together doing, like, commercials and stuff. So who knows? Maybe in the future if the opportunity comes across, maybe we can do something as the Backstreet Boys in a movie or something, all of us.

Aashna: I know that lot of girls really like you. Does it affect your day to day activities all that much? All that autograph signing, girls fainting in the lobbies. Can you still go out to the movies, can you still go to the mall, rollerblading, biking?
Kevin: Yeah, you just have to plan it out ahead of time, but yeah we can still go out.
Howie: We went to Eaton Center while we were here yesterday.
Nick: We went to a Blue Jays game, couple of people recognized us.

Aashna: Do you find most people just leave you alone and let you be?
Nick: Yeah
AJ: A lot of people don't really approach you. They are kinda timid and scared. They think it's you then they aren't sure, then they think its you again, and by that time, you're already gone.

Sonia: Describe to me the very first time the Backstreet Boys got up on stage and had to perform that first number together. What was said right before you guys went on. What was it you said to each other?
Howie: Oh Lordie help us!
A.J: Good luck! It was at Seaworld in front of five thousand people.
Nick: I don't remember.
Brian: It was May 8th of 1993. I remember the date. We all grouped together to say a little prayer, it was like, be with us and let's rock the house! We ran out there and we were only on stage for tops, 15 minutes. but it was just unbelieveable.

Sonia: Did you know then that there was a special chemistry that something was happening that something was going to come of this...did you feel it?
A.J: Once Kevin brought us Brian, that's when we knew that, that was going to be it, that's the Backstreet Boys.

Sonia: What were the songs you were singing before you got original material?
Howie: A Capella, stuff like Shai.
(then they start to sing "Baby I'm Yours" a capella)
Kevin: Just stuff like that, Boyz II Men...

Sonia: Okay, now, supposing you had to go out and do this alone do you think you could do it with the same assurance as you're doing it now?
Howie: No, the spark and the energy and stuff like that won't be there. I mean, we're all talented individuals but when we come together as a group, it's just that something...you know...
A.J: I mean, if you're on stage by yourself you got nothin' to go on, nothin' to build on stage, each of us on stage gives moral support and it builds up the energy and makes the show a hellava lot better.

Sonia: What's the thing that makes you sad that you had to sacrifice to become famous and a household name? What's the thing that you say you sorta miss?
Howie: You sacrifice living a normal everyday life. Umm, not being able to be with our families as much as we're used to. Um, you know, right now we sorta put things like relationships on the sideburner right now, you know, our schedules are so hectic we don't have time to settle down and start a serious relationship with anybody.
Kevin: Can't find anybody to put up with the schedule!
Howie: We had to do a little bit of sacrifices but we all new about this before we came into it and the sacrifices we were willing to make.
Kevin: Yaa, we're not whining here! We love what we were doing!

Sonia: Yaa, but it's important to say what the other side of the coin is.
A.J: Nick and I had to sacrifice school as well as Brian. I mean, not as in quitting persae, but just having to take- to go, getting away from high school and having to be tutored.
Kevin: And I think that in this interview Nick has been talking too much.

Sonia: Well, I just, I just think he's rude. Eh? You know what I noticed? I noticed you're a good listener. Do you like to listen?
Nick: Well, I listen to these guys since they're all older than me. I like to listen and learn.
(they're all teasing him about what he just said)

Sonia: Okay, okay, wait! Give him a break! One thing that you learned from the guys that you'll carry with you wherever you go, has someone here taught you something specific or a lesson in life? Or given you a great piece of advice?
Nick: They all give, they all give good advice all the time. They tell me the right things and lead me in the right direction. But, ya know, I think we're all, we're all real close and I love these guys.