Backstreet Boy AJ McLean is again in Montreal and feeling the love

Article content material

AJ McLean has a factor for Montreal — and why wouldn’t he? The town was the primary place in North America that actually went wild for his band Backstreet Boys, and the boy band stays remarkably fashionable right here practically 30 years later.

McLean, one of many founding members of Backstreet Boys, was again in Montreal this week to announce he’s partnering with Montreal TV manufacturing firm Magnificence World Search. The corporate was based by Montrealer Caroline Bernier, and the Backstreet Boy is now a co-owner.

Article content material

Article content material

Magnificence World Search produces the truth TV collection The Vogue Hero: A New Sort of Stunning, which is hosted by McLean.

In an interview Thursday within the foyer of the William Grey Resort in Previous Montreal, McLean stated it’s fairly cool to be working so carefully with a Montreal firm given his lengthy historical past with the town.

“It’s simply humorous to me how all the things type of comes full circle,” he stated. “Caroline being from Montreal; a Montreal-based firm; (Laval-based funding agency) White Haven, which is a tremendous firm and that’s invested and has actually helped fund all the things, that has actually gotten this venture off of the bottom for Caroline; my publicist is from Montreal. There’s simply numerous Montreal surrounding me now. So, I’m beginning to suppose I’ll want to maneuver to Montreal or at the very least get a spot in Montreal.”

Combine 96 — now Virgin Radio — was one of many first stations in North America to play the early Backstreet Boys single We’ve Bought It Goin’ On. It was massive in Montreal, however hardly made a dent within the charts within the U.S. Quickly sufficient, it was Backstreet Boys fever right here. Anybody round again then absolutely remembers their wild appearances on the MusiquePlus studios, with enormous crowds of screaming children outdoors. McLean actually remembers these days.

Article content material

Article content material

“Folks know that we began in Europe first, for the higher a part of two years, earlier than America knew who we had been or gave a tiny rat’s butt,” stated McLean. “As soon as issues blew up in France, then France translated to Quebec, then it trickled right down to the U.S. and upstate New York. Our first efficiency right here was in 1996 on the balloon competition (in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu), 85,000 folks and we had been shocked. Everybody knew our music and so they had been all excited. There’s a deeper connection right here than numerous locations. There’s simply one thing in regards to the music scene right here, the popular culture right here.”

Because of songs like Stop Enjoying Video games (with My Coronary heart), Everyone (Backstreet’s Again), and As Lengthy As You Love Me, Backstreet Boys had been enormous within the late ’90s proper throughout North America. That was their heyday, however they’re nonetheless touring, and even when they’re not topping the charts any extra, the followers are nonetheless there.

“We simply completed up the DNA world tour in Could, and we’re taking a well-needed break now — 217 exhibits, 44 nations, three million folks,” McLean stated. “In April of this yr, we celebrated 30 years collectively and we’re gearing up for one thing huge in 2025 that’s a secret.”

Article content material

McLean admits that after they began out, the Backstreet Boys had no notion that they’d be celebrating their thirtieth anniversary collectively.

“We had wished it, however teams like us don’t final typically,” he stated. “To me, that’s a testomony to the music at first after which an in depth second, the followers.”

Bernier, who has labored for many years within the business of magnificence pageants, created the truth present The Vogue Hero six years in the past as a result of she wished a present that might rejoice range, to showcase the type of folks you don’t usually see in vogue exhibits. The second season, hosted by McLean, is accessible on the streaming service Paramount+ Canada. The third season will shoot subsequent spring in Croatia.

“A pal of mine talked about the thought of internet hosting a TV present and after I heard the title, I assumed it seemed like America’s Subsequent Prime Mannequin and I used to be like – ‘I don’t know if that’s one thing I’d be into,’” stated McLean. “I hopped on a Zoom with the present’s creator, Caroline, and inside 10 minutes of her giving me the rundown and explaining what the present was about, I stated ‘OK, the place do I signal?’ That is inspiring. We’d like exhibits like this. Within the very poisonous social-media-based existence we dwell in right this moment, with on-line bullying and anti-gay (sentiment) and racism, we’d like a present like this. We’d like one thing that may present that we will break the stigma of the style world and break the stigma of toxicity. Simply unfold positivity and self-care and self-love, and that’s what the present is about.”

[email protected]

twitter.com/brendanshowbiz

Article content material

Article content material