Members of New Kids on the Block and the Backstreet Boys are looking forward to their upcoming tour and BSB member A.J. McLean says the collaboration was only made possible because of their fans.
"American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks is set to open for the all-male pop groups, who achieved international fame in the 1990s, especially among teenage girls.
"It's all about the fans and it's all because of the fans that this whole thing is even working," A.J. McLean, a 31-year-old member of the Backstreet Boys, told OnTheRedCarpet.com host Chris Balish at the recent 2011 NewNowNext Awards in Los Angeles. "We all get along great and it's gonna be a blast."
The groups won Best New Indulgence at the award ceremony. McLean said the singers plan to start rehearsing in mid-April. The first show of the tour will take place on May 25 in Rosemont, IL.
Sparks, a 21-year-old singer who won "American Idol" in 2007, told OnTheRedCarpet.com host Rachel Smith at ELLE magazine's recent "Women in Music" event she's excited to tour with the groups, adding: "It's definitely very crazy. I grew up with Backstreet Boys."
New Kids on the Block spurred hits such as "Hangin' Tough" and "Step By Step" and is made up of Joey McIntyre, Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Danny Wood and Donnie Wahlberg, the brother of actor Mark Wahlberg, who was himself once part of the band.
The Backstreet Boys, known for songs such as "I Want It That Way" and "I'll Never Break Your Heart," currently consists of A.J. McLean, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell and Nick Carter. "Each group is lucky enough to have amazing fans all around the world," said McIntyre, 38. "I think the cool thing about a boy band is that there are four or five different personalities and really, you know, you can get something different from each one. It's kind of one-stop shopping and that's the fun about, you know, being in a group."
"I mean its 'Teen Idol 101,' but at the same time, we're older now, it's sort of like a girl's night out and people just get away for a night and we want to give them a great time," he added. New Kids on the Block and the Backstreet Boys announced in November 2010 that they were set to tour together.
The groups set up their own joint website, nkotbsb.com and had their first televised performance at the American Music Awards on Nov. 21, 2010.
McLean, who who underwent rehab for "personal reasons" earlier this year, also has another event to look forward to this summer - he is set to marry girlfriend Rochelle Deanna Karidis on May 14, according to OK! magazine.
Check out dates for the New Kids on the Block - Backstreet Boys tour (order tickets here).
May 25, 2011 - Rosemont, IL, Allstate Arena
May 26, 2011 - Grand Rapids, MI, Van Andel Arena
May 28, 2011 - Buffalo, NY, HSBC Arena
May 29, 2011 - Baltimore, MD, 1st Mariner Arena
May 30, 2011 - Uncasville, CT, Mohegan Sun
June 2, 2011 - Uncasville, CT, Mohegan Sun
June 3, 2011 - Washington, DC, Verizon Center
June 4, 2011 - Boston, MA, TD Garden
June 5, 2011 - Philadelphia, PA, Wells Fargo Center
June 7, 2011 - Montreal, QC, Canada, Bell Center
June 8, 2011 - Toronto, ON, Canada, Air Canada Centre
June 9, 2011 - Toronto, ON, Canada, Air Canada Centre
June 11, 2011 - Boston, MA, Fenway Park
June 12, 2011 - East Rutherford, NJ, IZOD Center
June 13, 2011 - East Rutherford, NJ, IZOD Center
Jun 15, 2011 - Pittsburgh, PA, CONSOL Energy Center
June 16, 2011 - Auburn Hills, MI, The Palace of Auburn Hills
June 17, 2011 - Chicago, IL, United Center
June 18, 2011 - Chicago, IL, United Center
June 21, 2011 - Nashville, TN, Bridgestone Arena
June 22, 2011 - Atlanta, GA, Philips Arena
June 24, 2011 - Lafayette, LA, Cajundome
June 25, 2011 - Houston, TX, Toyota Center
June 26, 2011 - Dallas, TX, American Airlines Center
June 28, 2011 - San Antonio, TX, AT&T Center
June 30, 2011 - Phoenix, AZ, US Airways Center
July 1, 2011 - Los Angeles, CA, Staples Center
July 2, 2011 - San Jose, CA, HP Pavilion
July 3, 2011 - Las Vegas, NV, Mandalay Bay Events
July 6, 2011 - Anaheim, CA, Honda Center
July 8, 2011 - Tacoma, WA, Tacoma Dome
July 9, 2011 - Vancouver, BC, Canada, Rogers Arena
July 10, 2011 - Vancouver, BC, Canada, Rogers Arena
July 12, 2011 - Edmonton, AB, Canada, Rexall Place
July 13, 2011 - Calgary, AB, Canada, The Scotiabank Saddledome
July 15, 2011 - Minneapolis, MN, Target Center
July 16, 2011 - Kansas City, MO, Sprint Center
July 17, 2011 - Tulsa, OK, BOK Center
July 19, 2011 - St. Louis, MO, Scottrade Center
July 20, 2011 - Louisville, KY, KFC YUM! Center
July 22, 2011 - Orlando, FL, Amway Arena
July 23, 2011 - Greensboro, NC, Greensboro Coliseum
July 24, 2011 - Columbus, OH, Schottenstein Center
July 26, 2011 - Indianapolis, IN, Conseco Fieldhouse
July 27, 2011 - Cleveland, OH, Quicken Loans Arena
July 29, 2011 - Atlantic City, NJ, Boardwalk Hall
July 30, 2011 - Hershey Park, PA, Hershey Park Stadium
July 31, 2011 - Long Island, NY, Nassau Memorial Coliseum
Aug. 4, 2011 - Ottawa, ON, Canada, Scotiabank Place
Aug. 5, 2011 - Montreal, QC, Canada Bell Center
Aug. 6, 2011 - Hamilton, ON, Canada, Copps Coliseum
Aug. 7, 2011 - London, ON, Canada, John Labatt Centre
Reporting by Chris Balish and Rachel Smith, hosts of KABC Television's entertainment show "On The Red Carpet" (check for local TV listings).
[ontheredcarpet]
