And it begins. Yes, this week marks the 20th Anniversary of the Backstreet Boys. As a longtime fan and pop culture enthusiast I can hardly ignore this momentous milestone. So I’m not even trying to. Because I want it that way. Yeah, I know, and I could make a million plays on a million words connected to the majesty of this vocal group but I won’t. Instead, I simply offer up some real facts to whet your appetite for all things Backstreet as I celebrate BSB20: BACKSTREET BIRTHDAY WEEK. Get ready to swoon.
1) Have sold 130 million albums worldwide which makes the group history’s best-selling boyband and the 41st biggest-selling act in the United States.
2) First group since Sade to have its first seven albums reach the top 10 of the Billboard 200.
3) From 2006 to 2012 was a quartet. Kevin Richardson chased a successful career on Broadway during his hiatus from the group.
4) A.J. McLean, with his gruff, melodramatic baritone stylings, was the first Backstreet Boy. Clean-cut tenor Brian Littrel, cousin to member Kevin Richardson, was the final boy to sign on for Backstreet duty.
5) Played first live gig as Backstreet Boys on May 8th, 1993 at SeaWorld Orlando.
6) Named after Orlando, Florida’s Backstreet Market that was located near a popular teen hangout spot.
7) Their self-titled 1997 American debut was actually a hybrid of their first two international releases.
8) Hit “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” was not included on initial pressings of BSB’s self-titled debut – it was added for later versions. The reason BSB seemed to be announcing its “return” on what was their first album was because the track was culled from it’s second international release.
9) When BSB released third album “Black & Blue” in 2000 they scored a then-record worldwide debut with sales of five million.
10) Have been nominated for eight Grammy awards.
11) First artist since The Beatles to score back-to-back million plus debuts.
12) Have released eight studio albums and 25 singles.
13) Have scored six Billboard Top 10 hits, 12 Billboard Top 40 hits and 16 Billboard Hot 100 hits.
14) Have sold more than double the number of albums by chief rival N-Sync.
15) Nick Carter was named Sexiest Guy In The World by CosmoGirl magazine in 2002
16) To promote the release of 2000’s “Black & Blue” the group flew around the world in 100 hours stopping to play shows in Stockholm, Tokyo, Sydney, Cape Town, Rio de Janeiro, and New York.
17) Both members Nick Carter and A.J. McLean have sought treatment for substance abuse issues.
18) Kevin Richardson is the only member not to release a solo album. Nick Carter’s 2002 “Now Or Never” is the highest-selling BSB solo effort with worldwide sales of 550,000
19) Though they feuded frequently in the 90s and 2000s after N-Sync joined BSB as a label mate at Jive Records, the two groups have since mended their relationship. N-Sync’s J.C. Chasez even produced a track on BSB’s 2007 “Unbreakable” album.
20) Member Nick Carter collaborated with comic book legend Stan Lee on “Backstreet Project”, a one-off comic title in 2000 that depicted the members of the group as themselves as well as superheroes.
THE CHRISTOPHER EXPERIENCE 
ME EATING POP EATING ITSELF: It’s Backstreet Boys Birthday Week As BSB Turns 20
1) Have sold 130 million albums worldwide which makes the group history’s best-selling boyband and the 41st biggest-selling act in the United States.
2) First group since Sade to have its first seven albums reach the top 10 of the Billboard 200.
3) From 2006 to 2012 was a quartet. Kevin Richardson chased a successful career on Broadway during his hiatus from the group.
4) A.J. McLean, with his gruff, melodramatic baritone stylings, was the first Backstreet Boy. Clean-cut tenor Brian Littrel, cousin to member Kevin Richardson, was the final boy to sign on for Backstreet duty.
5) Played first live gig as Backstreet Boys on May 8th, 1993 at SeaWorld Orlando.
6) Named after Orlando, Florida’s Backstreet Market that was located near a popular teen hangout spot.
7) Their self-titled 1997 American debut was actually a hybrid of their first two international releases.
8) Hit “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” was not included on initial pressings of BSB’s self-titled debut – it was added for later versions. The reason BSB seemed to be announcing its “return” on what was their first album was because the track was culled from it’s second international release.
9) When BSB released third album “Black & Blue” in 2000 they scored a then-record worldwide debut with sales of five million.
10) Have been nominated for eight Grammy awards.
11) First artist since The Beatles to score back-to-back million plus debuts.
12) Have released eight studio albums and 25 singles.
13) Have scored six Billboard Top 10 hits, 12 Billboard Top 40 hits and 16 Billboard Hot 100 hits.
14) Have sold more than double the number of albums by chief rival N-Sync.
15) Nick Carter was named Sexiest Guy In The World by CosmoGirl magazine in 2002
16) To promote the release of 2000’s “Black & Blue” the group flew around the world in 100 hours stopping to play shows in Stockholm, Tokyo, Sydney, Cape Town, Rio de Janeiro, and New York.
17) Both members Nick Carter and A.J. McLean have sought treatment for substance abuse issues.
18) Kevin Richardson is the only member not to release a solo album. Nick Carter’s 2002 “Now Or Never” is the highest-selling BSB solo effort with worldwide sales of 550,000
19) Though they feuded frequently in the 90s and 2000s after N-Sync joined BSB as a label mate at Jive Records, the two groups have since mended their relationship. N-Sync’s J.C. Chasez even produced a track on BSB’s 2007 “Unbreakable” album.
20) Member Nick Carter collaborated with comic book legend Stan Lee on “Backstreet Project”, a one-off comic title in 2000 that depicted the members of the group as themselves as well as superheroes.
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