Backstreet Boys Reveal How They’ve Kept Their 33-Year Bond Strong as They Enter Their Sphere Era: “It’s Given Us a Fresh Start”
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After more than 30 years as a group, the longtime bandmates are rediscovering the value of their friendship while embracing the excitement of their massive new residency.
For the Backstreet Boys, more than three decades together have brought far more than musical success. Nick Carter, AJ McLean, Brian Littrell, Howie Dorough and Kevin Richardson have grown up alongside one another, experienced major life milestones together and learned to adapt as their priorities changed.
Since forming more than 30 years ago, the five singers have shared countless stages, recording sessions, hotel stays and personal experiences. Their journey has made them one of the most successful groups of their era, producing iconic songs such as “I Want It That Way” and “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back).” Through the highs and lows, they have continued moving forward as a group.
Now, the Backstreet Boys are entering another chapter together with their “Into the Millennium” residency at Sphere in Las Vegas. The production blends the elements fans have come to expect from the group — including their choreography, harmonies and biggest hits — with enormous visual effects displayed across Sphere’s immersive screens.
For the members, however, the residency represents more than an impressive stage production.
“This has breathed new life into us,” AJ McLean, 48, told PEOPLE.
The group previously performed a Las Vegas residency in 2017, but their return to the city and debut at Sphere have provided a completely different experience. McLean described the production as something unlike a conventional concert, suggesting that its scale could even change the way audiences view live shows in the future.
The performance combines the classic Backstreet Boys concert experience with a massive cinematic presentation surrounding the audience. McLean explained that viewers can watch the members sing and dance while also taking in the enormous visuals unfolding around them.
Howie Dorough, 52, described the show as more than a traditional concert, calling it an immersive experience for fans.
Beyond the technology and spectacle, the enduring relationship between the five members remains central to this new chapter. During their 33 years together, they have seen one another navigate significant changes in their personal lives, including becoming fathers at different stages.
Brian Littrell, 51, was the first member of the group to have a child. At the time, his newfound family responsibilities were difficult for the other members to fully understand.
Kevin Richardson, 54, recalled an occasion in Stockholm when the group was finishing an album and planned to celebrate with dinner. While the others expected everyone to stay, Littrell chose to catch the first flight home.
At the time, the other members questioned why Littrell was so eager to leave. Richardson explained that everything became clearer once the rest of them became parents themselves. Suddenly, they understood the desire to get home to their families as quickly as possible.
Littrell acknowledged that the differing priorities created some tension within the group during those early years. McLean summed up the situation simply: the others struggled to understand Littrell’s perspective because they had not yet experienced parenthood themselves.