Backstreet Boys: Love Comes First for the Lonely Boys

. BSB: Love Comes First for the Lonely Boys

by JULIE MacCASKILL

THE Backstreet Boys are adored by millions of girls all over the world.

But despite the fame and fortune that goes with being one of the most successful boy bands ever, the lads confess they've discovered a downside to their success. They may be loved from afar, but traditionally, boy bands have found that the first thing to suffer as they become successful is their love life. Take That famously had a girlfriend ban slapped on them and Westlife reportedly signed a contract with their managers promising they would not marry within the first five years of their career.

Although not formally prevented form having girlfriends by their record company or manager, the Backstreet Boys found that relationships fell victim to punishing promotional schedules and touring commitments. Now they have adjusted their priorities. Brian Littrell recently admitted he's fallen in love, but is so fiercely protective of his private life that he refuses to reveal any details about the woman who has stolen his heart. "All the success in the world isn't worth it if you don't have someone to share it with," says Brian. Show Me The Meaning, the single from Americans Brian, Howie, Nick, AJ and Kevin, was written about their loneliness as they travelled the world promoting their hit albums. It may seem strange to be lonely when there are millions of girls clamouring for just a tiny piece of attention from the boys - but, as they discovered, hotel rooms after the adulation from cheering crowds can be lonely. "In the beginning, our careers were more important than anything," says Brian.

"But after a while you realise that it's not just about making everyone else around you happy - there's a bigger picture. "I had a girlfriend off and on then, but it was something that I didn't want to talk about. At that point I was never home and I was focusing on trying to deal with the Backstreet Boys' schedules. "Nothing else mattered at that time, but it's different now." The other band members have yet to spill the beans about their love lives, but they now know their loyal fans will accept women in their lives. "I'm 24 now, and I have to do things outside the Backstreet Boys," says Brian. "All I ever wanted was someone who was interested in a career for themselves and can treat me like a normal person. Now I've found that I've found true happiness." Last year, the band could do no wrong. As well as being named artists of the year at the prestigious Billboard music awards in Las Vegas, they saw off rivals including Boyzone to be crowned Best Band On The Planet and Best Non- British Band at the Smash Hits Poll Winners Party.

They also won Best Video, Best Single and Best Album and MTV's best group award, while their album Millennium sold around eight million copies in the US. Rewards don't just come in the form of trophies. The Backstreet Boys recently struck a pounds 40 million record deal, putting them on a par with Michael Jackson and the Rolling Stones. Their five- album agreement gives them 20 per cent of the royalties, plus a lump sum upfront. But Brian had more to worry about last year when he underwent a life- saving operation to repair a hole in his heart. The operation was a success and made him realise that life was there to be lived to the full.

As well as his role as a teen idol, Brian devotes himself to fundraising for his new charity, the Brian Littrell Healthy Hearts for Kids fund. He says: "I've started a heart endowment programme for kids and it's been raising a lot of money. I would eventually like it to be a worldwide cause." Charity good deeds aside, Brian will be focusing his attentions on the Backstreet Boys' much anticipated American Arena tour which kicks off next month and sees them travel the States for two months. Such was demand, tickets for all 20 arena dates sold out in just one hour, confirming the Backstreet Boys as world record-breakers. Although excited by their forthcoming shows, the band are all too aware that extensive touring will mean time away from home and their loved ones. But they've found a solution to that. "Each one of us tries to have somebody from our families out for a week or so at a time," says Brian. "That way we bring a bit of home out to us since we can't get back there as often as we'd like."

Source: Sunday Mail