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AJ McLean Talks ‘Rebirth’ of the Backstreet Boys and the Band Rocking Cancún in 2024 (Unique)

Thirty years after the Backstreet Boys rocked the music charts, blasting airwaves all through the Nineteen Nineties and 2000s with “Stop Enjoying Video games with My Coronary heart,” “All people,” and “I Need It That Method,” the band is again to carry out on the Moon Palace in Cancún, Mexico from April 18-21, 2024. 

In an unique interview with PEOPLE, singer, dancer, and a founding member of the pop vocal group AJ McLean, 45, seems on-screen in typical AJ model — carrying the trademark silver earrings and lengthy flashy chains, neck and arm tattoos, deep brown eyes, sporting a darkish t-shirt, this time with brief hair dyed blond and a black goatee — trying as he at all times has on Zoom, backdropped by yellow curtains half-draped over bright-lit window.

“Bought to get a little bit Jimi Hendrix within the shot,” he says with fun, holding a Hendrix doll as much as the digital camera. “There we go. What’s up, Jimi?” He tosses the doll apart and smiles earlier than diving into Backstreet’s Again on the Seaside.

AJ McLean, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, and Kevin Richardson of Backstreet Boys attend the iHeartRadio Z100's Jingle Ball 2022 Presented by Capital One at Madison Square Garden on December 9, 2022
AJ McLean, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson of the Backstreet Boys at Madison Sq. Backyard in December 2022.

Slaven Vlasic/Getty



All of the band members shall be on the all-inclusive live performance trip — McLean, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Kevin Richardson and Brian Littrell — the beloved group of 5 from Orlando, Florida that shot chills down the spines of younger followers internationally after their formation in 1993. 

“It is unprecedented for a gaggle like us to nonetheless be round this lengthy and nonetheless going,” McLean tells PEOPLE. “So, over the previous, most likely inside the final 10 years, we have finished 5 cruise ship-like excursions. We have finished one in Europe, and the remainder have been ported out of Miami. We would exit, both go to the Bahamas or we might go to a vacation spot; we might get off after which get again on the boat. You are on a cruise with 3,500 followers; you are doing deck events, theme events, picture calls, two reveals, sport nights. We have been like, ‘You realize what? This time, we do not wish to be in the course of the ocean someplace. Why do not we simply maintain our ft firmly on the sand and let’s do a vacation spot?’ I imply, Cancún is totally stunning.”

Every night time, the Moon Palace will welcome Backstreet Boys followers, screaming company rallying to look at standard and unconventional performances as they make their approach to the principle stage, situated on a strip of sand by the Caribbean Sea.

AJ McLean of Backstreet Boys performs during the DNA World Tour 2023 at Allianz Parque on January 27, 2023
AJ McLean of the Backstreet Boys performs throughout the DNA World Tour 2023 at Allianz Parque on January 27, 2023 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Mauricio Santana/Getty



“We have theme events, we have got sport nights, we have got performances with 30 songs which have now been picked by our followers, which goes to be fascinating,” McLean says. “We’ll see what number of deep cuts pop up and what number of songs that we have been doing, we will do once more. However it should be enjoyable,” he says. “Nice approach to kick off 2024.”

Alternatives arising to work together with the group embody a tequila and guacamole tasting with Dorough, a DJ efficiency by Littrell, a seashore volleyball event with Carter, and a particular selection present with the entire Littrell household.

When requested concerning the collaboration of the weekend’s itinerary, McLean provides a proof that may be anticipated. “Nick will say one thing, after which I will chime in, after which Kevin will chime in, after which all of us chime in and go, ‘OK. That works,’ or, ‘Hey, let’s possibly twist that and alter that.’ We’re actually simply making an attempt to make it very easygoing, laid again.”

Kevin Richardson, Brian Littrell, AJ McLean, Nick Carter and Howie Dorough of Backstreet Boys attend the iHeartRadio Z100’s Jingle Ball 2022 Presented by Capital One at Madison Square Garden on December 9, 2022
Kevin Richardson, Brian Littrell, AJ McLean, Nick Carter and Howie Dorough of the Backstreet Boys attend an iHeartRadio occasion in 2022.

Kevin Mazur/Getty 



McLean, who devised the plan for a karaoke night time, explains, “I used to be making an attempt to think about totally different concepts and various things, and for me, I am an enormous fan of karaoke right here in L.A.” The concept stemmed from a Japanese restaurant known as Miyagi’s off Sundown Boulevard, “and each Tuesday night time, they might have karaoke,” with “a number of the greatest names in movie, TV, and music.”

“I noticed Whitney Houston singing karaoke there one night time, which was insane. Jamie Foxx, I imply — you title it, it was the who’s who of karaoke. Nevertheless it made me fall in love with karaoke much more,” he continues, “and as a lot time as we have spent over in Japan and the Pacific Rim, they love karaoke.”

McLean says folks at all times ask him if he sings karaoke to Backstreet Boys hits. “I by no means do. I’ll do different boy bands,” he says. “I’ll do different bands. My go-to was ‘Resort California.’ It is only a enjoyable tune to sing, or I’d go the opposite method and I’d do ‘Bye Bye Bye’ by *NSYNC, or do one thing enjoyable.”

AJ McLean attends Songs For Tomorrow: A Benefit Concert in support of On Our Sleeves, The Movement for Children's Mental Health at Heart Weho on January 18, 2023
AJ McLean in West Hollywood in January 2023.

“I am additionally making an attempt to throw in some film songs like Disney film songs,” he provides, “seeing as folks know all of the phrases to Frozen. What I might love is to attempt to throw in one of many songs from Hamilton, which is certainly one of my favourite reveals ever, to see if folks can sustain with all of the phrases.”

The concert events will embody the basic Backstreet Boys routines — the synchronized actions, the energetic steps, and catchy choreography with spinning, hip-hop dance kinds reflecting their pop and R&B genres. Nonetheless, McLean says the music is what’s near their coronary heart.

“That is what we actually really delight ourselves on,” he says, “being a vocal concord group and being singers first. The dancing is secondary. However clearly, on sure songs, we will rise up, and we will dance. Followers wish to see ‘Backstreet’s Again,’ followers wish to see sure songs with choreography,” he continues. “However simply to have the ability to sit there and simply have that intimacy with our followers is what I am trying ahead to probably the most.”

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Together with day by day performances from Eric Cubeecchee and DJ YO-C, Jason Derulo will full the musical a part of the journey by becoming a member of the band as a headliner.

“I feel it should fly by the seat of your pants,” McClean says, including, “we will hopefully have a little bit little bit of prep time to work up songs, some that we have by no means carried out stay. So, you are taking a look at a very good two hours of regardless of the followers determine.”

The pop star tells PEOPLE the group is already planning their subsequent album, noting “we’re so lucky and so grateful that now we have this chance,” describing the venue as “a rebirth” and “nice kickoff level,” earlier than asking, “why not be someplace tropical that is sunny and enjoyable and simply take pleasure in ourselves and be near our followers? That is one thing.”

“We really have one of the best followers on the earth which were so loyal from day one and gaining new followers alongside the way in which,” he says, smiling. “So, to have the ability to all be collectively in a phenomenal location, it is a win-win all the way in which throughout the board.”

“For us to have the ability to rejoice wherever, it would not matter the place we’re, to commemorate 30 years collectively and to rejoice it with our followers. It is simply going to be a phenomenal expertise to all be collectively, celebrating three many years of music.”

To be taught extra about Backstreet Boys on the Seaside, go to www.backstreetsbackatthebeach.com.

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