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Backstreet Boys’ AJ McLean on bringing ‘Millennium’ to the Las Vegas Sphere

BBG News

On a Monday afternoon, AJ McLean is found on Zoom, situated in the softly-lit living room of a Las Vegas rental house. In the late ’90s, McLean earned the moniker “the resident bad boy” as part of his pop group, Backstreet Boys. At 47 years old now, he expresses that he’s growing accustomed to the city, with plans to purchase a residence there next year.

He mentions that everyone is moving from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. The main reason is the taxes, but it’s also convenient because his mother resides in this area, which is an additional advantage for him.

Currently, there are factors beyond family and finances pulling McLean towards the east. This Friday night marks the beginning of a six-week residency for the Backstreet Boys at Sphere, an advanced orb-shaped venue that debuted late in 2023 and has already hosted spectacular performances by artists such as U2, Phish, Dead & Company, the Eagles, Kenny Chesney, among others. At this moment, McLean is scheduled to attend a rehearsal at the $2-billion complex, which starts at 11 p.m., following the late-night screening of director Darren Aronofsky’s “Postcard from Earth” film. The rehearsal is set to conclude at 4:30 in the morning.

McLean expresses that the schedule isn’t great, “I anticipate we’ll have one full rehearsal and perhaps another partial one this evening before fatigue sets in.”

McLean points out that the schedule is less than ideal, “I expect we’ll manage a complete run-through and maybe an additional brief one tonight before exhaustion becomes a factor.

Music

Over the weekend, the well-established Los Angeles country-rock band kicked off a 20-show run at a cutting-edge venue situated near the Las Vegas Strip.

The Backstreet Boys aren’t new to Las Vegas: In 2017, they started a two-year residency at Planet Hollywood. However, this time is special as it marks the 25th anniversary of their 1999 album “Millennium.” This record was a massive success, selling over 13 million copies in the U.S., producing hits like “I Want It That Way,” and earning five Grammy nominations for Album, Record, and Song of the Year. On Friday, they plan to release a deluxe version of the album, including outtakes, live recordings, and a new song titled “Hey.

From my perspective as a movie enthusiast, the buzz surrounding “The Sphere” show doesn’t escape me. However, it’s been tainted with allegations against one of its key figures, which he has refuted. When I inquired for a comment, McLean simply stated, “Allegations? That’s all there is. We stand by our guy.” These are the words that have echoed during our conversation.

Crucial Clarification: Is it The Sphere or simply Sphere?
I’ve been informed it’s Sphere Las Vegas, but I’m hesitant because it doesn’t follow standard English grammar. Let’s clear up any confusion by using the correct terminology.

Have you attended any shows at the venue that Kevin, Howie, Brian, and I have been to? We watched the Eagles together, but Kevin saw Anymar later on because it’s not really my kind of music. More recently, Kevin and Howie went to watch Kenny Chesney. I’m eager to take my kids when “The Wizard of Oz” begins, as I’ve seen some previews and it looks amazing – they’ve added pyrotechnics and live stage performances that make up half the film. It’s quite an exciting spectacle!

The Sphere originally catered to classic rock performers seeking a revitalizing environment. However, the Backstreet Boys were marketed as the first pop act to grace this venue, which might lead one to consider your group a legacy act too. Does your residency in this space differ from that of bands like The Eagles or U2?

The distinction lies in the fact that those are iconic rock groups — they perform, sing unforgettable songs, and play instruments while the venue serves as an extension of their music narrative. As Don Henley puts it, “We’re just the house band playing for what you’re watching on the screen.” The Backstreet Boys, however, bring something fresh to this stage since we continue to deliver high-energy concerts that are characteristic of our performances in stadiums and arenas — approximately 85% of the show revolves around dancing, moving around, and entertaining the audience just as we would in a larger venue.

We’ve got a few surprises in store, and we’ll see if they work by Friday. If they do, trust me, it will be something extraordinary – truly mind-blowing!

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Have you found yourself revisiting some forgotten tracks while going through “Millennium” from start to finish? Tracks like “Back to Your Heart,” and “No One Else Comes Close” are ones we haven’t performed since the “Millennium” tour. I even struggled to remember all 12 songs on the album, getting a few wrong.

Seven years ago, I proposed the concept of commemorating our 25th anniversary. Since then, discussions have been ongoing. At last, we all agreed and gathered with our team to ponder: “What would be fitting to celebrate this remarkable achievement?” Simultaneously, there were whispers about us returning to Vegas for a possible residency – various hotels hinted at it. Then the idea of The Sphere emerged, and it was as if someone said, “Well, it doesn’t get any grander than that.

Is it significant that our show falls just short of the exact 25th anniversary?
We often poke fun at this during the performance. Given that it took nearly eight months to prepare everything visually, we naturally missed the deadline. However, technically speaking, the “Millennium” tour extended into the year 2000. So, we have a bit of leeway in that regard.

It appears that many people believe “Millennium” is the Backstreet Boys’ finest album. Do you concur with this sentiment? While I agree that it was a huge success and created quite a sensation, my personal favorite would have to be either “Never Gone” or “DNA”. The reason “Never Gone” stands out for me is its raw, authentic feel – a stark contrast to our earlier records which were heavily influenced by synth drums and electronic sounds. This album had a more organic sound with a touch of rock and live instrumentation, making it particularly special and filled with great tracks.

I’m really looking forward to this event because we’ll create another special memory together. Everyone attending has been asked to wear white, and it seems everyone will comply. The sight of a sea of white, sparkles, and remnants from 1999 is going to be amazing, and there might be some emotional moments for a few of us. Kevin, who recently lost his mom, will start “The Perfect Fan” song, and he’s asked us to join him in singing the opening line just in case. This will be our first time singing the opening line of any song together, making it a heartwarming moment we get to share with our dear friend.

Did you know some fun Backstreet Boys history? At the 41st Grammys in 1999, they were nominated for best new artist. However, they didn’t take home the award that night. I believe it went to Lauryn Hill instead.

We were competing against musical greats like Sting, Rob Thomas, and Santana [in 2000]. It’s hard to be upset when you’re going up against legends. If our remastered album manages to get nominated again upon re-release, it would be quite extraordinary. I shared with the band that I couldn’t find any artist who had remastered and re-released their most successful album, only for it to reach No. 1 again.

Taylor Swift’s re-recordings, or simply her versions, could be referred to as “Taylor’s Remakes” or “Taylor’s Redos.” These terms suggest that she is re-recording her original albums, but with updated and potentially improved sound quality.

Music

Prior to his upcoming five-consecutive performances at the Wiltern in Los Angeles, the ex-lead singer of The Police reflects on his personal life and professional journey.

I talked to Jacoby Shaddix from Papa Roach a few months ago.
That’s my boy.

He mentioned that you two exchanged contact details and suggested you might collaborate at some point. Interestingly enough, I had planned to reach out to him this week about attending my upcoming performance because he expressed interest earlier. He’s truly a great person, and we both seem to be following the same positive path. It’s quite heartening, indeed.

Talking about the fusion of rap and rock: During the summer of 1999, “Millennium” and Limp Bizkit’s “Significant Other” were constantly vying for the top spot on Billboard’s album chart. It was all about MTV back then, and to be honest, most weeks featured the same five artists rotating positions – Blink-182, us, NSYNC, Britney, Christina, Limp Bizkit, and even Korn for a while. That’s who ruled the airwaves for almost an entire year.

It’s intriguing how contrasting genres such as teen pop and nü-metal resonated deeply with American youth during the same period. Whether you preferred one over the other or enjoyed both, there was something appealing about it – it was enjoyable. Limp Bizkit, despite being rap-rock, had catchy melodies, top-notch production, and a vibrant atmosphere. Their videos were fun and amusing, generating enthusiasm among listeners. We experienced something similar as well.

Have you ever felt a pull towards a more rock-oriented music scene instead of the Backstreet Boys, given your distinctive appearance and love for that genre? I’ve often heard people say, “Man, you seem like you could fit right in with Good Charlotte,” mainly because of your tattoos. My upcoming solo record leans more toward pop, but it’s infused with R&B, funk, ’80s sounds, and other styles I adore. However, there might be a detour into rock music at some point. In fact, I’ve discussed this possibility with Jacoby, considering we could start a mini-supergroup to create an album together, just for the fun of it. Who cares about labels?

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2025-07-10 13:34

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