Alexander James McLean, better known to the world as AJ, the crazy tattooed one from the Backstreet Boys, was born on January 09, 1978, in Kissimmee, Florida. AJ spent the first four years of his life living in Kissimmee with his mother Denise and his father Robert. Before his fifth birthday, though, his parents filed for and completed their divorce, and AJ began living his new life with his mother and grandparents.

Even from an early age, AJ loved to entertain the people around him. He loved to sing, act, and dance. He was on the Nickelodeon sitcom Hi Honey, I'm Home playing the leather wearing, chain baring, mohawked rebel, Skunk. It was his first television role even though the show aired only a couple of times. Later, he appeared in the pilot episode of another Nickelodeon half hour show, Welcome Freshmen.

Putting to use his singing and dancing skills, AJ soon began performing in Latin talent shows, where he met fellow band member, Howie Dorough. Howie then introduced AJ to Nick Carter. Later, AJ, Howie, and Nick met Kevin Richardson, who was working at Disney World at the time, and Kevin then called upon his cousin Brian Littrell. Not long after, these five guys became the five Boys that we love today.