Only a year ago, the Backstreet Boys were leading a double life: Throughout Europe, Asia, and Canada, they were superstars. Paparazzi tracked their every move, and huge arenas were filled to capacity with their screaming fans. But back in the United States, almost no one had even heard of AJ, Brian, Kevin, Howie D, and Nick and their soulful, five-part harmony. All that changed last summer, when their killer single "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" raced up the charts. Now the B.Boys are conquering the States with a North American tour and a second rockin' tune," As Long As You Love Me."

takin it from the top

Where did these babes come from? The way Nick, the youngest member, explains it, it was fate: "Howie, AJ, and I met at auditions at Universal and MGM studios in Orlando, FL," he says." We started harmonizing and wanted to find two more guys to sing five-part harmony with us." One afternoon in 1993, at yet another audition, the trio met Kevin. he joined the group immediately, saying he knew someone who'd be perfect as the fifth singer: "I grew up singingin chrurch with my family," Kevin says." My cousin Brian and I used to harmonize all the time, so I asked him to fly to Orlando to sing with us."

all together now

The Boys named themselves after a fave Orlando teen hangout, the open-air Backstreet Market, then hooked up with Lou Pearlman, who signed them to his FLorida-based record label. he also hooked them up with managers Johnny and Donna Wright. Johnny scored them gigs at local schools, where they performed songs by Color Me Badd and Boyz II Men. Soon the guys were opening local shows for Brandy, Jon Secada, and En Vogue. Crowds loved 'em- and they even went on a small national tour. Then one night, during a concert in Cleaveland, Donna decided to call an exec at Jive Recods so he could hear the crowd's reaction to the band. His answering machine picked up, so she just held out her cell phone and let the machine record the screaming audience. Intrigued by the noise of the crowd, the exec jumped on a plane to meet the guys at their next tour stop. The Boys inked a deal with Jive and cut a single, "We've Got It Goin' On." It didn't take off in the States, so Jive sent the band off to Europe on a promotional tour. Within weeks, the same song that had gotten so little play at home was topping the charts in Germany, Spain, and Canada. The Boys became instant stars: They even scored MTV Europe's 1996 Select Award (it's just like MTV's Viewer's Choice Award here in the US). But as much as they appreciatedtheir European fans, the Backstreet Boys longed to make it big on their own turf.

coming to America

ANd now, the buzz at home is only getting louder as the Boys's US tour picks up steam. Their killer schedule means the guys spend tons of time together. "We're like a family," says Kevin. But as close as they are nothing gets the guys stoked like playing for their real relatives. "We're psyched to have our families and friends see us perform," says Howie. "It means a lot to us to be accepted in our own country."

the bsb's love lowdown

Brian Littrell
Birthday: February 20, 1975
Nickname: B-rock. "Cause I'm always shooting hoops."
Dream Girl: " I saw Jadda Pinkett shopping in a mall once. I was starstruck," says this Pisces.
Stuff he loves: " I like to play all sports: tennis, baseball, football, even golf!" he says.

Kevin Richardson
Birthday: October 3, 1971
Nickname: Train. "Because he was a linebacker on his high school football team, and he ran over guys like a train," cousin Brian tells us.
Sweetie sitch: "I'm bashful," Kevin admits. " I like it when a girl tells me she likes me."
Stuff he loves: " I'll eat any food with peanut butter," he says. And this Libra is way into grooving to Maxwell's tunes

Howie "my fam calls me Howard" Dorough
Birthday: August 22,1973
Nickname: Howie D. or Sweet D. "when he's being too nice,"says Nick.
Sweetie sitch: "I'd like to cook a girl a great meal, then dine with her by candlelight."
First kiss: " In sixth grade, at a party, I got kissed by two of the prettiest girls there."
Stuff he loves: "I've treid different foods in all the countries we've visited," says this leo.

Nick Carter
Birthday: January 28, 1980
Nickname: Chaos, or messy Marvin. "He spills stuff all the time," Kevin explains.
Sweetie sitch: "I'd love to take a girl for a barefoot walk on the beach," says Nick.
Girl trouble: " One fan in Germany held up a sign that read, 'Nick I want to have your baby!'" Howie reports.
Stuff he loves: Nick, who's on the cusp of Capricorn and Aquarious, collects Dark House comics. He chows on Butterfingers whenever possible.

AJ (Alexander James) Mc Lean
Birthday: January 9,1978
Nickname: Bones. " Because I'm so skinny," he tells us.
Sweetie sitch: "Meeting a girl is all about looking across a room and catching a smile."
Dream girl: "Gwen Stefani, Forget Gavin-I love her."
Stuff he loves: This chill Capricorn digs everything McDonald's: Big Mac, fries, and apple pie. He's also way into watching Seinfeld and talking to girls on the phone.