Joey Fatone & AJ Mclean Bring the Backstreet & NSYNC Hits

Last updated: 27 Mar 2024, 15:34:21
Published: 27 Mar 2024, 15:34:21
Written by: Tony Pierce
Photography by: Denise Truscello
Tagged: Joey Fatone

Last week NSYNC wowed their fans in LA when they made a surprise appearance at the end of Justin Timberlake's intimate show at the Wiltern Theater.

The boys reunited for a few of their big hits and then live debuted the new song, "Selfish," that's on Justin's latest album.

If you weren't one of the lucky ones to attend the LA show, you still have a chance at some boyband love.

NSYNC's Joey Fatone and A.J. Mclean of Backstreet Boys are doing a tour called A Legendary Night which might feed the '90s cravings you've been hankering.

The two tattooed heartthrobs have a laidback show where they celebrate some of the biggest hits of their rival groups while a backing band (including a horn section) provides the music.

On stage is a couch and overstuffed chairs along with a beautiful throw rug to give the vibe of "we're all just friends here having fun with the music we all grew up with.

There's also games. One includes a giant inflatable dice that's tossed into the crowd. Whatever number pops up (it's debatable what has been "rolled") goes to a corresponding song the men then break into along with the band.

Not only do the pair rifle through many of the hits from "Larger Than Life," "It's Gonna Be Me" and "Everybody," but they also do cover songs from Bon Jovi to Bell Biv DeVoe and the Spin Doctors.

Oh you've never heard Joey Fatone, AJ Mclean and a band with a full horn section bust with "Two Princes"? Just go ahead now:

While there was a lot of fun and laughter, it could also get deep. At the March 16th show, which was the second stop of the 8-show mini tour, AJ introduced "Good Enough," a new song he dropped, and explained why you might see his newer work under Alexander James, or just Alex.

"[After the Backstreet Boys] finished up our DNA World Tour in May of last year....I decided I needed to get away do a little me time, a little soul-searching, So I posted up in Scottsdale Arizona for 10 weeks by myself," he said.

Backstreet was back in 2023.

"I admitted myself to an amazing place called The Meadows, an intensive outpatient program for mental health."

As he spoke, fans cheered him on in support.

"My sobriety is on lock," he assured. "I have a little over two and a half years sober. I needed to get to the roots of my problems. You see I suffer from a condition called piece of shit-ism. I have struggled with low self esteem my entire life and you may wonder how is that possible doing the shit I do for a living? But when I tell you it's possible, it's possible."

Women yelled out, "I love you, AJ," as he continued.

"I've made some really bad mistakes in my life, but I'm not a mistake and I wouldn't be where I am today had I not gone through the life experiences that I've gone through," he said.

AJ introducing Alex

"I'm going through a tough time right now, personally, but this too shall pass and I will say this. One of the key things I learned last summer is one word: authenticity.

"You all have known me for almost 31 years as AJ Mclean from the Backstreet Boys. Tonight I want to introduce you to someone else Hi my name is Alex," he said and broke into "Good Enough."