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NKOTBSB
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NKOTBSB was an American pop supergroup consisting of the members of American boy bands New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys. Howie Dorough of the Backstreet Boys came up with the name,[1] which is a combination of established initialisms of each groups' names, NKOTB and BSB. Together they have released one compilation album, the eponymous NKOTBSB (2011) and one single, "Don't Turn Out the Lights". They toured in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia in 2011 and 2012.
Key Information
History
[edit]In summer 2010, the Backstreet Boys joined New Kids on the Block on stage at the Radio City Music Hall in New York at their invitation[2] and performed "I Want It That Way".[3] The show was a part of NKOTB's Casi-NO Tour. Since the performance, the media began to circulate rumors of the two uniting for a tour in the summer of 2011.[4]
On October 8, 2010, Brian Littrell, a member of the Backstreet Boys, gave the tour a 78% chance of happening. He also stated that he and Donnie Wahlberg, a member of New Kids on the Block, had been working on some songs together.[5]
The tour was officially announced to begin in the summer of 2011 on On Air with Ryan Seacrest on November 8, 2010.[3] During the interview, it was mentioned that the groups were recording a single to be released later.[3] To promote the tour further, the groups conducted a live Q&A session on Ustream on the same day.[6]
The newly formed supergroup first performed together at the closing of 38th Annual American Music Awards on November 21, 2010, to give the public a taste of what they would see on the tour,[7][8] and again on the 2011 Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest.[9][10]
On March 14, 2011, the group announced that they would be releasing a joint compilation album on May 24, 2011. The album featured five tracks from each group and some new recordings by the combined supergroup.[11] The single, titled "Don't Turn Out the Lights", was premiered on April 5, 2011 on On Air with Ryan Seacrest.[12]
The NKOTBSB Tour started at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois on May 25, 2011.[13] On June 3, 2011, while in the middle of the tour, they went to Rockefeller Center to perform together at The Today Show.[14][15]
The tour ended on June 3, 2012 in Pasay, Philippines, and they performed one last time on August 18, 2012 in Hershey, PA at Summer Mixtape Festival.[16] The performance was also their only North American appearance in 2012.
During a show in London on April 29, 2012, while announcing original member Kevin Richardson's return to the Backstreet Boys, Littrell hinted that they might play some shows with all ten members in the future.[17] In August 2012, members of New Kids on the Block also stated during Mixtape Festival that while it was their last performance together for quite some time, they might get back together down the line, and they hope there will be many more shows with the Backstreet Boys in the future. They also said that NKOTBSB is like another group altogether.[18]
Members
[edit]NKOTB
BSB
Discography
[edit]Awards
[edit]- NewNowNext Awards (2011)
- Best New Indulgence: New Kids on the Block/Backstreet Boys – Summer Tour 2011[19]
Tours
[edit]- NKOTBSB Tour (2011–2012)
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "An Interview With Backstreet Boy Howie D". CBS Local Media. January 19, 2011. Archived from the original on March 10, 2016. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
- ^ "LISTEN: Backstreet's Brian Littrell talks tour, AJ's rehab and more". January 19, 2011. Archived from the original (Audio) on January 1, 2013. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
- ^ a b c Romo, Danielle (November 8, 2010). "New Kids on the Block & Backstreet Boys First Ever Interview Together". Ryan Seacrest Official Website. Ryan Seacrest Productions. Retrieved November 12, 2011.
- ^ Vick, Megan. "New Kids on the Block, Backstreet Boys Talking Joint Tour". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved November 12, 2011.
- ^ Lyle, Sabre (October 8, 2010). "The Backstreet Boys Resource: Brian in studio for Q100's Bert show - New Kids / Backstreet Boys tour info". Bsbresource.blogspot.com. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
- ^ "LIVE Q&A with NKOTB and BSB". Ustream. November 8, 2010. Archived from the original on September 22, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
- ^ Vena, Jocelyn (November 21, 2010). "Backstreet Boys And New Kids on the Block Close The AMAs". MTV. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2011.
- ^ Boedeker, Hal (November 8, 2010). "Backstreet Boys set for American Music Awards". The Orlando Sentinel. Tribune Company. Archived from the original on November 11, 2010. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
- ^ "Times Square crowd awaits glitter ball; good riddance notes". Sify. January 1, 2011. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
- ^ "AFP: New York cheers in 2011". December 31, 2010. Archived from the original on January 31, 2014. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
- ^ Shetler, Scott. "NKOTBSB -- 2011 New Album Preview". AOL. Archived from the original on March 16, 2011. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
- ^ "Listen to NKOTBSB's First Original Single 'Don't Turn Out The Lights' [AUDIO]". Ryan Seacrest. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
- ^ Grossberg, Josh (March 14, 2011). "NKOTB + BSB = Lots of Letters and New Supergroup Single". E!: Entertainment Television. NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
- ^ "NKOTBSB TODAY SHOW JUNE 3!". NKOTBSB. Archived from the original on May 17, 2012. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
- ^ "Watch It Here! NKOTBSB on the Today Show!". Perez Hilton. Archived from the original on June 27, 2012. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
- ^ Garibaldi, Christina (August 19, 2012). "The Wanted, 98 Degrees Join NKOTBSB Onstage at MixTape Festival". MTV. Archived from the original on August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
- ^ "Backstreet Boys Welcome Back Kevin Richardson". MTV. Archived from the original on September 3, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
- ^ "New Kids on the Block Talk 'Open' Relationship With Backstreet Boys". MTV. August 21, 2012. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
- ^ "Logo's "NewNowNext Awards" 2011 Announces This Year's Winners". Logo Newsroom. Archived from the original on February 25, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2011.
External links
[edit]NKOTBSB
View on GrokipediaBackground
New Kids on the Block
New Kids on the Block was formed in 1984 in Dorchester, Massachusetts, by music producer Maurice Starr, who sought to create a white counterpart to his earlier success with the R&B group New Edition. The original lineup included Donnie Wahlberg, brothers Jordan Knight and Jonathan Knight, Danny Wood, and a teenage Joey McIntyre, who joined after initial members departed. The group honed their skills through after-school rehearsals under Starr's guidance, blending pop, R&B, and dance elements to appeal to a teen audience.[9] The band rose to prominence in the late 1980s with their self-titled debut album released in 1986, which featured the hit single "Please Don't Go Girl," marking their breakthrough into the Billboard Hot 100. Their follow-up, Hangin' Tough (1988), propelled them to superstardom, topping the Billboard 200 for two weeks and yielding multiple No. 1 singles like "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" and the title track, while selling over 14 million copies worldwide.[10][11][12] The 1990 album Step by Step continued their dominance with its lead single of the same name reaching No. 1, cementing their status as teen pop icons amid a wave of merchandise, fan clubs, and sold-out arenas.[11] Facing waning popularity and internal conflicts, including a high-profile lawsuit against their management for fraud and creative disputes, the group entered a hiatus in 1994 following the release of their more mature album Face the Music. After 14 years apart, they reunited in 2007, releasing The Block in 2008, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and featured collaborations with artists like Ne-Yo and Lady Gaga, revitalizing their career with hits like "Summertime." The accompanying New Kids on the Block: Live Tour became a massive success, drawing nostalgic crowds across North America and Europe.[13] Over their career, New Kids on the Block have sold more than 80 million records worldwide, establishing them as one of the best-selling boy bands ever. Their formula of synchronized choreography, harmonious vocals, and relatable lyrics paved the way for the 1990s boy band explosion, indirectly influencing groups like the Backstreet Boys by blending heartthrob appeal with pop-R&B sensibilities. This legacy contributed to a shared fanbase during the boy band revival wave of the 2000s and beyond. The group continued releasing music and touring into the 2020s, including the album Still Kids in 2024.[14][14][15]Backstreet Boys
The Backstreet Boys were formed in 1993 in Orlando, Florida, by music manager Lou Pearlman, who sought to create a vocal group blending the visual appeal of New Kids on the Block with the harmonies of Boyz II Men. The original lineup consisted of Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, AJ McLean, and Kevin Richardson, with Littrell joining shortly after the initial auditions to round out the quintet. Pearlman, inspired by the success of earlier boy bands, assembled the group through local talent searches and ads in the Orlando Sentinel.[16][17][18] The group achieved their breakthrough with the release of their self-titled debut album in 1996, which topped charts in Europe and Canada, followed by the 1997 U.S. version that included hits like "As Long as You Love Me." Their 1999 album Millennium became a global phenomenon, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 and featuring the iconic single "I Want It That Way," which solidified their pop dominance. By the early 2000s, the Backstreet Boys had sold over 130 million records worldwide, establishing them as one of the best-selling boy bands in history.[19][20] The band faced significant challenges, including bitter management disputes with Pearlman, who was later convicted of fraud for defrauding the group and investors out of millions through Ponzi schemes. These issues contributed to a hiatus from 2002 to 2005, during which members pursued solo projects amid personal struggles like addiction and health concerns. Richardson temporarily left the group in 2006 to focus on family life but rejoined in 2012, helping fuel a resurgence with the 2019 album DNA, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, and extensive world tours extending into the 2020s.[21][22][23][24][25][26] During early discussions about a potential collaboration with New Kids on the Block, Howie Dorough proposed the supergroup name "NKOTBSB," merging the acronyms of both bands to symbolize their shared legacy in boy band culture. Emerging in the late 1990s, the Backstreet Boys dominated the boy band era as successors to the 1980s pioneers New Kids on the Block, sharing overlapping fan demographics from the resurgence of synchronized pop acts. Their parallel trajectories in commercial success and fan devotion laid the groundwork for the cultural and commercial logic of their eventual merger. The group continued touring into 2025, including shows on their DNA World Tour extensions.[27][28][29]Formation
Initial Collaboration
The initial collaboration between New Kids on the Block (NKOTB) and the Backstreet Boys began with a surprise joint appearance on June 19, 2010, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City during NKOTB's Casi-no tour.[30] This marked the first time the two bands shared a stage, as the Backstreet Boys unexpectedly joined NKOTB for a medley performance featuring mash-ups of each other's hits, including NKOTB covering the Backstreet Boys' "I Want It That Way" and a collaborative rendition blending elements of "Hangin' Tough" and "Larger Than Life."[31] The event was part of NKOTB's three-night stand at the venue, capping off their tour with this unannounced guest appearance that thrilled the sold-out crowd.[32] The performance sparked immediate fan enthusiasm, with attendees and online communities erupting in excitement over the rare crossover, often described as a nostalgic dream for 1990s boy band enthusiasts.[33] Media coverage amplified the buzz, with outlets like Time noting how the surprise fueled rumors of potential joint ventures and highlighted the event as a catalyst for renewed interest in both groups' legacies.[33] This positive reception prompted informal talks among the members shortly after the show, evolving into more structured internal discussions by late 2010 about formalizing a partnership.[34] These discussions focused on developing the concept of a "boy band supergroup" to celebrate 1990s nostalgia, including brainstorming naming ideas that combined the groups' identities. The moniker NKOTBSB merged the established acronyms NKOTB and BSB for a unified brand. Amid their ongoing solo tours—the Backstreet Boys' This Is Us Tour and NKOTB's post-reunion promotions—managers and labels played key roles in facilitating early planning, with Interscope Records (NKOTB's label) and Jive Records (the Backstreet Boys' label) coordinating logistics to align schedules and explore collaborative opportunities without disrupting individual commitments.[34]Official Launch
The supergroup NKOTBSB was officially announced on November 3, 2010, through a joint statement from New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys, revealing plans for a co-headlining North American tour set to begin in summer 2011. This launch positioned the collaboration as a celebration of boy band history, uniting two generations of fans through shared nostalgia and high-energy performances. The announcement was made during an exclusive interview on Ryan Seacrest's radio show, with initial tour dates released shortly after, and tickets going on sale to the public starting November 19, 2010.[35] Accompanying the reveal was the launch of the official website nkotbsb.com, designed as a central hub for tour updates, fan engagement, and merchandise. The concept framed NKOTBSB as a temporary supergroup intended to fuse the rhythmic, street-smart pop of New Kids on the Block with the melodic, harmony-focused sound of Backstreet Boys, creating a dynamic stage experience without long-term commitments beyond the tour and related projects. The name itself served as a symbolic merger, combining the acronyms NKOTB and BSB into a single entity.[36] Promotional efforts ramped up in early 2011, including a joint press conference on January 26, 2011, at Fenway Park in Boston to announce a special tour stop there on June 11, emphasizing the homecoming significance for the Boston-originated New Kids on the Block. Additional media exposure came via television, such as their joint performance at the American Music Awards on November 21, 2010, which acted as an early teaser, and later spots to build anticipation for the tour's kickoff. A promotional teaser video highlighting the supergroup's energy was released in conjunction with the March 14, 2011, album announcement, further teasing the blended hits and new material.[37][1][38] Initial fan reception was overwhelmingly positive, with fan club presales selling out for multiple dates within hours of launch, reflecting pent-up demand from loyal Blockheads and Backstreet Boys supporters. Social media platforms erupted with excitement, as fans shared memories, fan art, and countdowns to the shows, amplifying the hype around this rare boy band crossover. This enthusiasm built directly on the spark from their impromptu joint performance during Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve on December 31, 2010, which previewed the collaborative chemistry to a national audience.[39][40]Members
New Kids on the Block Members
The New Kids on the Block members participating in the NKOTBSB supergroup were the same five from their 2008 reunion lineup: Donnie Wahlberg, Jordan Knight, Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, and Danny Wood, with no changes to the group's composition for the collaboration.[1] Donnie Wahlberg served as the primary rapper and group leader within NKOTBSB, frequently leading promotional efforts through hype-building interviews that highlighted the joint venture's excitement.[41] Jordan Knight acted as the lead vocalist, delivering his distinctive falsetto harmonies in the supergroup's mash-ups and shared performances during the tour.[42] Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, and Danny Wood contributed vocals and dance elements to the supergroup's performances.Backstreet Boys Members
The Backstreet Boys contributed four members to the NKOTBSB supergroup, reflecting their 2010 lineup: Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, and AJ McLean.[2] This configuration participated fully in the project's album, singles, and tour, bringing the group's signature vocal harmonies and energetic stage dynamics to the collaboration with New Kids on the Block. Kevin Richardson, the eldest member and baritone vocalist, was not an active participant in the core lineup due to his 2006 departure from the Backstreet Boys but made surprise guest appearances during the 2011 tour, contributing to group cohesion in select performances before rejoining the band in 2012.[43][44][45][46] Nick Carter served as a primary lead vocalist. Howie Dorough provided supporting vocals. Brian Littrell contributed high tenor vocals to the harmonious blends. AJ McLean added rap verses and dance expertise.Discography
Compilation Album
The compilation album NKOTBSB was released on May 24, 2011, by Columbia, Jive, and Legacy as the supergroup's only full-length project.[47] It functions as a greatest hits collection, selecting five signature tracks from each constituent band—New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys—while incorporating two newly recorded collaborative songs and a mashup medley to bridge their musical histories. This structure underscores the thematic focus on nostalgia and unity, presenting a curated overview of their pop legacies without new full-length material from either group.[48][49] The 13-track lineup alternates selections from both bands to create a balanced flow, beginning with New Kids on the Block's "Step by Step" and Backstreet Boys' "I Want It That Way," followed by further classics like "Hangin' Tough" and "Larger Than Life." The album concludes with the fresh recordings "All in My Head" and the lead single "Don't Turn Out the Lights," plus a "Medley" that remixes hits from both acts into a single performance piece. This arrangement highlights representative examples of their chart-topping eras, such as upbeat dance-pop anthems and romantic ballads, rather than exhaustive discographies.[47] The existing hits retained their original productions from the bands' respective labels—Columbia for New Kids on the Block and Jive for Backstreet Boys—while the new tracks were developed collaboratively in early 2011. Recording for "Don't Turn Out the Lights" and "All in My Head" took place at Chalice Recording Studios in Los Angeles, with production handled by teams including Emanuel Kiriakou (for the former, co-written with Jess Cates and Claude Kelly) and RedOne (Nadir Khayat, with Teddy Sky and Gustav Efraimsson for the latter). The process prioritized nostalgic remixing to evoke the high-energy sound of late-1980s and 1990s boy band music, blending vocal harmonies from all nine members.[50][51] Packaging emphasized the supergroup's dual identity through a cover design featuring intertwined logos of both bands alongside group photos, marketed as an essential "best-of" artifact for fans of their joint era. Special editions included bonus items like an exclusive tour poster, personalized video messages from the members, and previously unreleased photos, enhancing its collectible appeal.[52] The album debuted at number 7 on the US Billboard 200, moving 40,000 units in its first week per Nielsen SoundScan data, reflecting strong initial interest tied to the concurrent tour.[5]| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA) | 38 |
| Canadian Albums (Billboard) | 6 |
| Mexican Albums (Top 100 Mexico) | 70 |
| Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) | 29 |
| UK Albums (OCC) | 33 |
| US Billboard 200 | 7 |
Singles
NKOTBSB released only one original single, "Don't Turn Out the Lights", as the lead promotion for their collaboration. The track was digitally released on April 5, 2011, ahead of the full compilation album. Written by Jess Cates, Claude Kelly, and Emanuel Kiriakou, and produced by Kiriakou, it features vocals from all nine members of the supergroup.[54] The song is an upbeat pop-dance number with lyrics centered on unity, perseverance, and maintaining a celebratory atmosphere amid challenges, capturing the supergroup's collaborative spirit. It briefly references themes of keeping lights on metaphorically to sustain energy and connection. The single was included on the NKOTBSB compilation album, released May 24, 2011.[5] Promotion emphasized digital platforms, with an iTunes exclusive download and integration into pre-sale bundles for the upcoming NKOTBSB Tour, alongside targeted radio airplay to build anticipation. The accompanying music video premiered on VEVO, showcasing high-energy choreography that merged the performance styles of New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys. On charts, "Don't Turn Out the Lights" debuted and peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 in April 2011, reflecting modest but notable entry for the supergroup project; it also reached No. 46 on the Canadian Hot 100.[55][56]| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100) | 46 |
| US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard) | 14 |