Backstreet Boys' Brian Littrell: Apologizes For Cancellations Due To Swine Flu

Just as the Backstreet Boys were preparing to promote their latest album, This Is Us, word came that member Brian Littrell had been diagnosed with swine flu, prompting several upcoming promotional appearances that the band to cancel. On the roster was a performance of their single "Straight Through My Heart" on CBS' "Early Show" on Tuesday (October 6).
In a video posted Monday on YouTube, a sniffling and visibly ill Littrell apologized to his fans for missing upcoming scheduled appearances, which included a Pinktober charity event supporting breast cancer awareness at the Hard Rock Café in Times Square.
"First off, I need to say that I'm actually sorry to all of our Backstreet Boys fans, as well as I'm sorry to the Hard Rock Café and the staff there. The Backstreet Boys had a great event set up this afternoon (October 5), an autograph signing at the Hard Rock, where we were going to get the opportunity to unify with some of our fans as well as raise money for breast cancer awareness," he said. "Unfortunately I was diagnosed with the swine flu yesterday, and my job right now is to stay away from as many people as I can."
He also addressed the bandmates that his fact are recently healthy but are still undergoing preventative swine flu treatments: "On another note, the guys have been looked at by a doctor, and they're also on preventative medicine that will help them not show any signs nor get the swine flu, I hope.
"I want to again apologize and say that I'm sorry I couldn't make it again. You guys got to know what's going on. ... I hope that the next time you look at me, I will feel better, but for right now, for the next three or four days, I've got to be out of the loop. Thank you for your understanding. I'm sorry that I couldn't be there, but my job right now is to try and protect you guys from this. I hope you guys are well and I will talk to you very soon. God bless."
In 1998, Littrell, 34, underwent open heart surgery to correct a lifelong heart murmur. A spokesperson for Littrell told MTV News that his doctors are aware of his previous heart condition and heart surgery and are monitoring that as they treat him

X Factor dream ends Twins fear

Spiky haired twins John and Edward Grimes fear they might have blown their X Factor opportunity after a performance of the Backstreet Boys' I Want It That Way.
Champion the twins was Mentor Louis Walsh, despite them coming in for ridicule from several quarters, but following their performance to be aired this weekend the normally confident 17 year olds are seen crying.
Edward says: "I just feel like we go home and then it's just like 'What the hell, that's it', then that's what we're remembered for, that's the end, no."
John adds: "Yeah, like on a bad note, unbelievable bad note."
Edward agrees: "Yeah, I think we meant our best. It could have gone well and it didn't."
This weekend's episodes see the 24 remaining acts visiting the judges in exotic locations across the world, to impress their mentors with their singing talents once again.
Dannii Minogue is joined by her big sister Kylie, to help her choose which acts to take through to the next round.
Kylie is impressed by Stacey Solomon's version of the classic ballad Over The Rainbow, saying: "I sung that song every night on tour for a while and it's one you don't want to mess up but for me it was flawless."
Meanwhile, Simon Cowell's helper is singer Sinitta, who dons a daring outfit made up of some well-placed palm leaves.
Saturday's gig will air on ITV1 at 8pm and the 12 remaining finalists will be announced on Sunday night, in a programme which goes out from 8pm.

There Will Never Be An 'NSYNC Reunion, JC Chasez Says

Next week the Backstreet Boys are releasing their new album, leading many fans of the '90s boy band era to feel a bit nostalgic. And who could forget the epic battle that went on between Backstreet fans and 'NSYNC fans?
Given that Backstreet fans still get their fix of new music from the pair every few years, will 'NSYNC fans ever get a opportunity to hear some new music from the pair? JC Chasez very bluntly told MTV News that it will never happen.

"Nope," he said emphatically about any reunion tours or albums in the band's future. "I keep in touch with all of them. (We don't want to do it) because we already did that and it was fun, but we're done with it."
Chasez, who now spends his time as a judge on "America's Best Dance Crew," may not see an 'NSYNC reunion in the cards, but he did reveal, using his judging powers, who in the band had the slickest moves on the dance floor.
"I would say that was a toss up between Justin and I. We just had very different styles," he said. "Justin was very fluid and more the crooner, and I was more high energy and power."
Chasez also said that there was no competition among the bandmembers to try to out dance each other, which means that, unfortunately, there were no backstage dance offs. "No, no. We had fun. We would hang out and make stuff up," he said. "We always encouraged each other to be better. It was never competitive. If he does better, we all did better. If I did better, we all did better."

7th album to Backstreet Boys back

SINGAPORE: The Backstreet Boys are back. Here in Singapore to perform at the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, it is clear the boys are all men now. After being in the business for 16 and a half years, the Backstreet Boys have returned with their 7th album entitled, "This Is Us". The album features songs with upbeat music, like their latest single "Straight Through My Heart". The Backstreet Boys held their first Asian album preview here in Singapore currently. Brian Littrell said: "It's funny because Singapore rates up there with New York, LA and London, as well as Tokyo. We made music for music lovers, they're from eight to 80 years old they don't have to be abolescent girls, they don't have to be teenage guys, they don't have to be young, they don't have to be old. It's just people who enjoy music, that's why we make music because we are passionate about it." Despite their fame, the boys said they have dreams and aspirations, just like anyone else. "Acting for me that's how I started in this business, it was through theatre and stuff so I'm still waiting to do Broadway, at least once in my life. I would love to do Broadway, rather Phantom of the Opera. But I'll take whatever Chicago, Hairspray. I just want to do Broadway!" said AJ McLean. When asked which song they wished they had composed, Howie Dorough said: "I'd probably pick Michael Jackson's Thriller because to keep it real, those writers are making bank! They're making money! They don't have to work no more and that would be nice!" But just what keeps the Backstreet Boys going after all these years? Nick Carter said: "I think the Backstreet Boys continue on because we realised that there's only a certain amount of time that we can do this. We feel like we can continue this forever, but we're always fighting, we're pushing against the grain so to speak, so I think our inspiration is to defy the odds." The Backstreet Boys will return for their world tour early next year.

'Straight Through My Heart' Backstreet Boys

It says something about how far the Backstreets' stock has fallen in current years that they resorted to doing a promotional interview with Kate 'The Apprentice' Walsh for car-crash magazine show Live From Studio Five earlier this week. Watching Brian, Nick, Howie and AJ deal with the reality star's fits of giggles while roughly five hardcore fans stood waving banners made a rather depressing sight.Fortunately, though the glitz and glamour may have faded somewhat, musically they appear to be undergoing a rebirth. If this RedOne-produced single is a fair representation, then their upcoming album may live up its billing as the band's best since 1999's Millennium. Fans who always preferred their banging pop tracks to the syrupy ballads will certainly be satisfied with this throbbing anthem, which has a chorus just begging for some old-school BSB dance moves.

(Backsteet Boys album), This Is Us

This Is Us is the name of the seventh studio album from American Grammy nominated international pop boy band Backstreet Boys. As becoming a four piece band (Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell and AJ McLean), this album will be the second album and will be released on October 5, 2009 in the UK through RCA Records, October 6 in the US through Jive, and later all over the world through Sony Music.
They have reunited with previous collaborator and producer Max Martin Ryan Tedder, Dr. Luke, Claude Kelly, Jim Jonsin, RedOne and T-Pain for the album as well.
Backstreet Boys plan on spending the second half of 2009 and all of 2010 on the road. A European tour has already been announced and a full North American headlining tour will be announced shortly.

'RedOne is a big fan' to Backstreet Boys

Nick Carter has claimed that producer RedOne was a big fan of the Backstreet Boys when he was growing up.
The singer revealed that RedOne is influenced by the 'Straight Through My Heart' boyband and jumped at the chance to produce songs for their new album This Is Us.
"RedOne was really kind of like a big fan of us at the beginning, and always needed to be on our album," he told Popjustice.
"It was really cool, it was just funny how time goes by when certain people rise to the occasion, and it's their time to shine. It's just funny how life works.
"He wrote three songs for us. He just delivered amazing songs that we thought were great and recent and fresh. You know what's funny though? Even though he's worked with GaGa and all these big artists, he was such a big fan of the Ba Boysckstreet."
Carter added: "He actually tried in the very beginning, when he started to write songs that could go on our album. He studied us, and tried to write songs for us."
RedOne, real name Nadir Khayat, has also produced records for acts including New Kids on the Block, Akon, Sugababes, Enrique Iglesias, Lionel Richie and Robyn.