New Boys on the block

 It is said history is destined to repeat itself.

In the case of the dance-oriented, all-male vocal group Backstreet Boys, this is a blessing of sorts. After all, who wouldn't want to repeat the hysteria and sales success of Menudo or New Kids on the Block -- two acts to whom the Backstreet Boys are often compared?

"Comparisons don't bother us because we all knew that was going to happen," says Nick Carter, who, at 16, is the youngest Backstreet Boy.

"We take it with a grain of salt. New Kids on the Block were their own thing; we think we are totally different."

Totally? Oh, c'mon!

"Well, I guess you can see the similarities in a way, with there being give guys with the looks and all," he concedes. "But the music is totally different and we're gonna be around for a long time. Trust me."

Locals fans can judge for themselves when the new Fab Five performs at the Max Bell Centre on Thursday.

In some areas, particularly Quebec, the act draws voracious packs of pre-pubescent girls wherever the band makes an appearance.

These scenes of mass hysteria prove the Backstreet Boys are simply delivering the goods, Carter says.

"You would have to ask the fans," he says, when asked the reason for the band's booming popularity.

"I hope it's just because of our music; that's what I hope and that's what I think.

"Many people say it's because of our looks.

"But, really, what we want is people to be travelling in their cars and turn on the radio and hear our music and say: `I like this group because of their music.'

"I think every single one of us in this group want it to be that way."

The Backstreet Boys rocketed to fame in Europe on the strength of its single, We've Got It Goin' On, which went gold in Germany and the U.K.

This was quickly followed up by two singles, including the latest Get Down, all of which were included on the band's self-titled debut album.

Backstreet Boys has earned platinum status in five countries.

Carter concedes some credit must go to the album's producers and professional writers. All of the music was recorded by studio musicians.

"We do write our own music, but not just for the first album," Carter says, claiming the band will be allowed to evolve.

"For the second album, we're going to be given some slots to put our own music onto the album, and so on into the future. That will become more and more the situation.

"We're not as experienced as writers, but we're learning along the way and (the record company) is giving us time to grow.

"And I hope that our fans will grow with us. Take, for instance, The Beatles fans. They grew with the Beatles and that is the way we want things to be," Carter says, forgetting to mention the Beatles actually played their own instruments and wrote most of their songs.

"With every single album, (our fans grow a little bit, we grow a little bit and the music will mature a little bit. Not too much, but it will mature."