BACKSTREET BOYS KICK OFF WORLDWIDE “BLACK & BLUE TOUR 2001″

Press Release Content:

DATE: JANUARY 23, 2001

FROM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/MARCEE RONDAN/TODD BRODGINSKI

BACKSTREET BOYS
KICK OFF WORLDWIDE "BLACK & BLUE TOUR 2001"
WITH TRIUMPHANT SOLD-OUT SHOWS IN FT. LAUDERDALE

The BACKSTREET BOYS kicked off their massive worldwide "Black & Blue Tour 2001" last night (1/22/01) in front of a hysterical sold-out audience of more than 15,000 fans at the National Car Rental Center arena in Ft. Lauderdale, FL (the first of three shows there). Jam-packed with hits, twists and turns, the show is elaborately mounted and conceived, with the most spectacular staging and design ever at a BACKSTREET BOYS show. The production features awe-inspiring pyrotechnics, a multi-level stage and multiple video screens as well as side-of-the-stage runways that enable the group to get even closer to their fans. It is a multi-media presentation with innovative sound, lights and interactive video footage that intensifies the bond between BACKSTREET BOYS and their fans.

The group performed songs which covered their precedent-setting eight-year career. Highlights of the show included "All I Have To Give," "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)," "Quit Playing Games With My Heart," "Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely" and "I Want It That Way" as well as "Shape Of My Heart," "Get Another Boyfriend" and "The Call," the latest single from the new BLACK & BLUE CD. The first leg of the world tour will run through March 18 in San Diego, CA, encompassing 36 shows in 23 cities. After this run, the group will tour overseas before returning to North America for a string of stadium shows in summer 2001 and concluding with shows in the Pacific Rim, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

Backstreet Boys–presently recognized as the biggest pop group in the world–have sold more than 55 million albums in less than three years. The group's new album BLACK & BLUE–their fourth release–sold more than five million copies worldwide in its initial week, setting a new first-week record in international sales. Globally, BLACK & BLUE–whose 13-song selection features five songs co-written by members of the group plus two songs solely penned by all five BACKSTREET BOYS–has achieved platinum status in 22 countries and gold certification in 10 regions around the world in its first week of release. At the same time, in the U.S. BACKSTREET BOYS–NICK CARTER, HOWIE DOROUGH, BRIAN LITTRELL, AJ McLEAN and KEVIN RICHARDSON–have set a new precedent by becoming the first artist in SoundScan history to ever achieve million-plus first-week sales with back-to-back albums.
For more information, check out www.backstreetboys.com or www.bboys.com.

Press Release Date:
Tue, 2001-01-23 23:00

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Press Release Teaser:
BACKSTREET BOYS KICK OFF WORLDWIDE "BLACK & BLUE TOUR 2001" WITH TRIUMPHANT SOLD-OUT SHOWS IN FT. LAUDERDALE