NSNYC – Interview [2000]

It seems that we could do without more pop bands, but as the guys from *NSYNC shatter all previously established album sales as well as selling out their tour in record time, we are forced to realize this isn’t going away. If only for this week, *NSYNC are now the leaders of the musical revolution of teenage girls everywhere.

If you haven’t been formally introduced, here is a little story about the five young men who make up *NSYNC.

*NSYNC weren’t rooted in Orlando, Florida, but were brought there from different parts of the US. Member Justin Timberlake explains, “We put the group together ourselves. I think that’s something that’s paid off in the long run because we were friends before we got a management team and before we got a record deal.”

It was 1995 when Pittsburgh native Chris Kirkpatrick was working at Universal Studios Florida. It was there that he met Joey Fatone. Coincidentally, Joey was friends with JC Chasez, who was working alongside Justin, otherwise known as Curly. Follow all of that? Good. The crew got together after Chris expressed his desire to form a group.

They wanted to work out five-part harmonies, but only had four guys. They needed a guy who could lay the foundation, so they searched for their bass. It was through Justin’s vocal coach in Memphis, Tennessee that they found blonde-haired, green-eyed, eighteen-year-old Mississippi crooner James Lance Bass, or more simply, Lance. Bass fit in right away. It didn’t take long before they were completely *NSYNC.

Perhaps it’s only record label folklore, we can only speculate, but it’s said that the name *NSYNC came from Justin’s mom. It’s told that she once remarked how ‘in sync’ the guys were, both singing and dancing. The guys thought that had a nice ring to it, but Justin’s mom began to play with the guys’ initials. She came up with JustiN, ChriS, Joe Y, LansteN, and JC. Coincidence? You be the judge.

The newly named *NSYNC took their five-man show into coffeehouses, through discos, and in and around theme parks. “We did our demo package as fast as we could and that’s when we got in touch with our management,” recalls Justin. It was this demo that fell into the lap of Trans Continental owner Lou Perlman, who contacted powerful manager Johnny Wright, who was the force behind such super groups as the New Kids On The Block and Backstreet Boys. Wright locked up a record contract with BMG Germany. “The whole team hooked us up with BMG and they took us to Europe. We were like, we don’t care where you take us; we just want to sing!” remarks Justin.

It was in Europe that the group was introduced to super producers Dennis Pop and Max Martin. Through this collaboration, their first single, “I Want You Back”, took off. In only a few months, the single made gold. “Tearin’ Up Your Heart” followed quickly on the heels of that release and debuted at number five.

After establishing themselves overseas, *NSYNC was ready to conquer America. In 1998 the group returned to the US. The boys were in for a real dose of reality when they realized nobody knew who they were, but that anonymity didn’t last long. “I Want You Back” and “Tearin’ Up My Heart” began to climb the charts. It only took four months for their first American release to go platinum.

What followed was a tour of North America and appearances on television. Even when the guys had a day off, they still stayed in touch. Justin admits, “When we get time off, there won’t be a day that goes by that I don’t talk to one of them and say, ‘What are you doing tonight? Do you want to do something?’”

A lot of history has come and gone since those early days, but the biggest news is the recently released third album, No Strings Attached. I’m sure you know by now what that album title is all about. It starts with their desire to leave management by Lou Pearlman’s Trans Continental. Pearlman is the mastermind behind the Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, LFO, and more. He lost the Backstreet Boys after they claimed Pearlman fraudulently robbed them of tens of millions of dollars. He’d been defamed, and renamed as nothing but a slave owner, with artists like the Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC being his indentured servants. After lawsuits flew from both bands, they all parted ways with Trans Continental.

Then the fur began to fly from the Backstreet Boys about how *NSYNC are nothing but wannabes as *NSYNC joined their label, Jive Records. Even the critics have said so. Chris describes their sound as “purely original. It’s pop with an R&B twist.” No Strings Attached seems to be an answer to the critics, explaining how they’ve been made out to be pawns in the record industry. JC Chasez wrote a couple of tracks on the new album, as well as working, co-writing, and co-producing with RCA recording artist Wild Orchid. Kirkpatrick: “Our destiny’s been controlled by all these other people. The only reason that the strings are still attached is so people can feel the whole vibe of, you know, no strings attached. That’s what we mean by the strings, so they’ll understand that we’re not puppets.”

*NSYNC has also announced they will begin to shoot a movie in August. “It’s just a little something for the fans,” says Lance. It’s also been announced, though not entirely officially, that *NSYNC plans to record and release its third album in conjunction with the as-yet-undeveloped film, which is set to arrive in the beginning of 2001.

While everyone is getting their shots in, including the Backstreet Boys, it seems the boys of *NSYNC have had the last laugh. No Strings Attached debuted at number one and sold more than 2.4 million copies its first week out. It’s clear that these guys didn’t get so popular just because of management or a certain record label; despite changes in both, they’ve only gotten larger. The sky is the limit for these five and you can only expect that their star will continue to rise.

Meet The Band:

Justin Timberlake comes from Memphis, Tennessee. He’s the youngest *N Sync and his blond curls gave him the nickname Curly. He’s also the youngest member of the group. His hobbies include playing basketball, watching the Orlando Magics, and dancing. “I’m a real party animal,” he says, “when the others let me go to parties.” Justin’s greatest musical influence is singer Brian McKnight.

Chris Kirkpatrick was born in Clarion but grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsilvania. He’s the oldest *N Sync, but the biggest cut-up. He discovered his singing ability when he joined the choir in college. Chris is a big football fan whose favorite food is tacos. His musical tastes vary from “Michael Jackson to hard-techno music… The most important thing is you get the groove.”

Joey Fatone grew up in Brooklyn, New York. His ancestors where Italian. He loves pasta and everything that has to do with Superman. He appeared in small roles in the movies Once Upon A Time In America and Matinee, and on the TV series Sea Quest. Joey also sang in an a cappella group. “I feel most comfortable on stage,” he says, “or in front of the camera. No matter what I do, I go at it full-tilt and can’t be stopped.” His favorite activity, aside from performing, is flirting.

JC Chasez was born in Washington, DC, but grew up in Bowier, Maryland. He has two younger sisters and is sometimes called Big Daddy by the other *N Syncs. He served as one of the hosts of the Mickey Mouse Club for four years. JC likes to play football and watch his favorite team, the Washington Redskins. He loves listening to “the jazzy and soulful sound between Billie Holiday and Stevie Wonder.”

Lance Bass from Laurel, Mississippi. Not only is he called Bass, but he also sings bass. He describes himself as “rather laid back and addicted to harmony.” He is the shyest member of the band and listens to everything “from Boyz II Men to Offspring.” Lance likes to play video games and earned his high school degree through a tutorial program offered by the University of Nebraska. He lives with his father and mother in Mississippi.

+ charlie craine