Backstreet Boys may have been a band for over 30 years, but each member has their own unique routine before hitting the stage.<\/p>\n
Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, AJ McLean, Brian Littrell and Kevin Richardson became what would later be known as the best-selling boy band of all time in 1993 but their debut single \u201cWe\u2019ve Got It Goin\u2019 On\u201d and hit ballad \u201cI\u2019ll Never Break Your Heart\u201d put them on the map in 1995 and 1996, respectively.<\/p>\n
Those two singles, along with several of their chart-topping smashes, are woven into the Backstreet Boys\u2019 highly talked-about \u201cInto The Millennium\u201d\u00a0residency<\/a>\u00a0at the Sphere in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n (L-R) Kevin Richardson, AJ McLean, Nick Carter, Brian Littrell and Howie Dorough of the Backstreet Boys. Getty Images for iHeartRadio<\/p>\n Backstreet Boys\u2019 \u201cInto The Millennium\u201d summer residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas\/ Justin Segura<\/p>\n While the boys are all older, ranging from 45 to 53, some of their backstage habits remain the same, according to their longtime choreographers and creative directors, Rich and Tone Talauega (better known simply\u00a0as Rich + Tone<\/a>), who spilled each member\u2019s pre-show ritual in an exclusive interview with The Post.<\/p>\n Admitting that the vibe before the show is \u201cvery relaxed,\u201d Rich broke down Nick, Howie, AJ, Brian and Kevin\u2019s individual methods while also sharing the one thing the boys do together before performing to about 20,000 adoring fans at their cutting-edge summer residency<\/a>.<\/p>\n Rich + Tone know best, considering the pair has worked with the Backstreet Boys since 1998, first as dancers before becoming the creative directors and choreographers for several of the group\u2019s tours between 2008 and 2020, and now, the \u201cInto The Millennium\u201d Sin City residency.<\/p>\n The visuals that fans experience at the band\u2019s residency. Rich Fury<\/p>\n More images of the insane visuals during the show. Justin Segura<\/p>\n Keep scrolling to discover each Backstreet Boys\u2019 unique backstage habits.<\/p>\n Nick Carter<\/p>\n Singer Nick Carter from The Backstreet Boys. Live Nation<\/p>\n Another image of the visuals at the Backstreet Boys\u2019 residency. Rich Fury<\/p>\n Nick, 45, \u201cdoes this routine where he stretches, like every performer should. But he does a lot of sports stretches to get his body warmed up,\u201d the renowned pair, who have worked with Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Usher, Chris Brown, and more, told The Post.<\/p>\n \u201cHe likes to sweat a little bit before he starts to get dressed,\u201d Rich added.<\/p>\n Kevin Richardson<\/p>\n Kevin Richardson from the Backstreet Boys (far right). Brian Prahl \/ SplashNews.com<\/p>\n Kevin Richardson taking a moment to acknowledge fans during the show. Brian Prahl \/ SplashNews.com<\/p>\n Rich + Tone say that Kevin, 53, is \u201cmore relaxed\u201d than the other guys backstage.<\/p>\n \u201cHe tries not to do too, too much before the show,\u201d Rich shared, emphasizing again that \u201cKevin is just more relaxed\u201d when they come into his room to check in and give him \u201cextra little pep talks,\u201d as they do with his other bandmates, before their performance.<\/p>\n AJ McLean<\/p>\n Singer AJ McLean from the Backstreet Boys (far left). backstreetboys\/Instagram<\/p>\n The Backstreet Boys at their Vegas residency. backstreetboys\/Instagram<\/p>\n When asked if AJ, 47, has any funny pre-show quirks, Rich laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cHe likes to talk a lot,\u201d he responded while noting that AJ \u201cdoesn\u2019t like to think\u201d about their performance before hitting the stage.<\/p>\n \u201cHe likes to have conversations with people about everything else except the show,\u201d the famed choreographer quipped.<\/p>\n Howie Dorough<\/p>\n Howie Dorough with the band (far left). Brian Prahl \/ SplashNews.com<\/p>\n Rich + Tone told The Post that Howie Dorough loves to go over notes before the show. Getty Images<\/p>\n Howie, 51, is the most thorough, according to Rich.<\/p>\n \u201cHe does his vocal warm-ups. He likes to warm up his vocals before he starts stretching a little bit,\u201d he revealed about the singer.<\/p>\n He also enjoys going over notes to learn what he can do better.<\/p>\n Howie Dorough performing during the residency (far left). backstreetboys\/Instagram<\/p>\n \u201cWe like to give him notes about his performance,\u201d Rich said, sharing that the feedback could be about anything from staging to hitting his marks.<\/p>\n \u201cHe says, it\u2019s like his food. Cause it keeps his mind spinning. Because he likes to be sharp,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd no other way to be sharp is to give him notes. And on the smallest things, too, as well, \u2018Where should I look? Should I look onstage left or should I look straight to the right?’\u201d Rich added, saying his biggest note for Howie is \u201c\u2018just be you. Just be free.’\u201d<\/p>\n Brian Littrell<\/p>\n Vocalist Brian Littrell performing at the Sphere. Live Nation<\/p>\n Another image of Brian Littrell. Brian Prahl \/ SplashNews.com<\/p>\n Rich shared that Brian, 50, is like Nick. <\/p>\n \u201cHe likes to warm up. He\u2019s like an athlete. I like to say, I like to treat them all like athletes,\u201d Rich noted.<\/p>\n To do that, Rich + Tone ensure that \u201cthey\u2019re always doing stretching, whether it\u2019s vocal warm-ups or going over notes.\u201d<\/p>\n When it comes to the five band members, Rich stated Brian is \u201cmore like Nick,\u201d sharing that they warm up similarly before a show.<\/p>\n The band\u2019s one tradition<\/p>\n The Backstreet Boys with their creative team. rtbrothas\/Instagram<\/p>\n Another image of the Backstreet Boys\u2019 residency show. Justin Segura<\/p>\n While Nick, Kevin, AJ, Howie and Brian have individual routines, they also take a moment together backstage before kicking off each residency concert.<\/p>\n Rich said the \u201cone thing that I love to see them do\u201d is their prayer prior to coming out on the stage, revealing that all five of the boys take turns leading the message.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s great because it brings the morale together,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n Backstreet Boys. rtbrothas\/Instagram<\/p>\n According to Rich, they all hug afterward, and both he and Tone remind them they aren\u2019t just Backstreet Boys; they are \u201cicon boys.\u201d<\/p>\n How long will the Backstreet Boys\u2019 residency run?<\/p>\n The futuristic images shown during the \u201cInto the Millennium\u201d concerts. Justin Segura<\/p>\n The 160,000-square-foot interior screen that projects the larger-than-life images. Justin Segura<\/p>\n The Backstreet Boys\u2019 summer residency in Sin City kicked off on July 11. <\/p>\n With larger-than-life visuals \u2014 like giant dancing robots projected on the 160,000-square-foot interior screen and a futuristic platform levitating each member of the group about 80 feet in the air \u2014\u00a0and a 1,600 speaker sound system, Rich confessed that the team faced some \u201cchallenges\u201d<\/a> to make the residency come to life.<\/p>\n The Backstreet Boys are the first pop group at the Sphere, which opened near the Vegas strip on September 29, 2023.<\/p>\n Due to their overwhelming popularity, they added three additional shows<\/a>\u00a0to their lineup.<\/p>\n The levitating platform levitates the boys about 80 feet in the air. Rich Fury<\/p>\n Another image of the boys on on the platform. Rich Fury<\/p>\n The residency is scheduled to end later this month, with the final show set for August 24.<\/p>\n