The Word: NKOTBSB still have the right stuff

DAVID SUROWIECKI/GETTY IMAGES

New Kids On The Block and the Backstreet Boys perform together at Mohegan Sun Arena. From left, they’re: Howie Dorough, A.J. McLean, Donnie Wahlberg, Jonathan Knight (behind Donnie), Joey McIntyre, Danny Wood, Brian Littrell, Jordan Knight and Nick Carter.

DOROTHY ROBINSON

NEW YORK

Published: June 05, 2011 6:25 p.m.

Last modified: June 05, 2011 6:34 p.m.New Kids On The Block & Backstreet Boys — aka NKOTBSB — performed in coordinated military jackets (the Army of Boy Bands Past, apparently) in front of thousands of screaming, female fans on Thursday night at their sold-out performance at Mohegan Sun Arena. But before they took the stage, a goateed Donnie Wahlberg admitted that he isn’t a fan of one of his group’s biggest hits. Put him on the stage, however, and it’s a different story.

“‘The Right Stuff’ is always my favorite to perform, which is ironic because I hate the song,” he admits. “It’s not a good song to me, it never was, but every night when we do it on the stage, the building shakes — every person in the building jumps up and down,” he says. “Even like Backstreet fans who don’t even know us, they know that song and it’s the most fun to perform. [I] don’t like it, but love to perform it.”

NKOTBSB are aware they’ve grown out of the teen-idol phase of their lives (but maybe their fans haven’t, as they snatched up the bubblegum-flavored drinks and cupcakes the casino was offering) and Wahlberg was keen to give some serious props to the man, the myth, the legend: the Biebs.

“Justin Bieber’s pretty incredible,” he admits. “I like seeing young kids do well. I think he’s a good example of a very talented kid finding his way. He’s talented, and he works hard and he has a gift. It’s nice to see people who work hard accomplish things. Better him than some random kid who stumbled into a pot of gold.”
–With on-the-scene reporting by Meredith Engel

http://www.metro.us/newyork/entertainment/article/880543--the-word-nkotbsb-still-have-the-right-stuff