Millennium Japan Initial Release, First Press CD (Double Case)

The first press of Millennium Japan initial release, distributed by AVEX Inc, in 1999. came in a chubby double CD case containing only 1 disc, the case is used to house a special photobook, this special booklet remains exclusive to this Japan first press only until today. A time-limited campaign was held for buyers who purchased both this album and the single “I Want It That Way” first press.

Album Comment:

As Backstreet Boys release their third album, right now in 1999, April, their total worldwide album sales have already surpassed 30 million. Their debut album sold over 10 million copies in the U.S. alone, making it the third best-selling work of 1998, following Titanic and Celine Dion. Looking back in American music history, achieving diamond status (10 million copies sold) is extremely rare—only 64 albums, including theirs, have ever reached this mark. Their immense success is clear from this achievement.

However, their success was not something achieved overnight. While talent is certainly the foundation of success, behind it lies unseen hard work and an unwavering belief in themselves. Backstreet Boys truly experienced and embodied this journey. Their rise was not the result of good looks or luck, as is often the case with overnight success stories—it was the exact opposite. What follows is a timeline of effort and determination that can only now be told.

The story of the Backstreet Boys began in Orlando, 1993, Florida. AJ McLean, Howie Dorough (both high schoolers), and Nick Carter (then in middle school) met during a local theater audition. The three became friends and, influenced by Boyz II Men and Color Me Badd, decided to form a group. Wanting to add more members, they recruited Kevin Richardson, who was playing Aladdin at Disney World at the time, through a mutual acquaintance. Still searching for a fifth member, Kevin remembered his cousin Brian Littrell in Kentucky. One phone call later, Brian moved to Orlando, officially completing the group.

They named themselves “Backstreet Boys” after the popular local flea market “Backstreet Market” and their journey to global fame began.

April 20, 1993. After forming the group, Brian and Kevin briefly returned to Kentucky for two days to say goodbye to their high school friends. About two weeks later, on May 8, they performed at the Grad Night event held at the Nautilus Theater in Sea World. Having only performed at restaurants, malls, and clubs before, this was their first performance aimed at their target teen market—and it was in front of 5,000 people. Despite intense nerves, the performance was a huge success. Their a cappella rendition of “If I Ever Fall In Love” was especially well-received.

Soon after, at an Italian restaurant in Orlando called Carrino’s, they were introduced to Johnny Wright and his wife Donna, who managed Wright Stuff Management and had worked with New Kids on the Block. The boys sang a cappella before leaving the restaurant, deeply moving Johnny. He signed them immediately. Johnny even gave them a platinum disc for “Hangin’ Tough” by New Kids on the Block and said: “This is what New Kids achieved. You can do it too—but don’t think it will be easy. It takes a lot of time and sweat. You’ve got what it takes to succeed. Hang this on your wall, and when you're down, look at it. And when you earn your own platinum disc, replace this one with yours.” For the next six months in 1993, they toured U.S. schools in a similar style to what New Kids had done. This included the MS (Educational, Scholastic Magazines) tour. They traveled across the country by bus, performing for as few as 30 and up to 400 students. Without a record deal, this was the only way to build a fan base. They used DAT karaoke tracks for their performances since they didn’t yet have a band.

To maintain a positive image, they also participated in promotions for SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), a group aimed at keeping teens away from drugs and crime. At the same time, they searched for a record deal. Despite performing for many companies, they rarely got any responses—and when they did, it was often dismissive: “Nice guys, but we’ll pass.” The general consensus was: “Boy bands ended with New Kids. That trend will never return.” They were rejected by more than 25 record labels, yet they never lost faith in their own potential.

One day, a veteran A&R from Mercury Records saw them during the school tour and was immediately impressed. Discussions began for their long-awaited record deal. They started dreaming of their first single, album, and a U.S. tour. However, when the contract reached the lawyers, it was unexpectedly canceled at the last minute.

Shortly after, they were approached by Michael Jackson’s label. They flew to Los Angeles and performed a cappella. The reaction was positive, but the next day, news broke about Michael Jackson’s child abuse allegations, and the deal fell through.

Early 1994. Returning to normal life, they continued touring schools across the U.S., still chasing the dream of a record contract. During a performance in Cleveland, they caught the attention of representatives from Jive Records, and the deal was finalized quickly. They celebrated in New York—it was the moment they had dreamed of.

AJ and Nick were still in high school and passed exams with the help of tutors. Howie was studying art, and Brian returned to Kentucky just in time to attend his graduation.

Jive Records, having learned from the mistakes of New Kids’ debut album, wanted to firmly establish a loyal fan base before a major debut. So they invested time and effort into building the group’s image—assigning top choreographers, photographers, and stylists, and scheduling performances for schools, clubs, music magazines, and teen magazines. Over time, they began to be seen as artists who could handle larger venues—not just small stages. They even opened for acts like The Village People and REO Speedwagon.

While strategizing their path to success, Jive’s most important decision was selecting the right producer. One candidate was Denniz Pop (who passed away in 1998). Among the songs he had already written and stored, one stood out as perfect for Backstreet Boys—“We’ve Got It Goin’ On”, which he created with Max Martin and Herbert Crichlow.

1995 summer.  The group flew to Stockholm, Sweden, to record “We’ve Got It Goin’ On.” Their chemistry with Denniz Pop was a perfect match—almost a miracle. They extended their stay to also record “Nobody But You” and “Quit Playing Games (With My Heart).” Upon returning to Orlando, they began shooting the music video and working on the single’s artwork. For the first time, they truly felt like a pop group, not just a cabaret act.

September 1 – They made their U.S. debut with “We’ve Got It Goin’ On.” However, the highest chart position it reached was 69. Apart from teen magazines and The Box (a video request channel), they were ignored. Radio stations barely played the song, no music magazines covered them, and MTV refused to air them. Their planned U.S. promotional tour was canceled—every effort they had made over the past two years seemed wasted. Even fans from the Sea World performance who requested the song at Orlando radio stations couldn’t generate national momentum. It appeared that a U.S. breakthrough for a boy band was completely out of reach.

October 9 – They debuted in the UK with “We’ve Got It Goin’ On,” but it only reached #54—another disappointment. In December 1995, they released “I’ll Never Break Your Heart” in the UK, which peaked at #42. However, after opening for acts like Caught in the Act and DJ Bobo, they began gaining recognition, and in December 1995, they won “Best New Tour Act” at the UK’s Smash Hits Awards. A glimmer of light finally began to shine.

January 22, 1996. Good news came in—“We’ve Got It Goin’ On” debuted at No. 4 in Germany! It marked their first gold disc. Seeing the frenzy for boy bands like Take That and Boyzone in countries like Germany, Jive Records told the boys: “For now, forget about America—go wherever you’re needed!” Starting in February, they kicked off their first European tour, beginning in Germany. Around the same time, the flame started to catch in Canada too.

May 14. Their debut album, Backstreet Boys, was released in Germany and debuted at No. 1, knocking off Take That’s greatest hits from the top of the pop chart. It became their first gold album. From there, they worked nonstop—touring Europe, Asia, and Australia. In Germany, album sales surpassed 1 million copies, and across Europe reached 2 million. October 27. They landed in Japan for the first time for promotional events. Around 50 passionate fans greeted them at Narita Airport. Though they were visibly exhausted from months of nonstop activity since July, they still powered through packed schedules in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka. At Zojoji Temple, fortune slips they drew warned them all to “be cautious in love,” and in Asakusa, they screamed on a rollercoaster at Hanayashiki amusement park. November 3. They held a secret gig for fans. Before leaving, they bought loads of Japanese souvenirs from the Oriental Bazaar in Harajuku.

November. They completed a 14-day UK tour, their first large-scale one there. They vowed that the next time, they’d aim for arena-scale shows like they did in Germany. November 21. Their debut album Backstreet Boys and the single “Get Down” were released in Japan.

Year-End Highlight – MTV Europe Music Video Awards. They were selected by over a million viewers and won the Europe’s Best Group Award. “Because we were Americans, our sound felt fresh and new in Europe,” Brian reflected. “Our sound had edge, and unlike other boy bands, we weren’t just pretty faces—we could actually sing.”

January 1997.They began the year relaxing with their families while also recording new songs in the studio, dreaming of finally breaking through in America. At this point, their worldwide album sales had already reached 8.5 million copies. After a week of rehearsals in Belgium, they launched a 37-day large-scale tour across France, Scandinavia, Germany, and Canada. March 19. Their Canadian tour started in Montreal, covering 14 cities and drawing a total of 115,600 fans by the final show on April 5 in Vancouver. During the Montreal stop, AJ twisted his ankle while trying to escape a crowd after fans knocked over barriers at Musique Plus (the French-language MTV). Despite the injury, they performed the sold-out show as scheduled. AJ’s cast was later auctioned off for charity by a local radio station.

April 20. They were featured in USA TODAY, with the article highlighting their re-entry into the US market. It reported: Backstreet Boys sold 8.5 million copies globally; Went gold and platinum in 26 countries; Home video sold 1.6 million copies in Canada. However, the article cautioned: “Just because they’re marketing themselves as the boys next door doesn’t mean they’ll succeed in their home country.” AJ commented: “We still don’t know what’s going to happen. Even though it’s our home turf, it’s still a new frontier, and we can’t predict how audiences will respond.”

June 6. They released “Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)” in the US. June 28. The song debuted at No. 24 on the Billboard chart, leapt to No. 13 in its second week, and eventually peaked at No. 2. August 1. Japan became the first country to release the second album, Backstreet’s Back, along with the lead single, Everybody (Backstreet’s Back).

August 12. In the US, they released an album titled Backstreet Boys, a compilation of tracks from their international first and second albums. Initial shipment: 600,000 copies (gold status). “Quit Playing Games” had already spent six weeks at No. 3. They held a major press event at New York’s All-Star Café and performed live at Virgin Megastore, attended by over 300 media outlets and fans from around the world, with satellite broadcast coverage. The signs of a breakthrough in the US were finally visible. Despite this, they never neglected the places that first supported them.

August 22. They launched a European open-air tour, starting in Hanover and ending September 8 in Vienna. Every venue—averaging 30,000 seats—was sold out. By late August, their Japanese release Backstreet’s Back had officially been certified Gold (by April 1999, it had gone Platinum). August 30. Their US album Backstreet Boys debuted at No. 29 on the Billboard chart.

September 4. “Quit Playing Games” finally moved up to No. 2, overtaking Puff Daddy’s “I’ll Be Missing You” after six weeks at No. 3. By mid-September, their US album sales surpassed 1 million copies.

September 21. They launched their long-awaited US tour, starting in their home state of Florida. Howie secured 20 tickets for family members. While the venues were much smaller than those in Europe (with shows lasting just over an hour compared to Europe’s 2-hour sets), the group was thrilled to perform in their homeland.

In interviews at the time, they shared: “When we see old friends, they say, ‘Hey, haven’t seen you in 3–4 years—what’ve you been up to?’ When we tell them, ‘Oh, we’ve been touring the world and sold 15 million albums,’ they just laugh and say, ‘Yeah, right!’”

October 12. They arrived in Madrid, Spain to perform at an outdoor event. 500 fans had already gathered the day before. The crowd swelled to 15,000 on the day of the event, leading to concerns from the government about safety. Despite strong security and medical measures, multiple fans fainted and were taken away, causing the event to be canceled. At the press conference that night, Kevin said: “The safety of our fans is always our top priority.” By the way, in Spain, Their first album sold 400,000 copies, Their second album debuted at No. 1

November 12. At the MTV Europe Music Awards, they won the Select People’s Choice Award for “As Long As You Love Me”.

November 27. They participated in the Thanksgiving Parade hosted by Macy’s in New York, broadcast nationwide, and performed live.

November 30. They attended the Smash Hits Poll Winners’ Party 1997 in London, winning a record five awards: Best Band in the Universe; Best Album (Backstreet’s Back); Best Album Cover (Backstreet’s Back); Best Video (“Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)”); Best Male Haircut (Nick Carter).

December 26. They began a 10-city tour in Canada, starting in Halifax. They performed New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day in Montreal, with the tour running until January 7. Due to heavy snow, they even had to ask for military assistance. After the tour, they headed to warm Los Angeles for a break.

January 4, 1998. Amid their highly successful Canadian tour, the Backstreet Boys appeared on MuchMusic's 90-minute special "Intimate & Interactive" in Montreal. The program featured 55 minutes of music, along with interviews conducted via email and phone, and interactions with the studio audience. Over 3,000 fans who couldn't enter the venue reportedly waited outside in the freezing cold for 16 hours just to catch a glimpse of the group.

Early January. A significant event accelerated their rise in the U.S. market. An American radio station obtained the European album "Backstreet's Back" and was particularly impressed with the song "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)." This led to the track receiving widespread radio play across the U.S. and being selected as their third single in the country. At that time, the album had already sold two million copies in the U.S.

January 14. Their second U.S. tour began in North Carolina, running until February 1 in Dallas. Each venue held about 3,000 people.

February 14. They performed in front of 14,000 people at the Viña del Mar Festival in Chile, breaking the festival’s 39-year record for fastest ticket sell-out! When they landed at Santiago Airport, 2,000 fans were waiting. Over 500 fans reportedly broke through barricades and ran toward the still-moving plane—testament to the power of Latin fandom! The 50-minute show recorded the highest TV ratings in the festival’s history. As a Valentine’s gift, "As Long As You Love Me" was released to Chilean fans. Around 3,000 fans gathered outside their hotel. The local authorities, unaccustomed to such fervent fan activity, warned the group not to leave the hotel except for performances. Nonetheless, AJ, Howie, and Kevin snuck out to a disco. When they returned, as Howie predicted, “We were mobbed by fans—we got scratched all over!” Nick added, “That’s just like Howie—always wanting to stay connected with fans.”

February 15. Upon arriving at the airport in Buenos Aires, Argentina, they were met by a large crowd of fans. After arrival, they experienced a harrowing drive unlike any before. The group traveled in two vans, which were chased by numerous cars filled with girls. Some fans leaned out of car windows at speeds of about 80 km/h, attempting to touch the vans. While the show itself was successful, the group expressed deep concern for their fans' safety.

February 23. At Canada's Juno Awards, equivalent to the Grammy Awards, both of their albums, "Backstreet Boys" and "Backstreet's Back," were nominated in the same category: Best Selling Album (Domestic or Foreign), marking an unprecedented achievement.

March 15. They traveled from New York to Orlando to participate in a charity show aiding tornado victims. The event attracted 9,000 attendees and raised a total of $250,000. A.J. expressed gratitude, saying, "We're very thankful for the fans, radio stations, and everyone who came." In addition to live performances, there were raffles and auctions. Two women competed for a lunch with Howie, leading to a near altercation. Ultimately, Howie agreed to have separate lunches with each, and together they donated $5,000. After the show, the group flew directly to Dublin to commence their European tour.

April 15. Jive Records officially announced that the group would dedicate May and June to writing, composing, recording their next album, and taking a break. It was also confirmed that Brian would undergo a long-considered heart surgery.

April 24. Their U.S. album sales surpassed 4 million copies.

May 11.Brian’s successful heart surgery was officially announced. Fans were asked: “Instead of flowers or gifts, please send checks made out to the Brian Littrell Endowment for the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation.” Here’s the address:
Brian Littrell Endowment
St. Josephs's Hospital Foundation
PO Box 8490
Lexington, KY 8190 USA

June 2. They released the home video "All Access" in the U.S., shipping 200,000 sets in its initial run. By June 9, it debuted at number one on Billboard's Top Music Video chart and held the top spot for three consecutive weeks. The video included "Making of Everybody (Backstreet's Back)," featuring A.J. interviewing the other members and staff. Howie mentioned, "We originally came up with the idea. We wanted to do something like a '90s version of Thriller." Brian added, "It was Kevin's idea from the start." Nick recalled, "While in Europe, looking at castles, we thought about doing something related to castles."

July 8. Brian returned from heart surgery, reassuring fans. The group launched their first large-scale summer tour in their home country, starting in Charlotte. In a June 16 interview before the tour, they expressed joy, saying, "Until now, we've only been able to send videos of our European activities to our friends and family. Now, with our success in America, they can see firsthand what we've built over the past four to five years." Compared to their January tour venues, which held 2,000–3,000 people, this tour's venues were four to five times larger, averaging 7,000–8,000 attendees, with the largest accommodating 12,000 to 19,000 fans.

July 8. In Japan, they released a uniquely planned album titled "Best Hit 1998" Simultaneously, their official fan club in Japan began operations.

August 7. Rumors of the Backstreet Boys disbanding, originating from German television and magazines, caused global panic. This was the second time such false rumors incited panic among their sensitive young fanbase. While in Las Vegas during their U.S. tour, the group issued a statement completely denying the rumors: "This rumor is 100% false. We're extremely grateful for our success and for the fans who've supported us from the beginning. Such irresponsible journalism causes unnecessary panic among sensitive young people."

August 30. Their key sound producer, Denniz Pop, passed away. September 4. A solemn funeral was held in Stockholm.

September 10. At the MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles, they won Best Group Video for "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)." A.J. remarked, "I really couldn't believe it. Receiving this award, it's the MTV VMAs!" This win boosted their radio airplay again. Their album sales reached 6 million copies. On September 8, they held a party in Hollywood with notable figures to celebrate surpassing 6 million in sales.

October 4. Kevin and Howie visited Milan upon invitation to Donatella Versace's fashion show. Kevin even participated as a model. October 12. They released the acoustic live video "A Night Out With The Backstreet Boys" outside the U.S., limited to one million copies worldwide. In Japan, aside from a few imported versions, it was exclusively available through fan club reservations.

October 14. Despite being on the Billboard album chart for 59 weeks, they maintained a strong position at number 11. Their album sales reached 7 million copies.

November 17. In the U.S., they released the video "A Night Out With The Backstreet Boys" which debuted at number one on the video sales chart. "All Access" ranked third.

December, their U.S. album sales were officially recognized at 8 million copies. Alongside Celine Dion's "Let's Talk About Love”. It was acknowledged as the Best Selling Non-Soundtrack Album of 1998.

December 31. They concluded the year with a live performance at the Orlando Arena, joyfully performing in front of their families. Fan club members from Japan also attended, celebrating the New Year countdown with the Backstreet Boys.

January 5, 1999. A wonderful event occurred right at the start of the new year — a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist!

January 11. They were also nominated for Favorite Group/Duo and Favorite Artist - Adult Contemporary at the American Music Awards, where they performed a medley of “All I Have To Give” and “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)”.

Then, on May 18, they released their long-awaited studio album "Millennium" — their first-ever simultaneous worldwide release (with the Japanese version released slightly earlier!). The group was heavily involved in writing, composing, and producing this album, and it stands as a confident, history-making work that poses a message to the next millennium.

What began in 1993 as a passionate dream in the city of Orlando has, through many experiences and memories, finally reached the global stage. This moment is truly an emotional milestone.