Backstreet Boys Promise Millennium 2.0 Las Vegas Residency Will Be ‘Sensory Overload’
The Backstreet Boys are psyched that they will be the first pop group to take the stage at Las Vegas’ Sphere in July, and when Billboard asked what fans can expect from the shows, AJ McLean promised, “one incredible experience,” while Nick Carter added “sensory overload.”
In addition to performing their 1999 career-peak Millennium album in full along with some greatest hits and new single, “Hey,” McLean teased that there might be “some new adaptations of things,” requesting that attendees pack “something all white” for the 12-show run that will bring McLean, Carter, Brian Littrell, Kevin Richardson and Howie Dorough to the high-tech venue in July.
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The Boys, who are now men in their mid-to-late 40s and early 50s, said they’ll be bringing their friends, and families, along for the ride, with McLean reminiscing about going from the original in-the-round configuration for the first Millennium run to the bump-up to the most state-of-the-art, “sonically overwhelming… visually outstanding” venue on the planet. (Check out the full interview in the video above.)
They’re also psyched to make history as the first pop band to touch down in the futuristic arena that to date has hosted U2, Phish, Dead & Company, the Eagles, EDM act Anyma and, later this spring, Kenny Chesney.
“Die hard fans are going to get a great experience, a great nostalgic moment,” McLean said, with Dorough revealing that they are working on the setlist at the moment. “Even just playing the whole Millennium album, there’s some deep cuts in there that we were just discussing the other day,” Dorough said. “[We were] reminiscing about some of the songs like ‘The Perfect Fan’ and ‘No One Else Comes Close to You’ [and ‘Spanish’] Eyes,’ which are songs that the fans probably haven’t heard since the Millennium tour.”
The 25th anniversary celebration of the album that topped the Billboard 200 for 10 weeks and has sold more than 24 million copies to date coincides with the July 11 release of Millennium 2.0, a two-CD collection featuring a remastered version of the original — including the hits “I Want It That Way” and “The One” — along with six demos from the sessions for the album, as well as b-sides from international releases, six live tracks and the previously unheard track “Hey.”
Richardson said “Hey” was tracked during the session for their 2019 DNA album, and while they all agreed it was a “beautiful song,” it didn’t quite fit that LP’s vibe. Not to worry, though, it will get its live debut on what McLean said will be the “massive” stage set-up that will include the men pulling off some of their most iconic choreography, and maybe some new moves.
As for who they would like to see at the Sphere once they’re done burning up the stage, Richardson said for sure Coldplay while Carter joked that he’s like to see, well, the Backstreet Boys.
The BSB will touch down at the Sphere on July 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27, as well as August 1, 2 and 3. The artist presale for the shows is open now, with the general on-sale slated to launch on Friday (Feb. 21) at 9 a.m. PT here.
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