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Walk into the sunset, you know?
Businesswise, it makes a lot of sense.
Physically, for us and our health, being in one location is better.
Its also easier on our families.
Kevin: The convenience of it is attractive.
Weve also been doing spot dates around the world.
It allows us the ability to pop in and out, as well as be husbands and fathers.
We never thought of it as a retirement.
Theres even Bruno Mars.
It makes a lot of sense that were there.
We made a show that should appeal to all ages.
Also a lot of guys are even coming to the show.
Theyre singing every word to our songs.
The people who think theyll only recognize a couple of our songs end up singing half the show.
They dont even know how many songs of ours from the past that they know.
I guess were doing something right.
The BSB were always one of the more physical groups when it came to choreography.
Current boy bands mostly avoid dancing if they can help it.
I think people thought that, at our age, we wouldnt be dancing as much anymore.
But were dancing just as much, if not more, as the old days.
Were going full speed.
Again, thank God for YouTube.
Its like getting back on a bicycle.
Because the name boy band was attached to us, it came with us.
It sounded like we could only be teenybopper-ish.
Boys, to us, always just meant that were boys, were homies.
We never thought it would transcend to mean a group for young girls.
Now its funny because were still called a boy band, but well take it.
Were always trying to remain as youthful as we can.
But now this new generation, its definitely not the same.
So when this new form came around, we werent too sure how to take it.
But we have to realize that it cant stay the same.
The music industry is not the same anymore.
The internet and downloading did a real number on us.
Now artists are begging and pleading for that.
You have to evolve.
Weve been doing our thing out there for the last ten years and theyre no joke.
Were so happy for them.
And, to this day, the Asian market is still one of our biggest markets.
They have some loyal, hard-core fans.
They will find you in the earliest days and support you for a lifetime.
The shelf life on so many of these newer boy bands has been extremely short.
Now were seeing them struggle to find their groove as they go solo.
I wouldnt have at that age.
Music has to be the first priority.
Because once success does come, its very easy to get pulled in different directions.
People get jaded and lose sight of reality.
But also, enjoy it.
People get too caught up not living in the moment.
If you have a little bit of success, thats a blessing these days.
Kevin:One Direction, if they wanted to, could continue.
If they decided to get back together tomorrow, it would blow out.
Trust me on that.
You do that by keep creating content, though some artists choose quality over content.
Take Sade every ten years she drops an album, it blows up, and then disappears again.
She can do that for the rest of her life.
I was burnt out and my wife and I wanted to start a family.
I also wanted to explore some other passions of mine, so I walked away.
While I was away, we had our first child and I got to do some theater.
But then I started sitting in with a buddy of mines band and singing again.
I realized how much I love music.
While I was gone, there was never an issue with me and the guys.
I just didnt wanna do it anymore; there was no joy in it for me.
And thats not fair to the fans of the guys.
Then, all of a sudden, I felt like I got the passion back.
When I commit to something, I commit 100 percent.
Its always been that way.
So the timing was right.
Now that Im older, I see things differently.
So many things we didnt want toget out in the public, but it made us who we are.
In hindsight, that wouldve saved us the heartache.
But weve been blessed so much that its hard for me to really look back with regret.
Kevin:Ive learned that you do great work and create great art and you cant control anything else.
If you look last year at the Grammys, you had Beyonce give an incredible performance.
You had Katy Perry, Adele.
Its an unfair statement because this industry is cyclical.
Every year is different.
It fluctuates year to year.
I also thought Kesha had a beautiful moment with her performance.
I think the point is better consistency.Kevin:Still, some years you have more releases from women.
Weve reached this point of nostalgia for late-90s, early-aughts pop whereevenTRLhas been rebooted.
Then, finally, they createdTRL.
Because of that and Carson Daly, our lives were created around that show and the fans made us.
It was also great to have this rivalry with NSYNC thatTRLcreated.
That show established a lot of our careers, and not just pop.
Blink-182, Eminem, Korn, Limp Bizkit all came up because ofTRL.
Im glad its making its way back and that theres excitement around it.
It makes a lot of sense.
They did a remake of Christopher Crosss Sailing that was a great song.
Whats that video where theyre in the straitjackets and theyre psychotically in love with a girl?
Not God Must Have Spent.
I Drive Myself Crazy?Howie: Thats the one!
Also that song they had out with Nelly, Girlfriend.
We always have fun, though.
I see Joey [Fatone] all the time; hes always in my backyard here in Florida.
We text here and there.
We know all those guys, even the guys from 98 Degrees.
Were already talking about making changes.
Were doing a song called Undone, which was off theThis Is Usrecord, which Kevin wasnt on.
But we still do it in the show because its one of his favorite songs of ours.
Ryan Tedder wrote it.
Its not one of the big hits, but its definitely a crowd-pleaser and a highlight of the show.
We like throwing in a fan favorite.
We may even do deeper cuts or covers.
Kevin: We put out a greatest-hits album and its understood that fans wanna hear those songs.
Ultimately, its about the energy and flow of the show.
That single will definitely get added to the show.
This interview has been edited and condensed from two separate conversations.
