Article from US Magazine -- *N The Loop

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Date Posted: 12:02:56 08/04/01 Sat
Author: Gina
Subject: Article from US Magazine

Meet The Band: An inside view of NSYNC
US Magazine, Aug 13 issue

'Ncredible

They're five ordinary guys who love fast cars, video games, and partying. They also happen to be 'Nsync, the world's most successful band - and they're loving every minute of it

"I'm at a perfect place right now. There's really not much more I can ask for," says 20-year-old Justin Timberlake, one-fifth of 'Nsync, the world's most popular band, as he heads for the VIP room at Moomba, Hollywood's hot new club.

His sentiments are easy to understand. The occasion, on a warm, clear Monday evening at the end of July, is a party to celebrate the release of 'Celebrity', 'Nsync's latest record. Their last one, 'No Strings Attached', became the fastest-selling album in history when 2.4 million copies were bought in one week, and there are high hopes that 'Celebrity' can come close to equaling that feat.

As the Backstreet Boys' bandwagon hit a bump in the wake of AJ McLean's entry into rehab for alcoholism and depression, causing them to postpone their U.S. tour, 'Nsync is the pop juggernaut that shows no signs of slowing. Later that Monday night, Jay Leno introduces these five guys - on 'The Tonight Show' as "the most popular performers in the world." Dressed in hip-hop ragamuffin clothes, 'Nsync rocks onstage, single file, to lung-bursting screams from the females in the audience that go on for so long, Leno quips, "Thank you. Good night. That's all the time we have."

But their appeal is not limited to the teen-girl demographic, a fact neatly summed up by the crowd that showed at Moomba. Waiting at the doors of the club as the five 'Nsyncers drew up, each in a black Chevy Suburban, were the 15-year-old Olsen twins, Mary-Kate and Ashley. Inside, 75-year-old Hugh Hefner, squiring bunnies not much older than the Olsens, mingled with up-and-coming actors Breckin Meyer, James Marsden, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Chris Kattan and Rashida Jones, rap star Coolio and 'Politically Incorrect' host Bill Maher.

Heartthrob Marsden, who played Cyclops in the movie 'X-Men' and will be a regular on 'Ally McBeal" next season, announced that he is a huge fan of the band. The actor spent time with the guys last October in Toronto, where he was shooting a movie, and said he told them, "Hey, I'm the staightest guy you'll find, and I think you guys are really awesome." Flashing an embarrassed smile, the 27-year-old Marsden told 'US Weekly', "It sounds like I know too much about them, but I think they're transcending that boy-band-y kind of popcorn. I think they'll get better, as long as they stick together."

It seems as if there's little chance of them breaking apart. There might not be a tighter, more down-to-earth pop group than these five - Timberlake, JC Chasez, 24; Lance Bass, 22; Joey Fatone, 24; and 29-year-old Chris Kirkpatrick. "They're a far cry from the decadent rock stars of years past," says Laura Morgan, the senior entertainment editor of 'Seventeen'. "They're on time for interviews and promo activities, are gracious to their fans and are good role models."

"What struck me right away was that you can go into Starbucks on the corner up here [in L.A] and get 10 times the attitude from somebody who's been an extra in two films than from hanging out with Justin and these guys," says BT, a 28-year-old techno producer who has worked with Madonna and Tori Amos and collaborated with the band on the single "Pop." "I was just impressed with what grounded, cool people they are."

Clearly, the members of the band that is grossing an average of $2.5 million a night on tour don't take themselves too seriously. The record title 'Celebrity' is intended to be tongue-in-cheek. "It's a fun, up-tempo album. We make fun of ourselves, and I hope that comes across," says Chasez. "We're just a bunch of dudes that ride a bus and sing songs."

But aren't they stressed-out at the thought of having to follow the staggering success of 'No Strings Attached'? Timberlake, who spent most of the night at Moomba nestled in a booth with girlfriend Britney Spears, says, "Who cares?"

"Do you want the truth, or do you want us to make something up?" says Kirkpatrick. "It's our record. We don't have to worry. That's the fun part."

It was Kirkpatrick who started the band in Orlando, Florida, in 1995, when he was recruiting singers for Louis Pearlman, the impresario who created the Backstreet Boys. 'Nsync split with Pearlman after the release of their debut album, '*NSYNC', and celebrated their freedom with the aptly titled 'No Strings Attached.' Kirkpatrick says the band members had been treated like "puppets." For his part, Pearlman has no hard feelings. "I still make money from 'Nsync and Backstreet Boys," he told 'US Weekly.'

Kirkpatrick, the band's oldest member,was born in Clairion, Pennsylvania, and grew up poor with four half-sisters, his widowed mother and a succession of stepfathers. Last Christmas, he bought his mother a house, and he is careful never to take his wealth for granted. He invests his money in his clothing business, FuMan Skeeto, and he always listens to his financial advisor.

After graduating from high school in 1990, Kirkpatrick moved to Orlando, where he took choir with Backstreet Boy Howie Dorough. When Kirkpatrick decided to form his own band, Memphis-born Timberlake was his first choice. From the time he was 8, Timberlake knew he would be a singer. Supported by his mother, Lynn Timberlake, he appeared on Star Search, and before long he was a regular on the Disney Channel's 'Mickey Mouse Club', along with first love Spears ("She inspires me to do my best," he says), Timberlake's passions revolve around shoes (he claims to have 450 pairs) and fast cars. He has a Plymouth Prowler, a Dodge Viper, an Audi TT, a Porsche 911, a BMW M Roadster, a Mercedes and a Playstation 2.

After Timberlake came Maryland-born Chasez, the shy guy of the band. Chasez, the oldest of three in a stable, middle-class family, entered a talent contest on a dare in the seventh grade and landed a part on 'The Mickey Mouse Club' two weeks later. "JC was the cool older guy, and Justin wanted to be just like him," their fellow Mouseketeer Christina Aguilera told 'Rolling Stone' recently. "He was very goofy back then. Now he's the serious one."

He's definitely a serious reader: "I always try to pick up a different kind of book every time," he told 'US Weekly'. "Sometimes I'll read a romance, as goofy as it sounds, and then I'll read a self-help book, and then I'll read something that's more philosophy or something like that. I like to keep myself well-rounded."

Chasez, who alternates lead vocals with Timberlake, also has a taste for red wine, fine art and his girlfriend, Bobbie Thomas - but his top priority is the band. He recently told 'Rolling Stone', "We're married to our work, and it sucks for a girl to hear that's she's second."

Kirkpatrick, Chasez and Timberlake went looking for a baritone and found him at 70's night at the Pleasure Island club in Orlando. He was Brooklyn-born Joey Fatone Jr., whose family moved to Florida when he was 13. Fatone is the self-acknowledged wild man of the band, and he did, albeit accidentally, provide his colleagues with their scariest moment, earlier this summer, during a tour rehearsal in New Orleans, when a platform under the stage malfunctioned and trapped his knee and calf. Bass was first on the scene and reported pulling up Fatone's pant leg and seeing bone underneath. Nothing was broken - "Lucky I got fat legs," Fatone said.

Bass, from Clinton, Mississippi, was the final addition to the band. He was traveling his home state, singing with a group called the Showstoppers, when a vocal coach recommended him to Timberlake and company. Although he's the baby-face of the gang, Bass is the one who makes the hardheaded business decisions.

"We've definitely been screwed in the past, so I'm the one that kind of watches out for us and reads everything," he says. "I'll make sure that we don't sign anything we don't need to sign."

That's a lot to stay on top of when you're in the middle of a feeding frenzy for the most marketable commodity in music. But still, life is good for 'Nsync. Says Chasez, "We just feel like we go to work every day and have the best job in the world."

Justin Timberlake
Louis Pearlman, former manager of NSYNC: "The youngest member---used to be the wildest but now very tame. I'm sure Britney sees to it in some respect."
Wade Robson, the band's choreographer and close friend: "He wants to act, so he's really serious about that. In the next couple of years, he's gonna be doing a lot of that."

JC Chasez
Pearlman: "He's the reserved guy---a perfectionist and very sincere. He tries to focus the direction of the group." Robson: "There's a lot of things about JC that people don't know. He's one of those people you can ask about anything, and he seems to know something about it."

Lance Bass
Pearlman: "Fills in as the back-up to Justin, as far as the young all-American look goes.
Robson: "The hardcore businessman. He's always having these meetings and projects. Wherever we go, he's always go to this office set up, with his assistant. He's the one that handles all the money and stuff."

Chris Kirkpatrick
Pearlman: "Alwyas has a funny remark. He's a quick thinker. He thinks he has his own looks and style, which he's always maintained."
Robson: "We were shooting some of the video segments of the last tour, and he really has some moments of genius as far as acting (is concerned)"

Joey Fatone
Pearlman: "He's the edgy guy. You always have the one making the papers, doing something out of the norm. Lots of energy. Lots of partying."
Robson: "Joey farts a lot. I hear that's what everybody's saying."

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