They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks – and maybe you shouldn’t. With a return to the sound that shot them to success, Backstreet’s back. But word is they never really left.

The Backstreet Boys’ “This Is Us” tour hits New York City on Thursday, and while the tracks and the collaborations are new, the feel is vintage – with a kick. A quartet since the departure of Kevin Richardson in 2006, they released their seventh album, “This Is Us,” last October, and, according to Nick Carter, there’s no chance they’re stopping anytime soon.

“This is who the group is now,” says Carter by phone before hitting the stage at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Canada. “It was a little weird in the beginning, but it is comfortable now. We love him, but you know, we can’t change his mind, but we all still hang out with him. … It’s cool.” Read full article.

The ultimate boy band tour could be coming soon to an arena near you. New Kids on the Block and the Backstreet Boys are close to signing a deal with Live Nation Entertainment which could lead to a joint tour as early as March 2011, E! News reports.

The members of NKOTB and BSB may be recording a single together before the proposed tour. While Live Nation has not commented on the tour, the company is also said to be looking for a third group to round out the tour, with Boyz II Men at the top of the wish list.

“The idea is to recreate the boy band phenomenon,” says a source close to the negotiations. “It will be the ultimate ladies’ night out.”

The boy bands first teamed up last June during a Radio City Music Hall performance. At the concert, New Kids on the Block joined the Backstreet Boys (sans Kevin Richardson, who left the band in 2006) for a rendition of the latter’s smash hit “I Want It That Way.” [Source]

According to vesti.az, Backstreet Boys will be going to Azerbaijan in Sept/Oct for an all-stars concert.

Today, the details became known of the forthcoming this year, a grand concert in Baku with participation of world pop stars, organized by the largest music TV channel MTV.

As the regional director of Vesti.Az MTV Eurasia Matthew Goldstein, a concert in Baku will not last one day, as planned, but three.

“The first day will be held in Baku retro concert, which will be attended by Thomas Anders (ex-Modern Talking”), group Roxeth “,” Scorpions “,” Beckstrom Boys “, Tony Brexton and others. The main concert will be held the next day, it will be attended by Beyoncé Knowles, Murai Kerry, Riana Lady GaGa, and other stars. On the third day will perform world-famous DJs. There will also be organized a fashion show with the support of the famous Italian magazine “The Collector”.

We hope that the concert will be held in late September – early October in the main square of Azerbaijan – Square Azadliq. The price for entrance to the concert remains unchanged – only 5 manat. This concert will be broadcast in 168 countries worldwide. Unfortunately, 80% of Americans have never heard of Azerbaijan and its tourist potential. After the concert of your country know the whole world “, – said M. Goldstein.

According to him, as negotiations continue to open in Azerbaijan TV channel MTV. At the moment the opening of MTV discussion with the leadership of two national television channels.

Thanks to bsbsquad.

Boy band fans got a tuneful surprise Saturday night at New York’s Radio City Music Hall when the Backstreet Boys made a surprise appearance at the New Kids on the Block concert.

“You get two for the price of one tonight,” Nick Carter told the screaming crowd.

The New Kids on the Block – Joey McIntyre, 37, Donnie Wahlberg, 40, Danny Wood, 41, and brothers Jordan, 40, and Jonathan Knight, 41 – were sitting in front of a white curtain bantering when they launched into the Backstreet Boys’s 1999 hit “I Want It That Way,” an hour into the concert.

As the audience began to sing, the curtain lifted, revealing the Backstreet Boys – Brian Littrell, 35, Nick Carter, 30, A.J. McLean, 32, and Howie Dorough, 36, who finished out the song.

Cue the deafening screams! Read full article.

Backstreet’s back alright, but they’re not using BP.

The Backstreet Boys said in a statement today that they’re joining Korn in the boycott against purchasing BP oil. The boy band (can we still call them that?) is currently on tour to promote their “This Is Us” album, and their sojourn across the States will be BP-free.

“I’m devastated by what I’ve seen first hand and on the news,” Nick Carter said in a statement. “I’ve always been a marine activist and seeing pictures of oil-covered animals breaks my heart.”

Said fellow Backstreet member Brian Littrell: “We just played Biloxi last week and I have to tell you people are really worried down there. This boycott is about making a statement, letting people know how we feel and to stand for something.” [Source]