A genuine shocker in the normally clean-cut world of boy bands. Backstreet Boy A.J. McLean has entered rehab for depression and alcohol abuse, leading the group to postpone all the remaining dates on their Black & Blue North American tour. That includes three sold-out shows at the Air Canada Centre, July 27-29, although the rescheduled dates have already been announced for Sept. 12-14.
The announcement came via an emotional appearance by McLean's four bandmates -- Kevin Richardson, Howie Dorough, Nick Carter and Brian Littrell -- on MTV's hugely popular Total Request Live program yesterday afternoon.
"When you're trying to help someone who has a serious illness, they have to help themselves first before they can really receive help. They've gotta really want it," Littrell told the equally choked-up teenaged studio audience.
"He came to us yesterday for the first time. I heard him say, 'Guys, I have a problem and I need to get help.' We figured this was the best for him. It's all about him being healthy."
While the postponement of the tour -- one of the biggest of the year -- came as a genuine shock, McLean, 23, has talked about his struggles with alcohol and depression before, most memorably in an article in Rolling Stone last year as he recounted the Backstreet Boys' early years trying to break through in Europe.
"The minibar at the hotel was paid for by the record company and after the show, I would sit up there in my room. I couldn't go down to the bar; there were too many fans downstairs. I would just sit there and watch a movie and drink a shot of Jack or a beer, whatever."
But as recently as last fall, McLean told Rolling Stone he had found himself sitting in a car outside an Orlando pool hall in tears.
"I just started freaking out, thinking about my relationship with (girlfriend) Amanda. And is that going to last when I go on the road and is my mom going to be okay and all this other stuff. I mean issues engulfed me. And I just sat there for about 30 minutes and cried and yelled and swore at the world. And then felt better."
The product of a broken home, McLean moved from Kissimmee, Fla., to Orlando with his mother when he was in seventh grade and was cast in a Nickelodeon show. That eventually led to joining the Backstreet Boys at age 15.
McLean also talked about having a quick temper.
"I just go off," he told Rolling Stone. "Like when I broke up with my ex-girlfriend, and our song came on the radio, I just grabbed a baseball bat and beat the crap out of the damn machine. When I get stressed out, I get really violent toward myself and just say, 'Screw the group! To hell with everything!' But then I think further, and then I'm like I do want it. I live for it."
Richardson told MTV's Total Request Live that McLean would enter rehab for 30 days for "depression, anxiety and his excessive consumption of alcohol." It's unknown where he'll receive treatment.
"We didn't want to lie about it, we didn't want to push it under the rug," Richardson said. "We want to be honest with our fans. He's getting help. He's going to be better."
The recent death of McLean's grandmother has been a source of anxiety for him, but he was depressed even before that, Richardson said.
"He's been burning the candle at both ends and partying quite a bit to escape it," he said. "His alcoholism is -- it's pretty bad. And we're worried about him."
Carter said McLean's illness doesn't mean the group is breaking up.
"I don't think there is an end to this group until one of us dies," he said.
Local tour promoters said concertgoers in Toronto can hold onto their previously purchased tickets for the three rescheduled Air Canada Centre dates. Tickets for the July 27 show will be honoured for Sept. 12 and so on.
Earlier yesterday, the Backstreet Boys announced they were postponing remaining concerts in Boston this week after Carter, 21, injured his hands on Saturday.
Black And Blue, the latest album from the Grammy-nominated group, has sold 14 million copies worldwide since its November release. In Canada, it has surpassed sales of 700,000.
Chat about A.J.
