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.

Is this where we make the “Backstreet’s back” quip?

Let’s not. It’s way overused, not to mention possibly inaccurate. Nick Carter says the Backstreet Boys never went away — even if you didn’t notice. For 17 years the group has toiled to stay alive. They’ve sold more than 100 million albums. They’ve been golden boys and guilty pleasures. They lost a member and continued as a foursome. Their latest album, This Is Us, came out in 2009. The Backstreet Boys are back (fine) on a world tour, stopping at Ruth Eckerd Hall on Memorial Day.

Carter, the teen idol who grew up in Apollo Beach and Ruskin, is now 30. He has navigated addiction, screamy reality TV and industry scandal, but says he’s in a good place. He called from home in Nashville to talk about the tour and his favorite Tampa memories (RIP, stadium Bennigan’s). And if Justin Bieber loyalists don’t appreciate his music, he’s content to count their moms as fans.

Do you still keep a house in Tampa Bay?

I don’t, but when I get some time, I’m going to go look again in Tierra Verde. That’s one of my favorite places.

What was it like growing up here?

My experience there was amazing. I have so many friends there. Tampa’s my home. I’m a huge, die-hard Buccaneer fan. On my Twitter, I have the Bucs flag as my picture. I’m kind of a fanatic. I’m a little crazy, you know? Read full article.

I added some new photos of Nick Carter to the gallery so, you can go there to take a look.

Gallery Link:
– 4th Annual “TAO A GO GO”

I just wanted to wish Happy Bday to Nick Carter today!!!! I hope he can have a great and perfect day so, Nick, enjoy your day and be Happy!!! I hope that all your dreams come true because you deserve this.

Happy Birthday Nick!!!

Do protests help or hurt a film is the question

You may have heard about “Kill Speed,” perhaps the most talked about film at AFM 2009.

There is a negative campaign circulating. According to Eric Norwitz, the attorney representing Epic Pictures Group, Inc., and Patrick Ewald, “The allegations ’Kill Speed’ is a stolen film are ridiculous and without any merit whatsoever.  The Bass Entertainment Pictures’ high-flying film, ‘Kill Speed’ was conceived, written, and directed solely by Kim Bass.”

Break ins, print theft and duplicitous name changes?  That’s what Michael Belt and FilmTheft.com are claiming in an email news release just sent out to media and industry attendees of the American Film Market.  Here’s the complete text of the email:  Read full article.

The Backstreet Boys are currently wowing England with their This Is Us tour. But for those who sit around scratching their heads wondering what Nick Carter gets up to during his off time, it appears he records electro-pop duets with singers whose albums only come out in Germany.

You may remember Jennifer Paige from her none-too-shabby 1998 hit “Crush.” She recently enlisted the vocal talents of the youngest BSB member for her song “Beautiful Lie” (not, incidentally, a 30 Seconds To Mars cover). And great news, Germans—it’s going to be included on the re-release of Paige’s third album Best Kept Secret, out November 20! [Source]