Backstreet Boys

AJ McLean says Mac Miller's death was premature and tragic -- and he hopes more deaths can be prevented with a potentially life-saving measure he'll be rolling out soon.

We got the Backstreet Boys member in Bev Hills where he was participating in the Ante Up! for a Cancer Free Generation poker tournament -- which raises money for cancer research -- and he gave us his thoughts on Mac dying Friday from an apparent overdose.

While he's never met Mac himself, it's clear AJ's shaken up over his passing -- explaining people need to realize how big an issue drug addiction really is ... and how to overcome it.

He then tells us about a new detox kit he's working on that he says will help people kick drugs safely ... particularly, opioids. AJ says his kit includes non-narcotic medication -- unlike other drugs often used in opioid treatment, like methadone -- that won't get 'em hooked.

AJ McClean will never forget the night the Backstreet Boys got to share the stage with Aretha Franklin ... as her backup singers.

We got AJ Wednesday at Malibu Country Mart, and he couldn't stop singing his R-E-S-P-E-C-T for the Queen of Soul. He shared an awesome story from Backstreet's 2001 performance with Aretha and Stevie Wonder.

Just wait until you hear AJ recall his adventure getting Stevie through an obstacle course and out onstage!!!

AJ says he grew up listening to Aretha, and she had a profound influence on the Backstreet Boys and ALL genres of music. AJ was a huge fan of "The Blues Brothers" and loved Aretha's cameo in it.

He hints at possible tributes to Aretha at future Backstreet Boys' performances ... and also shares his thoughts on the perfect songs for the star-studded lineup performing Friday at Aretha's funeral.

As we reported, Stevie, Ariana Grande, Chaka Khan, Jennifer Hudson and many others will be onstage for the service, and you can see the whole thing here -- TMZ will be streaming it live.

The 14 or so people injured by a tent collapse before a Backstreet Boys concert this weekend are lucky to be alive based on this woman's first-hand account of the accident ... which sounds terrifying.

We spoke with Oklahoma resident Rhonda Dunn, who was one of the at least 14 victims injured at the WinStar World Casino and Resort Saturday after an awning fell on people waiting in line. She recounts the moment the tent collapsed ... fighting back tears to do so.

According to Rhonda, she was pinned under the structure before some heroic bystanders helped lift enough of it for her to get out. She didn't walk away unscathed though -- Rhonda tells us a doctor told her she'd suffered a compression fracture on her spine.

Tom Brady can cross sixth member of the Backstreet Boys off his post-football plans ... 'cause AJ McLean says the Pats QB's singing is way too garbage for that.

We brought you the story last week ... TB12 had a date night with Gisele out at U2's concert in Boston when he screeched out the words to "Vertigo" and "Pride (In The Name of Love)."

When we showed AJ the clips ... his reaction was the same as mostly everyone else's ... "Not everybody is supposed to be a singer."

McLean did give props to Brady for sharing his, um, voice with the world ... saying it took "cajones" for Brady to do that.

The boy band basketball turf war just got REAL -- with Brian Littrell telling Joey Fatone that Backstreet will straight DOMINATE 'NSYNC on the hardwood.

And get this -- Brian says it'll only take 2 of the Boys to hoop up 'NSYNC's entire roster!

"They’ll lose, plain and simple," Littrell told TMZ Sports at LAX. "You can take myself and Nick against all 5 of those dudes and we’ll be cool."

Brian ain't playing -- telling us he's got a court at home to keep his game tight.

So, if Joey, JT and co. really want it like Fatone said, Littrell's down ... and says he wants 10 racks on it!!

"When we win, I’ll donate my $10,000 that I have on the game to charity. Joey can pick it."

The boy band era is over, but the smack talk remains -- because Joey Fatone is telling the world if his crew ever had to face the Backstreet Boys in hoops, they'd make them go "Bye Bye Bye."

We got Fatone out in Beverly Hills and showed him footage of his ex-bandmate Justin Timberlake draining half-court shots, and asked him if JT really has the goods on the court.

Fatone said yes, but things got really spicy when we asked whether or not the rest of 'NSYNC could ball. More specifically, if they could take out the Backstreet Boys in hoop-life warfare.

"There's no think so. You tell that to Nick Carter."

Challenge issued.

BTW, we found some footage of the two crews playing back in the day. It ain't exactly Lakers versus Celtics ...

The Backstreet Boys are ready to drop the mic ... in the restaurant biz!!!

BSB Entertainment Inc. -- a company with A.J. McLean, Howie D., Brian Littrell and Nick Carter listed as directors -- filed docs, which were obtained by TMZ, on February 9 to trademark "Backstreet Barbecue" for use in a new restaurant.

The news comes on the heels of Nick telling a food blog they're looking for a partner in Mexico to start making their own tequila. Hey, it worked for George Clooney. Now add a BBQ joint and the boys have quite the trifecta (music reigns, of course).

AJ McLean isn't even trying to hide it ... he's totally looking forward to getting his very first prostate exam, now that he's hit the big 4-OHHHH!

We got the Backstreet Boys singer Tuesday -- the day he actually crossed over -- and asked if he'd scheduled his first, y'know ... oil check, now that he's a man of a certain age.

AJ knows he needs to get it done -- probably sooner than later, it sounds like -- but the good news is he's excited about who's conducting the examination. He also reassured us his wife's on-board with another woman getting up in his business.

Former Dream singer Melissa Schuman claims Nick Carter raped her back in 2002 ... when she was 18 and he was 22.

Melissa says she and the Backstreet Boys singer started talking because their managers suggested they date -- presumably for good PR -- even though she says she already had a boyfriend.

She claims Carter invited her and a friend to his Santa Monica apartment for what she calls a "casual hangout" -- and after some boozing he started making out with her. In a very graphic blog post, Melissa claims he eventually took her into a bathroom, he forcibly performed oral sex on her ... and then forced her to reciprocate.

Melissa says she repeatedly told him she did not want to have sex, and was saving her virginity for her husband. She claims Carter took her to a bedroom, and then forced her to have intercourse.

Schuman says she told her manager about the alleged rape, but was told Carter's legal team was too powerful, and publicly accusing him would hurt her career.

Houston Astros superstar Jose Altuve LOVES the Backstreet Boys -- and it turns out, the feeling is mutual.

A.J. McLean says he saw the rendition of "I Want It That Way" that Jose and his Astros teammates shot in the team locker room last year ... and now he wants to collaborate!

The Backstreet Boys singer admits Altuve ain't exactly the songbird of his generation ... but his voice is good enough -- so he extended the slugger an invite to sing with the band.

Please say 'yes.' Please. Please.

If A.J. McLean and Joey Fatone can wave the boy band white flag and come together onstage ... then maybe there's hope for America too.

The awesome duet went down Saturday night during Joey's 40th birthday bash at Ora nightclub in Miami. The former pop rivals decided to serenade the crowd with the Backstreet Boys hit, "I Want It That Way."

You'd think they'd do an 'NSYNC tune ... it was Joey's night after all, but the crowd ate it up, anyway.

The Backstreet Boys held an open audition for one lucky dude Friday night ... and he's got a ladies already trying to win his love.

Nick Viall, who is on the upcoming season of "The Bachelor" as the main prize, had a group date at the BSB show in L.A. ... and Nick and the girls got pulled up onstage. It's easy to tell, the whole thing was choreographed (literally) for the show ... but Nick ain't half bad.

The boy band picked one chick from the group to have a solo dance with Nick to their hit "I Want It That Way" after the group dance.

Lou Pearlman, the record producer/manager who launched huge boy bands including 'NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys, has died in prison.

Pearlman faced a slew of lawsuit by members of the 2 famous groups, claiming he screwed them out of their cash by collecting money for both producing and managing.

He became obsessed in the 80's with the enormous success of New Kids on the Block, and launched his own record company. He conducted a $3 million talent search and found 5 unknowns to form a band -- Nick Carter, A.J. McClean, Kevin Richardson, Brian Littrell and Howie Dorough. The Backstreet Boys went on to become the best selling boy band of all time, selling 130 million records.

His encore was enormous as well ... 'NSync sold 55 million records and launched the careers of Justin Timberlake, Lance Bass, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick.

Pearlman got in a heap of legal trouble in 2008 ... he was convicted of one of the biggest Ponzi schemes in U.S. history, swindling 1,700 people out of half-a-billion bucks.

He was serving a 25-year-sentence.

Lance Bass tweeted, "He might not have been a stand-up businessman, but I wouldn't be doing what I love today without his influence. RIP Lou."

Cause of death is unknown.

As if Ryan Gosling doesn't have enough going for him -- he's also a better singer than Justin Timberlake ... at least that's what A.J. McLean thinks.

The Backstreet Boys singer gave us some insider boy band 411 about the rumor Gosling auditioned for a spot in 'N Sync. You gotta hear his comparison of the Mickey Mouse Club alums ... 'cause it's straight up blasphemy, if you're a JT fan.

Also interesting, his memory of a bromantic experience -- watching girl on girl porn with the rest of his BSB group mates ... 'cause they wanted it that way.

The Backstreet Boys are in the middle of a little showdown in big China -- between a concert touring company and a promoter accused of pulling a $2 million scam.

The touring company says it forked over the cash to a woman named Angela Wong, who posed as a successful promoter who'd previously brought Britney Spears over to China ... and said she could do the same with BSB.

The company says Wong promised she'd lock in the Boys for 10 concerts last March, but she eventually tried to postpone the scheduled dates. According to the suit, things really got fishy when the Backstreet Boys ended up coming to China around those dates ... but through a different promoter.

The suit says Wong gave back $640k when the company called her out, but now it's suing to get the rest of the money back ... plus damages.

A.J. McLean is standing by his fellow Backstreet Boy ... saying there's no deep mystery behind Nick Carter's arrest -- dude just got drunk.

A.J. was on San Diego's "Kramer and Geena Mornings" Friday, and said he feels bad for Nick ... but mostly because the media's making too big of a deal about the Key West bar brawl.

His take is Nick made a silly mistake after a few drinks ... something he says everyone, himself included, is guilty of at some point. Check out his advice for Nick.