USA
NKOTB.COM
Happy new year from Jon Happy new year to you! Where does the time go? I can’t believe it was one year ago that Jordan and I left home and went to stay with Donnie to begin planning for our reunion! I hope this year was as great for you as it was for me and the rest of the new kids. It has been so much fun traveling all over North America. This is the best country ever. I am glad I got to see it all over again. I survived the trauma of turning forty……. Of course I’ll still lie about my age. I’ve been doing it for so long I can’t stop now. I had the best birthday ever. Sitting around the four seasons in Punta Mita, Mexico with a small group of friends. This hotel is one of the best if you want to get away from it all and relax. It did take me a good three days to let go and be able to enjoy myself. I’m never one to sit around and do nothing but I was so ready to do just that. Went snorkeling off the coast on a tiny island wildlife refuge. The water was a bit murky the day we all went. It makes it kind of creepy when you can’t see far into the distance. At one point i saw some large black shadows circling beneath us. Convinced it was a school of sharks. I told the people in our group that there are some cool fish in the direction of the shadows. Hey, i didn’t know these people and I’d rather watch them become dinner and not my friends. Swimming back to the boat we found out it was a school of stingrays and not some hungry sharks. These things were amazing; they were as big as I. We also had the opportunity of coming across a huge sea lion asleep on the beach. Amazing sights… amazing times… amazing food… amazing service… amazing friends! So here i am, back out in Los Angeles. Although it’s not snowing like back home, it’s freezing cold! I guess the warm weather in Mexico spoiled me. We are getting ready to film our third video next week, than off to Europe for another go round. It has been so great to have this time off. I got to go back to work for a few days and experience what I’ve been missing. As much as I love doing the new kids thing i am itching to get back to my company. If only I could work during the day and commute to our concerts every night I would have the best of both worlds. That is impossible as we all know, so for now my main focus will remain with you! Looking forward to seeing you all again this spring and summer. Jon
USA RetroRewind
Greetings from Joey! Just a note to remind you that Joey and NKOTB is artist of the month for Jan. We will be playing tons and tons of their music and some of Joey's solo stuff. We also have an exclusive interview with Joey that will air in parts throughout the month. The interview is over an hour long. You'll see many more video segments all month long. The show is LIVE every Saturday night and segments of the interview that won't be included in the video are going to air too. Dave Harris
USA
RetroRewind
Dave Harris' conversation with Joey McIntyre of New Kids on the Block (Part 3) Dave Harris of Retro Rewind catches up with longtime friend of the show, and a man of many talents, Joey McIntyre of New Kids on the Block. They talk about the USA NKOTB.COM
Jon’s bags are packed “It’s 2 in the morning,” just spent a long day with the rest of the guys. Getting home now and going to wash the make‐up off my face. Hope you like it! ………get ready Europe my bags are packed and we’re on our way! Jon
new CD, and about working with some of today's biggest music stars on their new CD, "The Block".
USA
RetroRewind
Dave Harris' conversation with Joey McIntyre of New Kids on the Block (Part 4) Dave Harris of Retro Rewind catches up with longtime friend of the show, and a man of many talents, Joey McIntyre of New Kids on the Block. They talk about the new CD, and about working with some of today's biggest USA MySpace -Newbury Comics
Coming Home Officially Released Today Coming Home now available .
music stars on their new CD, "The Block" and the video for "Single". They also discuss the evolution of their version of the song, "Single" and working with Ne‐Yo.
USA
NKOTB.COM & newsletter
Announcing the NKOTB cruise Read about it here! All details will be revealed soon! Check back often for more info! Dear nkotb fans: you saved the date now... Now get ready for some serious sea time... Announcing the new kids on the block cruise! May 15 ‐ 18, 2009 ft Lauderdale, Florida ‐ Nassau, Bahamas ‐ ft Lauderdale, Florida. We've chartered our own boat just for our fans to come sailing with us for some serious face time! Live shows, meet/greets, photo ops, and more! ***on‐sale Wednesday January 14 @ 11:00am est! For details and bookings, please visit: www.nkotb.com/cruise ***book before January 16, 11:59pm est and you'll be automatically entered to win front row seats, meet/greets, memorabilia, etc***
USA
PEOPLE New Kids Announce Plans to Perform – on a Cruise!
Call them New Kids on the Boat. In this exclusive video for People.com, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, Danny Wood and Jonathan and Jordan Knight announce their plans to hit the high seas for a concert cruise from May 15‐18. Traveling from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. to the Bahamas, NKOTB
will entertain fans on board with special performances and meet and greets. Jokes McIntyre: "We're not going to be drinking pina coladas, we'll be serving them!" Tickets go on sale Wednesday, Jan. 14. For more information, check out nkotb.com.– Michelle Tan
USA
NKOTB.COM
National lottery ‐ bbc1 Tune into the BBC1, 10:30PM to watch NKOTB LIVE on the National Lottery, Wednesday January 14, 2009! USA BBC One
The National Lottery: Midweek Draws Scott Mills is live from Lottery HQ with Thunderball, Dream Number and Lotto draws featuring a performance from New Kids on the Block.
USA
NKOTB.COM
NKOTB cruise is on sale! CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR TICKET NOW! MAY 15‐18, 2009 MIAMI, FL ‐ BAHAMAS ‐ MIAMI, FL LIVE SHOWS, MEET/GREET, PHOTO OPS…MORE! Local: 215‐663‐8800 Toll‐free: 888‐491‐7673 Email: halr@rosetours.com
USA
Rose Tours
Where is the cruise going?
What makes Nassau so special? Picture an idyllic place with stretches of perfect white‐sand beaches, gracefully swaying coconut palms offering oases of shade, and warm, crystal‐clear waters revealing the secrets of incredible multi‐colored marine life.
Whether you spend the day shopping for duty‐free gifts and mementos, taking a carriage ride past sorbet‐colored buildings, or touring in a glass‐bottom boat, chances are you'll leave this happy place in the Bahamas with lots of beautiful memories.
All NKOTB Cruise Passengers will receive
NKOTB Welcome Cocktail Party NKOTB Experience with all band members Full Concert performance by NKOTB Photo Session with NKOTB in small groups Question & Answer Session with NKOTB Deck Party with NKOTB and DJ 2 Additional Deck Parties with DJ's
Gift Bag with cruise event souvenirs Trivia Contest with special prizes Karaoke Chances to enter other onboard drawings for exclusive NKOTB Event Opportunities! Full Access to all of Carnival's activities and facilities! VIP Concierge at your service!
Cruise itinerary
Day
Location
Arrival
Departure
Friday May 15, 2009
Miami, Florida **
12:00PM(board)
04:00 PM
Saturday May 16, 2009
Nassau, Bahamas
8:00AM
Sunday May 17, 2009
7:30AM
Sunday May 17, 2009
Day at Sea
Monday, May 18, 2009
Miami
08:00 AM
<>
** On Friday, May 15, 2009 book flights that Arrive into Miami or Ft. Lauderdale no later than 1:00PM ** On Monday, May 18, 2009 book flights that Depart from Miami no earlier than 12:00 noon or Ft. Lauderdale no earlier than 1:00PM.
USA
NKOTB.COM
Spring ‘09 tour dates! Our cruise all but sold out in less than 48 hours, a million hits on our website these last few days, two website crashes, and tons and tons of requests. We have been talking about doing some touring later this year…BUT you have spoken and we have decided to add more dates and go to more cities… ANNOUNCING THE NORTH AMERICAN SPRING 2009 NKOTB TOUR DATES! This is just the beginning…! ‐ Sat 3/07/09 Hidalgo, TX ‐ Borderfest ‐ 1/26 @ 10a ‐ Mon 3/09/09 Tulsa, OK ‐ BOK Center ‐ 1/24 @ 10a ‐ Tue 3/10/09 Bossier City, LA ‐ Century Tel Center ‐ 1/24 @ 10a ‐ Thu 3/12/09 Ft. Myers, FL ‐ Germain Arena ‐ 1/24 @ 10a ‐ Fri 3/13/09 Orlando, FL ‐ Amway Arena ‐ 1/24 @ 10a ‐ Mon 3/16/09 Nashville, TN ‐ Sommet Center ‐ 1/30 @ 10a ‐ Tue 3/17/09 Greenville, SC ‐ Bi‐Lo Center ‐ 1/24 @ 10a ‐ Thu 3/19/09 Baltimore, MD ‐ 1st Mariner Arena ‐ 1/24 @ 10a
‐ Fri 3/20/09 Hershey, PA ‐ Giant Center ‐ 1/24 @ 10a ‐ Sun 3/22/09 Erie, PA ‐ Erie Civic Center ‐ 1/24 @ 10a ‐ Wed 3/25/09 Portland, ME ‐ Cumberland County Civic Center ‐ 1/24 @ 9a ‐ Thu 3/26/09 Syracuse, NY ‐ OnCenter ‐ TBD ‐ Sat 3/28/09 Niagara Falls, NY ‐ Seneca Niagara Casino ‐ 1/23 @ 10a ‐ Sun 3/29/09 London, ON ‐ John Labbatt Center ‐ 1/23 @ 10a ‐ Mon 3/30/09 Ottawa, ON ‐ Scotiabank Arena ‐ 1/23 @ 10a ‐ Tue 3/31/09 Manchester, NH ‐ Verizon Arena ‐ 1/23 @ 12p
USA AOL PopEater
New Kids on the Block announce north american tour dates Adam Horne Whether you're a new fan or have been with them since the 'Hangin' Tough' days, Joey, Danny, Jordan, Donnie and Jonathan (better known as New Kids on the Block) are giving audiences a chance to see the veteran pop stars in concert once again as their tour heads to North America. The newly reunited New Kids hit the States March 7 at BorderFest in Hidalgo, Texas and end up in Manchester, New Hampshire on March 31. And be sure to check out the video below of the guys goofing off in Manchester, exclusively on AOL.
3/07/09: Hidalgo, TX ‐ BorderFest 3/09/09: Tulsa, OK ‐ BOK Cetner 3/10/09: Bossier City, LA ‐ CenturyTel Center 3/12/09: Estero, FL ‐ Germain Arena 3/13/09: Orlando, FL ‐ Amway Arena 3/16/09: Nashville, TN ‐ Sommet Center 3/17/09: Greenville, SC ‐ Bi‐Lo Center 3/19/09: Baltimore, MD ‐ 1st Mariner Arena 3/20/09: Hershey, PA ‐ Giant Center 3/22/09: Erie, PA ‐ Erie Civic Center 3/25/09: Portland, ME ‐ Cumberland County Civic Center 3/28/09: Niagara Falls, NY ‐ Senca Niagara Casino 3/29/09: London, ON ‐ John Labatt Centre 3/30/09: Kanata, ON ‐ Scotiabank Place 3/31/09: Manchester, NH ‐ Verizon Wireless Arena
UK
Daly Star Sunday
Exclusive: future’s solid as a new kid on the block NEW KIDS On The Block want to transform themselves into OutKast by releasing solo material as one entity. Like the Hey Ya! duo, who record separately then put out the songs in one collection, the reformed manband are toying with the idea for the future. Ahead of their UK tour opening in Manchester last night, Joey McIntyre told me: “We all want to make more music – my creative juices are flowing. Donnie was talking about solo albums and putting them together like OutKast. “Whatever is it that we do after the tour has to be exciting for us. “We’re not going to have a bunch of producers write songs and we simply sing them.” Comeback album The Block has been hugely received by fans. Now New Kids are set to give something back to their supporters by inviting them on a cruise. The five‐piece – Joey, Danny Wood, 39, brothers Jon, 40, and Jordan Knight, 38 and Donnie Walhberg, 39, will entertain on a jaunt from Florida to The Bahamas over May 15‐18.
And fans from around the globe can buy tickets from their official website. Joey explained: “We know our fans will like the idea of having us alone on a ship. “It’s going to be the busiest time of our year – we’re going to be waiting on them fine people hand and foot. We’ll do two shows, have meet and greet and have aftershow parties.” Sounds like the band won’t be getting a second of kip – a bit like their newly crowned superstar pal Lady GaGa, 22, above, who features on The Block’s saucy track Big Girl Now. Joey, 35, said: “She had a lot of energy when we worked with her and she came on our US tour. “I’m not surprised to see her blow up “She was very focused, really talented and fun.”
USA RetroRewind
Retro Rewind: Dave Harris' conversation with Joey McIntyre of New Kids on the Block (Part 5) In HD Dave Harris of Retro Rewind catches up with longtime friend of the show, and a man of many talents, Joey McIntyre of New Kids on the Block.
They talk about the new CD, and a little about the history behind the new hit single, "2 In The Morning"
SCOTLAND
5:30 show
Jonathan and Danny interview UK News of the World
WIN: New Kids On The Block gig tickets New Kids On The Block ‐Jordan Knight, Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg and Danny Wood are back and we have a special VIP Ticket Package for one winner for the London Hammersmith Apollo show on Sunday 25th January. In the late Eighties and early Nineties, New Kids on the Block created a cultural phenomenon, selling over 80 million albums all over the world. Their repertoire included the back‐to‐back international number one albums, 1988’s Hangin’ Tough and 1990’s Step By Step, and a series of R&B‐ pop hit singles like ‘You Got It (The Right Stuff)’, ‘Cover Girl’ and ‘Step By Step’. NKOTB have had great reviews in the US for their new album “The Block” and their tour amasses 39 US dates & 7 Canadian dates with 450,000 tickets sold. Now you can see them in action ‐ and enjoy VIP treatment. Our winner will get: Two tickets to New Kids On The Block show, 5 star laminate, A meet and greet ‐ photo op!, An exclusive New Kids On The Block gift bag, An exclusive pre‐show party, Plus crowd‐free merchandise shopping. To be in with a chance of winning this special prize, answer the following question: What was the name of Jonathan Knight’s dog that toured with them during the original NKOTB tours? Send us your answer to win@notw.co.uk , along with your name, address and a contact number (preferably a mobile) no later than midnight today (Sunday, January 18). You must be over 18 to enter. Tickets are available at www.gigsandtours.com and 24 Hour CC Hotline: 0871 2200 260.
IRELAND
Herald Ie
Chips off the old block They were the '80s pop phenomenon that created a genre and made girls It's almost 25 years since hundreds of teenage boys in Boston auditioned for a place in what would eventually become one of the biggest selling boy bands in the world. Indeed, those young and cheesy New Kids on the Block started it all, paving the way for just about every popular boy band of the '90s. Eighty million record sales, worldwide tours, merchandise that went beyond the ridiculous, and a legion of female fans who truly believed that Donnie, Jon, Joey, Jordan and Danny all had "oh, oh, oh‐oh‐oh the right stuff", made for one huge phenomenon that perhaps no amount of press clippings or video tapes will ever truly come close to describing. Announced In 1994, the boys bowed out of a limelight that had inevitably begun to dim. Yet, as is the case with so many boy bands these days, precious memories just aren't enough, and it was announced early last year that the, erm, kids, were giving it another bash. And whaddya know? It's paying of. All of a sudden, a more mature (yet still undeniably cheesy) NKOTB are once again selling out massive shows on the back of a brand new studio album entitled The Block. The youngest kid on the block ‐‐ 36‐year‐old Joey McIntyre ‐‐ explains that it wasn't "some producer, or some manager, or some video station" calling for the comeback. It was entirely their decision. However, while a couple of the guys had kept in touch, the five members hadn't been in the same room for more than 14 years. After a gap like that, it must be strange to be spending so much time together these days. "There's a few milestones that give you chills," says Joey. "Like, the first time we're in a dance studio after 14 years and we start rehearsing and learning choreography. "That was like 'wow, this is weird'. But it was great. Now, this is what we do and I think we do it well. We're performers and we're here to entertain and we're here to put on a good show, and I like the reality of that. Exciting "The fact is we really do get along," he continues. "We've learned how not to piss each other off too much, you know what I mean? You've got five guys around, people are gonna be busting each other's chops, but we have a good time and we're grateful for the opportunity." And, while the adoring teenage girls may have grown up, the overwhelming reaction to the comeback suggests they're still paying attention, and Joey insists that the atmosphere at the shows is as exciting as ever. "For the majority of girls who came to see us, we were their first concert. Now, they've grown up and they've gotten jobs, and got out of college and had families and all that stuff and they're at a certain point where, ya know, they just have enough time where they want to do something good for themselves, you know what I mean?
"So now, here we come along, the reaction is very much the same . . . They feel 12 years old again. And you don't really get that feeling very often in life." Over the past decade, McIntyre has branched out as an actor, performing both on stage and in front of the camera, while also consistently juggling a solo career in music. Overall, he's kept himself in the spotlight, but was he not a little worried or heartbroken when the NKOTB journey first came to an end? "We weren't heartbroken at all," he says. "I think we were excited to see what was on the other side of the rainbow, so to speak. I mean, we were going, going, going for five or six years." Was there ever a point during that time where it all became a bit too much to deal with? "Yeah, I mean, we were disappointed by the fact that there were way too many things out there with our faces on them," he recalls. Who the hell was buying NKOTB marbles? "Yeah, exactly," he replies. "We had all this shit out there and you're like 'what the hell is this?' I was the youngest in the group, so I really didn't mind that much, but the other guys were 18, 19, 20 ‐‐ they didn't want big slippers with their faces on them! "We never really pointed the finger at managers or producers, I mean, it's just part of the animal, the nature of the beast, but the schedule was crazy. "Luckily, we have good families," he continues. "I'm the youngest of nine kids so I never felt it too hard, and they were always there when they thought I was falling off the deep end, so it's just one of those things, and I think we're all lucky to come out of it with heads on our shoulders. "And I think coming from Boston, really, it's a working class town and you can't get too big for your britches and I think that mentality helped us out and really kept us grounded." Are you enjoying it more this time around? "Well, absolutely, I guess I'd have to say yes for a few reasons," he enthuses. "I mean, mainly because this time around it's now, you know what I mean? There's nothing better than now. I think we're better performers, there's more time and space, because we've allowed that. Yet in so many ways, it's a lot like back in the day, ya know, it's an experience. . ." Challenge With a few more lines on the face and a bit more stubble, I say, before asking if the comeback is a permanent deal. "I really don't know," he ponders. "I know the door is wide open. It's going to be a challenge to figure out how to keep it fresh and cool because if it doesn't feel good to us, then we're not going to do it. "I think what we've done, coming back like this, we've really written our own chapter and finished it the way we wanted to finish it, so if we're going to do something, it had better be damn good because why would you want to jeopardise what we've done?" Finally, the Irish‐American singer expresses his excitement about the group's long awaited debut show in Ireland this month. "We never played in Ireland," says Joey. "And, being the Irish kid on the block, I was always very disappointed. I've been over to Ireland a couple of times ‐‐ my McIntyres are from Limerick. "I haven't met any of them yet but it's amazing to go to the old country. And now to perform, it's going to be very, very special. And I'm not just propping myself up or anything like that," he finishes. "But the Irish people are the most charming peo ple in the world as far as I'm concerned, so it's a real treat to get over there."
USA
Madison Magazine
I'll Be Loving You Forever Nearly 20 years ago, the teen fans of New Kids On The Block fell in love. Despite getting older, married and mortgages, and becoming mums, they're proving they made the love last. In the February 2009 issue of Madison, Rebecca Wallwork camps out with the groupies and here, shares her thoughts on meeting the Kids.
I was one of those New Kids fans, so crazy about them that I could wallpaper my room with their posters three times over (below left). So crazy that I can still recite interviews they did in 1990 word for word. So crazy that, at the age of 32, I stood in the rain for two hours to see them reunite for the first time in 15 years on the Today Show.
UK
News of the World
NKOTB talk sex and drugs: Donnie Wahlberg tells all By James Desborough,
New Kids On The Block have done a Take That by reuniting and reliving the success they had in their heyday. The five‐piece original boy band is in the midst of a sellout world tour, twenty years after the lads dominated the world of pop. The group, who sold a staggering 80 million records, are lapping up the praises and the thrown panties on the UK leg of their tour. Jordan Knight, Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Danny Wood and Donnie Wahlberg became household names, while banking £80m each from six years in the charts. In 1990, they were Forbes highest paid entertainers – eclipsing Madonna and Prince. Their hits like Cover Girl, Hangin’ Tough and Tonight bagged them a string of gongs around the globe. In 1994 the lads called time on their boy band, and over the next 13 years resisted a string of attempts to reunite. Last year Donnie convinced his old pals to return to the fray by writing a string of songs. After their new album New Kids On The Block hit the number one slot in the US, they decided to tour. Donnie spoke to the News Of The World about their success second time around and the first time gives an insight into the wild times of the US act. The album has a club feel, and seemed fun? Donnie: “We didn’t set out to make a club album. “We wanted to do core songs that were fun to perform “The good thing was that making the album was very natural to us. “We didn’t want to just back together for the money “We came together as a group again and it was such a good spirit between us. “We weren’t locked in a studio without having fun – we didn’t want to do that all at? “We wanted to make a good album first, and then see how things went on from there. We did it bit by bit. Our record label Universal was supportive of that, and it has paid off. “The funny thing about being in a boy band is that in the beginning you are desperate to convince everyone you’re not a boy band and that you have talent – but you can’t. “Only if you last long enough and you’re older, you prove it in other ways that you never thought of. “You get respect with hard work and energy, and over time people realise what you have achieved without you telling them. “You talk a lot when you’re younger; you do a lot when you’re older. I find that I taught myself.” Donnie since the band split up you have a built a successful career as an actor. You recently starred opposite Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in Righteous Kill, and have big roles in TV shows like Boomtown and Band Of Brothers. What made you return to NKOTB? Donnie: “To be honest I never thought I would do this again. “I thought my career had moved on from NKOTB.
“I didn’t want to take a step backwards – but it was something I wanted to do. “We got back together because I wrote a song that inspired me that I wanted to record. “My personal life was going through a lot of changes so music was my comfort. It was a great thing to go to the studio and write a song about your frustrations. “It was an outlet for it, and reuniting with the New Kids seemed like the right time “It wasn’t a problem getting back on stage and doing the routines as we put in the work. “We didn’t want to slap together some moves and go out on stage to make money. We wanted to make the show great. It was a lot of hard work, creativity and preparation. “What we didn’t account for was the reaction of the fans. “It’s been especially amazing for us as the economy has been so bad and people are struggling, but so many of our fans have come out and had a chance to feel young again.
“There is more energy in the audience now than there used to be. The screams are as loud, the hysteria is as crazy, but there is an attitude from the fans and us, of how fortunate we all are to be doing this again. “A lot of fans are nervous before seeing us; They want to go on this journey. “Some people thought we’d show up and do our old classics and walk away. But with experience we have learned, and the shows are better than anyone would expect. We have taken it to another level.“ You and your band are almost 40‐year‐olds – how does it feel being in a boy band? Did you worry the comeback wouldn’t work. Donnie: “I never thought about failure “The words: ‘I can’t’ don’t enter my head. It sounds clichéd, but reforming and touring felt right. “If I didn’t think we could do it at this higher level, then I wouldn’t waste my time doing it. “There was never a discussion between the guys about our age. No‐one said: “Can I still do it at my age?” “The only thing was that I had to stop smoking, because the tour would take a lot out of me.
“The rehearsals were fine, and the show has been brilliant to play.” In the last twenty years NKOTB have become viewed as the founding fathers of the modern boy band. In your hey day from 1988 to 1992 you managed to achieve global success while remain the squeaky‐clean boys next door. Donnie: “I can’t say we were the cleanest living. I think we were smart. “We were in a different era. We lived in a time where if you did stupid things it would end your career ‐ nowadays if you get caught doing something you sell more records. “There were plenty of women around, but we were at a time when HIV was a big thing, scaring everyone. “We were cautious. We had fun, and were young men, but at the same time there was a lot to lose and we respected that. “We never went too far, and kept ourselves in check. “It’s funny because you think we didn’t have scandals, but I was accused of lighting a hotel on fire! “To me that was a big deal that was not some minor blip “When the judge was saying I was going to jail for twenty years, that sh** was not minor. “We weren’t the cleanest living I grew up in a house with drugs and alcohol and brothers in prison, NKOTB was my way out. “I had enough examples in my life of what not to do. “ I didn’t join a boy band to show how bad ass I could be. “If someone wanted to start a fight with me, I would defend myself.” We expect a sex, drugs and rock’n’roll lifestyle from our biggest acts today. Nothing was ever written about that hedonistic lifestyle when it came to NKOTB, so much was really going on behind the scenes? Donnie: “It was fun. At times we made the most of it. We never did anything to excess. “Did I have lot of sex – of course. That was not my motivation then, I was more interested in my work. It always came second. ““I would be quick to defy the record company or management. ‐ I wasn’t going to let anyone tell me how to live my life “Our code of conduct was set by the boys. “If the guys said you were out of control, then you’d step back and evaluate that. “If the record company or management I didn’t care. They were not in the circle. “The guys in the group would tell you – ‘You are an ****hole’ if you stepped out of line. We were all defiant to a lot of things What were the wildest things you can remember? Donnie: “I didn’t do cocaine, crack or heroin – that’s for sure. “To me I don’t look back and say ‘I can’t believe I did that.’ “We trashed a lot of hotels out of boredom and frustration at being trapped. “It got to the stage where we couldn’t walk down the street without being stopped by a thousand people. “Night after night we stayed at hotels, but at 20‐years old you want to take on the world, so once in a while I took out my baseball bat to a TV set. “We used to have target practice of the contents from the swimming pool. “Once in Hawaii we were on about the 25th floor, so the pool looked like the size of a glass of water. “We threw chairs, furniture, soda cans, televisions and books. “Another time I got a $10,000 bill for breaking Ming vases and lamps. “They sent me the bill, but I never broke the lamps.
“So I demanded to have them sent to me, and I took a baseball bat and smashed to pieces. “ Everywhere you went thousands of girls were desperate to get their hands on you. Jordan was considered the ‘best looking man' in pop, did that translate with his success rate with the ladies? Donnie: “Danny was the killer with the ladies. “He put the most time into it. Danny was the guy who got the most girls. ““I think when you averaged it out, it came to about one a night, If you took Monday and Tuesday off you might have three on Wednesday. “On tour I took a recording studio with me, and I’d be there all night. “I would have a girl waiting in my room, but by the time I got back she would have gone home with her friend. “The fans would try and get to us by riding up elevators, climbing on tour bus roofs. Hiding under room service carts and Joe found some hiding in a closet. “Sometimes when the guards would be holding fans I would tell them to let them through. It depended; I liked to spend time with them, so I went out to eat and I had her brought to dinner, and we would go from there. “It was not that you got what you wanted, everybody wanted to. “It was the greatest time ever. When you’re young, you have a lot of sexual drive and try it. “Sometimes I look back and say thank God I am alive, thank God I didn’t catch anything or die. I don’t look back with much regret. “I didn’t abuse or hurt people. “Other than being naked in a room with six girls now and again I didn’t make my mother too embarrassed. “A lot of bands brag about what they did, but I think they hate women, and I don’t: I love women. I don’t have to brag about my exploits. “I don’t need to talk about how I did this and that, and had her sister and aunt at the same time. That doesn’t validate me.” You had over 50 sold out shows in the US and Canada, how do the fans react these days Donnie: “I have loved being on tour. “I am a father with two kids, so I am not out be any sexual conqueror, but the fans are so much better, interesting and sexier – on every level it’s better the second time around. “The amazing things now is that the fans are so sophisticated with the internet, they get their rooms in the hotel “So I come back from a concert and they’ll be 10 fans on my floor. They don’t have to do it, but they want to. “When you go down to the bar, there are the fans with their credit cards on the table. You go anywhere in the hotel and they are there. “I dunno if any older bands get that. – I haven’t heard that “They’ve got groupies backstage, but now our fans have greater access to us now than at any time in history.” “Many of our fans are married, but they can be very aggressive. “Married women will come and tell you: “My husband told me I will sleep with you tonight.’ It is freaky. I know what it feels like to be a husband in a break‐up and you don’t want your wife sleeping a rock star. “I would never go there, I am not gonna sleep with anyone’s wife – that’s just bad karma. “When you’re younger you never think about dating fans. You party, mess around , but not to be serious. “But now you’re older some of these women are beautiful, successful people.
“I find it more plausible that you could meet a fan and start a relationship. “I am not sleeping around on tour though. “It’s a different world. I am old fashioned. “I could have a lot of crazy stuff appear on YouTube, but I am not ready for kids to see me having sex with three women on YouTube. “ NKOTB made a huge point of being anti‐drugs. The government used the band to front campaigns to beat drug use in the US teen market. What made you feel that way? Donnie : “I had brothers and sisters who were drug addicts. I tried drugs myself, but I learned from seeing my family destroyed by it, to not do it “I tried it, and I realised that was not for me. I had an opportunity to make music so I just stopped “Where I came from it’s not if you’re gonna smoke pot, or take cocaine – it’s just when. “It’s not a question if you’re gonna steal a car, but when. “I was in a stolen car at 11 with my one of my friends, and I smoked pot somewhere around that time. “Realistically most guys where I come from smoked a joint by 13 – I guarantee I did. I didn’t enjoy getting high, so it wasn’t a problem to stop. “My older brother was in jail as a direct result of drugs. I heeded the warning signs. I didn’t want to end up in jail. “At an early age I didn’t want drugs because of the experience. “My drill was that I had music. I was in the band aged 15, and had gigs to prepare for so I was focused on that. “When we became famous nobody had any interest in drugs. Our time and energy was focused on the group. Drugs can’t match the feeling of performing live. “I told people to say no to drugs because I had experience of them – I think that makes me a good person to talk about it. “We saw the damage and destruction around us. “ Did you live the high life after making your millions?
IRELAND 02 ANGELS Jonathan and Jordan interview
Donnie: “Nobody bought a Ferrari, a mansion or snorted coke and blew their money. Nobody did that sh** We came from hard working families “The best thing about being in the group we all kept ourselves in check. “If someone turned up with a Ferrari, the other guys would say ‘You’re an ***hole’, so nobody brought one. “We all had women, fun and drinks, now and again, but we all wanted to do something better with our lives. “If I turned up drunk and stumbled on stage I would be kicked out the band. “When we were a boy band we were criticised for not doing stupid stuff. “If we would have done that – ravaged women, done drugs – we would’ve wasted our opportunities. “We were all committed to being successful – it may sound boring, but 20 year later we are having the last laugh. “ How do you feel about Take That ‐ they are riding high after a comeback three years ago? Donnie : “I don't track boy bands if the band has a good song and I like it ‐ I'll listen to it "I don't think there is any competition. I know how hard it is to be successful; it's even harder a second timer. “While I don't follow their progress I can only admire them for coming back. "To have a member leave, become so successful and eclipse the group that should have been the end of the story, but the fact they’ve come back is an amazing accomplishment "When Robbie left Take That it was supposed to be the nail in their coffin ‐ but they didn't give up. "It was the same with us. The critics can have their say, but we all knew that we were doing it for the right reasons. I feel lucky, but at the same time I worked my ass off. "If you work hard you will be rewarded ‐ it's the same for Take That." New Kids On The Block are on a UK tour from Friday January 16 until January 29.
Ireland RTÉ 2fm Will Leahy Show
Will Leahy Podcast ‐ Danny Wood Before they took to the stage in the O2 ‐ Will and Laura took a call from New Kids on the Block's Danny Wood Ireland TV3 Xpose
New Kids On The Block Watch the full length version of Glenda's interview with New Kids On The Block. DONIE AND DANNY CAPTURES
UK No Surrender & indieLondon
No Surrender Charitable Trust
New Kids on the Block Live o2 Arena Jan 24 drawing and donating for auction a unique and original artwork on canvas in their dressing room for The No Surrender Charitable Trust's boasblog. THIS AUCTION ITEM IS A UNIQUE ARTWORK ON CANVAS BY NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK. IT IS THE ONLY ONE IN THE WORLD!!
Winnind bid: £875.00 THIS AUCTION ITEM IS THE PERMANENT BLACK MARKER USED FOR A UNIQUE ARTWORK ON CANVAS BY NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
Winnind bid: £255.00
New Kids On The Block unite with No Surrender charity Story by Jack Foley
product NEW Kids On The Block (NKOTB) have teamed up with the No Surrender
Charitable Trust for a very special auction – giving fans the chance to win a piece of musical history and help young people with cancer into the bargain! NKOTB invited No Surrender backstage to their dressing room at the O2 Arena and drew a one‐off self portrait – and bidding has already reached over £1,000! The marker pen used, which somehow found itself in Donnie Wahlberg’s underwear, is also attracting heavy bids of several hundred pounds. You can see the masterpiece being created on video and bid directly at nosurrender.org Simply click on the auction listing and watch the video within the listing description. The auction closes at 7pm (GMT) on Wednesday, February 4, 2009, so get bidding now! Jason Boas set up the No Surrender charity and it’s sister‐social network site in 2007, after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at only 33. The charity, helped by its trustees and supporters including KT Tunstall and Maximo Park, has since raised an overwhelming £150,000. For more information visit no‐surrender‐network.org
USA
RetroRewind
Dave Harris' conversation with Joey McIntyre of New Kids on the Block (Part 6) Dave Harris of Retro Rewind catches up with longtime friend of the show, and a man of many talents, Joey McIntyre of New Kids on the Block. They talk what's next USA News-Press Ft. Myers
for The group and whether or not they will continue to work together again. Also, Joey shares some special memories of their first #1 hit, "I'll Be Loving You Forever"
Floor seats available for New Kids On The Block Lee County show 11:20 a.m. update As of 11:15 a.m., floor tickets remained available for the New Kids On The Block concert at Germain Arena in Estero on Thursday, March 12.
10:03 a.m. update The boy band famous in the late‐ '80s and '90s for hits such as "Hangin Tough," "Step by Step" and "Right Stuff" will perform at Germain Arena in Estero on Thursday, March 12, as part of their U.S. tour. The five original members of the band reunited in 2008 for an album, titled "The Block," and an ensuing tour. The 2009 concert is being presented by Live Nation and begins in Texas on March 7. Tickets for the concert will go on sale at 10 a.m. today and cost $67, $47, and $37. Tickets can be purchased at the Germain Arena box office or online at livenation.com and ticketmaster.com. Call the box office at 334‐3309.
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NKOTB.COM
April shows announced! Thu 4/2/09 Moline, IL iWireless Center 10am Saturday Jan. 31st Fri 4/3/09 Columbus, OH Nationwide Center st 10am Saturday Jan. 31 Sat 4/4/09 Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena st 10am Saturday Jan. 31
Sun 4/5/09 Champaign, IL Assembly Hall 10am Saturday Jan. 31st Mon 4/6/09 Des Moines, IA Wells Fargo Arena 10am Saturday Jan. 31st Tue 4/7/09 Green Bay, WI Resch Center Noon Saturday Jan. 31st
Thu 4/9/09 Winnipeg, MB MTS Center 10am Saturday Jan. 31st Sat 4/11/09 Saskatoon, SK Credit Union Centre Noon Saturday Jan. 31st
Mon 4/13/09 Kelowna, BC Prospera Place 10am Saturday Jan. 31st
Tue 4/14/09 Victoria, BC Sav‐On Memorial Center 10am Saturday Jan. 31st
Fri 4/17/09 Santa Barbara, CA
Sat 4/18/09 Los Angeles, CA
Palladium 10am Saturday Jan.31st
TIX AVAIL @
Santa Barbara Bowl 11am Saturday Jan. 31st
USA Celebuzz
NKOTB Announce Spring Tour Dates Last year New Kids on the Block fans rejoiced after hearing news they probably never thought would come—that the seminal boy band were reuniting after 14 years for a new album and a world tour. In September, NKOTB released their latest LP The Block and kicked off their New Kids on the Block: Live world tour, featuring Natasha Bedingfield and fashionable chart topper Lady GaGa as opening acts on their American dates. But while the international leg of the tour was originally slated to end on February 5 in Dusseldorf, Germany, the band have announced 13 more North American dates for spring. Celebuzz has learned exclusively from the band that the next round in the tour will hit cities in Ohio, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, California and Canada. Check out the exclusive Celebuzz gallery of 20 plus photos of the New Kids preparing to retake America!
Below is the full listing of the New Kids' spring concerts, along with the dates tickets go on sale.
A full decade before *NSync and the Backstreet Boys struck pop gold, Jonathan Knight, Jordan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg and Danny Wood racked up 80 million record sales worldwide throughout the late '80s and early '90s. They hit the top of the U.S. album chart twice, and conquered the Billboard Hot 100 three times, with "I'll Be Loving You (Forever)," "Hangin' Tough" and "Step By Step." Did you relive some high school memories by catching the Kids on their recent tour? Let us know how the poptastic fivesome were the second time around below!
USA
MADISON MAGAZINE
New Kids: The Outtakes
Often we journalists don’t get to use even half of an interview in a published piece. The New Kids article I wrote for madison was really about the relationship between the fans and the group—and I spoke to a lot of fans with great points to make—but that meant I didn’t get to include all of the quotes I got from my interview with the guys backstage in Philadelphia in November, 2008. However, since I have a soft spot for New Kids fans, I thought I’d share the outtakes from my interview with them here. Enjoy, ladies! madison: Since you reunited, have you slipped back into the old roles that existed in the group, or have the relationships between you changed? Danny Wood: They’re kind of the same, but just on a more mature level, definitely. We’re all grown up; we all have our own families. Everyone has their own responsibilities, so that kind of changes things. But you know, everyone is still kind of the same in a lot of ways. madison: A lot of fans have told me that they’ve enjoyed coming back to see you live because they’re reconnecting with old friends and it reminds them of being young. Are you feeling that, too—like, “Oh, I feel 20 again!” Jordan Knight: I do. Yeah. It just brings back a lot of memories, being up there on stage every night. It is a nostalgic thing for me. It’s also a brand new thing—new things we’re experiencing in life and within the group, and musically and everything else. But that nostalgic feeling is very much still there. All the girl, the energy, you know? madison: Does it compare to the old days? Jon Knight: I would say it’s right on par with back in the day. I think the only difference with the crowd’s energy now is, you know, back when we were in our 20s and our fans were in their 20s and younger, they were a little more hysterical about getting at you. Now that they’re grown up it’s not like they’re tying to claw your eyes out. They just want to get to say hi. Jordan: I think it’s a sexually more mature energy. madison: [laughing] Jordan: Seriously. Joe McIntyre: They’re smarter about going after their prey. Jordan: And we are, too. madison: They go straight for you? Joe: Well, no they don’t go straight for you— Danny: They say, “Hey, can I buy you a drink?” Which would never happen before. Joe: They walk up to you and give you a compliment and before you know it, they’re [makes a cat rrrroaar sound, then shakes his head] No, no… Jordan: The group is also more mature. Danny [teasing Jordan]: And more sexual? Jordan: Yes. Danny: Yeah—sexual. Donnie: A fan walked up to me at a meet and greet and said, “Hi, my name’s Heather.” I thought that was pretty cool. “Heather, how you doing?” Jordan: Yeah, instead of just screaming in your face. madison: So it’s more enjoyable for you because you get to have an exchange with the fans? Joe: Yeah, it’s very cool. It’s different things. Like, when we were just announcing our reunion, I was on a train from Boston to New York and the whole time there was a really nice looking girl in her late 20s, a business woman, sitting nearby. We didn’t say a word the whole trip. And when we got into New York, she was like, “I’m really excited about you guys. Congratulations.” And I said, “Thanks”. Then as she
walked away, she was like, “I’ll be waving to ya”—meaning she was going to the [Today Show] concert. So, that’s, like, hot to me! [everyone laughs] That’s, like, so cool—so cool! And that’s the difference. The other time you wouldn’t be able to sit that close. If you did, you’d be sweating bullets because you’d be so self‐conscious about it. Donnie: She’d have called 50 of her friends and they’d be waiting at the next stop. The train would have been turned upside down. madison: What is it about New Kids that is so special? What are people connecting with? Donnie: Uh… it’s hard to say. Joe: I think it’s Jon’s dark hair. Jon: [laughs at Joe] I don’t know. Some questions it’s hard to ask us—about what’s going on over on the other side. Because we’re not on the other side. madison: Well, what do you see from your side? Danny: What I see is the way we were brought up, our upbringings, our families, the way we went to school—four of us were bussed to all‐black schools. I think the character of growing up in Boston has a lot to do with what separates us from some of the other groups. For me, that’s what I see every night on stage when I watch the fans do what they’re doing. The personalities. I love watching them do their thing every night. Joe: Along those lines… we didn’t come from a nationwide search. And when you see those groups, they sort of exude that manufactured feel. And that’s not how we were put together. So maybe it’s because it feels real. Who we were was never manufactured. I mean, a lot of people said that because it got a little corporate and the merchandise got out of hand. It just got nuts. But from day one, it was just the five of us coming together and trying to entertain people. Donnie: It was after us that the blueprint was made. It was like, “Oh yeah, we need the young cute guy and the bad boy and the shy guy and the tall, dark and handsome guy.” All that stuff came later. We just were who we were. It doesn’t matter how you’re in the band—you’re in the band. You just be yourself. There’s no script with us. You’re gonna get what you’re gonna get. madison: What makes someone a Joe fan or a Danny fan or… Jon: Jesus! [everyone laughs] Danny: I can talk about Joe, because one of my daughters is a big Joe fan. Joe is her first crush. Joe: I like the reason. Jon: Who is this? Danny: Chance. Jonas Brothers were her first crush and Joe completely eliminated them in one night. Joe: Still taking on my role in bringing in the young fans! Danny: She’s 10 years old and she recorded herself on her Mac saying, “Joe’s hot.” [Jon laughs loudly] I love his eyes. We have the same color eyes, the same color hair. You know what? If there’s anyone she’s gonna have a crush on, I’m glad it’s Joe. madison: So that explains Joe. What makes people love Danny?
Joe: The reason why I’m a fan of Danny is because he works hard and he knows how to break dance. He can break dance real good! The thing about this group—I guess it’s that age‐old thing—there’s something for everybody. And it doesn’t mean that just because you’re a Danny fan you can’t like Joe or Jordan or Jon... madison: I’ve heard there’s been some switching. Joe: Yeah. Donnie has taken a couple of Joe fans. And I couldn’t lose them to a better guy. He’s available. Donnie: It’s easy to gain fans when you’re available. madison: Yes, I’ve heard fans talking about how flirtatious you’ve been. Joe: They still have a little piece of me. But they’re sleeping with Donnie. They’re writing me love notes but getting with him on the side. [laughing] Donnie: Let me make one thing clear— Joe: I was kidding! Quote‐unquote. Donnie: The first time around, it didn’t last forever with New Kids. And I can assure you this time around it definitely won’t last forever. I’m really, really appreciative of the fans. My goal is to give them everything I can, and to enjoy this to the fullest. And if that means kissing a few extra girls every night at meet and greets, then so be it. I’ll do it. If they ask, I’m saying yes. That’s it. There’s nothing more to it. I think we all are really cherishing this. And in different ways, we’re all finding ways to give back as much as we can to the fans. And that’s just my way. I’m a big love machine. madison: Danny, I’ve heard from a lot of fans who are touched by the breast cancer‐ campaign—the T‐ shirts you’re selling. Even if
they haven’t experienced breast cancer, they may have experienced loss and illness. Are you hearing a lot of those stories? Danny: I hear it every night, in the meet and greets. Every night someone has a story to tell me, somebody comes in and they’re a survivor themselves, or their mom just passed away, or their aunt. It’s every day. I’m very, very proud of what we’ve done to help support the fight against breast cancer. And it’s great for my kids. It keeps my mother’s memory alive. madison: How does this tour compare to what you’ve been doing? Are you missing what you were doing two or three years ago? Will you go back to what you were doing before? Jordan: We were just home for a day and a half. And I didn’t want to leave home. It’s really great. You get to a point where… I’ve heard Donnie say this before. You get to a point where when you’re on the road you miss home and when you’re home you miss the road. That’s how it is right now, for me. But it doesn’t really get any better than that. A lot of times I do miss just hanging out on the couch with my sons—my wife—just watching TV. But there are sacrifices that we have to make to do this thing and it’s really worth it. madison: Do you think there’ll be another tour after this one? Joe: Australia, baby. Donnie: Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oi oi oi. madison: I was at your Sydney show in 1992. Joe: Yeah, baby. Jordan: Australia was amazing. Joe: We should have went two years earlier than we did. It was like a big vacation. Jon: Oh, it was so beautiful. Danny: Amazing. Jordan: Spread the word—spread the word for us. We’re dying to go. By the way, the guys and their U.S. publicists told me they really do want to come to Australia and were (at the time) talking about April as a possibility. Nothing has been confirmed, but you can sign a petition to show your support for an Aussie tour here.
USA
NKOTB.COM
Operation squirrel Greetings from one of the best cities in the world! Just enjoyed a day off in London. Can we just stay here? I’m getting so tired of packing and unpacking everyday. It’s all your fault, but I thank you for this one misery I have to suffer (lol). Watson got sent home on the first plane to America this morning. I found his behavior to be a bit erratic lately. I hear he was the cause of our continued economic downfall Monday morning. The majority of you were not up to full working capabilities due to staying up half the night waiting for some video to be posted on the web. I wasn’t at that show and haven’t seen the video. I did hear something about his a** being all over youtube though. Hopefully some upcoming time off will do him good. He told me he is feeling extremely tired and home sick. The cold and rainy weather, constant air travel, and being in a different time zone is sure taking its toll on the poor guy! We all now he is no spring chicken these days and damp weather is hard on the arthritis! Good thing he loves what he does, so he will be just fine! In the mean time, I am here by myself and will fill in for him during his absence. He said he can’t wait to join me again sometime soon. I’m not sure when he will be back because he shows up at really random times. He said something about a cruise in may, not sure if he was talking about the cruise that i will be on with some of you……i guess we will have to wait and see! Jonathan Ps. You can now blog about my multiple personalities ph pss. Operation squirrel, not gonna happen! Psss. Travelin Jon needs a plastic surgeon. What’s up with that nose? Pssss. Jessica Jones needs a vacation, what a girl! If i was the president you’d be my press secretary psssss. Starbucks in Europe needs half and half its just not right with plain milk pssssss. Hi mom psssssss. Wow its 5:48 and i have to be on a bus in a few hours pssssssss. Good night!
USA
NKOTB.COM
Live autographs from NKOTB Get yours today here! USA Live Autographs WHAT YOU GET FROM LIVE AUTOGRAPHS AND NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK ‐ A unique video message from all the New Kids, where you tell your favorite New Kid what to say just to you ‐ A totally cool piece of New Kid memorabilia, picked by you and signed by all the New Kids on the Block
STEP ONE: WHO DO YOU WANT ME TO TALK TO AND WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO SAY? I can send a message to you or someone you know ‐ a birthday greeting, a good luck wish, even a super shout‐out! Or I can answer a question. Type your request here and I'll respond in your personalized video!*
STEP TWO: TELL ME WHAT TO SIGN NKOTB ‐ Boston Poster The future’s so bright the New Kids have to wear shades. NKOTB bring it home to where it all started on this 24 X 36 poster with the Boston skyline in the background. All 5 members of NKOTB will sign the product but only one member will deliver the personalized video message. $250.00
The Block Event Poster The only way to get this 14 X 22 inch poster is either at a NKOTB concert or right here at LiveAutographs.com. These are a very limited supply so order yours now! All 5 members of NKOTB will sign the product but only one member will deliver the personalized video message. $250.00
NKOTB ‐ Vintage Photo Button You can’t be a New Kids fan without one of their legendary oversized buttons. This vintage picture metal button is 6" and comes with a display stand. All 5 members of NKOTB will sign the product but only one member will deliver the personalized video message. $260.00
NKOTB ‐ The Block CD After 14 years NKOTB are back and ready to rock you around The Block. This collection includes collaborations with Akon, Lady Gaga and The Pussy Cat Dolls. All 5 members of NKOTB will sign the product but only one member will deliver the personalized video message. $275.00
NKOTB ‐ Pink Cadet Hat Attention!! Think pink with this ultra cool military style cadet hat with embroidered New Kids logo. One size fits all via a velcro strap in back. All 5 members of NKOTB will sign the product but only one member will deliver the personalized video message. . $275.00
STEP THREE CHECK OUT
TELL YOUR FAVORITE STAR WHAT TO SAY AND WHAT TO SIGN
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NKOTB.COM
BALL HITS HEAD FALLOUT OF FRAME
WALK INTO CAM
USA
104.5 WSNX FM
Joe Interview USA Movin
103 FM
Donnie Wahlberg ‐ NKOTB Heather and I had the pleasure of hearing from Donnie Wahlberg this morning. USA Morning Rush FM97 Liz and Bryan chat with Jordan Knight of New Kids on the Block 1/30/09
NKOTB is currently over seas and Donnie called from his hotel room in Wales. If you missed it keep a close eye on the blog and hopefully soon the interview will be posted. It was great conversation and heard so much about his time with New Kids on the Block. He said he is very fond of the Syracuse area and looks forward to the show in March! MOViN welcomes NKOTB to Syracuse March 26th! See you there
MOViN Welcomes New Kids On The Block to Syracuse on March 26th! Listen for your chance to win even MORE tickets soon!
USA
DAILY COLLEGIAN
Older 'kids' reunite, hit up BJC for tour Come March, many mothers and daughters will be hangin' tough with some New Kids on the Block. The newly reunited boy band is set to take the stage March 24 at Bryce Jordan Center. Tickets for the show go on sale at 10 a.m. today. Bernie Punt, director of sales and marketing for the BJC, said he expects to see many mothers and daughters at the show. "There's going to be these 'girls night outs,' " Punt said. While she has no plans to attend with her mom, Maria Fano (senior‐biology) ‐‐ a fan who "rocked out" to New Kids' songs as a child ‐‐ said she hopes to attend the concert. "I would love to see their concert," Fano said. "I want to see how they perform since I never got the chance to back in the day." New Kids on the Block began its career in 1986 with the release of the self‐titled debut. The group's fame didn't skyrocket however until 1988 with the release of Hangin' Tough and the hit single "You Got It (The Right Stuff)." The group disbanded in 1994 after its fourth album Face the Music failed critically and commercially. In April 2008, member Donnie Wahlberg announced the band would reunite and begin working on new material. In August, the band released its fifth studio album, The Block, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums USA MYSPACE JORDAN
Sooooo, I just tried to upload a song....MY song...... that I wrote and Myspace blocks it from happening because of copyright infringement! HAHA! Reminds me of back in the day when I was on court TV....funny........
Chart, according to billboard.com. The group's reunion tour began in September and plans 41 dates in the U.S. alone. Punt said this tour has been the "sleeper concert" of the past year. "No one ‐‐ and I'm going to say this publicly ‐‐ no one, not even the promoters, were expecting it to take off the way it did," he said. "It's almost cult‐like now. All these women want to come out and kind of relive their youth." Elyssa Oslick (sophomore‐elementary education) said the updated New Kids material is well suited for pop music today. "It's different from their old stuff," Oslick said. "It's more new and within this era." Punt compares the boy band's popularity to the Jonas Brothers' ‐‐ which was on full display at the BJC in September. "This was their Jonas Brothers 15 or 16 years ago," he said. "Let's say 15 years from now the Jonas Brothers disbanded and went on with their own lives and had a reunion tour. That's the best analogy I can give," he said. IF YOU GO What: New Kids on the Block concert When: 7:30 p.m. March 24 Where: Bryce Jordan Center Details: Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. today
USA
Contact Music
New Kids help raise charity funds with Wahlberg portrait Reunited boyband NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK have sparked a bidding war online after putting a self portrait up for auction ‐ all in the name of charity. Singer Donnie Wahlberg drew caricatures of the five‐piece backstage at their O2 Arena concert in London last Saturday (24Jan09) and got all members of the band to sign it. Wahlberg then donated the artwork, and the marker pen he used to create it, to the No Surrender Charitable Trust, a British organisation that provides support to young adult cancer sufferers And the 1990s teen idols have proved they're still hot property with fans ‐ bidding on the A3‐sized picture had reached $1,505 (£1,060) by Friday (30Jan09).
The black pen used by Wahlberg, which the auctioneers state "has been kissed and rubbed all over the body of Donny Wallberg (sic)", is also attracting big bucks ‐ bidding stands at $362 (£255) with five days to go. The winning buyers will also receive a video blog of Wahlberg creating the artwork on CD to prove its authenticity. The 11‐day auctions will close next Wednesday (04Feb09).
UK Newkwerala
'New Kids On The Block' portrait sparks bidding frenzy at charity auction London, January 31: A self‐portrait of popular boy band New Kids On The Block has sparked a bidding frenzy at a charity auction. The caricature of the pop group at their recent O2 Arena concert in London was drawn by singer Donnie Wahlberg, who had managed to get the band to pen their signatures on it. Wahlberg had apparently donated the A3‐sized picture to the No Surrender Charitable Trust, which supports young adult cancer patients, along with the marker pen
that was used to create the drawing, reports the Daily Express. While the bidding for the portrait recently reached 1,060 pounds, the black pen, which "has been kissed and rubbed all over the body of Donny Wallberg", too has invited offers up to 255 pounds. Successful bidders would also receive a video blog of Wahlberg at work on CD to prove its legitimacy as the auction comes to an end on February 4.