February 3, 1998

Contributed by our correspondent in Germany, Anne Kirchberg.

Many fans of the Orlando-based band, The Backstreet Boys, have been holding their breath for the last few days, because there have been so many rumors flying around about the band that no one really knows what's happening.

The first story that passed through the media was that the youngest member of the group, Nick Carter, who just turned 18 years old, was leaving the band for a solo-career. That rumor was dispelled by the band's management one day later, but the same day a news agency from LA said that another band member, Brian "B-Rok" Littrell, would have to undergo a heart-operation and to leave the band because of his heart problems. The world of many teenagers came crashing down, and all the BSB-Fan clubs and record companies all over the world said that this news item let loose the biggest chaos they had ever encountered. Unfortunately, most of them got no official information, so the fans were afraid that the band would split up and that their sweetheart Brian would probably die. Some of them even said that if Brian was going to die, then they didn't see any more sense in living!

But things aren't as bad as they were represented in most of the media: yes, Brian Littrell will have to undergo an operation, but it's an elective surgery. He does not have to go to hospital right now - he can wait for a couple of months and go with his band on the European tour in march. When the operation is performed, Brian will only take about 6 weeks off - in which he will start to work with the band on their new album. The heart problems may have something to do with the heart illness that Brian had when he was 5 years old.

Litrell's attorney said that there is no sign that Brian would not survive the operation or that he wouldn't be able to go on with the physically demanding music/band life. There seem to be a few arguments between the boys and their management, but all of them are trying to iron what little there is out in the coming days. All verifiable sources have affirmed the BSB will go on with their work - the real question is how they'll go on with their temporary management. All the announced dates for concerts, shows and other appearances will be kept - not including the totally cancelled tour in Germany - which made the German teens very mad, and many of them won't wait for another tour of the BSB!

Anne Kirchberg I am a pedagogic student at the university of Heidelberg, Germany. I am 22 and I've played Softball since I was 13. I really like all kind of sports (rollerblading, tennis, swimming, surfing, running, skiing,...). I love pets also and I have a cat called Maxi. I like the sun, beaches, travelling, friends, music, the internet, cinema, Jim Carrey, Boys II Men, Pizza, Gary Sinise and Tom Hanks. I donīt like racism, war, bad music, spinach, boys who say that they will call you and you donīt ever hear from them,... Other Articles I've Written