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Backstreet Boys’ Confessions: The Truth Behind the Boy Band Rivalry and More

Kevin Richardson, Nick Carter and A. J. McLean
Kevin Richardson, Nick Carter and A. J. McLean of the Backstreet Boys introduce Chex Mix the “Snackstreet Boys”

Nick Carter, A.J. McLean and Kevin Richardson of the Backstreet Boys sat down with Us Weekly to discuss their latest partnership with Chex Mix (while snacking on a bowl, naturally!) and answered our burning questions. Here’s what we learned about the boy band:

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Their tour rider included freshly ground wheatgrass shots and chicken wings.

Carter admits that he requested the nutritional boost during the band’s 2005 Never Gone tour. “It was really difficult to bring in because they had to bring it in in big slabs, and then I had to have a grinder and put it in there,” he told Us. “It was really messy and hard to clean up.” (The 36-year-old also admits that this was divalike behavior.)

Bandmate Howie Dorough liked chicken wings before a show, although he wasn’t as lucky when it came time to deliver. “Maybe one time did Howie ever get his chicken wings,” McLean mused.

Other must-haves included PB&J, cereal, Chex Mix, Gatorade and water. McLean, 38, noted, “We’re not like the ‘separate the M&Ms’ kind of band.”

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They remember their original choreography.

They still got it! The band continues to use most of the choreography from their biggest hits to this day. “On our last tour, the 20th anniversary tour, we pretty much did the original choreography for every routine almost,” Richardson, 44, recalls.

“Thank God for YouTube!” McLean added. Amen.

Backstreet Boys
Backstreet Boys in 1995.

They still love “Shape Of My Heart” as much as you do …

“‘Shape Of My Heart’ is on repeat a lot in my house. My daughter [Ava, 3] loves that song and she thinks the video is really ‘cute,’” McLean revealed.

… In addition to the songs only true BSB fans will remember.

Richardson likes “Darlin’” from their self-titled debut, “No One Else Comes Close” from Millennium and “Siberia” from Never Gone, while Carter loves the title track from This Is Us and McLean listens to “Undone” from the same album.

When it comes to the repeat button, Carter explains, “I think it’s more the songs that we don’t have to sing all the time.”

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The BSB/‘NSync rivalry was not real …

It turns out the question that plagued a generation never actually required an answer! The guys insist the rivalry between them and ’NSync wasn’t real. “If anything, it might’ve been a healthy rivalry, but there was never any competition. There was never any, you know, ‘You guys suck!’” McLean recalls.

(The Snackstreet rivalry, however, was real.)

In fact, the guys are fans of their former non-rival’s new work!

The Backstreet Boys can’t stop feeling Justin Timberlake’s latest hit, “Can’t Stop the Feeling.” “Justin’s record is great. You know, it’s a nice throwback,” McLean says.

“Me and my sons jam to it on the way to soccer practice,” Richardson chimes in. “We dance in the car!”

They’re also fans of Britney Spears’ latest hit, “Make Me…”

“Britney’s song is actually really good! I heard it yesterday as I was getting my hair done and I’m like, ‘It didn’t even sound like Britney!’” Nick gushed. “I’m like, ‘Good job!’ I appreciate that they’re able to reinvent themselves.”

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