A generation ago teens clamored wildly at New Kids on the Block concerts, but those former teens are the mothers now screaming at the same shows decades later.
“Fortunately, some things don’t change,” band member Donnie Wahlberg told The Washington Times. “During the last tour our limo was being chased down the street by fans in Montreal. It was like the old days.”
One thing that has changed is that NKOTB has garnered some respect, particularly for Mr. Wahlberg, who is a very popular singer, television star, as well as a record and film producer.
“We all grew up,” Mr. Wahlberg said. “I think I’ve matured a bit.”
That wisdom has also come with his acting on the popular CBS series “Blue Bloods” and producing the TNT reality series “Boston’s Finest.” The Beantown native is also married to actress/radio personality Jenny McCarthy.
“I couldn’t be happier,” Mr. Wahlberg, now 47, said. “But it all started with New Kids.”
New Kids on the Block formed in Boston in the 1980s. Along with Mr. Wahlberg — brother of Mark — the group was founded with Danny Wood, Joey McIntyre and brothers Jordan and Jonathan Wood. The charismatic teens pierced the hearts of young ladies courtesy of its perky, synth-driven pop and clean-cut image at a time music was still ruled by hair metal bands.
In the boy band’s salad days, fans would do almost anything to meet the New Kids, including attempting to sneak into their hotel rooms.
“It was out of control,” Mr. Wahlberg said. “Fans took some crazy risks. They would stop at nothing. We had to be under the radar.
“You can’t help but look back and laugh.”
Despite their initial popularity, NKOTB soon faced a backlash in the 1990s as the music culture shifted again away from their saccharine pop and toward the grunge scene emanating from Seattle. However, they eventually found their turn in the nostalgia circuit, and have sold out arenas alongside such acts as later boy bands like Backstreet Boys.
“That wasn’t too cool in 1986,” Mr. Wahlberg said of the era in which he and his Boston bandmates began their musical careers as teens and young men. “We’ve been very fortunate, but we’ve also worked really hard for everything that we’ve achieved.
“Nothing was ever handed to us. We earned everything.”
There were boy bands long before the New Kids, and Mr. Wahlberg freely acknowledges their debt to those who came before, such as New Edition, The Jackson 5 and The Osmonds.
But more incredible was the wave of imitators the New Kids spawned in their wake.
“They all seemed to follow a formula: They had to have the heartthrob, the young cute one, the tough guy,” Mr. Wahlberg said of ensuing boy band lineups.
“Step By Step,” “Hangin’ Tough” and “Never Let You Go” are just some of the old hits which the fans still enjoy — and which the hitmakers are happy to continue playing for them.
“We still love singing those songs,” Mr. Wahlberg said. “I get to do what I love, which is amazing.
“The fans never forgot,” Mr. Wahlberg said. “For some reason, they stayed with us.”
New Kids on the Block appears Sunday at the Verizon Center, sharing the bill with Paula Abdul and Boyz II Men on the “Total Package Tour.” Tickets are $29.95 to $99.95 by going to Ticketmaster.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.