5 Heroes Behind The Backstreet Boys

Sure, we buy concert tickets, event tickets, merchandise, and VIP for the Backstreet Boys, but in 22 years of their existence, some of us have also become just as big of a fan as the people that work behind the scenes to make it all come together. There’s so many people that work day in and day out and make nearly as many sacrifices as the Boys themselves for the sake of a good show, a great event, a smooth cruise, etc. This post is dedicated to them.

1. Wonderful Union (Formerly Ground(ctrl)) Branding themselves recently as a “fan engagement company”, Ground(ctrll) became Wonderful Union and are responsible for so much of what keeps the Backstreet Boys a moving machine. Without them, we would have no VIP, no website, no emails, no marketing, no Eddie Meehan (Where would we be without him?!), no up-to-date merchandising, no point of contact when we’re FREAKING OUT on the day of concert ticket sales. What would we do?! While there have been days we have cussed them, acted out irrationally, and basically blamed them for us losing our minds, we are lucky to have such a helpful, awesome group of people behind the scenes. Thank you for putting up with us, Wonderful Union. We can’t thank you enough.

Follow them on Twitter and Facebook for the latest updates!

2. Justin Segura While Justin may be technically a part of Wonderful Union, we feel he deserves special recognition as he has quickly become a fan favorite on tour, cruise, events, and anywhere else he happens to show up. Our #1 reason for being grateful for him? His badass photography skills deliver the HD photos of the Boys that most of us drool over. Not only does he take photos of the Boys, he takes the VIP photos as well….you know, the photos that change our lives. The photos that we constantly refresh the BSB website for the minute we get home from the concert. We’re hardly ever disappointed with the wait for the pictures and the way they turn out is beyond anything we hoped for. Another plus? Justin himself is a pretty awesome guy to talk to and so good about letting us take pictures with HIM! We hope he sticks around for the long haul. Follow him here on Twitter

3. Jen Sousa She may not have been on the last leg of the IAWLT tour because of the birth of her new baby girl, but Jen Sousa can be credited with getting things done! It can’t be easy to keep everything on schedule, meet fan demands, work demands, and wrangle 5 cats…er, we mean the Backstreet Boys. She seems to be the answer to what can and can’t be done for everything! We’re grateful for everything she makes the Boys do and it couldn’t be done without her! Especially keeping the cruise on track…

4. The Bodyguards We know, we know, you’re supposed to be scared of security / bodyguards / guys that could throw us with one hand, but the Backstreet Security Team is pretty cool (if you’re cool – if you’re not cool, run.) Mike, Drew, Josh, Keith and Aaron have the huge job of protecting our five favorite men from the crazies that have an attack mission. We are forever thankful for them and the sacrifices they make to be on tour/events and the time they spend dealing with us. Throughout the years, they have become key pieces to the Backstreet family as well as fan favorites. They even know some of us! (We’re still trying to figure out if that’s a good thing or not) Bottom line – they’re the best group of guys/protectors you could ask for.

And no, we didn’t forget Q. Perhaps the most iconic member of the Backstreet Boys Security team, everyone was deeply saddened to hear of his untimely death in December 2013. He had been there from the beginning and there is no one that exists in the BSB world that doesn’t know of his legacy. He is still so very loved and missed. Viva La Q.

5. The Wives

We may have always dreamed of being married to a Backstreet Boy, but for Kristin, Leighanne, Rochelle, Leigh, and Lauren, being married to a BSB is their reality and, at the end of the day, we owe a lot to them as well. These ladies continuously sacrifice their time with their husbands and fathers of their children for them to be able to travel the world for us. Yes, it’s their job, but that doesn’t make it any easier. A huge thanks to these ladies for living part of your lives on a tour bus, for being kind to us and stopping to take selfies, for allowing us into your lives when you don’t have to. We know that there is so much stuff you’ve had to deal with that isn’t okay and yet, you all continue to be open and welcoming. You are the women that these 5 men chose and you make them happy and in the end, that’s all we want. Thank you for making Kevin, Brian, AJ, Howie, and Nick happy.

To the stage crew, the bus drivers, wardrobe, stylists, and everyone not mentioned that are a part of getting the Backstreet Boys to our cities, to our radios, to our lives… Thank you, thank you, thank you for being the “unseen” heroes as well. Your hard work doesn’t go unnoticed. ❤