On March 14, 1998, the Backstreet Boys appeared for the first time on Saturday Night Live. Younger listeners probably witnessed their recent performance at the SNL50: The Homecoming Concert, in which the pop outfit bullied Jerry Seinfeld into singing with them. However, 90s kids remember that the Backstreet Boys made their debut on the program way back in 1998, and it was one of the most exciting nights for any fan of boy bands.
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The pop group, made up of Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, AJ McLean, Brian Littrell, and Kevin Richardson, had been together for about five years before their big break finally struck. Like any act that explodes in the mainstream pop world, Backstreet Boys were invited to perform on the March 14, 1998 episode of SNL.
The episode was hosted by actress Julianne Moore, and the episode was loaded with some pretty hilarious sketches. Quite a few viewers were only tuned in to watch Backstreet Boys perform for the first time on the show. They didn’t disappoint, whipping out those killer chair-based 90s dance moves for songs like “As Long As You Love Me” and “Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)”. In my opinion, the most memorable part of the performance was the sax player. That hair was wild.
Who remembers the Backstreet Boys chair dance interlude during “As long as you love me” on SNL in 1998?? Check it below. This took a hot second to find on the interwebs. #aslongasyouloveme #SNL #boybands #the90s #backstreet pic.twitter.com/PajFcBNHNH
— DrippyCC (@DrippyCC_YT) September 27, 2023
A Lot Was Happening for Backstreet Boys in 1998 Outside of Their ‘SNL’ Performance
A lot was going on for this famous boy band in 1998. To start, they launched their ultra-successful Backstreet’s Back Tour that year. Sadly, Littrell was diagnosed with a congenital heart condition that required surgery, which led to the tour getting postponed. However, the band was able to hit the road again in July of that year.
While the tour was successful, not all was well with the band. Littrell, specifically, sued manager Lou Pearlman and Trans Continental for stealing the group’s earnings, upwards of $10 million. The rest of the band sans Carter joined the lawsuit and received a settlement.
Even though the legal battle and health issues were tough, Backstreet Boys were still doing well for themselves. They debuted in Latin America, recorded Millennium, and prepared for the upward trajectory of their career. They would go on to blow up even further with the release of “I Want It That Way” in 1999.
Photo by Larry Busacca/WireImage
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