The Early Years of BSB!
By: Ashley


Ever wonder what the guys were like back in 1993? Well, I was one of the fortunate ones to experience a BSB show back in the day...

It was October 18, 1993, and my Principal, Mr. Cox, had just announced that we were having a surprise special assembly on the football field. To be honest, I didn't know Brian well enough at the time to even miss him from school. I knew nothing about this "group" he was in. Even though, it all sounded really cool!! My friend, Heather and I followed our classmates to the football field. There was a big tour bus sitting on the track. We got about third row center seats and waited.

Mr. Cox went up on the tiny little black and white checkered stage to explain what was going on. Then, he announed "The Backstreet Boys"! I thought that it was kind of a stupid name at the time, but nevertheless, we screamed as if the were the New Kids On The Block. As soon as I saw Kevin, I knew who I was screaming for. He was soo hot!

Honestly, I have no recollection of the songs that they sang except "Tell Me That I'm Dreaming" and "I'd Do Anything", both of which I have copies of. One of my best friends, Nakada, was one of the lucky girls who were pulled onto the stage to be sung to. That's about all I remember about the show.

After it was over, I was the first one to jump over the wall and run to Kevin. I asked him if he would sign my picture (they handed them out) and he said yes, and asked if I had a pen he could use. I pulled out a purple pen and he started signing. He asked me if I happened to have a piece of gum because his troat was dry. I did, and I gave him a piece. By this time, there were a bunch of other girls standing around asking for autographs. Kevin used my pen, and I used that as an excuse to stand there with him. All the girls were giving me dirty looks but I didn't care. I asked him if he would someday be performing in Rupp Arena (the HUGE arena in Lexington) and he said he hoped so.

I had to leave, and I only got to say hello to Brian and the other guys since I stood with Kevin for so long, but that's ok. Later that day, my friend Jessica and I went out to my car to listen to the tape of "Tell Me That I'm Dreaming" that I had bought. I really hoped that they would make it. ****************************************************************************************
Later that school year, in late spring 94, Brian returned to Lexington to graduate with our class. Lucky for me, his last name comes right after mine, so he stood right next to me at rehearsal. We sat in the cafeteria waiting for our turn to practice walking, and I showed him the yearbook pictures of the BSB from that day in October. We talked for a while about it, although I don't remember what we talked about now.

Come graduation night, I told my mother, who was filming it, to "get the guy behind me because he might be famous one day." So, she did, and on the tape of my graduation, she actually says, "Ashley wanted me to get this guy because he might be famous one day!" It's so funny! After the ceremony, I spotted Brian standing outside with his family and his girlfriend. I walked up to him and told him "good luck". He hugged me and wished me good luck too. That was it...until last year.

Read about my second BSB encounter here.