10.16.2008
BACKSTREET'S BACK! OR AT LEAST HOWIE IS
BACKSTREET BOY HOWIE DOROUGH ON WORKING WITH SARAH GERONIMO, AND LIFE WITH (AND OUTSIDE) BSB.
Backstreet Boy Howie Dorough (or Howie D. to hardcore BSB fans) was in the Philippines recently to promote "I'll Be There for You," his duet with Sarah Geronimo, which can be found on the pop princess' latest album, Just Me. A lot of changes have happened since the last time Howie visited the country. For one thing, the Backstreet Boys is now a foursome, with Kevin Richardson having left the band some time ago. Another difference is that instead of his bandmates, Howie was accompanied by his lovely wife Leigh, who sat back as reporters came up to interview her husband and have their pictures taken with him. Ever the supportive wife, she gamely took some pictures for some of the reporters as well.
Here, the couple talks about what the married life is like, while Howie dishes the dirt on what Backstreet life is like after Kevin and what he's doing when he's not out with the Boys.
This is your third time in the Philippines, right?
Howie: It's my first time here without the guys and I have my partner in life with me. I brought my wife with me. It's her first time ever in the Philippines so we're very excited. I love the culture and the people here. I don't know if you heard but my godmother is from the Philippines. I've always grown up being associated to the culture and all that. My mom's culture, being Puerto Rican, you know, the tropical, warmness of the island, the food, very similar. It's a beautiful place and I look forward to coming here many more times in the future.
Leigh: Oh I love it so far. Can't wait to see more of it. We just got in at 5 am this morning. We (landed early) and had some pretty bad turbulence. I think it must have been the storm. Good thing we arrived safely. Everything is gorgeous. I've been wanting to go out by the pool but it's a little rainy so I've been going to the spa instead. I hope to check out the beaches... do some shopping... but (Howie's) going to be pretty busy, which is good. He's going to be promoting the album with Sarah.
What made you agree to do a duet with Sarah Geronimo?
Howie: Well, first of all, her voice. Just hearing her and how talented she is. And second, just seeing her schedule... so busy... she's a very very hard worker. She's been on tour all around the world. Her success record behind her was very very appealing to see.
Tell us about your duet with Sarah.
Howie: It's a new song called "I'll Be There for You," it's on her new album, Just Me... It's about how two people from a distance are able to love and support each other.
What's it like being married?
Howie: It's great. Leigh and I met each other 7 years ago. She's been my partner, seen it all with me -- what's it like to be on the road. We've worked together for a whole year so she's seen what it's like first hand and to know who I was and the person I am, my career and everything. She's very very supportive, very understanding, very helpful.
Leigh: I used to help develop films for Warner Brothers. I worked on Ocean's 13 and then I did a little movie called Nancy Drew, that was my movie, that was my idea. I did that for a while then I got my real estate license and then I moved back to California and have basically been traveling with my husband.
Do you plan to have children?
Leigh: At least three... I think we're going to think about (having them) come next year. It's going to be a big change in our lives. It's going to be great.
Howie: We're going to practice (making babies) here in the Philippines! We can only make one here, though.
What are the Backstreet Boys up to now?
Howie: We just finished a world tour and we're getting ready to go back to the studio. (After this,) I'm going back to the States and back to the studio to record for all the month of October for a new record (with the guys). I'm very excited. We go on tour next year.
How are things different without Kevin?
Howie: Obviously, Kevin's been part of the group since we started fifteen years ago. It's hard to think of us without him. He came to us and asked if he could take some time off to start a family. Obviously, none of us want to hold each other back so we gave him our blessing. He also gave us his blessing to continue forward and make a new record without him. There were a lot of uphill battles to make it without him but you know, we made a record that we're very very proud of. I don't think that people miss anything, even the stage shows, besides missing Kevin up there, I think a lot of the fans will not really feel like they're missing anything onstage.
What are you up to aside from the Backstreet Boys?
Howie: At the same time I'm working on my group stuff, I'm also trying to work on my solo album which I hope will be out next year. I'm also working on other side projects like managing other artists that I'm working with in the States and in Canada.
One of them is my sister Pollyanna. She's the one who got me started in the business when I was a little bitty kid and once I started to get some success, it was very important for me to help her out. She has a record out right now called Wings of Hope. It's a very very beautiful record. It's a Christian record and her first single is the theme song for our Lupus foundation in memory of my sister who I lost to Lupus ten years ago.
Tell us about your real estate business.
Howie: I was very fortunate to have an older brother who helped me out when I was younger, when I was starting with the group. Once I started making a little bit of money, he wanted to make sure that I didn't just lose my money, like you hear with a lot of entertainers who didn't invest properly. He helped me get into real estate. It's been a totally fun (and) fulfilling project; totally different from the Backstreet Boys. It's great, it's almost like a new creative outlet. I'm very fortunate now, we've built six condos and 3 hotels.
Leigh: I help him out with everything. We're best friends. We work on everything together and we help each other on a daily basis. It's really wonderful to spend time together and to have the luxury to spend our lives together before we have children. It's nice to be together all the time.
TAGS: Sarah Geronimo Backstreet Boys Howie Dorough
