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Lance Bass stepped into the light and recounted a tale that no one would ever believe unless it were the boy band NSYNC – as per him, the band was formed just to spite Chris Kirkpatrick after he was discarded from Backstreet Boys. Bass made this confession during his conversation with Richard Marx in the podcast in which another NSYNC member JC Chasez was present and the three of them were reminiscing about very old things that had not been shared before. This has caused a lot of discussions among the older admirers of the pop bands who were the undisputed kings of the music scene in the late 1990s.
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Bass in the podcast episode “Stories to Tell with Richard Marx” narrated how immensely Kirkpatricks’s idea of forming NSYNC was impacted by his deal with Howie Dorough of Backstreet Boys. It was on the campus where Dorough’s new band was the talk of the town and Kirkpatrick who was very quietly listening from the back, made a negative comment about their “scepticism” concerning their success. “Kris was like, I think a dog dish and I would make it before you,” Bass quoted from their exchange. The patronizing remark appears to have been a very strong driving force for Kirkpatrick to assert himself in the music industry.
The tale went on with Kirkpatrick getting in touch with the music manager Lou Pearlman who was the one behind the Backstreet Boys’ formation. As per Kirkpatrik’s version, he asked Pearlman whether he would invest in a new group and the latter said yes. This deal was the first of the chain of events that ultimately led to the birth of NSYNC, which was to become one of the major musical acts of that time. Bass was dumbfounded by the shedding of the truth, “Holy shit. It was out of spite for him not even getting a chance to audition for BSB.”
The disclosure has unleashed a flood of reactions, ranging from intense criticism to laudatory remarks, from those who lived through the boy band phenomenon’s zenith. One of the commenters acknowledged the serendipitous turn of events by saying, “Thank God Chris Kirkpatrick wasn’t a Backstreet Boy ’cause we most likely wouldn’t have gotten NSYNC who had my heart from the start and still do.” The same sentiment was expressed by many others in the comments section who realized that the “rift” had given birth to a “golden” outcome and what had started as a competitive rivalry had now turned into a win-win situation.
Moreover, a commentator pointed out the paradoxical success that irony brought about in the case of Kirkpatrick saying, “Chris Kirkpatrick is the living proof that the harder you work the luckier you get.” This statement casts the professional rejection in a light that sometimes it leads to more significant opportunities, and in this particular case, it was the persistence of Kirkpatrick that finally brought about the creation of the group that was destined to reach unparalleled commercial and cultural success.
The podcast not only blew the lid off the group dynamics but also featured the first-time joint interview of Bass and Chasez that provided the fans with the new insights into the history and the relationships of the group. One listener’s surprise was so tremendous that he referred to the discussion as “one of the best interviews I’ve ever watched,” while another noticed that the interplay among the former bandmates “created at the very outset the feeling that I was about to chat with old friends.” The easily sociable attitude of Bass and Chasez was stimulating throughout their entire interaction with Marx.
There were numerous comments highlighting the story’s motivational aspect, “Spite is one of the best motivators,” commented one person while another said, “Being spiteful can yield positive results.” Their remarks indicate an acknowledgment of the intricate psychology behind the artistic process and how personal motivations, even negative ones, can sometimes be the reason behind the most astonishing successes in the entertainment industry.
The revelation was also a cause for the rivalry between NSYNC and Backstreet Boys fans to resurface, albeit this time it happened in a friendly, humorous manner. A remark only stated, “This only exacerbates our division. Our hearts will always belong to NSYNC,” which mirrors the ever-present party atmosphere that still exists among the fans of the two groups long after their commercial peak. Another person was more radical and even went as far as claiming that “Kirkpatrick produced a better band” than the one who eventually got to be his original choice.
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The podcast was not only good for revealing new truths but also for providing a channel through which the emotions of the many listeners who had gone through the experience of the NSYNC music in their developmental years could be expressed. One comment summed up the feeling perfectly, “Thank GOD Chris Kirkpatrick made this happen or else… where would I have been all those times I skipped class to go to concerts, or get my new CD and find my nostalgia peace as a 30 something now.” This recollection comes as Bass continues his work in entertainment, recently hosting a spooky Dead Disney Halloween party with Michael Turchin. He has also been busy with various projects, including declaring his love for Halloween decorations and spooky ambiance and hosting a producer night for the Exorcist rock musical in New York. Fans were excited when he declared the return of his annual Halloween tradition.
