Long before fangirls were fawning over Harry Styles and the rest of the members of One Direction, they were screaming over Justin Timberlake and ‘NSYNC. The boy band celebrates its 15-year anniversary of studio album Celebrity this year, but what don’t you already know about this band? You’d be surprised.
Everyone thank Chris
The reason ‘NSYNC exists is partially because of the Backstreet Boys. Kirkpatrick met BSB producer Lou Pearlman through Backstreet Boy and friend Howie Dorough. Though Kirkpatrick didn’t make the cut when he auditioned for the Backstreet Boys, he eventually created ‘NSYNC with Pearlman.
It wasn’t always Lance Bass
Lance Bass is one of the most famous names in ‘NSYNC, but he wasn’t always going to be the fifth member. Jason Galasso was originally slated to be in the band, but he quit and was replaced by Bass. The rest is history.
‘No Strings Attached’ was inspired by a crook
Manager Lou Pearlman brought ‘NSYNC — and many of your favorite ’00s acts — together, but while he may have given us ‘NSYNC, he also took serious advantage of the members and cheated them out of major money. Pearlman’s Ponzi scheme eventually landed him in prison with a 25-year sentence. Kirkpatrick stated that the band’s album No Strings Attached was inspired by cutting ties with Pearlman.
Serious album sales
The band’s second studio album, No Strings Attached, sold a whopping 1.1 million copies on its first day on shelves, back when music was literally sold on shelves. It then went on to break records when it sold 2.4 million copies in the first week.
Rising ‘Celebrity’ status
Though it didn’t sell as many albums as No Strings Attached, ‘NSYNC’s final studio album Celebrity went five times platinum, ending the band’s venture together on a high note.
Justin Timberlake wrote ‘Gone’ for MJ
‘NSYNC’s song “Gone” was originally supposed to be for the King of Pop. Justin Timberlake wrote the track for Michael Jackson, but when things fell through, he offered the track up for ‘NSYNC’s Celebrity.
Living in Orlando
Before they were boy-banders, both Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick worked at Universal Studios Orlando as performers. Kirkpatrick recruited Fatone to join ‘NSYNC.
The band wasn’t at JT’s wedding
Timberlake declined to invite the other members of ‘NSYNC to his wedding to Jessica Biel, but don’t worry — there’s no bad blood. According to Bass’ interview on Kocktails With Khloé, the reason Timberlake didn’t have his former bandmates at his wedding was totally reasonable. Bass told Khloé Kardashian:
“When we get together, the five of us, it is, it’s a spectacle. I mean, we rarely are all five together. You know, four of us will be together, three of us, but all five, people go nuts and it’s all about ‘NSYNC and it’s just taking picture after picture and, you know, he wanted that wedding to be about Jessica, you know, and he didn’t want it to be an ‘NSYNC reunion.”
Aww, JT!
How they got that name
Ever wonder where the spelling of ‘NSYNC came from? Back when Jason Galasso was still in the band, the boys decided to create a band name using the last letter of their first names: Justin, Chris, Joey, Jason and JC. Kind of brilliant, no?
OK, but now you’re probably asking, where does Lance fit in? Well, when he joined, he was nicknamed “Lanceton.”
Their first tour was with Janet Jackson
Before the crazy “Nipplegate” incident at Super Bowl XXXVIII (in which Timberlake accidentally exposed Janet Jackson’s chest during their halftime performance) ‘NSYNC went on tour with the star. The band opened for Jackson on her 1998 Velvet Ropes tour.
Their first album cover
Their debut album ‘NSYNC was released in Germany a year before it was released in the U.S. (in 1998). And this is what it looked like.
They were in a movie with Britney Spears
‘NSYNC made an appearance in Longshot (remember this early ’00s gem?) alongside Britney Spears, O-Town, LFO and other bands under Lou Pearlman’s control.
They were also on ‘Touched by an Angel’
That’s right. You can spot the band singing on an episode of Touched by an Angel.
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