Back in the day, the Backstreet Boys had girls shaking in their boots. They were the biggest boy band, ushering in the hot boy era with their good looks and incredible voices.
But, as with all great stories, evil found a way to swoop in. Money is often called the root of all evil and, in the case of the Backstreet Boys and other boy bands, this proved painfully true.
Lou Pearlman, an entreprenuer and the mastermind behind these bands, once infamously stated, “until God stops making little girls”.
It's a little creepy looking back now, considering his ultimate intentions. Pearlman wanted to create boy bands forever, fuelled by dreams and big pockets.
The docuseries “Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam” delves into the rise and fall of these iconic bands, starting with New Kids on the Block in the 1990s.
Pearlman had a vision and the resources to make it happen but this story reveals the darker side of the music industry.
The Backstreet Boys, formed in 1993, became a global sensation with their leather jackets and white T-shirts.
Members like AJ McLean and Howie Dorough recount their early days, back to when auditions took place at Pearlman’s lavish house, a place where he flaunted his wealth.
Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson and Brian Littrell all remember those times vividly.
From the start, there was something off about Pearlman. He had a creepy, P Diddy-like look in his eyes. But he was a savvy mastermind, spotting talent and nurturing it. Dubbed “Big Poppa Lou”, he took these boys under his wing, creating strong bonds.
Launching their careers was no smooth ride. Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg were ruling the charts, and it took time for the Backstreet Boys to find their footing.
Pearlman, ever the dreamer, had music in his blood. He started Trans Continental Records turning friends into business partners and even getting families to invest money, which they were never going to receive back.
Their first hit, “We’ve Got It Goin’ On”, marked the beginning of their journey. Germany was the first to embrace them, bringing tears of joy and a sense of accomplishment.
Pearlman made the boys feel like they were destined for greatness. His support and generosity seemed endless. Meanwhile, Justin Timberlake and Chris Kirkpatrick formed NSYNC, adding to Pearlman’s empire.
Both bands, initially grateful for Pearlman’s guidance, eventually felt the sting of competition.
The turning point came when Littrell had enough. The band members realised they were not getting their fair share of the profits while Pearlman was making millions. Littrel confronted him, which marked the beginning of the end.
As highlighted in the docuseries, “When you make a deal with the devil, he is not gonna show up as the devil”.
It was then discovered that “TransContinental Airlines” didn’t exist. There were no revenue, employees or airplanes. The investigation revealed a Ponzi scheme, including a fake accounting firm and sham financial statements sent to investors.
According to “People” magazine, in 2007, Pearlman admitted to Michael Johnson that he forged documents. Johnson realised Pearlman was frequently travelling to evade the FBI.
A tourist in Bali eventually tipped off authorities, leading to Pearlman’s arrest, reported ABC News.
Pearlman was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, according to Forbes. He died in 2016 at age 62 while serving his sentence.
∎ “Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam” is streaming on Netflix.