'NSync Talks Body Hair, Touring, & The Next Album

On Tuesday (Feb. 19) morning, 'NSync's J.C. Chasez and Chris Kirkpatrick politely endured a roundtable press interview to promote the group's upcoming spring tour, which starts March 3 in Portland, Ore. It wasn't their fault that, with most of the tour information already released and with no new product to promote, they didn't have much new to say.

Topics ranged from U2 (they like them) to excessive body hair (they've got lots of it, apparently, and plan to get more). Some highlights:

On whether the pageantry of 'NSync's concerts -- the lasers, the fireworks - is beginning to overshadow the music:

"We did so much on the last tour only because it was stadiums," Kirkpatrick said. "It was a spectacle more than anything else. The music was a big part of it, but we put a lot into just making it a great show. Now we've cut back a lot because we don't want [to have to keep upping the ante] until it's just a fireworks display. The show we're doing right now is really musical. We do a couple of little things in it, but it won't take away from the music at all." Kirkpatrick and Chasez say the show will focus more on the music, with just the group and its backing band (no dancers) onstage. They also note that the band will change some song arrangements and "break out some older stuff."

On why they're touring again so soon after the PopOdyssey tour:

"We're road dogs," Chasez says. "We love being on tour. That's our favorite place to be."

On how the band members get along now that they're superstars:

"Basically what I say goes," Kirkpatrick joked. "I'm the oldest. I'm the wisest. I'm the most intelligent of the group. I've got a college degree and no one else in the group has one, so basically everyone listens to me."

On the appeal of 'NSync:

"People appreciate that we're totally honest and we're totally real," Kirkpatrick said. "We don't worry about, 'Oh I have to put makeup on...' We're five guys that are best friends having a great time with what we're doing, and trying not to step on anybody's toes."

On their plans for a new album:

"We're pretty focused on the tour right now, but I think once the tour gets underway we might start brainstorming," says Chasez. "Right after the tour we have a good bit of time in the late spring or early summer to start pooling our resources together."

On 'NSync's future incarnation as a garage band:

"I think the good thing about us is that we all play instruments," says Kirkpatrick. "Eventually when we stop dancing, we can pick up the instruments and become just a band. Maybe we'll just be a garage band that tours around playing theaters. But I know whatever we're doing that we're going to be happy."

On whether they deserve to lose out to U2 at the GRAMMY Awards:

"We definitely endorse them over ourselves," says Kirkpatrick. "We're still paying our dues."


-- Allison Stewart