The Backstreet Boys are an American boy band that has enjoyed enormous success in the mid-late 1990s and 2000s, including receiving several Grammy Award nominations.

They have charted 12 U.S Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, 16 UK Top 10 hits and have won numerous awards, and have been estimated as having sold over 100 million albums worldwide, making them the highest selling boy-band of all-time.

Since returning to the music scene in 2005, their sound changed drastically, incorporating only live instruments (some of which they play themselves) and a rock edge.

The now four-member group consists of Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, and A.J. McLean; original member Kevin Richardson left the group on June 23, 2006.

On June 23, 2006 the band issued a statement regarding Kevin Richardson's intention to leave the Backstreet Boys.

The reason stated was his wish to pursue other interests that he could not while in the group. The rest of the Backstreet Boys wished him the best of luck in the future and they have no plans on replacing him. They noted that he would always be welcome to return should he wish to do so.

Since then, Kevin returned to the role of young hotshot lawyer named "Billy Flynn" in the Broadway musical Chicago for a short engagement in Toronto, Canada in late 2006.

Kevin Richardson who made the decision to pursue other projects and he has given fans and the group reason to believe he will rejoin them on the very next album that comes out after “Unbreakable.”
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