Dirty pop.
Joey Fatone, a former member of *NSYNC, opens up about the less glamorous aspects of the ’90s boy band scene in his recent documentary, “Boy Band Confidential.”
At 49, Fatone shared with Page Six that reflecting on those past experiences for the documentary felt quite “therapeutic.”
He described how “pressures” in the industry can accumulate, leading to… well, a kind of explosion, or, conversely, a downward spiral into depression that might result in addiction or worse. He commented, “Life isn’t easy. It’s definitely a tough journey.”
Fatone and his long-time manager, Joe Mulvihill, took on the role of executive producers for this ID documentary, which features interviews with several former boy band stars from the ’90s, shedding light on their behind-the-scenes struggles.
He pointed out that the industry places significant pressure on both men and women, emphasizing how overwhelming it can be.
The documentary includes insights from Lance Bass, former bandmate, as well as Nick Lachey from 98 Degrees, AJ McLean from Backstreet Boys, and others.
Many discussions revolve around their experiences with Lou Pearlman, the infamous music manager who created both *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys. Pearlman passed away in prison in 2016 while serving a long sentence for orchestrating a massive pyramid scheme that defrauded countless victims.
Fatone expressed that there’s a unique bond among the alumni of boy bands, likening it to a “fraternity.” He mentioned, “It’s remarkable to see their resilience.”
He shared that they all aimed to “become the artists we aspired to be,” and, sure, faced both “good and bad” moments along the way.
While he didn’t plan to take the documentary into a very dark space, he was open to it if it meant allowing voices to be heard. “We spent about four to five hours with each person. It was quite intense,” he recounted. “Some folks even got emotional.”
One particularly poignant moment involved Brad Fischetti from LFO, who became tearful while reflecting on the loss of bandmates who passed away far too young.
Fatone admitted to having his own financial missteps after enjoying success, even teetering on the brink of bankruptcy around 2010.
Mulvihill pointed out that people often assume a life in the spotlight means everything is perfect, stating, “When Joey brings up financial troubles, the common reaction is, ‘Really? You just performed in front of hundreds of thousands!'”
They noted that there’s little understanding of the day-to-day realities that occur behind the scenes, highlighting that “normal life” continues despite public perceptions.
“We all make mistakes,” Fatone reiterated.
He expressed a desire to share those missteps and the lessons learned from them. “What do you do with those mistakes and how do you recover? That’s the story I want to tell.”
“Boy Band Confidential” is set to air on Tuesday, April 14th at 9 PM on ID and will also be available for streaming on HBO Max.
