Norris: It's ironic that this would come to a head now. This is a time when there's been speculation about the future of pop groups in general, and talk of everything from solo projects to you guys starting families and wanting more time for that. Do you think this is going to add to that speculation about Backstreet's future?

Kevin: It totally will. The press is going to run with this thing, but we were here before the big pop explosion and hopefully we'll be here after.

Nick: It's difficult to come here and talk about this kind of stuff. We were kind of scared, because no pop group has ever come out and done anything like this. I guess it's a big stepping stone.

Kevin: Normally this kind of stuff [comes out] 20 years later.

Norris: You talked earlier about those that would say it's better to keep things like this quiet. Do you expect there's going to be some disenchantment on the part of parents of your young fans?

Kevin: I'm sure there probably will, but we want to be honest. That's what's more important, us sleeping at night. [RealVideo]

Brian: My mom always told me when I was little if you tell one lie, you have to tell four or five to get out of that initial one. There's no way around the truth. We are a group that appeals to young people, as well as to parents and grandparents. Hopefully they'll just honor our decision about being honest and respect us for that. [RealVideo]

Howie: I think with us taking a stance like this, instead of them looking at this like a negative thing, hopefully they'll look at this as a positive thing. That we are trying to be role models, and if there are problems, deal with the problems, don't hide it. [RealVideo]

Norris: This was voluntary. You guys didn't have to do an intervention. It's not like he's been forced into rehab?

Kevin: We contemplated intervention, but we didn't do an intervention. He made the decision on his own.

Norris: Was he hostile at all when you approached him?

Kevin: At first, yeah. But after he thought about it for a couple days ... We were in rehearsal down there, his mother and his uncle were down there talking to him. He was like, "Maybe it would be good for me to talk to somebody, 'cause maybe I don't have a drinking problem. Maybe I just have issues that I need to deal with."

Norris: There are rescheduled dates. We shouldn't say this is a cancellation, this is a postponement.

All: Exactly.

Kevin: We're dedicated to getting these U.S. and Canada [legs] done and just take it one step at a time. Hopefully we'll get to head to Europe and Southeast Asia and Australia as well.

Norris: He's going to have to take the time that he needs to do it?

Kevin: Exactly. After this 30 days, if he's not ready, then we'll have to reassess it and cross that bridge when we get to it.

Norris: How would you characterize your feelings right now? Are you angry, just disappointed, hopeful, all of the above?

All: All of the above.

Kevin: You've got kinds of ... [a] little bit nervous about what kind of reaction we're going to get. Happy for A.J. that he's taken this step, angry a little bit at A.J. Sad and compassionate that he has to go through this. All of it.

Norris: When did you last see him?

All: Yesterday.

Howie: Right before he left.

Norris: What did you say to him last time you saw him?

Kevin: We told him, "A.J. we're gonna tell them this."

Howie: He wanted it, actually. He was like, "I'm glad you guys are telling this, because I don't want to live a lie." He cried to us. He said he was scared about all this, but that he knew it was the right thing to do.

Howie: We're gonna come back stronger.