July 2 [14:00 EDT] -- Americans are about to get a taste of what their neighbors north of the border have been screaming about for months. The Backstreet Boys have now released the first single, "Quit Playing Games," from their self-titled debut album due for release in the States on the Jive/Zomba label August 12.

The teen idols have been big news in Canada, Europe and Asia for the past year, but in spite of being Americans -- they were formed in Florida -- they're virtually unknown at home. But that's not the case elsewhere.

In Canada alone, says BMG Canada's Ray Ramsay, the band has sold 600,000 copies of their record and chalked up sales of close to 150,000 of their home video release. Record company officials were caught by surprise more than once when upwards of 5000 fans would turn up for autograph sessions expected to draw hundreds. They band has regularly been selling out venues well in excess of 10,000 seats. Indeed, there are few markets in the world where they can walk down the street without a full compliment of bodyguards.

At home, they can't get arrested -- not that they would anyway. The five Backstreet Boys, who range in age from 17 to 24, have a reputation as a likable, clean living lot who began their singing careers in church choirs, which accounts for their harmonies and prowess with a cappella vocals. But they've been saving the States for last. The only exposure they've received in the U.S. has been an obscure (and not overly typical) song on the soundtrack to the movie "Booty Call" released earlier this year.

That's about to change. Stay tuned.