The Backstreet Boys’ highly anticipated return to Germany, where their story began 30 years ago, saw more than 450,000 tickets sold.
In May of 1996, Germany helped elevate the Backstreet Boys to international superstars. Now, over 30 years later, Backstreet’s back in Germany for a ten-date residency that has already sold over 450,000 tickets. The group opened their Into the Millennium: Homecoming Live in Germany run over the weekend at Merkur Spiel-Arena in Düsseldorf, due to be their only European shows this year.
Europe was an important launchpad for the Backstreet Boys during the group’s infancy, with Germany serving a particularly significant role. It was there the group recorded their music and performed numerous shows to build a following across smaller clubs and word of mouth, as well as securing their earliest radio play. Now, three decades later, the Backstreet Boys are coming home to roost in a very real way.
“When we talk about this being a homecoming, it’s because Germany is where everything clicked for us,” said Brian Littrell. “It’s where our dream stopped being hypothetical and became something real. Coming back for these shows feels full circle.”
Since their early breakthrough in Germany, the Backstreet Boys have continued to tour and release new music over the years, selling over 130 million records worldwide. Their recent Las Vegas residency at Sphere introduced them to a new generation of fans across 47 sold-out shows attended by three-quarters of a million people.
The band already extended their Sphere residency multiple times, with a final summer extension adding shows through the end of August. The final leg of shows followed 35 sold-out performances at the bespoke Las Vegas venue, garnering attention for their ample use of Sphere’s fully immersive LED display and sound system amplifying the group’s signature choreography with 360-degree visuals.
Their Düsseldorf residency kicked off last week and continues through October 7. The 26-song set draws inspiration from the group’s early catalog as they found their footing in Germany, but also includes material from their Millennium era. With hits like “As Long As You Love Me,” “I’ll Never Break Your Heart,” “Quit Playing Games,” “I Want It That Way,” and “Everybody,” the Backstreet Boys were one of the defining pop groups of the late ’90s and early 2000s.
