Backstreet Boy McLean to Spend More Time in Rehab

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Backstreet Boy A.J. McLean has extended his time in rehabilitation for two weeks, forcing the teen-pop phenomena to postpone their North American tour for a second time, the group's members said on Tuesday.
McLean, 23, is in a 30-day treatment program for alcoholism, depression and other problems, and the group was set to return to the road next Tuesday. Instead, its tour will resume on Aug. 24 in Milwaukee, according to a statement.

"A.J.'s initial treatment is going very well,'' Backstreet Boy Kevin Richardson said in the statement. "His doctors have suggested it would be in A.J.'s best interest to take an additional two weeks in transitional care.'' A group spokeswoman declined to disclose McLean's whereabouts. He entered rehab on July 9, the day the group announced the initial tour postponement. Ten shows are affected by the new postponement, and two of them -- in Los Angeles and Tacoma, Washington -- have been canceled because of scheduling difficulties, the spokeswoman said.

The band has set October dates for the other eight cities -- Vancouver, British Columbia; Portland, Oregon; Seattle; Bakersfield, San Jose and San Bernardino, California; Salt Lake City; and Denver. In addition, the group has added shows in Boise, Idaho; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Phoenix; and San Diego, where the tour will now end on Oct. 20.
The Backstreet Boys (news - web sites) are touring to promote their new album, ''Black & Blue,'' which has sold 5.2 million copies in the United States in the 35 weeks since its release.
Their previous release, "Millennium,'' had sold 9.6 million copies at the same point, and some music observers believe steam is running out of the teen pop craze, which also made stars out of 'N Sync, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears and a slew of others.