What Happens When You Get Famous Young
5/7/202624 min
AJ McLean and Cody Simpson open up about the darker side of the music industry, from exploitation and manipulation behind the scenes to the personal fallout of becoming famous too young. AJ reflects on Lou Pearlman, the betrayal at the heart of the Backstreet Boys’ rise, and what it cost the band to break free, while Cody shares how early fame, unlimited access and pressure on a young brain pushed him into a period of partying, substance abuse and psychosis. Together, their stories reveal the real cost of fame when success comes before you’re ready for it. We're Talking The Cost of Fame This conversation includes discussion of addiction and mental health. We've included support charities below: MIND: https://g2ul0.app.link/gbuRaxjM3Nb Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): https://g2ul0.app.link/npaQKXUV4Wb (00:00) Intro (00:37) Lou Perlman’s Hold on the Backstreet Boys (02:50) The Real Dynamic Between the Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC (04:45) What Is Lou Perlman’s Legacy? (09:14) Cody Reflects on the Dark Side of Fame at a Young Age (16:42) Cody Opens Up About the Darkest Period of His Pop Career Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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First 90 secondsSpeaker 00:00
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Paul C. Brunson· Host0:25
Welcome to We're Talking. In this episode, AJ McLean and Cody Simpson pull back the curtain on the darker side of the music industry, where fame comes fast, but the consequences can last a lifetime. [gentle music] Hey there. I just wanna share a content warning. This episode includes discussion of addiction. If you or someone you know needs support, we've included resources in the show notes. Please take care while watching. [gentle music] So the group, though, was found... Was it Lou Pearlman?
AJ McLean· Guest1:11
Lou was the one- Lou was the entrepreneur that put this whole thing together. Um, there was a thing that went around Orlando back in the day called the Blue Sheet, which was essentially the classifieds for entertainment.
Paul C. Brunson· Host1:23
Okay.
AJ McLean· Guest1:24
And I was perusing through the Blue Sheet one day, and I saw this banner that said, "Local entrepreneur