The HoneyDew with Ryan Sickler - 328: Joey McIntyre of New Kids on the Block

Episode Date: April 7, 2025

My HoneyDew this week is musician Joey McIntyre! Check out Joey on his recent tour and album called, Freedom. Joey sits down with me this week to Highlight the Lowlights of becoming a pop sensation with New Kids on the Block back when he was 12 years old! Joey recounts early career breakthroughs and the influence of radio DJs. We reflect on the challenges Joey faced early on in the band, the impact it had on his career, and how his transition from music to acting came about. CATCH ME ON TOUR https://www.ryansickler.com/tour Los Angeles, CA - April 8th Madison, WI - April 12th (Special Taping) SUBSCRIBE TO MY YOUTUBE and watch full episodes of The Dew every toozdee! https://youtube.com/@rsickler SUBSCRIBE TO MY PATREON - The HoneyDew with Y’all, where I Highlight the Lowlights with Y’all! Get audio and video of The HoneyDew a day early, ad-free at no additional cost! It’s only $5/month! AND we just added a second tier. For a total of $8/month, you get everything from the first tier, PLUS The Wayback a day early, ad-free AND censor free AND extra bonus content you won't see anywhere else! https://www.patreon.com/TheHoneyDew What’s your story?? Submit at [e-mail] Get Your HoneyDew Gear Today! https://shop.ryansickler.com/ Ringtones Are Available Now! https://www.apple.com/itunes/ http://ryansickler.com/ https://thehoneydewpodcast.com/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE CRABFEAST PODCAST https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-crabfeast-with-ryan-sickler-and-jay-larson/id1452403187 SPONSORS: The Farmers Dog -Get 50% off your first box of fresh, healthy food at https://www.TheFarmersDog.com/HONEYDEW  PLUS, get FREE shipping! Booking.com -The HoneyDew is sponsored by booking.com, Head to the Booking.com Instagram page and check out their sweepstakes post for more details!

Tuesday, April 8th at 8 p.m. Come see me run my hour at the world famous comedy store before I head to shoot my special. Madison, Wisconsin, Comedy on State. I'm excited to work with them and bring you my next special. Two shows Saturday, April 12th. Get your tickets now at RyanSickler.com. The Honeydew with Ryan sickler Welcome back to the honeydew y'all we're over here doing it the night pan studios I'm Ryan sickler want to start this episode like I start them all by saying thank you. Thank you for supporting the show

Thank you for supporting Anything that I do it is well appreciated check out the patreon get over there the shows are wild and That's the biz man. We're just gonna get right into it You know we do here we highlight the lowlights and always say that these are the stories behind the storytellers I am very excited to have this guest here with us today. Ladies and gentlemen, first time on the Honeydew, Joey McIntyre. Welcome to the Honeydew, Joey McIntyre. Give it for yourself, bro. Give it up for yourself.

It is a pleasure to have you here. Got Jimi Hendrix looking on, making sure everything's copestetic. Tom Segura made that bust. He had it made for me as a surprise. And I'm a Hendrix super freak. And usually when I see something, I'm like, that's really good, but it's just slightly off the teeth or whatever. This fucking thing.

No, it's it's flawless. It's beautiful. Like, yes, Han Solo and Carbonite right there is what that is. Right. Now, do you do you have to be a guitar player to like adore Jimi Hendrix? I know you just love a guitar player at all, but he's your guy. The just coming out on stage at Monterey and just literally three guys. Wasn't even a, there's no, no seven, eight, nothing.

Yeah. Three fucking dudes. He's playing lead and rhythm. Yeah. And everyone was like, who the, eight, nothing. Yeah. Three fucking dudes. He's playing lead and rhythm. Yeah. And everyone was like, who the fuck is this guy? Yeah. And Paul McCartney brought him over and was like, this is the guy that's been kicking ass in England the whole time.

Scared Eric Clapton, Keith Ritchie. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And then they were like, and then off he goes. I love those backstories that, you know, we only get now, you know, from, you know, you get all that content, but like the fact that it took that long those backstories that we only get now from,

you get all that content. But like the fact that it took that long to figure out all those backstories of different bands and who tour with what and the Beatles with this one and that one and that whole connection is very cool. My buddy of mine, he mixed all the new kids hit records. His name's Phil Green character, character, but could play like crazy. And he always told a story about, I can't do it any justice because like Phil, by now he's like a New England guy and he's like, he's got no fucking teeth, but he's like, listen, baby, it's a rocket. It's a rocket. You know what I mean?

He'd make something. So, you know, he told that story about something like, like you, but like he did something like he just walked on stage and he would light a joint. You know what I mean? And then like, before you knew it, he'd, you know, spin around, jump up in the air and then a split and gang gang, you know what I mean? Like with a freaking trick in his hand.

So yeah, he's a good one. He's- Legend. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I just feel like, I want you to plug things real quick. I'll say this. There are certain people, when you look at them, you're like, oh, that person came here to do

exactly what they were supposed to do. Right. Then I think that's one of those guys. Oh yeah. No doubt. Oh yeah, no that's a good cure. And you think about fame, like you were famous before the internet. Yeah.

Think about that today, like how big you had to be back then for the world to be like, you gotta hear this guy, you gotta listen to this band, you gotta see this comedian and selling out arenas and shit back then before you could just click a link and see it everywhere in 10 seconds.

Like that blows my mind. The level of fame, the way it used to take place. That's true, that's true. I mean, number one, yeah, I think, wow, I mean, and people debate this a lot. It's like, was it easier without the internet or with the internet or is it blah, blah, blah? And it's a fun conversation, right? Because it makes it a good debate.

To me though, like one argument is yes, but back then there were gatekeepers, right? Very true. You know what I'm saying? There was a wall that you couldn't get over. There was a gatekeeper, you know, as a performer, as a guy, you know what I mean? Trying to make things happen. It was, I gotta get to this guy so he can get me to this, you know.

Instead of going right through the wall to everybody. And now it's about the people, right? You're right. Yeah. So it's that, you know, there's pros and cons, right. Yeah, so it's that, it's, you know, there's pros and cons, right? Because it, sometimes it seems like it was easier back in the day if you could just get to the back door and go, just give me a shot.

You know what I mean? Hear me out. And then one step at a time. Now it's like, everybody's got a shot. Yeah. Everyone does have a shot. They really do. It's like, it's like a shot. Yeah. Everyone does have a shot. They really do. It's like the walking dead, you know what I mean?

Or at the back door. You know what I mean? Like what the, you know. So it's interesting. Real quick, promote. Please promote. So I'm gonna promote. You're about to go on tour. Yes, do it. So, well, this week I kick off my solo tour,

which starts in Houston. I actually developed, as one of my pitches, I had fun with it, but I made a little rap for the date. So I'll do it really quick. Houston, Dallas and old St. Louis, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, two Cleveland, two villas, Lou and Nash Birmingham. Let's kick some Ash. Gainesville, Savannah, Raleigh, DC, Philly, Boston, and NYC freedom tour. Phase one is here. Buckle up, baby.

See you there. So that's, uh, those are the dates, but it's, it's April 4th and, um, it's the, you know, really just tee up my, my new solo album freedom and, uh, which I'm very happy about ten songs and i wanted to get very specific about how this. Tour is and how i. The portrayed if you will presented this album. I like to perform no matter what i guess i in some ways I proud myself that pride myself, that I can get up and sing a song anywhere. I don't have to be too precious about it.

I've toured my solo stuff. You know, the cabaret vibe is great for me. Sit down, have a cocktail, have something to eat. Let me entertain you. I like that. And I, I'm lucky enough that I can do that as a solo artist, but this is a little bit more, there's more of a vision around it. So, uh, I'm excited. I'm really excited to do that.

And, um, can I ask you this, um, when it comes to the solo project, things like that, do you write your own songs? Yeah. Write some collaborate, like how would you process? Out of the 10 songs, uh, me and my collaborator, Sean, we co-wrote eight of them. And then the other two I wrote by myself and Sean, this guy, Sean Thomas produced the record, um, he's a 24 years old.

He's from Vancouver. He's phenomenal. You know, like, yeah, he's in the room and I'm like, what's he getting out of me? 24, how old were you when he started? And when he was born. Yeah, yeah, exactly. So apparently we do have a good time. He's wise beyond his years.

And then, I like to think combined with just like this 37 year old dude. But good for you for recognizing that young can be great as well. And not just as green, you got to earn, you know, it's gotta, it's, it's, yes. I I've always written songs, uh, especially for my music. Um, this album, well, I think we,

we like to think that everything we do is better and more evolved and, you know, shows growth. I hadn't done a full length solo album in 15 years. I've written a lot of one-offs. I've written for the new kids and that's been great. To do a full album is a commitment. You really got to go for it. And I had the gusto and hung in there and was inspired by all kinds of things in my

life to stay the course and get it done. So it's nice to be happy with the project, you know, because you can also be like, oh, it's done, but damn, I wish I could have done this or done that. And I don't have those, I'm not up at night going, oh, I wish I could have. So I'm very happy with the finished product. And now it's just, you know, supporting it without, you know, you got to hustle. You know the hustle.

It's a hustle. You know what I mean? That's what I'm sitting here thinking too, respectfully. You've been in this business a long fucking time. Yeah. How, how were you when you actually started? I mean, I mean, when you started, when you started, I don't mean fame or popularity. When you started grinding.

Well, I'm a theater kid. So I grew up in community theater when I was like six years old. I just loved to do it. It was, it was fun. No strings attached. You had a blast. Of course you, you learned a lot and, and you wanted to again get better, no strings attached, you had a blast. Of course you learned a lot and you wanted to again get better,

but it was just for fun. New kids came and knockin' when I was 12. Bro. And you're 52? I'm 52. You've been in this business for 40 months. Well, I've known those guys for 40 years. That's insane.

Yeah. And what I wanna get at is like, you're still finding a passion for this. Yeah. That's different. You know, you started in a band, a group, and then still doing very well with them. But I mean, then you're also able to offshoot independently and you're still relevant, still finding it enjoyable, still also hustling like a motherfucker, not sitting on your ass and thinking everybody's just going to do it.

Because you said it earlier, there's so much out there to watch today, so much to see and do, you're not going to catch it all. And the fact that you still, after 40 years, you love it, I can tell you love it. I can really tell you love it. You're here to do what you were supposed to do. You're doing exactly what you were supposed to do. Yeah, I think, as I've been saying the last couple of years, turns out I bring a lot to the table.

You know what I mean? So, and that's, you know, I get to do other things and, you know, movies or theater or different projects, you know what I mean? And, you know, it's a catch-22. It's like, you can't just suddenly have experience. You got to live it, you know? It's like, you know, God willing, as we get older, we learn there are tough times, but maybe we can see the forest for the trees a little bit more, you know, but it's not always like that, you know what I mean? And that probably brings us to, you know,

your question of, you know, the low lights. Funny enough, because when I was like, when I was coming here, I was like, oh yeah oh yeah that'd be cool but i'm like what cuz we all have them you know specifically but funny enough you know. As the universe would have it at the end of this road you know those two. Towers the two buildings are identical for those of you at home we're in Los Angeles, which your folks probably know, but, um, office Santa Monica and there's two big buildings there. And, um, I'll always remember those two big buildings because there was a, there was a casting director in there.

There might be a million of them, but there was one. So, you know, yes, I've been doing this, you know, for a long time. There's been down times, there's been dark times, there's been freaking biggest pop in in the world. There's been you're a nobody. There's been everything in between. You know what I mean?

And I was, sometimes I would feel like I spread myself too thin, you know what I mean? Because I love, I did love to act. I did love to do a theater. I did love music. So, but sometimes I'm like, well, maybe you should just focus on one thing. And so that could be true. Sometimes I felt deluded, sometimes, you know, energy is energy, right? So it's gonna suffer.

It's like, it's math. You can only do so many projects before you start getting, you know, maxed out and the work is being compromised, right? So that happened to me over the years. And I would come out to LA and I had a manager and I had an agent and all that jazz. And I would get different gigs.

I forget this is before, I think this is, I'm gonna figure it out. It might've been, the life-changing gig is when I came out here and I got on Boston Public, which is a David E. Kelly show, and he was huge producer. It still is, but. Now that's wild to hear you say life-changing,

because I would, for sure, would've thought new kids would've been the first life. Well, I meant acting wise. Okay. That was a big, well, I had a couple before then, but, but life-changing in the sense I came to LA and I met my wife and a year later we were married. So life-changing in that sense. Um, so anyways, let's just say it was a funky time.

It was a low time. And my manager's like, I'm like, I don't know about this audition, right? It was for a Ed Burns pilot. I think it was made, it was called the Fightin in Fitzgerald's so this is Ed burns is doing his thing kind of in you know saving private Ryan before that i mean that wasn't even write that but you know he was doing his thing and. I was like, yeah, it seemed like on paper, a good fit, you know, Irish kid, it was probably New Yorkers. You know what I mean?

I'm from Boston, the whole thing. Manages just go to the, go to the, see the, the casting agent, you know, and go from there. She'll see it. So I went up to her office and it wasn't like, it was like this, but it wasn't even filmed. I just read with her, right? Okay. And, but I have my tail between my legs. You know, it was one of those, it wasn't even filmed. I just read with her, right? Okay. And, but I have my tail between my legs. You know, it was one of those, you know, you just want to,

you just want to stand on the covers that day. You know what I'm saying? It was just like a go to a movie or check out or see you later, you know. And I read for her and she said, I finished. And she said, I finished and she said, it's so funny. She said, well, you don't suck. That's a good one, right?

Well, you don't suck. Does that, does that, does that just say it all? Okay. Does that say it all? Does that say it all? Is that a honeydew moment or what? all. Okay. Does that say it all? Does that say it all? Is that a honeydew moment or what? Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. You don't suck. And I was like, wow. Okay. And I'm just in a fog. I'm like, you know what I mean? Well, come back, come back in a couple of hours

and you'll read for Ed in the producers and the thing. I remember to remember it's gotta be right there there's a donut shop down there i don't know if there is. Throw in a donut okay in the afternoon you know throw in a donut in between what can make it worse? You know, a donut, you know what I'm saying? There is a fork in there. There's like, let's throw in a donut, you know, to make you feel good. Out in the area for the two hours. Yeah, exactly.

Sitting on a bench, you know, totally, totally. And there's there's no tick tock or Instagram to get on. You just barely get texts to check. You know what I mean? You're calling your buddy back home saying what's going on, you know? And, um, you know, two hours, you know, comes and goes, and I go up there. And, you know, again, it's simple math. It's like, did I really do the work on the scene? Did I have a

partner to do it? Did I have the infrastructure at the time to take care of myself? And the answer is no. And golly, you know how you just kind of black out? You know, I've had auditions on Broadway, the funny, I mean, maybe it's just how I look at it. It's like all the stuff I got in my life, you know, the three Broadway shows, the David Kelley, the movies, all those auditions,

I was so like in the zone, so present, so in my own body, that it was a no brainer, right? And everything else, not that I, you know, didn't always shit the bed, but like that feeling of, you literally wanna jump out the window. You wanna be anywhere but where you are. This is what I wanna ask you.

What is it, tell me for you, what it feels like to go from being confident as hell, being a new kid and in this genre of dance and music and being like, fuck yeah, to then switching gears and going completely vulnerable to something else where you're not confident in yourself. You know, does that fuck with you? Yeah. Well, to me it's the prep. I mean, to answer that, you know, I'm a performing artist, so I see it as the same thing.

You know what I mean? It's about communicating, and if you don't know what you're talking about, it's gonna show, or if you haven't done the work, I mean, it's as simple as that. And we all like to think, ah, let's go in there, we'll wing it, maybe they'll like, I don't know, it's a cold read, it's as simple as that. And we all like to think, ah, let's go in there. We'll wing it. Maybe they'll like, I don't know, it's a cold read.

It was amazing. Like, eh, I don't know. That didn't happen for me very often, if ever. I need to do the work. So yeah, that can be part of the avalanche of making it a darker time when you're like, man, I was the guy, or I was the man and now, you know.

Or not even that, like, man, I'm good at this. Yeah. I'm not good at this. Yeah. And I need to work at this. Yeah, I think, you know, I think I'm good, you know, over the years, and especially now, I have a lot of confidence in myself as an actor.

So that was sort of somewhere there, but I had to do the work and I didn't do the work. And just to finish, there was one other quote, it's like bookended, it's like, you don't suck, donut. Yeah. Then I go in to Ed Burns and I couldn't tell you It's like, you don't suck, donut. Then I go in to Ed Burns and I couldn't tell you how the scene went. We all knew it was bad. We're all just whatever.

And I said, see you later. And Ed Burns, he said, he was sweet because he was like very nice. He kind of knew I was having a moment. And he said, be good. It was that East Coast be good thing, you know what I mean? And he had that, he has that high kind of high pitch,

be good. I always remember that. So, you know, can you avoid those moments? I don't know. You know what I mean? Everybody, everybody has-

Not if you're putting yourself out there. Right. If you're gonna put yourself out there. Right, if you're gonna be invulnerable, that's it. Right, right. And the older I get, I try to do, this is so stupid. So I don't dance, I am not a dancer. I'm good in the car, I'm good waist up.

When I have to get my legs involved, it's not a good situation. And my daughter's doing cheer, right? She's 10 now. And at the event, they were like, hey, parents, if you come down and dance, well, it's like cheerleaders will show you like a quick routine outside. It'll give more spirit points for your kids. And I was like, you know what?

Oh, I'm going to fucking do it and help your team out. Yeah, this is something I would never do. Right. And I got to get up in front of people and do this. But it's, you know, moms, dads, men, women. I can hide in the back. Yeah, but probably a bunch of people. Yeah, it's in a fucking middle school gym that's way bigger than the middle school I went to.

It's like 500 fucking people. Yeah. We go outside and they go, OK, ladies over here, guys over there. I go, oh, no, no, no, no, no. Hold up. Yeah. Hold up. It's like 50, 60 women. It's like four dudes.

Yeah. And I'm like, no, no, I thought we were all. And they're like, no, it's going to be a guys and a girls. I'm like, oh. So he teaches this young high school girl. Oh, and they're teaching you stuff. And she puts this music on. And she goes, do you guys know what this is?

I'm like, yeah, it's, it's tricky by run DMC. She had no idea who that was. She just knew the song. Oh, that's funny. So it's her and his boy and they're like, we're going to do, we're going to just teach you a simple routine. So do a whole routine. We got to do it.

And we're like, are we done? She goes, no, that's just the first round. We're like, fuck it's four rounds. And there's this young black kid next to me and he goes, I'm not going to lie, dude. I'm struggling with these steps right now. And I said, I'm not going to lie. You saying that right now gives me the confidence. I need to get through this. So he's messing up. We're all messing up. So then we go in and then you wait 20 minutes. And I'm like, wait, we got to wait. Like, I'm going to forget this shit.

She's like, don't worry. We'll be out there with you. The ladies all go, it's like 100 of them now at this point, they get done, the guys come out. Maybe there's 10 of us at this point. Front of this 500 seat gymnasium, I'm like, oh my God, diarrhea, diarrhea. Oh my God. And then the lady goes, real quick, we're gonna do our routine, and then after the routine,

the freestyle begins. And just so you know, that's the most important part. I was like, I'm not fucking freestyling out here. Wow. So we start doing the routine and I'm, you know, I'm fine following somebody up there a little bit. And then fucking young kid over here with the I can't I don't know the steps. Maybe he wasn't good at following steps.

This motherfucker starts back flipping and shit. I'm like, you son of a bitch, dude, I don't know the steps. Maybe he wasn't good at filing steps. This motherfucker starts back flipping and shit. I'm like, you son of a bitch, dude, you don't know this part. Dude, the another guy's doing the worm and shit. So Kendrick Lamar has created a two step that even white guys can do. Okay. And I just two step my ass. I Kendrick Lamar right off that motherfucker. My God.

And the lady comes up and taps me on the back. Now my daughter's mother is anytime music's on she thinks she is dance, dance, dance. Yeah. Yeah. And I'm not. Yeah. Okay. This lady taps me on the back and goes, this is for you. And it's this trophy. I go, oh, is that for my daughter? She goes, no, that's for you. I go for what? She goes for outstanding performance. Go for you. Oh my god. I go back into the stands and like, look at this y'all. They're like, that's Stella's. I'm like, that's my, yeah.

Oh, and so I told my daughter, look at that. I got out of my comfort zone. We're both going home with awards. Sometimes you just got to do it. Sometimes you gotta step up and do it, dude. I wouldn't then I'm done. I'm going out on a high. And you had no idea what you were getting into.

Nothing, nothing, but that's what it is. When you get out there and you make yourself vulnerable, the only way to learn is to suck. You got to fail. You got to fail. Stand up is nothing but fail. Yes. Uncomfortable. Sure. For sure. So can we go back to the beginning of your story? Because you said 12 is when they came calling. 12. Now, were they audition, were you auditioning for this? Or, you know, how did that work? How did the assemble sort of? It was, the way the new kids came together was very unceremonious.

It was not a cattle call by any means. I think a total of the whole thing, maybe eight kids auditioned. Wow, that's it? Yeah, it was, what happened was, there's, Maurice Starr is this larger than life character and he had produced new editions first album, Candy Girl. Candy Girl.

Yeah, is this the end, the whole thing. So they're from Boston. They were like our heroes before we were even a group individually. We were like, Oh my God. They went their separate ways. And Maurice was like, I'm, I'm, I'm going to do this again, but I'm going to find some white boys. Okay. So they go do Belle Biv Devoe and Bobby Brown goes off on his own and Ralph Tred's van and all that goes off on their own. No, that's before, no, no, no, this is years before that. I'm saying they were new edition.

Oh yeah. Yeah. Those guys. Yeah. Yeah. Yes. And then they broke up and then they all went and did their own project. Exactly.

And they're back together again. So can I ask you this? Because I know people like to say the Beatles are the first boy band sort of put together. Who would you say is the next one? Cause I'm, I was thinking it was new edition. Yeah. Well, I mean, is there a seven?

I think the Beatles are, yeah, I get it. That's normally they're not involved, but you know, so who do you think's the first line though? Yes, they are in the lineage. I mean, they're in that inspirational, inspiration board for sure. But before the new kids was new edition, before new edition was the Jackson five. Oh, duh, Jackson five.

How'd I forget that? Yeah, Jackson five. Of course, of course. Throw in the Osmonds, which were really just ape in Jackson five. I'd like to think we're a little bit cooler as far as us, you know, stealing from new edition. But, but I love the Osmonds too for what they brought too.

You know what I mean? And they were very, they were genuine. You know what I'm saying? There's, there's gotta be an organic genuine vibe to a boy band. And then, you know, of course the Jackson's learned from the Motown, the, you know, the four tops and then, you know, of course the Jackson's learned from the Motown, you know, the four tops and the, you know, all that.

So there's a line there. And it's a blessing to be a part of that, you know, pop sort of legacy. Now, how are you in this little world of these eight people? Cause you're already a theater kid stuff. Like how do you hear about it? Donnie, Donnie met Maurice first. And, uh, you know, again, lightning in a bottle, you know, Donnie

Wahlberg was this, you know, he was a born leader, big personality, caring and loving, but you know, healthy enough ego to want to make this happen. Yeah. Big music lover, very knowledgeable about rock and roll, but also R&B and a lot of weird like lines, like he was in the record store looking for fricking music and he had Maurice's album in his hand and another album.

And I don't know if he picked Maurice's or whatever, but there was all these things that the universe sort of like teed up. And so he meets Maurice, We all have the same story. He lived in a dilapidated brick building in Roxbury where my parents grew up in Boston. A lot of this is about six or seven towns basically in Boston. A lot of people say they're from Boston and you say where and it's like an hour outside. This is like Boston. And so he was very unassuming guy. It's super sweet.

But also Maurice Starr was, you know, big chip on his shoulder, wanted to fricking make it. You know what I mean? He had a chip on his shoulder because he, you know, new edition left him and is, you know, plus he was, he was like a prize fighter. He was so talented, talked a lot of trash, but he backed it up, you know, plus he was, he was like a prize fighter. He was so talented, talked a lot of trash,

but he backed it up, you know, but good guy with us. Great. I mean, he just really, it was, it was a great combination, but at the same time, Maurice is sitting around, Donnie's like, I gotta get, I gotta get this band together. So he's like, you know, trying to pull things out of a hat. He said, Oh, well, he remember he went to school with with Jordan and John. He was friends with their brother Chris, but he's like, Oh yeah, Jordan used to sing in the choir. And so he calls Chris and Chris tells

Jordan and then Donnie calls Jordan. He's like, Hey, I get this band, I get this group trying to, what do you think, Maurice star, yada yada. He's like, Jordan's like, eh, that sounds pretty cool. Then John gets wind of it and he's like, I wanna get down with that too, right? So it was sort of like a package deal, which Maurice loved because he loved that they were brothers. But Maurice didn't need to hear a lot.

I mean, part of his ego was like, I'll make anybody a star, which is, which is, it's not true, you know, but you gotta have that attitude. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, you do. You gotta have that attitude. So he's got Jordan and John, these incredibly handsome couple of brothers,

Jordan can sing, John's shy, he's is the shy one but he's ready to go and then when danny found out that jordan was gonna be in it. He was like cuz at first he said no but danny and jordan used to break dance battle they have they were in different break dance groups. different break dance groups. So when Danny hears Jordy's like, wait a minute, cause Donnie and Danny were good friends. So then you have four. And then there was this kid, Jamie, who wasn't really a fit, but they were good friends and he was a good kid. But he was like, and funny enough, like one of the, the, uh, sort of the things was his parents didn't want him to be in it. He said, and the story is still coming out, but recently Donnie said that his parents said,

I don't want my son going to Roxbury because Roxbury was a black town and it was a tough town. So again, how the universe works out, my parents grew up in Roxbury. So when I said I'm going to Roxbury, they didn't bat an eyelash, you know what I mean? And back then it was 1985 and it was like,

hey dad, some lady's picking me up and taking me to Roxbury. All right, be home by five. You know, it was that, you know what I mean? And so the rest of the guys were together for about, I don't know, like we're trying to figure out the dates, but no more than a year, you know, hit or miss, things were building, but people, slow times, you know,

it was like a couple of shows here and there. And then they started Mary Alfred, who was Maurice's partner at the time, trying to put this thing together. She found Donnie as well. Sweetheart. Um, she, she called the local schools in Boston, the local public schools and said, do you know any little white kids who can sing and dance?

And there weren't many of us in Boston at the time. Is that right? Just cold call in the school. And I didn't many of us in Boston at the time. Is that right? Just cold calling the schools. And I didn't even go to the school except it was in my hometown and I was going to an after school project, an after school just thing, daycare thing. Like when I was 12 and they told me once and I was like, I'm all set. You know what I mean? I like my little community theater, you know, career happening, you know, it was to have my buddies and the whole thing.

And then they called again. And then the new edition connection. I was like, wait a minute, they were with new edition. Like I had, I didn't have a lot of albums. That was like it. The coolest now. Feel like I'm still holding today. Oh, totally.

Totally. So, and then I went up there and sang a Nat King Cole song for him and. You did. The rest is history. I was in the studio two weeks later and. 12. 12, yeah. And as, was anyone else in your family in show business?

Yeah. Like where'd you find the love for this? Mom, dad, like, or were you just a sonoma? I and my mother who, we lived four blocks away from the oldest community theater in America called the foot by club. Didn't know how lucky we were until I moved to New York and like, this could be a theater, right? Black box.

I've been in plenty of this was, this was a core. It's still living. It's in great shape through the members and grants and they, they redid it. When I was growing up, everything was peeling and falling apart. It was like a 230 seat theater, like gorgeous, like legit theater in our hometown. And my mom would get away, that was her getaway.

She had nine kids and that was her getaway. She was in plays, musicals, and she would just beam up there. So she showed us the love of theater. My father, on the other hand, as he would say, it's, it's all showbiz. It's all show. He was a union guy into politics. You talk about Boston politics, Boston Irish politics. I mean, JFK's grandfather, honey fits was like at the top.

Like that's that's what it was and it's sort of keep thinking of the word. What's the word prison. What do you it's sort of like future prisons. Let's see let's see if I Teach me a new word. Prisian, prisian, prisian. Folks, here we go. Here it is. Prisian is having or showing knowledge of events before they take place.

So my point is, my dad said it was all showbiz 35 years ago and here we have Donald Trump in office. So if it ain't showbiz like what the hell, you know, and it always has been. Ronald Reagan, Clint Eastwood, JFK, it was all about- Jesse Ventura and all these people were actors and performers over here. And it's all about the presentation. Not all about it, but obviously a huge part of it. It's communication. So you know what time it is? It is time for a fresh approach to dog food.

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Promotion period from March 26 to 41325. Where to find full official rules? All rules are available in the caption of the sweepstakes post. Now, let's get back to the do. So my dad loved showbiz. He loved singing tunes and whatever, but he, between my mother and my father,

you know, that, you know, and I had seven older sisters, so they all loved to dance. Yeah, yeah, I was the youngest of nine. Yeah, so all that, I was, the theater and the stage was my home. Like, expressing ourselves that way was, you know, not out of the ordinary.

Tell me the moment you realize, oh my God, this is massive. Like what, what happens to you? Where you're like, this is crazy life changing. You know, what makes me think of it? Like, you know, I was, when we it, like, you know, I was, when we've got our first hit record, I was 15. Um, I think just putting myself at 15 right now, but I'm in 10th grade. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It was the, the,

and you're going global. Aren't you going global? I mean, it all happened fast, but you know, when you're a kid, it doesn't feel fast. I'll bet. That's why I want to say, cause you're 15, like, yeah, that's you got nonstop energy and go, go, go. And to me, to me, I think of the other guys, when you asked that question, because they were 18 and 19, which is a huge difference. I think Danny would, and he would look

at the charts every day. Even before we were, he was just a music fan before we made it. So I was just watching an old tape of us in Japan, when we just started making it, we went over there for the first time, and it's like, we're all babies, right? And he's like,

what did he say? Top? He goes, how you feel about the next single, which was gonna be right stuff. After Please Don't Go Girl was the first single. That was top 10. And we're building and whatever. And Danny said said top five and the album's going platinum now right stuff went

three number three and talk about platinum I mean we the hangin tough solds I don't know 20 million records so he was way so you tell that kid oh no Danny it's not only gonna go platinum it's going but to answer your question for me I Didn't really have that oh my god because It was just another stage for me it was exciting it was Fantastic. It was fun. I realized that we were playing arenas and it was, but, but outside of it, nobody's coming to your house.

It was weird fan. You know what I mean? Where you're like, that's what I'm saying. That's not normal. Oh, you know what I mean? Like it's one thing for you to perform or to do what you're supposed to do. I just wanted to go home. I remember one time I pulled up, I, I rented a car because like, that's all you want to

do is man, I can rent a car, take my friends to McDonald's and I'm like, I'm going to go to McDonald's and I'm like, I'm going to go to McDonald's and I'm like, I'm going to go to McDonald's and I'm like, I'm going to go to McDonald's and I'm like, I'm going to go to McDonald's and I'm like, I'm going to go to McDonald's and I'm like, I'm going to go to McDonald's and I'm like, I'm going to go to McDonald's and I'm like, I'm going to go to McDonald's and I'm like, I'm going to go to McDonald's and I'm like, I'm going to go to McDonald's and I'm like, I'm going to go to McDonald's and I'm like, I'm going to go to McDonald's and I'm like, I'm going to go to McDonald's and I'm like,

I'm going to go to McDonald's and I'm like, I'm going to go to McDonald's and I'm going to go to McDonald's and I'm going to go to McDonald's and I'm going to go to McDonald's and I'm going to go to McDonald's and I'm going to go to McDonald's and I'm going to go to McDonald time, I pulled up, I rented a car because like, that's all you wanna do is, man, I can rent a car, take my friends to McDonald's. So I'd rush home on a day off and I went to my childhood home, my dad's home and, I don't know, there's 50, 60 girls outside of my house, right?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. 50 years. girls outside of my house, right? No. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 50 years. So for some reason, anybody in their right mind would have kept driving. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But you have this sense of like, no, I should be able, I wanna go home, I'm gonna go home.

That's my house. And so I pull up the driveway, which I never do. You know some things you do when you just don't like, we never went through the front door because my mother said, come through the back door with the night kids. There was just certain things that the household had. So I pull up the driveway, I run in, they're losing it. My sisters are like, what are you doing here?

What the hell are you doing here? You know, I was like, so I finally leave and I'm trying to back out as they're coming up the driveway. I'm trying to, it's tiny. It's a tiny neighbor. It's like, I'm, I'm surprised that I'm coming up on the curb so I can. Yeah, it was, it was not normal. What's high school? Are you just homeschooled after that? Like, how do you even show up?

I did ninth grade and then that summer is when it started blew up. Yeah. So did you ever go back for a prom or anything? I did I did my midterms on at 10th 10th grade. You went in to take yes, but it was an all-boys school Okay, so the girls weren't my okay. Yeah, you would not probably not even got out of that damn school. I see And then after that it was it was all home school. Yeah What are what would you say? Like you have kids who are roughly that age now? Looking back at seeing looking at them through your lens. Like what were some of the hardest things to deal with? Being that age even though you do have all the energy. And that's the time you, if you're gonna do something

like that, it's like, I'm gonna do it now and get it in. Yeah. I mean, buckle up. I mean, I, you know, I had, thankfully we all had good families. I had seminal sisters that, you know, were always keeping an eye on me,

whether I liked it or not. Keeping you in line too? Ish, yeah, enough. I mean, my mom was strict, but my dad would come out on the road and check out on me. And we'd check in with me. And you know, he'd always say, sit down and say, take five minutes for yourself.

I can go, five minutes? 17 year old is a good, 16 year old, okay dad, thanks. You know, that's the thing that I always say about my kid is like, kids have to learn it on their own. You know what I mean? There's nothing that they, it's like the teacher in Charlie Brown, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah. It really is, the teacher in Charlie Brown. Womp, womp, womp, womp, womp, womp, womp. It really is.

And it's just human nature. I think the best we can do as parents is, you know, obviously put a roof over their head, clean clothes, food, and, and try to listen, set some boundaries. But the advice thing, they got to learn on their own. They got to learn on their own. So, oh, and listen, sit down. Listen, when I blah, blah, blah, I don't think it works. When you grew up, the internet didn't exist, mother fucker.

Yeah. All that old advice. Yeah. Yeah. I mean. That's the best advice. I know that I don't say that. No, sure, sure.

Because, oh, here goes dad. Yeah, of course. I know, dad. We know dad. Yeah, we know. You know, but I recognize that that's not, you know, that that's, it's in one ear and out the other, just like every generation. So when you're in the middle of it and you guys like, I mean, also you become branded. I mean, my younger cousins, so I'm your age.

So my younger girl cousins, I mean, bro, I've been looking at you on their walls for years. You know what I mean? Looking at you on their walls. Every time I walk in, I'm like, Jesus Christ, these guys are taking pictures left and right. Yeah. Yeah. Like, um, what, I forgot what I wanted to fucking ask. So you said, let's see.

We said, we said kids and advice. Oh yeah. Um, you guys are grooving. You're in it. You ever, have you ever fallen on stage? We talked about being the bad stuff. the bad stuff? Yeah, like trips. Yeah, the funky stuff? Yeah, have you ever, I mean, it happens, but I mean, and this is before internet too. So I imagine you're not being, the Beyonce falls not on stick, but- Yeah, what did we- You ever, here, I got a great question for you. I was just telling my, I was working out my physical therapist today and I was telling them, you know, like back in the day when we would do three shows a night, the third show,

sometimes me, I would find a little difficult at times because I know I've already said this shit twice tonight, but did I already say it in this hour? You know, and I'd start getting in my own head away from being present. I'm like, fuck. I know I look, I know I'm supposed to say it two times. Did I say it? You ever do that? You ever fuck lyrics up? Well, I've been pretty good with that. I mean, I'm again, I'm a theater kid and you know, on Broadway and in New York, you know, you're doing eight shows a week. You know what I mean? So I know that is, is this the Wednesday matinee or the Sunday matinee? What the hell? Yeah.

Never fallen off stage or anything. You guys are moving so much. I always look at you guys like, man, how do they not think of like the stuff that we talk about? Do you remember when blah, blah, blah? I mean. Trying to think, I mean, well, one when we were just sort of building up steam, because before Please Don't Go Girl was really taken off, it was on the black charts,

the black music charts. OK, and it was building up steam and went to 55 and then stopped. And then we got a break on a pop station in Florida, started playing it. And that was it. It's crazy. So talk about the gatekeepers, right? You're right.

DJs back in the day were. That was it. That was it. If you could get your record played, man, that was big time. So we got some steam or whatever. There's some radio play and we had played, we had played this place out outside of Boston and it was like a church basement, but they had a couple of things going on.

And so we're going there. We're excited. We're excited about any show. You know what I'm saying? And do we, this is it. Every show was like the Superbowl. It was like, how are we going to surprise them? What's the gag? How are we going to, you know, with no money, blah, blah,

blah, we'd always ripping something off to like, as opposed to another cost, like something. So we get there, this time we're working on like a little doo-wop section, we're gonna play some instruments. And which we normally didn't do, but we mixed it up. And Donnie can play the drums, but... Let me back it up though.

We play, we drive up to this place and it's always us five in one car. Like Maurice would rent a car or he knew he had a few bucks or he would finagle a deal for a Cadillac. So we'd all pile in a Cadillac. And we drive up to this church and the parking lot is packed and we're like, oh my God, right? And Maurice Kibben, the power of radio,

the power of radio. We got down in the basement, no one's there. It's bingo upstairs. They're packed out for bingo, bro. It's bingo upstairs, bro. It is bingo. There bro. It is bingo. That's great. There's eight people in the audience. And this is the show.

Wondering where the bingo is. Yeah, and this is the show we're gonna try on our big instrumental Donnie's on the drums and he's playing in the drum set is like falling apart as he's playing, you know. So, yeah, I mean. The power of radio. The power of radio, man.

Yeah. The power of bingo, bro. Yeah, exactly. Oh man. Yeah. Yeah. Any, what's the weirdest or craziest thing any fan has ever thrown on stage at you.

Oh, thrown. Yeah. Throne. We'll come back to done. Yeah. It's wild to show up in your fucking house. When we're asked that, we go, oh, you want to tell them A or B? Like we've been asked that a lot. Um, but, um, thrown, I mean, you know, when we got over to Europe and in the UK, there's a, there's a rabid quality. Like there's those soccer fans out there and they're amazing, but they like kind of lose

their shit when they're in a crowd. All right. Okay. Like they'll throw coins up and stuff like that. You know what I mean? And you probably, they're probably drunk or maybe it's the boyfriend, who the hell knows. But they did throw a lot of stuffed animals.

And unfortunately, on our first tour over there, they threw a stuffed animal and Danny was dancing and he twisted his leg. Oh, he stepped on it? Yeah. Oh, shit. Had to leave the tour for a couple of weeks actually. For real? Yeah.

Yeah. Sadly. Yeah. That was a big stuffy. I know exactly, bro. Exactly. I remember him coming off stage and he always, he's still pissed at me. I couldn't help but laugh because he's like limping off.

Yeah. What kind of jobs? Yeah. I don't know if he, I think he forgave me or he said he did. I don't think he did though. But that was, I mean, we did feel bad. That was crazy. He had to go home and recoup. What's the cra- now see those are, they're older guys. You're the baby also of this group, right? At this point, I'm just, you know, I play that the youngest member.

But I'm saying you're the youngest, just like you're the youngest of your sisters. Right. Right. So you're watching. I mean, you're right. You're looking at a 10th grader who, and these guys would be equivalent to like fresh college freshmen. There's a big fucking difference there.

So what kind of, um, what's the craziest thing? Give me a or B the fans ever done. Well, my thing is, um, we were in Korea, came back from the gym, you know, ready to take a shower, take my clothes off. I walk into the bathroom and I closed the door and behind the door are two Korean school girls. Get the fuck out. And I screamed like a Korean school.

They scream, they scream. We all scream. I grab a towel, I run down the fricking hotel, you know, lobby and I'm like, there's girls in my room. See, it sounds like a dream, right? Sounds like every teenager's dream to have two school girls in there.

But it's not when it first happened. So, yeah, you know, there was girls that gone on the top of the bus in Chile, you know, we're like, what's that sound on the top of the bus? We opened the hatch and some girls like hanging on, you know. That is nuts, dude. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I get that like from a dude mentality, but for girls, yeah.

Yeah, yeah, no, they was, it was intense, man. What's it like to be a high schooler and walk into a store, a Target or what? I mean, I don't even know if they had Targets back then. K-Mart, whatever. Chess King. NC, yeah. NC, okay. A new kid's jacket or lunchboxes.

Oh, that's tough. Back to school. Is that fucking wild? Yeah, you know, I mean. I know you're so used to it now, but it's got to be nuts. You guys were everywhere. Do your kids know how globally out there,

everywhere you guys were? We've been playing arenas again since 2008. So my kids grew up walking. So they're seeing it. Okay, all right. So they, my kids grew up walking, so they're singing it. Okay, all right. Oh yeah, oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So it's, by the way, the credits don't transfer, of course.

You know, I'm still dad in the morning. Yeah, of course, they don't give a shit. Whatever, dad. Yeah. You know, so that's, that means nothing. You fucked that much pop you were like that. Yeah, exactly, exactly. Big time. That means nothing. Exactly. Exactly. Big time.

You know, partly, you know, we were a little dismayed at how much of a brand it became. You know, there were mistakes made along the way. We were teenagers. We were cool. And then suddenly everything is pink and fluorescent, you know, and the gatekeepers, unfortunately,

let the floodgates open without checking with us. My cousins had like bed sheets and shit. For sure. You guys, pink. So that might've been like, oh, there's another thing we don't like. You know, they used to use anything, but I mean, I guess it's partly,

partly it's like for new kids, when you say, wow, there's, cause we have gratitude all the day long, but like when you say, wow, there's a ownership to that, there's almost like a, there's a, it's a, it's a, it's a slippery slope because you can go, wow, look at me. Look what I did. So, and I'll, and I'll bring it back to when I see stuff that's solo for me, it's a little bit more like I see the work.

Okay. This is lovely. it's a little bit more like I see the work. Okay, this is lovely, but I'm reminded of the work I did to get there. Got it. You know what I'm saying? Like CBS show and I'm on billboards on Sunset Boulevard with my face on it. And I did that.

For me, there's a little bit, it's not that you're claiming it, but it's different. It makes sense to me. Nukes feels like- Someone just signed a licensing agreement. You're over there in Montgomery wards in the bed section. Right. Yeah. So it's like, what the fuck?

I'm on a beach towel right now. Like that's not because of, yeah. And also because we are a band and we are a group and we did it all together. And also was this massive mothership of, holy cow, you know what I mean? Even for all the work we did, it just, yeah, you know?

And so there's a detachment, there's a detachment to it. That's what it is, you know? And for the most part, it's a healthy detachment. You know what I mean? Um, but it is, you know, you talk about target, the new kids, uh, did a brand new full length album last year. And you know, you go with the target and there it is a target. You know what I mean? With right next to Taylor Swift's album and you know, that kind of thing. So that's very cool. And that's something to be proud of.

Yeah. Yes. Do you have a, you have one of your own action figures? You got one? So not, not on a shelf, not on a shot. Oh, I do have my, um, what are the other dogs, the new, the dolls that everybody, yeah. Funko Funko.

Yeah. Yeah. I got, got one of those last question before we wrap up here, you're a child at the time. So who's, are mom and dad protecting you through all this? Like how much are they worried about? Like this is also, you said a mothership and this thing is gone. Like how much are they, you know,

trying to really make sure you don't get exploited? And you're just a kid. You know, it was a different time. They would check in. My mother was kind of clueless at the same time. She's just like, Oh my baby, my mother was very dramatic. So there's the ticket with the grain. So sorry.

Um, how dare you? Um, like for instance, that first summer when we went on tour with, um, Tiffany, big break, I mean, big break, you know, we got to open. I remember, yeah, we went, we went from some shows in Boston to, to opening for her in 10,000 girls a night. I mean, you know, talk about those breaks, you know? And, um, at the end of that summer, we're going to keep going obviously. And I remember calling her. I remember the phone call, the motel sitting on the bed, calling my mom saying,

mom, this thing is going to continue. So I'm going to have to get a tutor. What? Like she didn't, she didn't put two and two together. Yeah. She saw the hysteria. She saw the hit record. She saw everything happen. She didn't connect one and one and go, Oh my God. You know? So it was that very homegrown organic learn as you go, learn as you go also. Family, learn as you go. Working class, who knows what, you know? And of course that was, you know, that was such a big part of the fabric of who we were. You know what I mean?

And I, I more and more, you know, people ask how or what it was, it was our parents. It was our working class, Boston, up from your bootstraps, go get them, it's all in your attitude. You know, that's who made us. That's who made us. And then, you know, from there we try not to mess it up.

That's great, dude. Thank you for doing this. Thank you. I'm gonna ask you advice you'd give to 16 year old Joey Magatakis. Yeah, your life. I like that doing this. Thank you. I'm going to ask you advice. You'd give to 16 year old Joey McAteigas. Yeah. I like that. Oh me. Yeah. You not giving it to 16 year old man. Just me. You look going back and saying, bro, here's something I want to tell you because you're a to new kids at that point, right? I don't know, man. I want to answer the question, but it's just like, there's nothing you can tell a 16 year old.

There's nothing you can tell a 16 year old. You know, it's like, my dad would say, take it easy. Easy does it. You know, what'd he say? Take five for yourself? Take five minutes for yourself. Ha ha ha! That's good advice, though.

These days, my grandmother used to say, I'm gonna take five. She'd always say that, like, what the fuck's five minutes gonna do for you? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Thank you, brother. Thank you very much. Thanks for having me. Please promote one more time again. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Thank you, brother. Thank you very much. Of course.

Please promote one more time again. Oh yeah. Yeah. Uh, freedom tour, April, Joey McIntyre.com for the dates and, uh, come see me and check out the album freedom. And then new kids are in Vegas. This, this, uh, we didn't even talk to Vegas residency too. So how long have you been doing that?

No, we start, we start June 20th. June 20th this year? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Is that nightly? How many shows a week do you have to do?

They call it a residency, but it's really bands come in and out acts come in and out. So you're not there. You know, we have eight shows at a time. These different chunks of shows. Yeah. So it's a lot easier than jumping on a bus and doing 70 dates at the MGM. Yeah.

I'll do. I'm coming to see that. Where Asher was and Bruno. Yeah. So we got all the bells and whistles. So it's going to be fun. Thank you. Yeah.

As always Ryan Sickler on your social media, Ryan sickler.com. We'll talk to y'all next week.