AJ McLean
A foundational voice of the Backstreet Boys, whose harmonies helped define the sound of a generation and fuel the biggest boy band in history.
Born 1978 (age 48)·American singer, member of Backstreet Boys·Birthday: January 9·Generation X
Biography
AJ McLean brought a distinctive edge and soulful lower register to the meticulously crafted pop of the Backstreet Boys. Discovered as a teenager in Orlando, Florida, he became part of the group's original five-piece lineup, with his tattoos and rock-influenced style offering a counterpoint to their clean-cut image. His vocal prowess was crucial to their signature layered harmonies on mega-hits like 'I Want It That Way.' McLean's journey was also a public one, as he navigated struggles with substance abuse and mental health, eventually emerging as an advocate for sobriety and self-care. Through the group's astronomical success, hiatus, and resilient comeback tours, he has remained a candid and energetic pillar, embodying both the extravagant highs and human complexities of life in pop music.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
AJ was born in 1978, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When AJ Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
AJ's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1983Started school
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Became a teenager
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Could drive
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 40
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 48 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- As a member of the Backstreet Boys, has sold over 100 million records worldwide, making them the best-selling boy band of all time.
- Co-wrote several Backstreet Boys songs, including 'The One' and 'Larger Than Life.'
- Launched a solo country music project and released the EP 'Country City' in 2022.
- Starred on Broadway as DJ in the musical 'Rent.'
Did You Know?
He is an avid collector of horror movie memorabilia and vintage toys.
He is a trained tattoo artist and has done work on his bandmates.
He competed on the 29th season of 'Dancing with the Stars.'
His first solo music venture was a 2010 pop-rock album titled 'Have It All.'
““We're not a boy band, we're a man band.””
