Backstreet Boys' A.J. McLean checks into rehab, group postpones tour

update: Backstreet Boys member A.J. McLean has checked into a rehabilitation clinic for treatment of depression, anxiety and alcohol abuse, the group announced on Monday (7/9). McLeans 30-day treatment has forced the group to postpone most of the remaining dates on its summer tour.

The group plans to resume touring on Aug. 7 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Performances originally scheduled to take place between July 9 and Aug. 6 will be made up between Sept. 4 and Sept. 28, according to a press release. Details appear below.

Tickets for the postponed shows will be honored at the make-up dates, and refunds will also be available at the point of purchase, the press release said.

Backstreet Boys members Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson, Howie Dorough and Brian Littrell made the announcement about McLean on Mondays (7/9) edition of MTV's "Total Request Live." The group attributed some of McLeans troubles to the recent death of his grandmother.

"She just passed away recently and that kind of just sent it over the edge," Richardson said during the appearance.

Dorough added that, though the group is currently planning to resume touring immediately following McLeans 30-day treatment, the group is prepared for an additional delay.

"A.J.'s health is most important to us," said Dorough. "We love him as a brother. If, after 30 days, he needs more time than that, well give him time. We're just really keeping our fingers crossed and counting on A.J. coming back. He knows he has a problem. He wants to get it fixed."

In a joint statement issued following their MTV appearance, Carter, Richardson, Dorough and Littrell said that they had been advised by some to keep McLeans condition a secret, but had chosen to reveal the truth nonetheless.

"It's been suggested that we not be so forthcoming about this situation, as many artists in the industry have in the past," reads the statement, "but we feel compelled as a group to be honest with our fans and not let them down. AJ is our friend and our brother and we whole-heartedly support him during this difficult time. Fortunately, AJ has realized he can't solve his problems by himself."

Earlier in the day on Monday (7/9)--and prior to the groups announcement about McLean--tour promoter Clear Channel Entertainment (formerly SFX) announced that the groups Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday night performances in Boston had been postponed due to Carter's fractured right hand.

Backstreet Boys last performed at Bostons FleetCenter on Saturday night (7/7), and were scheduled to give three more performances at the venue on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights (7/9-7/11). Carter was wearing a cast on his injured right hand during Saturday nights performance and during the group's appearance on MTV on Monday.

Backstreet Boys tour kicked off last month, and was originally scheduled to run until Aug. 31.

LiveDaily Contributing Writer Christina Fuoco contributed to this report.

TOUR DATES
 tour dates and tickets
August
7 - Vancouver, BC - General Motors Place
9 - Tacoma, WA - Tacoma Dome
10 - Portland, OR - Rose Garden
11 - Seattle, WA - Key Arena
12 - Bakersfield, CA - Centennial Garden Con. Ctr
13 - San Jose, CA - San Jose Arena
16 - Los Angeles, CA - Great Western Forum
18 - San Bernardino, CA - Glen Helen Blockbuster
20 - Salt Lake City, UT - Delta Center
22 - Denver, CO - Pepsi Center
24 - Milwaukee, WI - Bradley Center
25 - Cincinnati, OH - Firstar Center
26 - St. Louis, MO - Riverport Amphitheatre
27 - Kansas City, MO - Kemper Arena
29 - Houston, TX - Compaq Center
30 - San Antonio, TX - Alamodome
31 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Arena


Rescheduled shows

September
4 - Uniondale, NY - Nassau Coliseum
6, 7 - East Rutherford, NJ - Continental Airlines Arena
8-10 - Boston, MA - Fleet Center
12-14 - Toronto, Ontario - Air Canada Center
15 - Kanata, Ontario - Corel Centre
17 - Montreal, Ontario - Molson Center
19 - Cleveland, OH - Gund Arena
20 - Detroit, MI - The Palace
22 - Chicago, IL - Tweeter Center
23 - Minneapolis, MN - Target Center
26, 27 - Calgary, Ontario - Saddledome
28 - Edmonton, Ontario - Sky Reach

 tour dates and tickets
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