It was 1990, I was 19 about to turn 20 years old, and I became a fan that year immediately right after seeing the video, “Step by Step” for the first time on cable television. Too bad, I never really paid much attention to them during the Hanging Tough period; therefore, I had lots of catching up to do.

I began purchasing all the teen pop magazines (16, Teen Beat, Bop, Fresh, etc.) I had to catch each and every article, and picture of them there was to be. Try to picture a grown adult woman sighlently freaking out in a grocery store while looking a magazine picture of Joey! I thought the cartoon series was the cheesiest thing since nachos, but I used to live every Saturday morning to see those little live bits they’d have of the guys towards the ending of each cartoon. I’ll never forget one particular cartoon with a live version of Joey performing solo the song, “Treat Me Right”.

I never could understand why people hated them so much. I got the chance to attend two of the Magic Summer concerts that year. I remember doing a lot of video recording of their television appearances, and magazine collecting; but God knows where those things are now. I surely wish I had them today.

1991 rolled around, I was becoming more of a fanatic, but by then they seemed to fade away…..at least in the United States. Sadly, the fan craze came to an end.

But here we go again in 2008! Staples Center 10/08/08, here I come! New Kids OWN the Block now.

Great blog, Hilary

_Diahann
Laguna Niguel, California