98° Chat Transcripts

Thank you to http://talk.to/JeffTimmons for the transcripts!

98º Chat Transcript: Yahoo, July 27th, 1999

Jeff: Hello everybody! It's our pleasure to be on react.com today to be chatting and getting feedback from our fans. We take it very seriously and are more than pleased to be here today!

Question #1: Where is 98º?
Jeff: Right now we're in Los Angeles at the studio recording songs for our Christmas album. It's going to feature live orchestration. It will have a classical feel and it will be out in October.

Question #2: Do you guys only like pop music since that is what you sing?
Jeff: Actually, we are a very electric group and have a wide variety of music. Nick is more into rap and hip hop. Justin's into RnB, old school. Drew is into alternative rock and I'm more into pop, RnB, and classic rock.

Question #3: How hard is it to deal with being on the road so much and being away from your family and friends?
Jeff: It can be very, very difficult at times. That's probably the biggest drawback of this career, being away from our friends and family. But the perks are awesome, getting to go all around the world and meeting cool people. So, it's a cool job, but it definitely has some drawbacks.

Question #4: What is the craziest thing a fan has ever done to meet you?
Jeff: We've had some fans do some pretty crazy things. A few times we've had fans hide in laundry carts in hotels. And when they come to our room they jump out and take pictures. We have had girls hide in our tour buses and we've even had girls find out our home phone numbers and call our parents trying to meet us.

Question #5: Who is your inspiration and why?
Jeff: I was really inspired by Boyz II Men. I loved their smooth harmonies and soulful feel. And Take 6 inspired us because of their harmonies as well.

Question #6: How do you all keep yourselves grounded so that the fame doesn't go to your heads?
Jeff: You just have to put everything into proper perspective, and look at what we're doing as a gift and an opportunity that most people don't have. And to keep in mind that whoever gave us this opportunity can quickly take it away if it gets to our head.

Question #7: How much mail do you get on an everyday average?
Jeff: Wow, it's hard to say. We're starting to get mail by the thousands every day now. Nick and Drew's mom runs the fan club but it's getting too hectic for her to actually do everything by herself now.

Question #8: What is it like being so popular and how have you gotten this far and what is it like being a "boy band" and have you ever met 'N Sync?
Jeff: Thank you for all of your compliments, we're very flattered. We got started together in the summer of 95. We got discovered backstage at a Boyz II Men concert, and we don't really consider ourselves a boy band because we're too old for that! And yes we have met NSYNC, we're great friends with them.

Question #9: How does it feel that you get to tour with "All That"?
Jeff: It feels great, because now we're getting an opportunity to reach a fan base that we've never reached before. Now we're getting to reach a younger fan base that's 8 to 15, and the fans have been very enthusiastic. And now Nick is here!

Question #10: What is your favorite song to perform?
Nick: Thank you! We're very glad and excited you've seen our shows. I think my favorite to perform in concert is The Hardest Thing, because it was such a big hit and to see the crowd's reaction is great. I Do, now, I think it's a beautiful song and now it's our new single, it's great to hear the crowd's reaction, now that they recognize it from the radio.

Question #11: Do you guys have any advice for an aspiring singer/writer?
Nick: I would say definitely follow your dream in life whatever it may be. It's great to see other people interested in music. And just believe it can happen to you, have faith and work towards your goals and believe it can happen to you.

Question #12: Would you guys consider doing a video for "Fly
With Me?"
Jeff: The idea of a video for Fly With Me has been thrown around a bit. Definitely if it comes out as a single, there will be a video to go along with it.

Question #13: What is the weirdest question a fan has ever asked you?
Nick: Any idea Jeff?
Jeff: It was funny, because Drew got a letter from a 10 year old girl the other day that asked him to fly away with her and get married!

Question #14: So do any of you guys have any celebrity crushes?
Nick: Sure! I think Justin is in love with Jennifer Lopez. We find it hard to consider ourselves celebrities so we are always excited to meet celebrities. I know we met Alyssa Milano and we were excited about that!

Question #15: How did you get on General Hospital?
Jeff: We're not exactly sure! I know GH is trying to incorporate artists and musicians on their show, and I think they approached our publicist.
Nick: I think the casting director's daughter mentioned she thought it would be cool to have us on the show.

Question #16: What are your definitions of success? Chart topping songs? Being famous? What?
Jeff: I think our main thing is just honestly seeing people enjoy our music, and getting positive feedback about our performances and what we do as artists.

Question #17: Since you guys have become more popular, has it
had an effect on your friendships?
Nick: I think the experiences we've gone thru as a group, both bad and good, have strengthened our friendships. So success is something we've all enjoyed together and has been strengthening.

Question #18: If you had to give up singing for something, what
would it be?
Jeff: I'd give it up just to be a family man, and maybe work with kids as a child psychologist or a teacher.
Nick: Something in sports, maybe a sportscaster.

Question #19: Who would you like to do a duet with?
Nick: Wow. I've always had a dream to do a duet with Sade.
Jeff: I would say Mariah Carey I would love to hear us do a song with.

Question #20: How did you end up picking the Doritos girl?
Nick: That was a suggestion from Wayne Isham who directed the video. And we trust Wayne.

Question #21: Who are your influences?
Jeff: I think we've been influenced as a group by lots of genres of music, from classic rock, RnB, doo wop, classical, and others. We have lots of interests as a group and we bring those influences to the table to form our sound.

Question #22: Who gets the most fanmail in your group?
Nick: LOL! Boy that's a tough call. Probably I would say Drew, being the youngest and cutest. He gets the most, especially from younger ones.

Question #23: Have any of you gone to college... and if not, what are you planning to major in?
Jeff: I majored in psychology, I have a little over a semester left, and someday I intend on finishing.
Nick: I went to college and majored in sports medicine.

Question #24: Being from Ohio, are you guys excited about the return of the Cleveland Browns?
Jeff: I am overjoyed by the return of the Cleveland Browns and I predict a Super Bowl victory this year!
Nick: I am excited only because I am sure they will be as bad as ever, and so I predict the Bengals will have an easy time with them.

Question #25: How was it working with the legendary Stevie Wonder (on "True To Your Heart"?)
Nick: That was definitely a dream for us, he has certainly been a huge influence on music in general and certainly on us. So to work with Stevie Wonder this early in our career was a great honor.

Question #26: What do you guys do in your off time?
Jeff: When we have spare time we like to spend it with friends and family. And just hang out. And if we don't have time to go home, maybe just try to play some sports, watch some TV, stuff like that.

Question #27: Nick, do you find it hard being with your brother 24/7?
Nick: LOL! No harder than it is to be with any of the other guys 24-7. He and I have a good relationship and we're more like best friends than brothers. And the other guys are more like brothers than best friends, so it's all mixed up!

Question #28: When did you begin singing?
Jeff: We all started singing at different times. I started in school and in choir, and got serious late in high school.
Nick: I've been singing, I started in church when I was six or seven and was singing in different choirs.

Question #29: How did you get Screech from Saved By The Bell to be in your "I Do" video?
Nick: We had to throw a lot of money at him to lure him in! No, we approached him about doing the video, and he was interested, so we just worked it out.

Question #30: Jeff, what does that Chinese tattoo on your chest say?
Jeff: Heaven and good luck.

Question #31: What is it like to have fans chasing you all around? Can you even go anywhere?
Nick: It's definitely been an adjustment, as we've become more successful. But we're always excited to meet our fans and it's all very flattering.

Question #32: How often do you work out or exercise? Because all of you guys are in such great shape!
Jeff: We're very flattered. We don't get to work out as much as we'd like to because we're on the road all the time, but we try to get to the gym and play some basketball, do something aerobic, at least twice a week.

Question #33: When you were younger, did you see yourself having this much success?
Nick: Wow. I think that for me personally I'd always enjoyed singing, but never really believed I could be this successful at it until four or five years ago.

Question #34: If you could be president, what would you do?
Jeff: I would try to help the economy in some ways, do something for health insurance so it was available to all people at all times. And possibly do something about the homeless people in this country.

Question #35: How do you feel about the recent backlash against the pop culture?
Nick: I'd definitely try and fix the problems in our country before we tried to fix other countries. I think, it's my theory, it's jealousy a little bit, due to the fact that pop music provides more opportunities to pop groups that other groups don't have. Maybe there's a backlash because of that.

Question #36: If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
Jeff: I think I'd want to read people's minds.
Nick: I'd be invisible.

Question #37: How has the success affected your personal lives?
Nick: You have to make certain adjustments, your personal life isn't quite as personal anymore and you have to be prepared for that.

Question #38: What is the most important thing in your life?
Nick: For all of us I feel comfortable in saying that it is our families.

Question #39: What is your favorite cereal?
Nick: That's a tough question. Mine would have to be very uncool Wheaties. I can't answer for anybody else!

Question #40: Does it get annoying that people only focus on your outer appearance rather than your incredible musical talents?
Jeff: Lately it hasn't happened as much as it did when we first came out. The more records we have out, if they haven't respected our music, they are starting to. People begin to realize what goes into the music.

Question #41: Who were each of your role models?
Nick: Mine is definitely my father for a general life role model.
Jeff: I'd have to say the same thing. My dad has always given us everything as kids, we were never without, and he always bettered himself in the work field and as a person.

Question #42: Where did you get the idea for the "I Do" video?
Jeff: We had a slight idea of being with a girl, and all of us liking the same girl, but Wayne Isham really developed the idea an took it to the next level.

Question #43: What type of books are you most interest in?
Nick: I like reading spy, war books, Tom Clancy books.
Jeff: I'm into inspirational books, books that feel good, The Alchemist is good, and Conversations With God, that's very uplifting.

Question #44: Do you guys write any of your songs? If so, where do you get the inspiration for them?
Nick: We've had an opportunity to write some of the songs on our album, and I think our inspiration comes from every day life. Relationships, etc.

Question #45: Jeff, What inspired you to form a band?
Jeff: Well, I heard Boyz II Men sing and thought they were amazing, and I just figured there was a place out there for another group like that. And it was the right time in my life to do something like that, and I just kind of went for it.

Question #46: Do you guys have any pre-show rituals you do?
Nick: We always pray before we go out on stage, so ourselves and our band get focused and prepared for the show.

Question #47: Do you get treated any differently from friends?
Jeff: Yeah, once in a while that happens now, usually you know who likes you because of you and who likes you for being in 98º. You can see through it, and see who are trying to be your friends for the wrong reason.
Nick: I think people who were true friends from the beginning are the same now as they've ever been.

Question #48: What is the most stressful thing about your job?
Nick: I'd have to say just the general schedule, it being so busy.

Question #49: What is your favorite type of food?
Jeff: Steak and seafood. Those are the best!
Nick: Pizza and ice cream!

Question #50: How many songs will you guys be singing on the All That Music and More Festival?
Jeff: We do about a fifty minute set, so about eight songs.

Question #51: What was the most embarrassing moment on stage you've ever been through?
Jeff: Geez. I have a long list of faux pas on the stage. I think the most embarrassing one was when I was backing up in Toronto singing to a girl and trying to be all cool. And I backed up into a floor monitor and my mike flew into the audience.

Question #52: What is the hardest thing you had to cope with?
Nick: I think losing a loved one is always a hard thing to deal with. That would have to be mine, losing my grandfather.
Jeff: I think the hardest thing was I lost my grandmother to cancer a little over two years ago and we were very, very close.

Question #53: Do you have girlfriends?
Jeff: Yes, I have a girlfriend.
Nick: I do, too.

Question #54: Do you guys have any pets?
Nick: That's what we need, a good tour dog!
Jeff: We need a little mascot.

Question #55: What was your favorite video to shoot?
Nick: Mine would still have to be The Hardest Thing, because it was so different, we actually got to play, be a boxer for a day.
Jeff: I think mine was Because Of You, because we got to perform on top of the Golden Gate Bridge. It cured me of my fear of heights. Not really!

Question #56: What is the one thing you bring on the road that you just can't live without?
Nick: Hmm. I think for me it would have to be my CDs. We don't get to bring much.
Jeff: You got to have good books, too.

Question #57: Out of the group, who got the best grades in school?
Nick: It definitely was not Drew or Justin in high school.
Jeff: Nick got the best grades.

Question #58: Do any of you play instruments? If so, which and for how long?
Nick: We all actually play instruments. Drew's played drums for 10 years. Justin has played trombone for 14 years. I have played the sax for about 14 years.
Jeff: I played the trumpet for like eight years.

Question #59: Down the road, when you all have families and one of your children tells you they want to sing professionally, at what age would you let them?
Jeff : Interesting question.
Nick: I think this can be difficult for young people. So maybe 16.
Jeff: That's a good age.

Question #60: What's your worst habit?
Jeff: Biting my nails.
Nick: Mine too actually.

Question #61: What was the best practical joke you ever played on someone? And what was the best practical joke ever played on you?
Jeff: When I was in college I called one of my college buddies and pretended I was a girl and that I wanted to meet him. I arranged to meet him in a courtyard in the middle of all the dorms at three in the morning and told everybody. And he got all dressed up and went, and everybody looked out and laughed at him. It was kind of mean but...

Question #62: Who sings the first verse in "Do You Wanna Dance?" Is it Drew or Justin?
Jeff: It's Drew.

Question #63: What do you miss most about your "normal" lives?
Jeff: I think I miss having a house and a car and free time to spend.

Question #64: Where do you think you will be 10 years from now?
Jeff: I think we'll definitely still be involved in the music business, if not with 98 degrees, we'll be writing and producing. I think hopefully we'll be doing the same thing we're doing, and that we'll continue to grow as artists.

Jeff: We want to thank the fans for their support, and thanks to react.com for having us on. See you!

Jeff Timmons Chat Transcript: AOL, November 19, 1999

OnlineHost: Welcome!
Jeff: Hello! Glad to be here.
OnlineHost: We are joined by Jeff from 98 Degrees. How are you in Melbourne today?
Jeff: I'm great; everything here is so beautiful.

OnlineHost: I was just wondering if you guys are planning on coming out with 98 Degrees dolls. Kinda like Spice Girl dolls!
Jeff: Well, although it would be kinda cool to have our own dolls out, I don't think that we'll ever do that because we want to avoid being considered a corny boy band that was put together for marketing purposes.

Question: Jeff, what are you looking for in a girl?
Jeff: I like a girl with a great sense of humor because I'm never serious!

Comment: I love the song "Dreaming" on the first CD. The part that says "I know how your lips taste and feel, though I've never kissed them for real." Ahhhh, it's the best song! And Drew, Jeff, Justin and Nick... heaven is missing 4 angels... not just one!

Question: Hi, 98 Degrees. I really think you are the greatest, you're hot and spiritual. Your song "I Do" was so beautiful, my boyfriend sang it to me and I melted. Well my question is, are you guys coming to NYC anytime soon?
Jeff: Yes, we'll be in New York on Thanksgiving day for the Macy’s parade. We'll also be performing in Times Square on New Year's Eve to bring in the new millennium.

OnlineHost: Do you guys feel that there is tension between you and other boy bands?
Jeff: No. Absolutely not. We are great friends with ‘NSYNC, as a matter of fact, mainly because we aren't a boy band. We write and produce many of our songs, and we actually sing live.

Comment: Hey, 98 Degrees. When is one of your new CDs coming out? I have "98 and Rising" and the Christmas album, and they are both wicked cool. But I think it's time for a new one, don't you think? Erin from Massachusetts.

Comment: I love you guys so much! Love you, Michelle from Ohio.

Question: What do you guys do in your free time?
Jeff: I like to write music, read good books, and spend time with friends and family.

Comment: Nick and Jeff, I think that you guys are so hot and your bodies are just so gorgeous!

OnlineHost: How do like Australia so far?
Jeff: Well, we've only been here a couple of hours, but we are having fun so far.

Question: 98 Degrees, who did you look up to when you were kids?
OnlineHost: In the music industry....
Jeff: When I was a kid I really thought Michael Jackson was the greatest. Then I got into Guns ‘N Roses, and Metallica, and then finally Boyz II Men.

OnlineHost: Hey, guys, I love you. Anyway, are you coming out with a new CD soon?
Jeff: Thank you. Yes, we are coming out with a Christmas album. It's in stores now, and it is by far our best work. Please check it out.

OnlineHost: Hi, Jeff, just wanted to know, what do you do when you are in the touring bus?
Jeff: We like to play music really loud, watch movies and play Sega Dreamcast and PlayStation.

Comment: I love 98 Degrees. I think your music is a wonderful inspiration, and I like that you guys have a sense of humor and aren't stuck up. I just wanted to say that I love your music and that I think you guys do a great job. So thanks for taking the time to read this. Bye!

Question: When did you first become a band? How did you all first meet?
Jeff: We first met when I met Nick in Los Angeles, and he brought Justin and Drew out to join the group. That was the summer of 1995.

OnlineHost: Just wanted to know, how do you prepare for a show?
Jeff: We just think about the show, what type of audience and the location, come up with the set list, and say a prayer before taking the stage.

Comment: I love your song "I Do Cherish You" because that's me and my boyfriend's song. We listened to that on our first date. The first song we danced and kissed to was "The Hardest Thing." I really like your songs because they're full of emotion. Keep it up.

Question: Who is y’all’s biggest influence as a group? -- Danielle
Jeff: Boyz II Men and Take 6.

Question: OK, guys, we gotta know, boxers or briefs?
Jeff: Most of us wear boxers or boxer-briefs, but no one wears briefs, ever.

Question: What suggestions would you give to someone who wants to enter the music business?

Jeff: Practice your art, sing for anyone and everyone you meet, have faith in yourself and a higher power, and always, ALWAYS stay humble, no matter what.

Question: Hi 98, your music has truly touched me, and I know that there are a ton of people that like you, and it's hard to answer everyone, but I just really am thankful to have such awesome music, and I love that. Please keep on with the great music, I love you guys.

Comment: 98 Degrees, I like you because of your voices and songs, not only for your looks! (I just thought you would like to know that!)

Question: How did you come up with the band name 98 Degrees?
Jeff: We had a bunch of silly names before it, like Just Us, Verse 4, Next Issue, and Inertia, and we finally wanted a hot name, one that represents heat and passion, like our music.

OnlineHost: Hello! Do you go online often? Do you have a web site?
Jeff: No, we don't get a chance to get online very often, but we do have a web site at www.98Degrees.com. Also there are tons and tons of wonderful fan sites that we've got a chance to check out on the net.

Comment: Hi! My name's Amy and I think you guys are very sweet in the inside and out. :) <3 I like you, Jeff!

Question: How do you feel about having to leave your friends and family so often to tour?
Jeff: I absolutely hate leaving my family to go on tour, but it is a sacrifice that we must make to seize the opportunities that we've been given to be successful.

OnlineHost: What do you plan on doing ten years from now? Do you have other interests?
Jeff: Well, hopefully if we are still enjoying ourselves, and our fans allow us, we'll still be singing, writing, and producing music.

OnlineHost: Unfortunately, that's all we have time for today! A big thank you to Jeff for chatting with us today.
Jeff: We just want to thank AOL for having us today, and thank our fans for supporting us all along the way. We love you. God bless.

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