Billionaire Industrialist Buys Backstreet Boys' Plane, Fans Crushed

Pavarotti Killington
The Citizen

RENO - To the chagrin of Backstreet Boys' fans, Bruno Komp, billionaire industrialist and aviation collector, is now the owner of the jet that appeared in the group's music video, "I Want it That Way."

The Boeing 727 was bought by Komp for a staggering $5 million Friday night, outbidding the $3.5 million collective effort of BSB United, the Backstreet Boys' largest fan club.

"We can't believe it." Darcy Templeton, founder of BSB United, said while holding back tears. "It was supposed to be the prized piece in United's memorabilia collection. Fans worldwide donated to this cause. Some even sold their dripping wet Nick (Carter) posters. That's a huge commitment. We already cleared out a spot smack in the middle of the museum. It was supposed to go next to the framed piece of t-shirt I tore off of A.J. (McLean) during the guys' 1999 TRL appearance and the lock of Howie's (Dorough) hair I cut off backstage in Stockholm during the Black and Blue Tour."

Templeton began to sob uncontrollably. "We only hope that A.J., Howie, Brian (Littrell), Nick and Kevin (Richardson) aren't disappointed with us. We love you guys so much."

Komp said he felt bad for the fan club members but, at the same time, was overjoyed to add the jet to his already vast collection.

"This is a day collectors like me live for," Komp said while clutching the jet's keys to his heart. "This is what it's all about, adding a jet of such history, such magnitude, to their collection. And it's mine, all mine. Look, show me the meaning of being lonely, I'm sure it doesn't include having over 65 pieces of aviation history in your collection. I'm a big dick player. I want it that way. I'm larger than life, baby."

Backstreet Boys' member Brian Littrell commented on the disappointment felt by BSB United and shocked members by saying the Backstreet Boys would donate one of the jet's used during the Black and Blue Tour to the fan club's memorabilia collection.

"What can we say," Littrell said. "We love our fans so much and we hate to see them so unhappy. This plane is a reflection of how much our fans mean to us. And on another note, we love every backdrop that we've ever slow motion walked and sang in front in front of. That plane isn't just a plane. We're happy for Bruno but it's still a part of us and it saddens us that it is no longer a part of us. But that's okay. We're just ecstatic that the Black and Blue 727 is in a place where it can truly be celebrated."

Responding to Littrell's statement, Templeton said, "Screw the plane. Brian said they love us. They really love us. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh my God," before she collapsed and was rushed to the emergency room.

Dawkins Medical Center officials said Templeton's condition was stable and that she merely suffered from panic attack like symptoms.

The money donated to purchasing the jet by BSB United members is being returned to members, Nikki Stewart, chief financial officer of BSB United, said.

"We're hearing rumors that a mattress Kevin soiled after drinking a little too much one night is going to be available soon," Stewart said. "We hope members will show just as much generosity if not more considering what happened. We don't want to lose out to some kind of soiled mattress collector next time out."

BSB United has more than 25 million members worldwide.

"I Want it That Way" was the first single off of the Backstreet Boys' 1999 platinum album "Millennium." It reached the number one spot on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks where it stayed for 14 weeks. It set a record for most weeks at number one on the Top 40 Mainstream chart. The song also received three Grammy nominations, including one for "Record of the Year."

The members of the Backstreet Boys are Howie Dorough, A.J. McLean, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson.