Hometown Heart Breaker
Catching Up With Joey McIntyre

Interview By Samantha House Photographs By Joe Greene

Back in 1989, if you told me I was going to meet New Kid on the Block Joey McIntyre, I would have squealed with glee and called at my friends to brag. Now that I'm a little older, and more mature, such things don't affect me way. So when I had a chance to do a photo shoot with the Jamaica Plain native and talk to him about his new album, 8:09, I thought, "I'll just be cool." Unfortunately, that was in no way what happened once he actually arrived.

McIntyre showed up on time with his new wife Barrett, who looks like a petite supermodel. He shook everyone's hand, and his quick wit and easy manner made it clear why women around the world swoon over him. To calm my nerves, I turned my attention to the clothes. I handed him a pair of white pants and told him that if he was wearing colored undies, we couldn't use them because they'd show through. My face turned five shades of red when he replied, "Don't worry, I'm not wearing any."
When I finally got up the courage to ask him a little more about himself' here's what he had to say.

Samantha House: You just finished a new album, how do you feel about it?
Joey McIntyre: I'm thrilled. Artistically, we slaved over it, and I think the intent of the record came out in the finished product.

SH: Describe the music.
JM: It's inspired by more old school R&B with a modern production feel, but it's really about the songs.

SH: What's the story behind the album?
JM: When I went out to do Boston Public, I needed a place to stay. The real estate broker (Barrett, now his wife) found me a place and the address was 809. That's where I wrote the album. The funny thing is that Barrett and I met on 8/09 and got married on 8/09, so it's a pretty significant number.

SH: How much time do you spend in Boston?
JM: I visit about four times per year for a few weeks at a time. I like to catch all the seasons.

SH: What do you miss about Boston when you're gone?
JM: It's so differnt from LA and New York. I an relave here--its a getaway. To quote Joe Perry: "It's a world-class city with a small-town feel".

SH: Where do you like to hang out when you're here?
JM: Aquitaine Bis in Chestnut Hill and Doyle's are my favorites.

SH: When we talked in 2002, you were just staring your stint on Boston Public. Now that it's over, how do you feel about the experience?
JM: It was awesome--getting that gig changed by life--I moved to LA, met my wife and wrote my record. Working on a show like that was a great learning experience. I really enjoyed the process of it all.

SH: What's next for you?
JM: I plan to go on tour in the summer and just do a lot of promoting.

SH: Are you planning to make any videos for your album--and what about future projects with MTV?
JM: With this album, I plan on making some videos, but they will probably end up on VH1 rather than MTV.

SH: You just got married, how is that treating you?
JM:It's Awesome. We're always together because I don't want to have to run back and forth from coast to coast. When you are traveling around, you just want to have your wife with you. She's an awesome person and very supportive. I really appreciate and depend on her opinion.

SH: Finally, please assure us that you and Barrett will never do a reality show based on your life together.
JM: Not based on our marriage. I like Nick and Jess. I think they're real people and they're able to pull off their show. I think they were somehow able to keep dignity--which is hard to do in a situation. A year ago I would have said they were crasyfor doing it. But in the day and age, it's a good to show people whare you're doing.