Jeff Timmons and 98 Degrees return

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Stark County had a direct link to the ’90s boy-band scene in Jeff Timmons, a 1991 Washington High School grad.

Timmons was part of 98 Degrees, a pop-R&B foursome known for creamy vocal harmonies and dreamy All-American looks. The guys scored hits with “Because of You,” “The Hardest Thing,” “I Do (Cherish You),” “Thank God I Found You” and “Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche),” and sold more than 10 million albums in the U.S.

After the group unceremoniously broke apart in late 2001, Timmons released a solo album titled “Whisper This Way,” toured with Jim Brickman, appeared in a VH1 reality series “Mission: Man Band,” hosted the Miss USA 2011 pageant and did a guest-star stint with Chippendales in Las Vegas.

Timmons’ bandmates, all Cincinnati natives, have stayed in the spotlight. Nick Lachey starred in a high-profile VH1 reality series, “Newlyweds,” with his then-wife Jessica Simpson, released a hit solo album, “What’s Left of Me,” and hosted an NBC singing-competition series “The Sing-Off.” Drew Lachey, Nick’s brother, won season two of TV’s “Dancing With the Stars” and appeared on Broadway in “Monty Python’s Spamalot.” And Justin Jeffre ran for mayor of Cincinnati.

Now reunited and with a new album titled “2.0,” 98 Degrees will appear in concert with New Kids on the Block and Boyz II Men on June 9 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. Here, Timmons talks about being 40 and back on the boy-band scene.

Q. This is the first 98 Degrees tour since 2001, how are rehearsals going?
A. “We’re a little older, of course. But I think the fact that we’ve been doing stuff on our own has made the group better vocally and in the performing aspects as well. We had to hone our craft. Before it was always the other guys onstage, and you didn’t have to be ‘on’ at all times. I think we’re way better than before. We’re more relaxed, more seasoned, we’re all bringing our own flavors. It’s not so structured.”

Q. I bet you’re glad to not be one of those super choreographed groups. That might really make you feel old.
A. “We’re actually dancing a little more than in the past. We’ve stepped up that part of our game. But we’ve all kept in pretty good shape. I think a couple of us are in the best shape of our lives.”

Q. What’s it like touring with New Kids and Boyz II Men? Did you know these guys already?
A. “I know Jordan (Knight from NKOTB) fairly well, and Drew’s great friends with Joey (McIntyre, also from NKOTB) from when they were on ‘Dancing With the Stars’ together. Nick knows Boyz II Men from ‘The Sing-Off.’  We had this real cool press junket with the groups. Having Boyz II Men next to me was incredible. They’re the reason we formed a group in the first place.”

Q. And you’ve just released a new 98 Degrees album. What’s it like?
A. “After we decided to get back together, we thought we should do some new music. We knocked it out fairly quickly. We didn’t write anything this time. We had a couple hundred songs to pick from. We’re blessed to have a song by Bruno Mars called ‘Long Way Home.’ We’ve got a song by Ne-Yo called ‘Lonely.’ We’ve got a whole diverse array of things. There’s some throwback stuff; one kinda sounds like Michael Jackson. There’s some contemporary dance vibe. It’s more well-rounded than our albums in the past.”

Q. Have you kept in close touch with Nick, Drew and Justin all these years?
A. “We did but not as much as we should’ve. Three of us have kids. Nick was doing stuff with Jessica, then hosting ‘The Sing-Off.’ Drew did ‘Dancing with the Stars.’ Justin was doing politics. I did my solo record, and I went and stripped in Chippendales — that was a blast. But now we’re closer than ever. We were working so hard the first time, it was difficult to take a breath and take it all in.”

Q. You did Chippendales and a reality series (“Mission: Man Band”). Were you just trying to hang in there?
A. “I had some rough times. I had a really difficult first marriage. My ex-wife was extraordinarily difficult, and I had a custody battle that took me a good 10 years. I was doing work when I could, just hanging in there to pay the bills. My new wife is amazing.”

Q. Do you have more than one child?
A. “I’ve got four kids now. I have one with my previous wife, two stepkids from my new wife, and we just had a kid.”

Q. And you live in Vegas. What’s that like for a family?
A. “We live 20 minutes from the Vegas strip. It’s pretty normal suburban life. It could be anywhere except it’s hot.”

Q. Congratulations about the reunion and the album and the tour. You sound like a happy man.
A. “I’m sitting here in this arena and it’s huge. It’s really hitting me. We’re really lucky to be able to have a second chance at this, on this big tour with our idols. Our last show was on 9/11 (2001), and the band never had any closure.”

Q. When were you last in the Massillon area?
A. “I was there two or three years ago to visit my buddies. It’s always nice to go back and get a welcoming response. I’d like to do a gig performing there with 98 Degrees. I would love for us to play my hometown one time.”  

A chat with Stark County’s Jeff Timmons about his band’s reunion tour, album

Jeff on Sun FM (Audio)

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After more than 10 years on an extended hiatus, 98 Degrees are back with new music, and even an upcoming tour. This summer they're hitting the road with the New Kids on the Block and Boys II Men with the highly anticipated "The Package Tour."

Alright, go ahead and get your boy band "package" jokes out of the way. No really, it's cool. I'll wait...

...

Okay, good! So the new album from 98 Degrees is called "2.0" and it's available online and in stores now. Yesterday Jeff Timmonsfrom the group called me up for a chat. We talk about the new material, his stint in the Chippendales, what he thinks of the new generation of boy bands, and he even reveals a surprising truth about Jessica Simpson.

Love the microphones in the front row, ladies!-Dapple Store (video)

98 Degrees Performing on Jay Leno (picture)

Credit: @98Official

98 Degrees Warm Up before Jay Leno Apperance (Pic)

Credit: @98official, @jefftimmons98

98 Degrees Dishes On The Package Tour & New Album on Access Hollywood

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98 Degrees Performs "The Hardest Thing" on VH1 Buzz

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Music: Silver Screen Slags' Playlist #1(Microphone)

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98 Degrees - 2.0

Temporarily unleashing our inner teenage fangirls, we could not deny our excitement upon the arrival of the Nick Lachey lead 98 Degrees new album. The US boyband's first release in twelve years flaunts their unparalleled harmonies with slick, electronic production in a variety of dance tracks and nostalgic ballads. Standouts include current single Microphone and album track AYO.

98 Degrees Are 'Still 98 Degrees' On New Album 2.0

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Boy band opens up to MTV News about getting the group back together for 2013 album release and Package Tour.

 

It's the day 98 Degrees fans have been waiting for: The band's first new album in more than a decade, 2.0, hit stores Tuesday (May 7). The foursome told MTV News that the album title is fitting as they launch this new phase of their career.
"It's sort of the next version of 98 Degrees," Justin Jeffre said about their first release since 2000's Revelation. "We're still 98 Degrees, but we've stretched as artists and we tried to go beyond. What we didn't want to do was just do what we've already done before. We wanted to go beyond that."
Jeff Timmons added that, despite their updated sound, the guys haven't changed much since their 1.0 days. "We're the same guys. We're entertainers, singers, trying to evolve musically. Same guys, just a different era and, you know, trying to come up with new, cool stuff," he said.

 

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Some of that new, cool stuff includes their unexpectedly cheeky single "Microphone," as well as working with a new pack of hitmakers like Ne-Yo and Bruno Mars to add some new-millennium sparkle to their signature sound. And it's not just their sound they're updating, but also what they're singing about, since most of the guys are married with kids these days. 98 Degrees are all grown up.
"Over the past 13 years since we've recorded a record, a lot [has] happened to us individually," Drew Lachey said. "We've grown a lot as individuals, and that all helps influence the music and how we interact with each other as a group and how we interact with our fans. You know, back in the day, you take things for granted, and now, after time, you're able to look at it with fresh eyes and say, 'Wow, that was a really magical moment. I wish we would have taken a little more time and enjoyed [it].' We're just going to be able to go for it and really enjoy it."


In addition to new music, the guys are also going on a big summer tour, hitting the road on the Package Tour with New Kids on the Block and Boyz II Men later this month.
"We've had a lot of fun together, obviously getting back in the studio, making new music. Trying to figure out what the new sound is going to be has been a lot of fun," Drew said. "And, of course, now getting ready for the tour we're going out on this summer is a lot of work, but it's a lot of fun.
"We're a family. As dysfunctional as we are, we are family, and getting back together, we know each other, we love each other — most of the time," he jokingly added. "So being back together, getting back together is just like riding a bike, so it's a lot of fun. ... The magic never dies."
That magic, Timmons noted, is "actually better. We have the same sound, we have the same blend, but I think our experiences taught us a lot about how were gonna be as performers, and this new record definitely identifies with the new quality and contemporary sound."

98 Degrees Dishes On The Package Tour & New Album

98 Degrees on Jay Leno 5/10/13

The REAL Reason 98 Degrees Broke Up [AUDIO/VIDEO] with Jeff Timmons & Drew Lachey

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 This morning, I sat down with Drew Lachey and Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees.  While I can’t get away from you screaming (I can hear it from here), I can ask Drew and Jeff some interesting questions about the past.

wlwttv:Raw interview: Sheree talks with 98 degrees

Watch What Happens Live: The After Show

Nick Talks Jessica Simpson dishes on when he last saw ex-Jessica Simpson


 98 degrees in the Shade The guys from 98 Degrees throw some shade at their rival boy bands


 Nick Pleads the 5th


Sweet Brown Tries to Seduce the Lachey Brothers

Big Morning Buzz with 98 Degrees!

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Rehearsal Video

98° Google+ Hangout

92.5 Kiss FM Interview (Audio) 5/6/13

Jeanne and Cooper Check in With the Group 98 Degrees [AUDIO]

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Cooper and I  had a rare opportunity to interview 2 of the members of the group 98 degrees as they get ready to release a new album and head out across the country on “The Package Tour”

Drew Lachey and Jeff Timmons joined Cooper and I for an up close interview to discuss their new Album 2.0 which hits stores Tuesday May 7th and the “Package Tour” with New Kids on The Block and Boys to Men.
As expected both guys were so nice and seemed genuinely grateful to have this opportunity to all get back together, make some new music and go on tour. For these four guys who have been out of the limelight for a while, and started families the tour this summer will truly be a family affair.
* The Package Tour will be in Milwaukee Wisconsin at Summerfest on July 2nd and at Target Center in Minneapolis on July 20th!

'It's Now or Never' for Reunited 98 Degrees

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Former boy band's first album in 13 years due next week

 

"We're not getting any younger," says Nick Lachey of a principal motivation behind his longtime group, 98 Degrees, and their decision to reunite for a new album and a forthcoming tour this summer with New Kids on the Block and Boyz II Men.
"We all came to the realization that if we were gonna do something together again," adds the 39-year-old, "it's kind of now or never."
2.0., the seminal boy band's forthcoming new album, comes nearly 13 years after the release of their double-platinum-selling 2000 LP, Revelation. In the interim, members of the group have each pursued individual projects. Both Lachey and Jeff Timmons released underwhelming solo albums; Lachey starred in a slew of reality shows – the most high-profile of which, Newlyweds, centered on his much-scrutinized marriage to ex-wife Jessica Simpson; and Lachey’s younger brother, Drew, won as a contestant on Dancing With the Stars.

But the singer now tells Rolling Stone the four-man vocal crew (which also includes Justin Jeffre) always intended on making music together again. "We were always very careful to make sure everyone knew we'd never really broken up," he says. "We always had the intention of doing another record. It just maybe took a little longer than we anticipated."
With all four singers’ schedules finally aligning, as well as what Lachey calls "the boy band cycle coming back around," – namely, the recent success of artists like One Direction, the Wanted and Justin Bieber – 98 Degrees felt the time was right to reunite.
Yet, as Lachey explains, it was not until after the group performed a successful one-off concert last summer at the Mixtape Festival in Pennsylvania, their first performance as a group in nearly a decade, that they officially decided to reunite.
"The Mixtape Festival for us was the barometer of 'Hey, can we have fun doing this again?’" he explains. "'Cause you don't want to do anything that feels like a chore. You want to come and get back together for the right reasons. So we went and did that show and had a blast doing it, and the fans loved it. To see them all out there that night and feel the love from them and have as much fun as we did performing together again – at that point it kind of felt like a no-brainer."
98 Degrees returned to the studio last October to record 2.0. Lachey says the group aimed to strike a balance between their classic R&B vocal blend and modern music armed with Top 40 potential. "I think we did a pretty good job of walking that line," he says. "We realized that music's changed quite a bit since 2000 when we made our last album together. We wanted to evolve with music, and we want to be current and relevant in terms of our sound. At the same time, we also wanted to be very cognizant of trying to keep the harmony and the vocal sound that made us what we were."
To that end, the new album is a sonically mixed bag: tracks such as the Bruno Mars-penned "Take the Long Way Home" and "Let Go My Heart" are of the expected aching-ballad variety, while the EDM-driven lead single "Microphone" – which Lachey describes as the group's "nod at the current music landscape" – and the Michael Jackson-channeling "Can't Get Enough" feel comparatively contemporary.
When the group hits the road this summer for the amusingly titled The Package Tour, Lachey admits things will be far different offstage for the group members, many of whom now have families of their own.
"Your life is in a different perspective than it was back then," he says. "[98 Degrees] is something now we can share with our families, which is fun in a whole new way. When you go through it the first time around, it's such a whirlwind that you sometimes forget to stop and enjoy what you're doing. Now, with the luxury of a little perspective and hindsight, we're all really enjoying the opportunity to come back together."