OCT242013 Strip Steak: An Interview With Jeff Timmons And Glenn Packard Of MEN OF THE STRIP

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Hot—some would say red-hot—off the heels of his successful gig emceeing for the Chippendales in Vegas, Jeff Timmons, everbuff founding member of 98°, has launched an equally sexy venture with acclaimed choreographer Glenn Packard: Men of the Strip.

The concept is that Jeff and a troupe of too-hot show-offs are touring the country with a tight stage show, with the whole thing being filmed.

I caught up with my old buddies (98° was the first pro photo shoot I ever assigned) to get the not-so-skinny on their ripped revue...

Boy Culture: How do you describe Men of the Strip?

Glenn Packard: It's the newest and sexiest male revue show that will be touring, shooting a docuseries for a major network and will also have a home in Las Vegas. Jeff and I are taking male revue to the next level—we are presenting a younger, hipper edge.

BC: How were the guys selected?

GP: We went to some of the sexiest cities in America, like Miami, New York City, L.A., and Vegas. The guys auditioning learned a choreographed routine from me, then sat down with Jeff and I, and we asked them 25 questions that would get them through to the next round. Once we narrowed it down to our favorites, I chose the dream eight by personality, talent and who I thought would represent our brand to its fullest.

Jeff Timmons: I had my favorites, but kept picking the wrong guys. [Laughs] I was picking guys I thought were funny and interesting, but Glenn kept telling me they weren't sexy enough, or didn't have the "It" factor. In retrospect, knowing the guys like I do now, Glenn was brilliant in selecting the right cast.

BC: Is there a variety of men for a variety of tastes?

GP: Yes, of course. I mean, certain women have different tastes, so you don't want to just put on stage one type of guy. We have it all with these eight guys.

JT: My experience when I hosted for another brand was just as Glenn explained. Girls had very distinct tastes in the types of guys that they were in to. It was interesting to process.

BC: What is Jeff's role?

GP: Jeff is wearing a lot of hats in this empire we are building: He is the host and singer of the show, and also stepping in and working on the business part of this brand we are building.

JT: It's not altogether different from when we started 98°. We believed in ourselves more than anyone else, so we had to do everything ourselves. We were the artists, marketers, promoters and businessmen in our venture. This project has a little more pressure to it, in that Glenn and I have both been successful in the business for a long time, so the expectations are exponentially higher.

BC: To reference a pop cultural touchstone, how similar to Magic Mike is this show...and how different from Magic Mike is this show?

GP: It's similar, as we have a youthful look to the show. The guys have the moves likeMagic Mike. But it's different 'cuz it's working up to this grand Las Vegas show. It's going to have all the elements you would expect when walking into a show in Vegas: BIG EVERYTHING!

JT: Magic Mike was still a "club" type of show. We're shooting to step the production value up quite a bit, and also take the male revue genre mainstream.

BC: Will the show be really racy, or can you take Grandma?

GP: The show will have many different elements and numbers catering to all different types of women's fantasies. So yes, bring Grandma! She needs to let loose, too.

JT: Yes, we want fans of all ages to come and experience the show.

BC: Are men welcome?

GP: Yes, men are welcome. The gay men will enjoy the eye candy and I assume a straight man will be in the audience 'cuz either his wife dragged him there, or he has a freaky marriage. But I'm making this show for the ladies!

JT: Glenn may be creating this show for the ladies, but guys are very much welcome to come to the show. I think gay or straight, guys will love the energy of the show that emanates from both the guys and the mostly female audience. And for straight guys, it's the dream venue to meet very "excited" and energized women.

BC: What will the reality-show element focus on?

GP: We know what happens during a male revue show, but what is life like for these guys when the lights go off?

JT: Exactly! We can dial up the production of the show, find the perfect performers, etc., but people will be surprised about how interesting these guys are, and how they interact with each other offstage.

BC: Glenn, who is your favorite star (besides Jeff!) you've ever worked with, and what were they like? Who is your least favorite star (besides Jeff!) you've ever worked with?

GP: Of course, Michael Jackson is up there on this list. Everyone in my industry knows that if you've worked with the King of Pop, you have made a name for yourself. I worked with P!nk at the beginning of her career, and I have to say she was one of my favorites to work with, and I knew she was going to blow up. Also, Ricky Martin isn't a bad day's work to go in and work with.

My least favorite would have to be Whitney Houston. I worked with her on the Michael Jackson 30th Anniversary Special, and that wasn't a very pleasant moment in her career.

BC: Glenn, can anyone learn to dance, as on Dancing with the Stars, or is it a got-it-or-don't-got-it kinda thing?

GP: I do think anyone can move, but there is a select group whose musicality is just not there. Like Kate Gosselin on Dancing with the Stars. You try your best to do some tricks to hide the fact that they have no rhythm to save their lives. I have had a couple artists and even male revue guys in my career that have zero rhythm...it's a lot of work, to say the least!

BC: For each of you, who are your idols?

GP: My idols in the industry are people like Stephen Spielberg, Oprah, Wes Craven and Bob Fosse. But my true idols are my parents, Roger and Paulette Packard. They made me the man I am today. Dad showed me what hard work is all about, and Mom showed me the meaning of love. They both have strong morals and are very family-oriented. I'm extremely lucky to have such great parents.

JT: Not trying to steal Glenn's answer, but my idols are my folks as well. I strive every day to accomplish one-tenth of what my farther has accomplished. Nobody dislikes the guy. He's a true inspiration. My mother is nurturing, loving  and funny, and was all about her kids.

In the business, I love Michael Jackson's artistry. I'm a huge fan of Ne-Yo, Brian McKnight, Joe, Boyz II Men, Journey, The Eagles, Boston, and Metallica to name a few. I'm just a big ol' fan of music

Jeff Timmons Is Burning Up: The GuySpy Interview

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Authored by
David Toussaint

If you were to look at a photo today of four men together, shirts off or in tight clothing, lips pouting and making love to the camera, you’d think “Gay,” then read more to find out about the new homo hotties on the block. If this were 1990 and you saw the same image, you’d probably think “Damn, I hope those guys are gay,” then go about your business.

The gay world has turned 360 degrees in 15 years and Jeff Timmons witnessed at least 98 percent of those numbers. The former boy band superstar’s gay connection has always been so strong that the 2 percent of degrees left from his group’s name can be split between him—he’s straight—and his fans, which were always a mix of heterosexual women and gay men.

“98 Degrees was known as the boy band who took our clothes off,” says Timmons, 40, who talks in rapid-fire, congenial sentences, like the kid in school who’s so likeable he could convince you to join any club he’d formed—and he’d no doubt be President. “The label saw that we were athletes so they had us take our shirts off for photo shoots.”

It wasn’t just for the lady folk. “We never broke Europe,” continues Timmons. “The label strategy was to make us break into the gay market. We only played gay clubs.”

Timmons learned early on that good-looking men in Hollywood are not just aimed at the ladies (“People and Playgirl are marketed to gay men as well as females”), but for him it’s not a question of selling, well, out. “I do gay pride stuff,” says Timmons, who almost seemed defensive at having to be asked about an issue that, for him, isn’t one. “Some members of my family are gay. Some of the trials and tribulations, I hated. A gay man is putting together my show.”

Yes, folks, Timmons is back, again, singing, again, and, (we’re so glad some things never change) taking his shirt off again! 

“Men of the Strip” is an all-new, live male-review extravaganza that has, as its tagline, “Taking sexy to a whole new level!” Timmons is the creator and host of the show, which features eight guys who do a mixture of stripping, singing, and even acrobatics.

“Male review is mainstream,” says Timmons, who guest-hosted Chippendale’s two years ago. “It’s no longer taboo for females. It’s no longer something that should be hushed up. Channing Tatum was voted The Sexiest Man Alive and he started off as a male stripper and then did a movie about it. It’s completely cool now. Guys think, ‘This isn’t so bad. My wife can go and then she’s coming home to me.’”

In other words, that’s entertainment. “I teamed up with an amazing choreographer [Glenn Douglas Packard]. I got a guy I really trust. It’s going to be top-notch.”

To introduce the show, which is touring now and should find a permanent home in Las Vegas by summer, “We’re doing a TV show, bringing celebrity guests in. It’s a Magic Mike sort of thing; younger, cooler, more exciting.”

Timmons isn’t exactly coming out of retirement. He’s fresh off “The Package Tour,” last summer’s 49-date fling across country, which reunited him with his band and added New Kids on the Block and Boyz II Men.

“It was great,” says Timmons. “I had the time of my life. I was lucky enough to have my family with me. It wasn’t groupies. It was changing diapers and hanging out with my wife. We’ve all had success in our own right. There wasn’t the pressure to sell records; it was a nice way to wrap our history. We got attached to our fans we haven’t seen in fifteen years.

“Girls who were eight when I was in 98 Degrees are adults and came to see the show and said ‘I saw you at Disneyland,’” says Timmons, who adds that the tour “couldn’t have gone better.”

“We had so many gay guys—my group especially. Creed, color, orientation, all this makes us more popular.”

One thing Timmons didn’t have this time around was the intense scrutiny that comes with being in one of the hottest, and most commercial, bands in the world.

“We were criticized no matter what we did,” says Timmons on former days. This time around “Our critics were gay men and older girls. We got good reviews; that was new to me.”

Timmons stays on top of the music scene, loves Usher and Chris Brown and Justin Timberlake (“he probably had the most amazing performance I’ve ever seen on the VMA’s”), and was at the ready when the inevitable Miley Cyrus awards’ performance-subject came up.

“She did it by design; the main headline was Miley Cyrus and what she did,” says Timmons matter-of-factly. “She’s a former Disney star; for her to be out there with a soul singer touching herself and twerking is a big thing to Middle America.”

Which led us to the M word. “Madonna’s at the forefront of all that stuff. Britney mimics her, Christina, now Miley. Christina’s a world-class vocalist; you would think her idol would be Mariah Carey. Ask any of them, even Jessica [Simpson], and they emulate Madonna.”

When I mentioned to Timmons that, in a way, out Country Singer Steve Grand was packaged like a newer version of 98 Degrees, only actually gay, he agreed and said he wasn’t surprised that Grand had made it to the mainstream.

“It’s way too late,” said Timmons. “The social media has helped. The anti-bullying has helped. It’s helping people not to care what other people look like, what they do, how much money they make. The acceptance of what people do is way too late, but I’m happy to hear about it. The gay basketball players, the athletes; it’s pushing people to be open-minded.”

And that brought us full circle.

For all your “Men of the Strip” needs, including their tour, see below. And see you there! Check out the videos, below. 

98 98 Degrees' Jeff Timmons Talks (On-Camera?) Reunion, '90s Nostalgia, and More!

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If you were a young girl growing up in the '90s, chances are you probably owned every boy band paraphernalia known to man. CDs, backpacks, posters, concert stubs — you name it, girls had it (it was years before I ever saw the actual wallpaper in my bedroom). And chances are, one of those famous boy bands was none other than the contemporary adult group known as 98 Degrees, which featured four main vocalists: Nick and Drew Lachey, Justin Jeffre, and Jeff Timmons. So it's a safe bet that you likely squealed hearing that the four men would be heating up the state once again for una noche at the MixTape Festival in Hershey, Penn., this August.

News about this one night event spread like wildfire, leaving fans hoping and praying that a full-fledged reunion is underway like rumors earlier this year had suggested. But Timmons tells Hollywood.com that's not exactly the case. "We actually had a tour mapped out for the summer time," Timmons says. "It was a different tour. At the last minute, without a doubt, everyone wanted to do it, but for whatever reason we just didn’t feel it was right, and I’m sure that fueled the rumors."
Even without a full-out tour, though, the guys definitely wanted to reunite in some capacity, and Timmons felt MixTape presented the perfect opportunity. "We had to get on the same page about what we wanted to do, whether it’s one thing or a big thing," he says. "Finally we decided, 'You know what? Let’s give it a shot.' MixTape Festival is supposed to be amazing, huge, and if there’s any time to get back together, this would be the time. This feels right, and we’re all very excited about it." As are the entire female population, no doubt.
Though fans may not be able to look forward to a tour, they can anticipate at least one new song — and perhaps even a reality show somewhere down the line. "I’ve just been getting my personal life on track and making sure that I can be a dad, but I never left music. I’ve always been producing and writing music," Timmons tells us. "Now that my kids are little bit older...I have the opportunity to get back into my career. And as far as reality television, we might be bringing a reality TV show out here to Vegas with my family and everything I’m doing here. So there’s the possibility that will happen." This could even include a behind-the-scenes look at the band's upcoming MixTape reunion. "I’m sure it would be included if we do the one out here, that would be part of it," Timmons says. "You never know. A lot of opportunities are opening up since we made the announcement, so there are things out there for us, and I’m just excited about the whole chance."
Next: Timmons Talks Fashion Mishaps and His Future Career Goals.
  And as much as fans might be excited at the chance to see those ridiculous photo shoot outfits of the past at MixTape, don't expect them to make a modern comeback anytime soon. When asked about his most embarrassing outfit he ever had to wear for a photo op, Timmons assures us that the list is quite long. "Have you seen our pictures," he says. "We wore everything from jumpsuits, fireman outfits, bulletproof vests, silver suits. I could go on and on. They’re all quite embarrassing." And of course the photographers were always angling for them to take their shirts off (we thank them for that, by the way). "We did it once, then it was over. Then everybody wanted us to it every time," Timmons says. "The label wanted us to do it, they thought it was a marketable thing. Looking back, it really was. We had a fireman poster where a couple of us had our shirts off, and it was the highest-selling posters of that era." And according to Timmons, it's still a common request even to this day. "People still ask me today to take my shirt off," he says.

Timmons still has fond memories, though, despite the many fashion mishaps. And some of their songs are still very near and dear to his heart. "I think my favorite song of our group would be the first one we ever released, called 'Invisible Man,” Timmons shares, while also recalling a song he wasn't too particularly fond of back then called "Can I Touch You There." "It was a little racy...that was my least favorite at the time. Now I really like it. I like all the songs, they have a special meaning to them, and each experience recording has a memorable, you know, some things that are very memorable about them."

But Timmons has had a pretty busy schedule outside of 98 Degrees. For one, he continues to work on his solo career. "I’ve been working on a record for a long time. I’ve got 100 songs, we’re trying to narrow it down and figure out what we’re gonna put out," he says. And starting June 29, Timmons will kickstart his new Las Vegas show WIRED, which will feature Timmons performing with a live band, plus an array of surprise celebrity guests and rotating musical acts.
And then, of course, there was that temporary stint as a Chippendale, which he describes as being "the most fun I’ve ever had in my entire career." In fact, after seeing some of the moves shown in Magic Mike, Timmons is almost positive that some of the routines were stolen right from a Chippendales live show. "I spoke to some of the folks from the media here locally and they said yeah, some of the routines and songs they chose are down to a science with the Chippendales." No complaints here (amiright, ladies?).
While big things continue to be on the horizon for Timmons, he continues to hope a new 98 Degrees album is somewhere in his future. "I would love to do that. I think that would be the whole point of getting back together outside of this show," Timmons says. "We would definitely have to break new music into the mix and I think that would have to be a requirement we would all want to be a part of." And even though no big reunion tour has officially been booked, Timmons advises his fans to never say never. After all, "You never know what can happen."
 In addition to discussing his professional history (and future), Timmons graciously participated in one of Hollywood.com's quizzes, regarding his favorite '90s pop culture phenomena, including TV shows, music, and even Nintendo 64!

If you had to choose between the movies Austin Powers and American Pie, which would it be?
I don’t watch a lot of TV or movies, but I’ve never seen the Austin Powers movies all the way through, any of them, so I’d have to go with the American Pie. I’ve only seen the first one of those.

Nintendo 64, or Playstation?
Playstation, no doubt.

Weakest Link or Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
Who Wants To Be A Millionare.

Britney Spears or Christina Auguilera?
Depends on what you’re trying to go for.

What’s your thought process for that?
If you’re going for vocals, you’ve got to go with Christina, if you’re going for sexiness, you’ve got to go with Britney.

Deep Impact or Armageddon?
Deep Impact. I don’t even know what that is. I haven’t seen either one of those movies. I was watching kids movies all the time. I’ll go with Armageddon, that has Liv Tyler in it, so I’ll go with that one.

Did you ever watch Friends at all?
No, never, not one episode, I’ve never seen one.

I own all 10 seasons, I used to love that show. Rachel or Monica — that’s Jennifer Aniston or Courteney Cox?
I’ll go with Jennifer Aniston.

As far as hair, frosted tips or the Caesar cut?
Geez, wow, both of those are so bad! I pick neither, can I pick neither on that one?

Pick the lesser of two evils on that.
The lesser of two evils, although I never sported them, I’ll go with the frosted tips.

Ricky Martin or Marc Anthony?
Ricky Martin’s way cooler.

Boy Meets World or Full House?
I’ll have to go with Boy Meets World on that one.

The Tamagachi or Gigapet? Do you remember those?
I remember the – is that the little egg that your program, or something like that?

They were those digital pets. The Tamagachi was more of an alien, the Gigapet was more of a cat.
I’ll go with the Gigapet.

TGIF or Snick?
TGIF.

I used to love those Friday nights, watching those shows.
Jeff Timmons: We got to host, those TGIF on Disney, so I had to pick that one.

Saksi GMA Network's late-night newscast withJeff

A1, BLUE & JEFF TIMMONS live in Manila 2012 Press-Con

The Greatest Hits Tour: A1, BLUE & JEFF TIMMONS live in Manila is brought to you by WILBROS LIVE

Timmons: 98 Degrees reunion possible

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MANILA, Philippines - It’s been a decade since the American boyband 98 Degrees bowed out from performing as a group, but its founding member Jeff Timmons is not crossing out the possibility of a reunion onstage.
98 Degrees, whose other members were brothers Nick and Drew Lachey and Justin Jeffre, reached multi-platinum status in the late ’90s as it popularized songs like Because of You, The Hardest Thing, I Do (Cherish You), Thank God I Found You, Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche), My Everything, True To Your Heart and Invisible Man. It was among the frontrunners of the boyband craze, joining the likes of N*Sync and Backstreet Boys.
“There’s always a chance,” Jeff tells The STAR in a phone interview, which was arranged in relation to his Manila concert with British boybands A1 and Blue come Feb. 25 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Because the communication lines with his former bandmates have remained open all these years — in fact, they just bonded a couple of months ago in Las Vegas — naturally, getting together onstage has had been a subject discussed.
Jeff, nevertheless, admits that among them four, it might not be that easy for Nick, in particular, to join in. “Nick is a celebrity so 98 Degrees and the music are probably the last thing on his mind. But he’s an artist, so you’ll never know what will happen. There’s always a chance (for a reunion).”

It was Jeff who founded 98 Degrees in the mid-‘90s. “I originally started the group when I was in college. It was by happenstance. I was at a party in college, some girls just wanted to hear some singing. And we sang for these girls, and I saw their reaction, and I thought ‘man, I should start a singing group.’ I was supposed to be a lawyer or a psychologist since I was in college then. But when I saw the reaction of the girls, I thought maybe that was the way I should go, since they thought we were cool.”
98 Degrees made its breakthrough in the music scene in 1998, consequently releasing four albums that all went platinum. Jeff remembers very well the other highlights of the group’s career — sharing the stage with some of the A-listers in the industry from Mariah Carey to Stevie Wonder; hearing the songs they made being played for the first time in a radio station in L.A.; and hanging out with some beneficiaries of Make-A-Wish Foundation, whose dying wish was to meet the group in person. “To be part of something like that, that’s the best I’ve done in my whole life,” says Jeff.
Then the tragedy of September 9, 2011 happened. “We were very popular, we were touring around the world. Our last performance was with (the late) Michael Jackson. Then 9-11 happened. That was how it ended for us. It was a clear sign for us to go home to our families and gather our personal lives. The facade of being a famous singer was, all of a sudden, small. When that kind of stuff happens, you realize, maybe there are other things more important,” Jeff shares.
No doubt those times, when the band was at its peak, brought them a cache of incredible experiences, but Jeff has since moved on, without regrets or intense longing to relive it. “When you’re going through life, and developing things, yes, you’re going to miss things like performing with somebody like Stevie Wonder, etc. But no, I think I’m happy with my new course and my new life.”

For the past years, he released a solo album, starred in a VHF reality series, put up his own multimedia distribution company, and was “just making music and creating all the time, and if I could create (or) make a living out of it, raise my kids, be a dad, be a good husband, I think those are the important things for me.”
Jeff hopes, though, to share some of what he has been working on when he performs at the Feb. 25 Big Dome concert mounted by Wilbros Live, apart from singing the 98 Degrees favorites of Pinoy fans. He’s also looking forward working with the concert’s Filipino musical director, South Border’s Jay Durias.
Jeff fondly recalls that with 98 Degrees, he had been previously here for a concert three times already. Among his most memorable moments was “traveling around the Philippines, riding the jeepney and all that stuff. Everybody’s got to try the jeepney. You have stickers, art and graphics on them. It’s amazing.”
He adds, “The Filipino fans are great. But one thing is for sure, Filipino girls and guys can sing. It was a dilemma for us when we went to a restaurant and they were passing around a microphone, and we were like, can we hang out with these people? They’re singers! It was a very eye-opening experience.”
When asked if he thinks the boyband craze will make a comeback, Jeff says he believes so, adding that “I think there will always be fans of young guys, who look good and who can sing.”
Looking back on the success he enjoyed as part of 98 Degrees, he says it was something that wasn’t unattainable. Any budding artist can make things like that happen for them. “It’s not a goal that can’t be reached. It’s something that can be done by anybody. But you also have to put your work into it. Do your best, be humble, be appreciative, strive to be at your best from the very beginning.”

JEFF TIMMONS ON MONSTER RADIO 93.1 DWRX

JEFF TIMMONS, formerly of 98 Degrees talks to Louie D. and Danielle of Monster Radio 93.1 DWRX about life after the boyband era, solo career and the upcoming Greatest Hits Tour concert with a1 and Blue at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on February 25, 2012. Tickets on sale now at all Ticketnet outlets

Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees Excited to Come Back to the Philippines

MYXph spoke with the former member of the 90s boy band, 98 Degrees, Jeff Timmons, to talk about teaming up with A1 and Blue on their Greatest Hits Tour this coming February 25 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. According to him, he's been in the Philippines three or four times, and he can't wait to be back!

"They treat us like rock stars over there!" Jeff shared during our phone interview. "Everybody's so warm and greets you with a smile."

He remembers a particular visit to Manila where he had to be ushered in because of the mob of people. "It was filled with people," he recalled. "We felt like the Beatles!"

After 98 Degrees parted ways, Jeff Timmons has released a solo album, toured with Jim Brickman, appeared in a reality TV series, and has recently performed with The Chippendales for a limited run in Las Vegas.

When asked if he's still in touch with Nick, Drew, and Justin, Jeff replied in the affirmative. In fact, he said they just ran into each other during his stint in Las Vegas. Naturally, the possibility of a reunion was brought up. To this, Jeff replied, "Never say never." Though, it might take a while, as the four guys are busy doing their own thing.

For now, you can catch Jeff as he teams up with A1 and Blue this month, where concert-goers will be treated to some nostalgic music with Jeff performing some 98 Degrees hits.

What's your favorite 98 Degrees song?

 

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Dream Chaser Interview #9 Jeff Timmons

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When I had the opportunity to interview Jeff Timmons from 98 Degrees, I definitely jumped at the chance. I really appreciate all his support (he is on my Facebook friends list, and he is also following me on Twitter!)


1. How did you get started in the music industry? Have you been singing/playing music since you were a kid? I started singing at a party with some friends at Kent State University when I was in college. We were trying to impress some girls. I sang all of my life in musicals and choir and stuff, but never took it too seriously.

2. Out of YOUR songs (including 98 Degrees), what's your fave?
Heaven's Missing an Angel is my favorite 98 Degrees tune. Perfectly Imperfect is my favorite solo song.

3. What can we expect to see/hear from you in the next year?
A lot. I'm creating a new show on the strip here in Las Vegas. There are also talks of a reality show, and I've got a ton of new music to get out there.

4. What do you like to do in your spare time? How's family life?
I either do music or hang out with my wife and kids. That completely satisfies me. Love family.

5. What other musicians do you like?
I'm a big Michael Jackson fan. I love Prince, Boyz II Men, and totally dig classic pop/rock bands like Journey, Eagles, Boston, and Foreigner.

6. What was it like working with Chippendales?
I had a blast. Time of my life. The guys are rockstars, and the gig rejuvenated my career.

7. If you could perform with anyone, who would it be?
Of course if Michael Jackson were alive, I'd pick him. I'd love to work with Brian McKnight or Christina, but they are part of a long list!

8. Have you kept in contact with any of your former fellow group members?
Yes, I talk to the guys from time to time.

9. As a member of the LGBT community, I must ask: Are there any other Pride festivals/non-profits you do besides Las Vegas?
I've performed at a few Pride Festivals. They are among the best audiences I've had the pleasure of performing for. I support the community, and would love to do more shows.

10. How do you stay fit?
I really got into shape for the Chipps gig. I lost 22 lbs. I do a combination of HIIT Training, P90x, and very heavy free-weight lifting. I'm glad I took the gig, it forced me to get healthy!

98 Degrees Singer Admits He Loves Pancit, Jeeps And Beautiful Filipinas

MANILA, Philippines — Former 98 Degrees singer Jeff Timmons is looking forward to performing in Manila because of pancit, crazy traffic rides and insanely beautiful Pinays.
“I know Manila fairly well. I love pancit and other foods from that area. The jeepney’s crack me up, and the traffic and mega malls are bananas,” Timmons said in an e-mail interview with Bulletin Entertainment.
What balances wild traffic in Manila are its people. He said, “The people are amazing. They treated us like kings. Always greeted with ‘Hi, Sir,’ and ‘Thank you, Sir.’ They only talk like that in some parts of the US. The women are gorgeous and sweet... Shhh... don’t tell my wife I said that...”
Timmons is set for ’90s boyband pop nostalgia when he performs familiar hits from 98 Degrees alongside era brothers Blue and a1 in “The Greatest Hits Tour: Blue, Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees and a1 Concert” on Feb. 25, 2012 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Timmons and his ex-band mates are behind a solid catalogue (“Invisible Man,” “Because Of You,” “The Hardest Thing,” “I Do (Cherish You)” and “My Everything”). When asked to reminisce about his group and to share his thoughts about having gone solo, he replied: “I don’t really worry about living up to any legacy to tell you the truth. 98 Degrees had a great run, and made its mark during its time, which I’m very proud of.
“My music and performances have shown growth as a solo artist, and I’m continuing to grow as an artist. All you can always do is your best, and measure yourself up to your own standards. Compete with yourself at all times, and try to leave the audience with something they can feel great about.”
Timmons’ favorite record from his old group is “Invisible Man.” “Out of all the hits, ‘Invisible Man’ is my favorite. It is the most soulful of our radio songs, and it was the first song we ever heard of ourselves on the radio.”
He shared that the mega-wedding hit “I Do” was recorded in a special period in his life. “We recorded ‘I Do’ in Nashville with mega-producer Keith Thomas. I remember being there right after finding out about my ex-wife being pregnant with our daughter.”
But as he moves on a solo act, Timmons said he would love to collaborate with other artists. “I am working on new music. I’d love to work with contemporaries like Bruno Mars and Ne-Yo, but also legends like Teddy Riley, R Kelly, Babyface, Brian McKnight, Mariah Carey, and Christina [Aguilera].”
Blue – composed of Simon Webbe, Lee Ryan, Duncan James and Antony Costa – is behind “All Rise,” “Too Close,” “If You Come Back,” “Fly By,” “One Love,” “Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word,” “Guilty,” and “Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours” while a1 has the following singles under its belt: “Like A Rose,” “Take On Me,” “Ready Or Not / Everytime,” “Same Old Brand New You,” “Caught In The Middle” and “Make It Good.”
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The Ultimate Boyband Concert: Blue, a1 and Jeff Timmons from 98 Degrees

As much as we want to do not want to admit this, boybands will never be a thing of the past. Many a time, we find ourselves digging our iTunes playlist to find tunes by our favourite boybands. Close the door to the bedroom and dance yourself silly to the silly pop tunes, that about explains what we do when a boyband song comes along. Of course, let’s not talk about the embarrassing posters that we used to put up, with or without those smooch stains.
Guard your heart because One Productions is bringing in the greatest boyband concert of all time, with not just one but three bands that had once rocked your world. We are talking about the evergreen boybands of our youth, Blue, a1 and Jeff Timmons from 98 Degrees. They will be performing together on the same stage for on February 28 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. You can say that it is a clash of the bands, but we would rather say that too many cooks can make it work too. Yes, you can go ahead and scream now.

The aged group from A1 are still the boys that they once were. The fans here would definitely not mind the increase in age because after all, we have grown up with them. But one thing their fans should look forward to is their new rendition of their smash hit “Like A Rose,” which arguably is their biggest song in the ears of fans this side of the globe. Member Ben Adams who wrote “Like A Rose” is thrilled to announce their performance of the said version. “We have just updated it for a brand new version for 2012, which was amazingly fun to do! Very excited for you all to hear it!” He recalled, “I wrote it when I was 16 years old on my old upright piano at my parents house. I haven’t told anyone this really as most people assume it’s a love song, but it was actually originally written for my mom!”A1 started making a big splash when their first single, “Be the First to Believe,” entered the UK charts at #6 in early 1999. They had a huge amount of success worldwide with two #1s and eighty top 10 hits. Some of their other hits are “Take On Me”, “Ready or Not / Everytime”, “Same Old Brand New You”, “Caught in the Middle” and “Make It Good”. The band might very well play tunes from their new album which will be released soon under MCA Music, now that would be such a treat bevause we have not heard new music from them for years!
Joining a1 for the February 28 concert at the Singapore Indoor Stadium are contemporaries Blue and Jeff Timmons, lead vocalist of the now defunct 98 Degrees. Fans can expect for these guys to sing their biggest hits and surprise cuts in the triple-treat concert dubbed The Greatest Hits Tour: Blue, Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees and a1 – Live in Singapore.

Asked about his favorite 98 Degrees song, Timmons, who has remained faithful to his group’s tracks even as a solo performer, noted, “Out of all the hits, Invisible Man is my favorite.  It is the most soulful of our radio songs, and it was the first song we ever heard of ourselves on the radio.”He added, “We recorded ‘I Do’ in Nashville with mega-producer Keith Thomas. I remember being there right after finding out about my ex-wife being pregnant with our daughter.”The group’s unforgettable R&B, soul, urban and contemporary pop sound lives on especially with major hits like “Because of You,” “The Hardest Thing,” and “My Everything.”

The English vocal group Blue comprised of Simon Webbe, Lee Ryan, Duncan James and Antony Costa, is the last to join this concert. They appeared briefly last year for Ion Orchard’s second year anniversary. Performing live for a free concert, the crowd flooded the entire Orchard road to deafening screams. So it is no surprise that the quartet is excited to be back here at the anticipation of fans here in Singapore. They are set to paint the town red by singing live their hits such as “All Rise,” “Too Close,” “If You Come Back,” “Fly By,” “One Love,” “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word,” “Guilty,” and “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours).”

The Greatest Hits World Tour: A1, Blue and 98 Degrees’ Jeff Timmons - Live in Singapore are set to perform on February 28 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Tickets are available via SISTIC at www.sistic.com.sg and +65 6348 5555 and all authorized SISTIC agents. For more information, visit them at their Facebook Page
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OMG! Exclusive - Filipino bands make Jeff Timmons nervous

98 Degrees founding member Jeff Timmons admits having mixed feelings about performing again in the Philippines on Saturday, Feb. 25, when he mounts a show with pop vocal group Blue and dance-pop band A1 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“I’m very excited because of the pretty girls,” he told Yahoo! Philippines OMG! in a phone interview.

But he feels jittery, even if it’s his fifth time to perform in the country.

Jeff recalls the first time he went to the Philippines. Jeff and fellow 98 Degrees members Nick and Drew Lachey decided to try out a bar where a house band was performing.

“Everybody in the whole restaurant sings! They were singing Mariah Carey, Cristina Aguilera, everything! I was so nervous! We were sitting in the room and I was so nervous! They know they have talent so they make me all the bit more nervous.”

Jeff’s memory about rehearsing with a Filipino band also makes the butterflies in his stomach fly even faster.

“I’ve been with a Filipino band before,” he recalls. “I had an album called ‘Whisper That Way.’ I was rehearsing with the guys. Everything better than me. I’m nervous. Those guys are the best background singers!”

The butterflies vanish, however, when Jeff sees how much the crowd takes to his music.

“But I also know I’m embraced there, and the group’s embraced there. It’s not that bad a deal for me.”

Filipino back-up band

The guy is not just paying lip service to Filipino talent. Jeff chose a Filipino band to back him up in “The Greatest Hits Tour with Blue, Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees and A1.” So Jeff is not letting his guard down.

“The promoter tells me there’s supposed to be an extremely talented band and I’m almost nervous (Jeff chose Jay Durias as his musical director),” he admits. “Believe it or not, I’ve performed with Bryan McKnight and Mariah Carey (but) I’m nervous about the Filipino band. The Filipino bands can rock the house!”

Jeff vows to give the fans what they want -- good old 98 Degrees staples like “Invisible Man,” ”I Do (Cherish You)” and “The Hardest Thing,” among others. But he also promises to do “new stuff” he’s crossing his fingers the crowd will enjoy.

Dealing with disappointments

Sure, he’ll feel let down “if I see one sad face in the audience,” if he sings an up tempo jam and “somebody’s not feeling it.”

But Jeff will not back off. He will still give it a shot. At 39 and with two children, the eldest of whom is almost 13, Jeff has learned that disappointed is part of the deal.

“My kids are always disappointed,” he reveals. “They didn’t get the right Nintendo or Wii of whatever. I’m used to that now.”

No wonder Jeff doesn’t let anything bring him down, especially in his music.

“You should believe in yourself. I know it’s a corny cliché. But you gotta believe in yourself and if you’re 100 percent confident you can achieve success.”

That success, he goes on, doesn’t have to spell big bucks.

“I would rather you check out my new stuff and go, ‘Wow!’ I’m kinda feeling this guy!”

That’s why he’s pulling all the stops to get as close to the crowd as he can in his upcoming show in Manila.

“I’ll watch the audience and do what they do. I’ll go down the stage ad interact. I will give it a different flavor. 98 Degrees was very structured.”

Now, they like the Jeff Timmons they see, he will “peddle my music” and strike it out on his own, minus the 98 Degrees tag.

Being on his own

“I think it’s better being on my own,” Jeff muses.

If not, he always has his 98 Degrees background to fall back on.

“For now, it’s Jeff Timmons from 98 Degrees,” he reveals.

Whether or not will be just Jeff Timmons after the Big Dome show is something he is humble enough to leave to the crowd.

After all, a crowd who can make Jeff Timmons nervous must be a crowd worth paying attention to.

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98 Degrees Singer Gets a Rush at Chippendales

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Jeff Timmons is in for a thrill when 400 women rush the stage Thursday during his debut performance at Chippendales inside the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. It’s a feeling he hasn’t experienced since his multi-platinum boy band 98 Degrees last performed together in 2001.
“I was nervous,” the singer, 38, tells me. “I didn’t know how people were going to receive it, but everybody loved it. It was crazy – the women rushed the stage. I haven’t had that happen for a long time. The whole audience crowded up towards the front. They’re originally seated there, so I came to the front of the stage and I was like ‘OK, good, this is good!’”
Despite feeling reluctant to undress last month (“I don’t know if I’m in the shape I was in the 98 Degrees days,” he confessed.), Jeff is in the spirit now.
“I took my shirt off,” he says. “We did that in the group anyways. Now I was a little nervous because compared to those guys, I’m not big and giant and ripped like those guys, but that’s part of their thing to do these tear-away t-shirts and get the crowd going. I was like ‘I’ll do it.’ The crowd loved it. They thought it was cool. It was funny. I had a ton of fun doing it.”
To prepare for taking his top off, Jeff has given up his bad habits and adopted good ones.
“I stopped drinking beer - no more alcohol,” he says. “Back to lifting heavy weights and working out in the gym, cardio and P90X.”
He adds, “I want to be in good shape and I’ve always tried to be in good shape. All of us in the group did. I’m doing P90X some days. I’m doing heavy weights other days and lots and lots of cardio. I’m mixing it up to confuse my body and it’s definitely confused!”
How has giving up alcohol changed his body?
“I would drink beer occasionally in the studio when I’m working on music and now I don’t do that anymore,” Jeff says. “Even if you drink once a week socially, you can definitely see a difference in your body as far as holding water and body fat when you stop and cease from drinking altogether.”
For Jeff, who emcees the show and performs a medley of songs, the highlight is showing off his musicality.
“The crowd was familiar with the 98 Degrees songs, but when I sang one of my new songs, Emotional High, they’ve never heard it before, and they got up out of their seats and started jamming and dancing to it. Afterwards, I got a lot of compliments about the song. I think that was gratification.”
Still, becoming part of Chippendales took some coaxing from his old manager, Mike Caprio, who represents Chippendales.
“He approached me about doing Chippendales and, of course, I was like, ‘Hell no, I’m not doing the Chippendales!’ I’m not a male stripper, but he coaxed me and enticed me to come check out the show. Those guys are not male strippers. It’s a multi-million dollar production. It’s at the Rio in a $10,000,000 facility. Those guys are singers and choreographed dancers. I was impressed with the entertainment level that that show provided.”
Wait … they’re not strippers?
“The guys take their shirts off and they’re big old muscle-y guys,” he says. “That whole thing’s involved with it still, but they’re not doing lap dances and getting single dollar bills in their g-strings. It’s a seriously well-put-together show. You know how Vegas is now. You’ve got to have serious entertainment, and that’s what goes on with that show at the Rio.”
One source of encouragement is his wife Amanda, who cheers him on to go for the Chippendales gig and attends the debut performance.
“She said, ‘You should think about doing it.’ She actually encouraged me to do the gig and I think for her, she thought it was something that’s a good opportunity for me. She’s a fan of my music and for me, it’s a good way for me to get the new music out there and show people a different dimension as far as the entertainment factor of me as a solo artist.”
Despite his growing contentment with the all-male revue, he doesn’t see himself growing so comfortable that he would bare all in the pages of a men’s magazine.
“They put some photos from my first solo album, Whisper That Way, in Playgirl. I would never do Playgirl naked. There’s no way! I’m way too shy for that. There’s no way!”
Hm, he doesn’t want to embarrass his family?
“No, it’s more about myself,” he confesses. “I think I have so much support with my family and everybody knows how the entertainment business goes. I think that for me, I’m very private about my private parts. I’m shy about that stuff. I’m even shy about taking my shirt off. They had us taking our shirts off in every photo shoot for 98 Degrees.”
Thanks to the Chippendales gig, one bonus is the month he will spend in Sin City.
“I like Las Vegas, but I don’t gamble too much,” he says. “I like to go and see the shows there. I went with my wife. Recently we went to see Peepshow. I like to go there and socialize. I have a lot of friends in Vegas, so for me it’s a good time to get away from the family and go out there and enjoy time on my own. We always have a fun time when we’re in Vegas.”
Another bonus? He’s staying at the Rio.
“It’s a beautiful suite,” Jeff says. “They’re taking care of me for this. It’s new for them. They’ve never had a celebrity guest go in there and they’re trying to revamp the image of what people think the Chippendales are all about and if you go see the show, it’s totally different than what you expect.”
He continues, “The Rio is awesome! It’s a beautiful casino. It’s got three or four pools and the staff is accommodating. It’s an enjoyable time. It’s fantastic.”

Jeff Timmons bridges 98 Degrees, hoops and Chippendales

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Jeff Timmons, whose tattoo reflects the name of his former band, not the temperature in the photo studio.

By John Katsilometes

Published Wednesday, May 11, 2011 | 7:18 p.m.

Updated Wednesday, May 11, 2011 | 7:18 p.m.

Across the table sat Jeff Timmons, a founding member of 98 Degrees and, for a time, a guest star of the adult male production Chippendales at the Rio.
Yet somehow, the conversation started not with how and why Timmons decided to spend some of his on-the-clock time with a bunch of oily dancers donning leather trou.
Instead, the ’90s era pop sensation bemoaned LeBron James’ inflammatory exit from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Miami Heat. This conversation started without warning because Timmons hails from Canton, Ohio, and Tricia McCrone is from Cleveland. And McCrone is in play here because she co-hosts “Kats With the Dish,” which gives her a suitable platform to ask a member of 98 Degrees about NBA free agency.
Thus, two-thirds of those in the conversation had an interest in how and why James left the Cavaliers and signed with the Heat last off season, and McCrone swiftly asked Timmons if he is still a fan of the Cavs.
“I was, I was. But I am not,” Timmons said. When asked about James, he said, “I am disappointed in LeBron James. … I am in the entertainment business, and at the end of the day, fans think that you owe them something specifically, and you do -- great entertainment. But the way he left was very arrogant, in the way he presented it.”
Timmons, who said he understood James’ desire to win an NBA title with a better cast of players, also assessed James’ performance in last year’s NBA playoffs by saying, “He quit. He quit.” Never mind that James and the Heat just whipped the Celtics 4-1 to advance to the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA playoffs.
As the sports talk indicates, it was a pretty freewheeling, lacking-in-focus, interview segment, which you can link to at LasVegasSun.com/katsreport. We did get around to why Timmons is onstage with Chippendales beginning Thursday and running through June 5. We learned that Timmons is not actually applying the body oil and dancing with the troupe, but he’s slotted in the show to sing to the largely female audience and add some star propulsion to the 9-year-old Las Vegas production. The first three years were spent at Club Rio, then the show moved to its own theater at the Flamingo Road parking garage entrance to the casino.
Timmons will sing 98 Degrees’ hits (the band has sold 15 million albums, so there is plenty to pluck from), uncork some of his own new solo material and also emcee the show.
“I would never have thought of doing this in a million years,” said Timmons, who assigns responsibility (or, maybe, blame, depending on if he is buried under an avalanche of women during the performance) on Chippendales PR man Michael Caprio. “A lot of people might not remember me from 98 Degrees, and I have my own material out there. It might be a good way to get my name back out there. … It’s a multimillion-dollar production, I checked it out, and the elements that I would be providing would bring another sort of entertainment to a show that is already entertaining for a lot of fans who hit my demographic already.” Which is, mostly, amped-up women.
“I’m really looking forward to the opportunity,” Timmons said. He might well be the one performer to take this team to the next level, something LeBron James himself would certainly understand.