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Nick Lachey recently opened up about a surprising aspect of his early days touring with the boy band 98 Degrees. In the new ID documentary Boy Band Confidential, the 52-year-old singer revealed that during their first tour, the group was given a book detailing the age of consent laws for every state-a sobering reminder to stay mindful while on the road.
“This might sound shady,” Nick admitted, “but someone at the label handed us that book, and we actually kept it on the tour bus.” Alongside his brother Drew, Jeff Timmons, and Justin Jeffre, Nick enjoyed major hits in the late ’90s like “The Hardest Thing” and “Because of You.”
Back in 1999, Nick also gained fame as part of a high-profile couple when he dated-and later married-singer Jessica Simpson. The pair starred in the hit reality show Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica before their split in 2006. Nick has since found happiness with his wife Vanessa Lachey, with whom he co-hosts Love Is Blind.
Jeff Timmons also shared a glimpse into the chaotic fan culture of their heyday during the documentary Larger than Life: Reign of the Boybands. He recalled fans sneaking onto their tour bus unnoticed, sometimes popping out from unexpected places like the room service cart. “Some things are a little too crazy to talk about,” he said.
Despite their success, Nick revealed that 98 Degrees didn’t always see the financial rewards. Signed to Motown, they received a modest advance and knew expenses would be recouped, so they chose to be frugal. Nick described how they would often skip pricey dinners, opting instead to grab fast food before returning to the studio.
Their modest approach extended to transportation too. Nick recalled late nights finishing sessions only to take the subway back to Brooklyn in freezing weather, rather than a chauffeured ride.
Boy Band Confidential will premiere on Roku on Monday, April 13, offering fans a candid look at the realities behind the boy band fame.