*NSYNC

Biography

*NSYNC was an American boy band formed in Orlando, Florida, in 1995. The group consisted of Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone, and Lance Bass. The group's name was created from the last letter of each of the original members' first names: JustiN, ChriS, JoeY, JasoN (original bass singer Jason Galasso), and JC.

Formation and Early Success

Chris Kirkpatrick, who had missed the cut for the Backstreet Boys, met with Lou Pearlman in 1995 to talk about forming another group. Pearlman said he would finance the group if Kirkpatrick would find the other singers. This led to Kirkpatrick recruiting Justin Timberlake and JC Chasez, who were both former cast members of "The Mickey Mouse Club". Joey Fatone was recruited next, followed by Lance Bass who replaced the group's original bass singer, Jason Galasso.

The group was first launched in Germany by BMG Ariola Munich and released their debut single "I Want You Back" in 1996, which quickly entered the top 10 in Germany. Their self-titled debut album was released in Germany in 1997 and became an overnight success throughout much of Europe. The album was later released in the U.S. in 1998 and sold over 10 million copies. A holiday album, "Home for Christmas," was released in the same year and also went multi-platinum.

Breakthrough and Superstardom

No Strings Attached

After a highly publicized legal battle with their former manager Lou Pearlman, *NSYNC signed with Jive Records. Their second album, "No Strings Attached," was released in 2000 and sold a record-breaking 2.4 million copies in its first week. The album included hit singles like "Bye Bye Bye," "It's Gonna Be Me," which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and "This I Promise You."

Celebrity

Their third album, "Celebrity," was released in 2001 and sold 1.8 million copies in its first week. This album featured more creative input from the group, with Timberlake and Chasez writing and producing several tracks. Hit singles from this album included "Pop," "Gone," and "Girlfriend."

Hiatus and Breakup

In 2002, *NSYNC announced a temporary hiatus. During this time, Justin Timberlake launched a successful solo career with his album "Justified." The planned hiatus eventually became permanent, and Timberlake officially left the band in 2004. Other members also pursued solo projects in acting and music.

Reunions

*NSYNC has reunited on several occasions over the years. They performed together at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2018. In 2023, the group released a new song, "Better Place," for the movie "Trolls Band Together." They also recorded a track titled "Paradise" for Timberlake's 2024 solo album. While there have been discussions and hopes for a full reunion tour or album, nothing has been officially announced.