Las Vegas Weekly interviewed Donnie about the Las Vegas Residency:
After their time atop the charts in the ’80s and ’90s and years pursuing individual projects, the New Kids on the Block reunited in 2008 and embarked on a series of successful tours that qualified the pop group as a natural choice for a Las Vegas Strip headlining residency. And yet it hasn’t happened until now, at Dolby Live at Park MGM. In this candid conversation with Donnie Wahlberg, we found out why this is the right time for NKOTB to bring The Right Stuff to Vegas, and why everything the beloved boy band does is all about the fans.
Was this a long time coming? There must have been opportunities in the past for a New Kids Vegas residency.
Donnie: There were discussions, off and on, but for us the time just didn’t seem right. But what Vegas is now compared to when we were kids is incredible. We’ve watched Vegas grow up right alongside us. It is the place, the epicenter of entertainment. Vegas could have disappeared as technology came into play and people have access to so many things, but somehow it managed to survive all these changes. So to go now, when Vegas is at the height of its magic and powers, it’s such an honor and a treat. It’s inspiring to us. We’re stepping into a city that on any given night you can go watch somebody who’s a new artist on top of the world, or a legendary artist that’s been in the game for decades, and we can learn something from all of them and be inspired by all of them.
There was a period where the group was apart for a long time. Did you feel back then that there was zero chance of coming together, or did you suspect there would be opportunities to do it again?
Donnie: If I’m honest, I always thought there was a chance we would get back together again. I had to fully immerse myself into acting to have a career and I had to put New Kids aside. But I remember being on a set, filming a miniseries in Morocco, and I was sitting in a helicopter flying over the desert. I was sitting with the door open and my feet hanging out, and I just started crying, because I was thinking about the guys and wishing I could share this experience with them. There were always moments like that where I’d think, one day we can do something again. So when it came, I was all in, I was so committed. People in my acting world thought I was crazy and told me, “You worked so hard to get this career off the ground and now you’re going back to a boy band?” And it was like, yeah, and it’s going to be better than before, and it’s going to make my acting career better. I just believed it. And the fans needed it back in their lives just as we did. We were right, we did need each other again.
When did that become your reality, that you really understood how devoted and affectionate these people are?
Donnie: I think we always discovered that on a deeper level every time we’d go out [on tour]. I think we have the greatest fans in the world right now, and yet somehow, we’re going to get to Vegas and realize that as much as we think we know, there’s another level we didn’t consider that they didn’t reveal to us. They make this all worthwhile. When we made the decision to go to Vegas, we considered them, and is this the time our fans are ready for this? They can have the best of times, enjoy Vegas, reconnect with other fans they are friends with. They always surprise us, so it’s important for us to surprise them.
How are you planning to do that with the residency?
Donnie: Vegas creates a great opportunity. It’s very rare that artists can be at this stage of their career and still getting to do something for the first time. It’s a first for us and a first for our fans. We’re working really hard to do things we’ve never done before, give them what they’re used to but also an experience that surprises and let’s them realize we didn’t cut corners here. We went all out because we appreciate you making this long journey. We can’t wait. Just having this conversation, saying these words is getting me fired up. I’m ready to go back and start dancing and just have a great time together.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK June 20-21, 25, 27-28 (& select dates thru February 28), 8 p.m., $79+. Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com.
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