The right stuff — for an awesome ’90s concert! The members of New Kids on the Block announced on Good Morning America on Tuesday, Jan. 20, that they will be going on tour this summer with special guests TLC and Nelly.
“We are bringing with us the biggest girl group in the history of music — TLC,” NKOTB’s Donnie Wahlberg said to host Robin Roberts. “This is such a great bill and we have so many hit records and such huge followings that we just want to make it the party of the year. That’s why we call it The Main Event. It’s going to be the event of the year.”
Wahlberg and his bandmates Joey McIntyre, Jordan Knight, Jonathan Knight, and Danny Wood were also joined by TLC’s Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas and Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins for the big reveal.
“It’s going to be one big, huge, massive party,” McIntyre added. “That’s a lot of hit records in one night. I’m excited.” (The band toured with Backstreet Boys in 2011 and 98 Degrees and Boyz II Men in 2013.)
The initial idea to hit the road together came when both groups performed at the Mixtape Festival in Hershey, Penn., in July 2013. “We all fell in love at that time and that’s when the ideas started to brew,” Thomas explained. “When our manager called us, we were like ‘Hell yeah.’ I think it’s a perfect combination.”
Besides the new gig, TLC also has high hopes for what is being billed as their final album. On Monday, Thomas and Watkins announced via Twitter that they launched a Kickstarter campaign to help raise $150,000 for the project.
“I’m pledging $10,000 right now. It’s going in. We’re in,” Wahlberg said, surprising the women on GMA. “But you have to do a duet with us.”
Tickets for The Main Event will go on sale on Saturday, Jan. 31, with the first show in Las Vegas on May 1.
Tell Us: Are you excited for the upcoming tour?