Source http://undercover.com.au
By Paul Cashmere

The Backstreet Boys attorney Carla Christofferson has liked the conduct of Zomba Records to "sort of holding everyone hostage" in relation to the $75 million lawsuit the band have filed today in New York against the label.

According to an amendment to their contract in 1999, Backstreet Boys were to deliver their forth album to Zomba by April 30, 2002. Carla tells Undercover News "They have not yet started recording their forth album which is one of the problems because they couldn't get the necessary co-operation from Zomba and so now that they are back working together as a band they plan to start as soon as possible if Zomba doesn't continue to withhold approval rights that they have been withholding and non co-operation. So they are hoping to start almost immediately".

The legal action may further delay a new Backstreets Boys record. "It could" she says. However, there should be a new record in 2003. "They will go forward and do what ever it takes to get it out and get the necessary approval. It is in everyone's interest for them to go forward as quickly as possible. It has been a while since a CD has come out" she told Undercover.

The final sale of Zomba happened overnight to BMG Records with BMG paying $2.74 billion dollars for the company. The action however will remain against the pre-BMG Zomba executives. "We believe the responsibility still lies directly with Zomba's former executive including Clive Calder" she says. "We filed the lawsuit prior to them closing the deal. On the question regarding Nick Carter, he is fully supportive of the action and the band".

Nick Carter's position in the middle of the complaint is interesting as his solo record was used to hold up the Backstreet Boys moving forward. So why didn't he just say no and not do the solo album until the Backstreet Boys record was completed? "I think in some sense he didn't realise how this would effect the band because he was being pulled off by Zomba and Zomba was withholding other creative influences for The Backstreet Boys" Carla says. "So there wasn't any band activity that he could participate in because as we state in the complaint Zomba wouldn't approve the producers, wouldn't approve the choices and was sort of holding everyone hostage".

Does this now put a strain on Nick's relationship with the band we ask? "No, no" she says. "When he realised that this was effecting the Backstreet Boys, he believes in the band and wants to be a part of it.

No other members of Backstreet Boys are currently planning or have started solo projects.