The man responsible for the Backstreet Boys and N’Sync’s gazillion-selling exploits, Lou Pearlman, has died aged 62 in a Texas prison.
The boy band Svengali was sentenced in 2008 to up to 25 years after pleading guilty to his masterminding of an illegal Ponzi scheme that cost investors $300 million.
Taking to Twitter, N’Sync’s Lance Bass says: “He might not have been a stand-up businessman, but I wouldn’t be doing what I love today without his influence. RIP Lou.”
Another of his former charges, O-Town’s Ashley Palmer, adds: “"Love him or hate him, Lou gave many of us our start. It's a shame he let greed get in his way."
Hot Press met Pearlman in 2002 in Brussels when one of his less successful creations, B 4-4, launched an EU anti-smoking campaign at the behest of Irish Commissioner David Byrne.