After 3 decades, 98 Degrees still keeps mercury rising
Of the pop boy bands that ruled the late 1990s and early 2000s, 98 Degrees stood out for its more mature, romantic, and at times sensual sound, which inevitably spilled over into their image.
While other groups banked on boy-next-door appeal and opted for trendy, theatrical aesthetics, the Ohio quartet—brothers Nick and Drew Lachey, Jeff Timmons, and Justin Jeffre—leaned into rugged masculinity, often favoring minimalist (read: sleeveless or shirtless) styles that emphasized their chiseled physiques.
In music videos, the Backstreet Boys often pledged undying love to an offscreen love interest. LFO pined for a girl on TV. 98 Degrees, however, already had the girl, embracing scenes that were just a touch intimate. See “I Do (Cherish You)” and the members’ moments with actress Ali Landry: Drew’s flirtatious sunset drive; Jeff’s seaside tryst; Justin’s sudsy bathtub proposal; and Nick’s candlelit evening on the living room rug.
Yet, while 98 Degrees had a sexy edge, it was never overt or in-your-face—simmering but not quite boiling, as the name suggests. The group, after all, still had to operate within the confines of the teen-pop framework. Coupled with its smooth, R&B-infused harmonies, 98 Degrees balanced a grown-up vibe while maintaining broad appeal, making it one of the most successful groups of its time.
To this day, nearly 30 years since forming, the band remains committed to delivering that same kind of experience to fans, especially in live performances. And to do so, Nick, Drew, Jeff, and Justin—now in their late 40s and early 50s—make it a point to stay healthy and fit to meet the rigors of touring.
“We try to be mindful and take care of ourselves. People expect you to look a certain way, so we try to keep up with that,” Jeff said in a recent Zoom conference for the band’s upcoming two-night concert in Manila.
Looking good is important; feeling good is even more so—especially at this point in their lives. “I stay active. I like going to the gym. But it’s less about physicality now. It’s a hectic business we’re in, with so many high highs and low lows. So, I work out to help me keep the positive energy going. It allows me to stay disciplined,” added Jeff, who’s the biggest fitness buff of the four.
Staying active
“If it weren’t for Jeff, we would all be bald, old, and ugly,” Nick jokingly said. “We’re all just here, trying to keep up with him all the time. He sets the bar so high for us, and thank God for that.”
Drew, on the other hand, isn’t so fond of going to the gym, so he looks for other ways and activities to stay active. Luckily for him, doing shows is already quite the workout. “I think I lose 15 pounds. of sweat every time I go up onstage!” he quipped. “I feel so fortunate that I continue doing this, because, in a way, it keeps me in shape.”
And who knew that fatherhood could be so invigorating? Well, kind of. “Having children keeps you young. But it can also age you rapidly—it depends on the day and which child you’re talking to,” Drew, a father of two, said, laughing. “But yes, we just try to be mindful of what we do to and put in our bodies.”
“You want to keep your mind and spirit just as healthy—these things are all connected. We have to take care of these things individually for our wellness,” Jeff added.
While they typically watch what they eat, they’re willing to make exceptions once they land in Manila. “We fully intend to eat some Filipino food when we get there. I will not be passing up that opportunity this time,” Jeff said.
Soft spot for PH
On May 30 and May 31, 98 Degrees will hold court anew at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena—an event especially exciting for the band that has always had a soft spot for Filipinos. It’s worth noting that before it grew into a multi-platinum-selling act in the United States, the group first gained traction in Asia, including the Philippines.
“What a lot of people don’t know is that we didn’t necessarily have a ton of success in the US at first … We ended up going to Canada. But really, the first time we were met with resounding excitement from a fan base was when we set foot in Manila for the first time. We owe it to them,” Jeff said.
That was November 1999 at the Araneta Coliseum. And what happened offstage was just as memorable as the show itself. “Leaving the venue, the fans were literally rocking our van back and forth,” Nick recalled. “The passion of Filipinos for music was overwhelming. You get such a sense of their artistry and love for singing. It’s contagious.”
“Every time we set foot there, we feel nothing but love and excitement from the fans, who sing all our songs back to us—sometimes even better than we do them,” Drew added.
And you can bet the crowd will break into an emphatic sing-along once 98 Degrees’ greatest hits come on—“Invisible Man,” “The Hardest Thing,” “Because of You,” “Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche).” But aside from fan favorites, the group will also perform new material from its latest album, “Full Circle”—the title of which is symbolic in more ways than one.
For one, the album signals 98 Degree’s return to its syrupy, pop-R&B roots. “For a while, we veered away from that so we could try other things. Of course, we want to evolve as artists. But at some point we naturally drifted back to our old style. While the new songs sound slicker and more modern in terms of production, they stylistically resemble the hits that made us popular,” Jeff said.
Outside 98 Degrees, Nick, Drew, Jeff, and Justin have pursued their own projects and endeavors, both in and outside show biz. But whatever they do and wherever life takes them, the roads inevitably lead them back to 98 Degrees.
“We always go back to that—no matter what else we’ve got going—because that’s our core. We can take a break and then go back to work, whether it’s a new record or a show celebrating the past and the future. We always find our way to each other. That’s the one special thing we hold on to and that keeps us grounded,” Nick said.
