After nearly four decades of being known as AJ McLean, the Backstreet Boys singer is ready to introduce fans to the man behind the stage name.
McLean is currently embarking on his first North American solo tour, Alexander James: The Better Man Tour. Ahead of his Oct. 25 performance at The Paramount in Huntington, New York, the singer spoke exclusively with Men’s Journal about the mental-health journey that helped him separate AJ the performer from Alex the person.
McLean said the shift began after the Backstreet Boys completed their DNA World Tour. Although he had already been sober for approximately two years, he realized sobriety had not resolved every underlying issue affecting his life.
“I didn’t really like the person that I was,” McLean said. “Even though I was sober, I wasn’t happy with the person that I was. I wanted to get to the root of it.”
He traveled to Scottsdale, Arizona, intending to spend four weeks addressing love and relationship addiction. He ultimately remained there for 12.
“I came back knowing that, number one, boundaries are a big thing to have in your life,” he recalled. “I did not have those before.”
Establishing boundaries helped McLean recognize that AJ was a performance identity—not the entirety of who he was.
“AJ is a character in a band. It doesn’t define who I am,” he said. “Alex is who I am. That’s my birth name. It’s who I’ve been my whole life.”
McLean began using AJ as a stage name when he was 6. Over time, the line separating the performer from the person became increasingly difficult to see.
“I just believed over the course of 40 years that that is who I always had to be,” he explained. “Now I know I can separate the two. I wanted to introduce the world to me.”
The title of his tour reflects how McLean now defines personal growth. Being a better man, he said, means becoming a more present father, friend and bandmate while embracing vulnerability, authenticity, loyalty, courage and integrity.
“I’m continuing to grow every single day,” he said. “Every single morning when I wake up and look at myself in the mirror, I like the person I see now.”
Touring alone has also required McLean to become more disciplined about his health. As he prepared for his first solo run, he partnered with Delsym 12-Hour Cough Relief to help him remain performance-ready during cold and cough season.
McLean explained that staying healthy carries additional pressure when he is the only headliner onstage. With the Backstreet Boys, the five members can support one another if someone is not feeling his best.
“This is my first-ever solo tour, so being on my own, it’s a lot harder,” he said. “When I’m with the boys, it’s a little easier because there are five of us. We can all help each other out.”
The partnership was also informed by a coughing fit McLean experienced during a performance in Las Vegas. He recalled that the cough would not stop and began affecting his ability to perform. McLean said using Delsym helped him continue with the show.
“Anytime that I start feeling any kind of cough coming on, it could be small or it could be a lot, I immediately go to Delsym for 12-hour relief,” he said. “I can get through the show from sound check to encore.”
Medication is only one part of his routine. McLean begins his day by stretching, taking a hot shower, eating breakfast and going to the gym. On tour, he completes sound check and rests his voice as much as possible before taking the stage. He also prioritizes hydration, fruit and six to eight hours of sleep—a major change from the days when he could function on three or four hours.
“There’s nothing wrong with a good nap,” McLean joked.
His routine still leaves room for the occasional slice of pizza, but sobriety remains its foundation.
“One of the biggest things that really helps me stay focused is my sobriety,” he said. “Being sober now for over five years—that really has helped a lot.”
