BackStreet Boy A.J. McLean Goes Solo

March 19, 2008 7:21 a.m. EST

Los Angeles, CA (CNS) - A.J. McLean is going solo. The "bad boy" of Backstreet Boys has decided to perform without his singing buddies and release his own record.

The 30-year-old singer had put tickets on sale Tuesday for his two solo concerts on Sunday in the House of Blues in Anaheim and on Monday at Roxy in Los Angeles' Sunset Strip. This is to give his fans a sneak peak of his performance as a solo artist.

Eric Podwall, McLean's manager, tells People magazine, "After 13 years with the Backstreet Boys, and 75 million records sold worldwide, A.J.'s excited to take a step out on his own and present his music, in his style."

"He's excited to connect to his fans on a one-on-one basis at smaller venues - something you can't do in large arenas - and to give them a taste of some of the music that will appear on his first solo record later this year."

After his two shows and the Backstreet Boys' European tour ending on May 14, McLean is going to perform a series of solo shows in intimate venues in Europe before returning to the U.S. to work on his album. His record is expected to be released at the end of the year.

But McLean is not leaving the boys completely. A source says that he is planning to record another album with them next year.