Lock up your daughters (and mothers) - one of the most famous boy bands of all time, Backstreet Boys, is touring Australia for the first time.

Older, wiser and definitely back on track Backstreet Boys' first Aussie tour. The US pop group has overcome personal turmoil and one member's battle with drugs to bring their Never Gone tour here in February next year.

The Backstreet Boys will join a cavalcade of music acts touring here early next year.

Fans can look forward to a summer of rock that includes everything from the world's biggest band, U2, to Australia's female phenomenon Missy Higgins and American wild man Iggy Pop.

Nick Carter, the most high profile member of BSB, said yesterday he couldn't wait to bring the stage show Down Under.

"We definitely always wanted to come to Australia," he said. "We love the people and the environment and the vibe."

BSB is one of the biggest boy bands of all time, selling 75 million records worldwide - 1.5 million of them in Australia.

The group - which also includes Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, AJ McLean and Kevin Richardson - rose to stardom in the '90s with hits such as As Long as You Love Me, Everybody (Backstreet's Back) and I Want It That Way.

The band all but fell apart in 2001 amid AJ's trouble with drugs.

However, they bounced back this year with a No.1 single in Australia, Incomplete, and a Top 10 album in Never Gone.

"We didn't know what to expect ... the unknown was scary, but having come back and going through it just goes to show we do have a great fan base," Carter said.

"We're bigger [in Australia] now than ever before."

As to the stage show, Carter said the band was, despite being older, as nimble as ever on their feet.

"We're a little older so we're not as young and naive, but on stage our performance has got better," he said.

"It's like watching Michael Jackson in his prime on stage."

Away from the music, Carter's private life is the source of constant gossip. He once dated Paris Hilton and recently was rumoured to be engaged to Chinese actress Bai Ling.

The latter story, he said, was untrue. They're dating, but just good friends.

That's good news for potential girlfriends out here.

"If that comes along, I'm cool," he said. "I'm not going to make it a priority, otherwise you tend to get yourself in problems. But whatever happens, happens."

Tour promoter Michael Gudinski said the crowd would be a mix of people who saw the band when they were 14 or 15, and newer fans.

"They've been through a lot, but they're back and looking fit," Gudinski said.

"It's going to be one of the biggest shows of next year."

Tickets go on sale on December 2 for the Backstreet Boys show to be held at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on January 30, 2006.