Lou Pearlman, boy band creator imprisoned for fraud, dies

Even if you obsessed about boy bands when you were a kid, you probably didn’t know much about the man who orchestrated them.

Justin Timberlake commented on Lou Pearlman’s death.

The Backstreet Boys filed legal action against Pearlman in 2008, claiming they were owed nearly $3.5 million (£2.6 million). All in all, every single group that Pearlman managed (save for one) sued him for misrepresentation and fraud, with Pearlman either losing all of them or settling them out of court.

Lou Pearlman’s death has generated a lot of complicated feelings among pop fans, as well as those from whom he worked as a manager, svengali and in many cases a legal opponent.

Timberlake tweeted Sunday that he hoped Pearlman had “found some peace”.

‘NSync singer Lance Bass tweeted, “He might not have been a stand-up businessman, but I wouldn’t be doing what I love today without his influence”.

Neither company actually existed, but Pearlman had convinced investors to give the fake companies over $300 million. “It’s a shame he let greed get in his way”. “Without Lou I wouldn’t have met my four brothers or had the opportunity of a lifetime”.

– Ashley Parker Angel (@ParkerAngel) August 21, 2016#LouPearlman my old manager died in prison…

Talk about mixed emotions, as Kirkpatrick says.

Pearlman first struck success in the 1990s after setting up his own record label and launching a multi-million dollar talent search, during which he discovered five unknown singers to form a new boy band called the Backstreet Boys. Mr. Pearlman later repeated the formula with NSync. So, the fact that Justin was able to put what are sure to be dark memories behind him and honor the life of someone who did help launch his career is so touching.