The Las Vegas Sun interviewed Danny about the upcoming tour and more. Check out the transcript below:
By Don Chareunsy (contact)
Friday, May 1, 2015 | 2 a.m.
NKOTB are Las Vegas regulars when they tour every other year, with stops in recent years in Sin City at Pearl at the Palms, Mandalay Bay Events Center and, last summer, Axis at Planet Hollywood.
Wood took a break from rehearsals Wednesday afternoon to talk about second chances, being a single divorced dad, a Las Vegas residency and the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Manny Pacquiao fight Saturday night:
Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on Friday night is your first stop of “The Main Event” tour. What are you looking forward to most?
The challenge of making every seat in the house a good seat. It’s a massive stage, and we want to give everyone a good show. We’re working on it now, and we’ll be working on it right up until they open the doors. It’s a challenge, and I’m looking forward to it.
Do you still get first-night or stage nerves?
Maybe a little bit, but not much. We’ve been at this a very long time (laughs). We’re excited and anxious, but not nervous.
You’re touring nonstop for at least the next two months. Do you enjoy touring after all these years?
Of course, man. It’s so much better this time around now. We’re so blessed that we get to do this twice. After a 15-year break, it’s such a blessing. The hard put now is putting it all together, but it’s coming together. We want to make it a very special show.
What’s your favorite song to perform?
It changes from tour to tour. This time around, it’s probably “Block Party” off our album “10.” It’s a lot of fun, and it really gets the crowd right into the show.
You are incredible shape. What’s your secret?
Well, I’ve been working out for 25 years — that’s the biggest secret (laughs). It’s all about what you put in your body. You can work out all you want, but there’s only one right way to eat. I watch what I eat, and I drink a lot of water.
I’ve seen NKOTB quite a few times in Las Vegas — at the Palms, Planet Hollywood and Mandalay Bay. Would you sign on for a residency here?
I would love it! I love all three venues. When we’re in Las Vegas, the people treat us so nice. And to go from your room to the elevator to do the show, it doesn’t get much better than that.
I would love it, but it’s a matter of when and different schedules of a group of guys doing different things. But I think that we would love to do it.
What do you work on when you’re not touring?
I’m a single dad, a single divorced dad, and that takes up a lot of time. I also do a lot of charity work for my mother’s foundation, The Betty Wood Cancer Foundation — Remembering Betty, for breast cancer awareness and patients and care.
I’m happy and content being a New Kid, doing charity work and taking care of my kids.
Who are some of the artists you’re listening to right now?
I like a lot of old music and a wide variety. If we’re talking about current artists, I like Ed Sheeran and Christina Perri. Jason Mraz is another guy I like. But I like old music, The Stylistics, The Bee Gees, Hall & Oates, The Eagles. When I’m working out, I like hip hop and Linkin Park.
If you ask anyone that question nowadays, nobody listens to one genre of music. People listen to different styles of music.
What do you like to do for fun in Las Vegas when you’re not working?
I don’t do anything! Last night, we finished rehearsals at 1 in the morning. It’s go and get some sleep time. The tour prep, that’s when the real work is done and my focus. I don’t gamble or party; I am focused on the show’s opening night, them moving on to Anaheim.
What is one lesson you’ve learned in your long career in the music industry, and what would you tell someone entering the music industry today?
A lesson I’ve learned? I don’t know, man. We were lucky the first time around. This second time, we have a great team of people. We’ve learned a lot of lessons in a 30-year career. We got lucky to get a second chance. After a 15-year break, we’re back playing arenas, sold-out venues. We’re lucky guys.
We’re in our 40s now, and we play different roles. Some of us are more on the business side, some of use are on the creative side. We watch everyone. We’re sometimes older than our team of people, so nothing gets past us. It’s much different than being in your 20s.
My advice to someone starting out: Surround yourself with a really good team of people. It’s hard when you’re young to know who’s good and who’s … look at artists you look up to and look at their team.
You’re performing on the eve of the big Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Manny Pacquiao fight. Prediction?
No, not really. I wish they would’ve done it a while ago. I’m not as interested now. I mean, I’m a big boxing fan — (Marvin) Hagler, (Tommy) Hearns, (Roberto) Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard. Mike Tyson was the man — (Evander) Holyfield, (Lennox) Lewis. It’s been a long time, and this fight is past due. They’re hyping it, but it should’ve been done a while ago.
But it’s still the biggest fight since the last big Tyson fight. I’m happy that they’re finally doing it, but it should’ve happened five to eight years ago.
