Backstreet Boy McLean treated for depression

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Backstreet Boys member A.J. McLean started treatment for clinical depression Tuesday, a day after the rest of the highly successful boy band announced plans to postpone more than a dozen concerts over the coming month.

In an interview with CNN on Tuesday, the group said that McLean's behavior -- which included showing up late for meetings, heavy consumption of alcohol, and saying his was sick when he was hungover -- had been affecting the group often enough for them to confront him.

"At the beginning of this leg of the U.S. tour, we had come together as a group and tried to get A.J. some counseling and group counseling," bandmate Kevin Richardson told Michael Okwu of CNN's "Showbiz Today Reports." "We were concerned about his lifestyle changes in the past year and they were starting to affect his work and affect us and the way we do things together.

"We were concerned about his health and his well-being, as well as his performance," said Richardson.

VIDEO The rest of the Backstreet Boys talk to CNN's Michael Okwu about McLean (July 9) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) Band members Kevin Richardson and Nick Carter talk about the need to postpone dates on their summer tour (July 10) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

McLean, 23, also has recently suffered anxiety attacks. His bandmates -- Richardson, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, and Brian Littrell -- attributed McLean's problems to the recent death of his grandmother, with whom he was very close.

Dorough said the Backstreet Boys wanted to be "honest with our fans" about McLean's situation.

"I think our biggest thing is we always pride ourselves on our honesty," Dorough said. "We pride ourselves on being five wholesome guys, but at the same time we're five human beings. We have our downfalls just like anyone else."

The group said in a statement released Monday that tour dates are being postponed because McLean is unable to perform with the group. McLean, nicknamed "Bone" and "A.J.," is a singer who also plays the bass guitar and piano.

The postponements went into effect immediately, beginning with Monday's show in Boston. The group is to return to the stage August 7 in Vancouver. The Boston shows will be September 8-10, and the other postponed appearances will follow.

Tickets already purchased will be honored at the rescheduled dates. Refunds also are available.

The updated tour dates are as follows:

Rescheduled shows:

Tue 8/7: Vancouver, BC General Motors Place
Thu 8/9: Tacoma, WA Tacoma Dome
Fri 8/10: Portland, OR Rose Garden
Sat 8/11: Seattle, WA Key Arena
Sun 8/12: Bakersfield, CA Centennial Garden Con. Ctr
Mon 8/13: San Jose, CA San Jose Arena
Thur 8/16: Los Angeles, CA Great Western Forum
Sat 8/18: San Bernardino, CA Glen Helen Blockbuster
Mon 8/20: Salt Lake City, UT Delta Center
Wed 8/22: Denver, CO Pepsi Center
Fri 8/24: Milwaukee, WI Bradley Center
Sat 8/25: Cincinnati, OH Firstar Center
Sun 8/26: St. Louis, MO Riverport Amphitheatre
Mon 8/27: Kansas City, MO Kemper Arena
Wed 8/29: Houston, TX Compaq Center
Thur 8/30: San Antonio, TX Alamodome
Fri 8/31: Dallas, TX American Airlines Arena
Tue 9/4: Uniondale, NY Nassau Coliseum
Thu 9/6: East Rutherford, NJ Continental Airlines Arena

Rescheduled shows:

Fri 9/7: East Rutherford, NJ Continental Airlines Arena
Sat 9/8: Boston, MA Fleet Center
Sun 9/9: Boston, MA Fleet Center
Mon 9/10: Boston, MA Fleet Center
Wed 9/12: Toronto, ONT Air Canada Center
Thu 9/13: Toronto, ONT Air Canada Center
Fri 9/14: Toronto, ONT Air Canada Center
Sat 9/15: Kanata, ONT Corel Centre
Mon 9/17: Montreal, QUE Molson Center
Wed 9/19: Cleveland, OH Gund Arena
Thu 9/20: Detroit, MI The Palace
Sat 9/22: Chicago, IL Tweeter Center
Sun 9/23: Minneapolis, MN Target Center
Wed 9/26: Calgary, ALB Saddledome
Thu 9/27: Calgary, ALB Saddledome
Fri 9/28: Edmonton, ALB Sky Reach