Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
"I've been in my room watching TV and I heard giggling... it was two girls hiding in the closet."
In this classic 1991 interview from the Countdown archives, Jonathan Knight of New Kids on the Block (NKOTB) sits down to discuss the highs and lows of life at the peak of boy band mania. From the pre-show gospel ritual that keeps the group grounded to the exhaustion of six shows a week and 24-hour bus rides, Jonathan gives a rare, candid look at the reality behind the "routine."
Are you a Blockhead who remembers this era? Let us know your favorite NKOTB memory in the comments!
Jonathan also addresses:
The wildest things fans have done to get close to the band (including some unexpected hotel room guests!)
Dealing with the deafening screams on stage and why they sometimes feel "embarrassed" hearing tapes back.
Their evolving relationship with producer Maurice Starr and their desire to prove they aren't just "stupid little kids" by taking creative control of their next album.
Honest reflections on the pressure of fame and those moments he thought about quitting.
#NKOTB #NewKidsOnTheBlock #JonathanKnight #90sMusic #Countdown #BoyBands #VintageInterview
The television show was broadcasted by Veronica from 1976 to 1993 and was "Europe's Number 1 Rock Show" with performances by the greatest artists from all over the world like Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Tina Turner, Janet Jackson, Stevie Wonder, The Rolling Stones, George Harrison, U2, The Police, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Lenny Kravitz, Depeche Mode, New Order, Whitney Houston, Duran Duran, R.E.M., Frankie Goes To Hollywood, The Cure, Run DMC, Cyndi Lauper, Iron Maiden, New Kids On The Block, LL Cool J.
• Subscribe to our channel: bit.ly/3kepHLP
• Playlist 70's Countdown clips: bit.ly/3bBwY4L
• Playlist 80's Countdown clips: bit.ly/3qVyKE5
• Playlist 90's Countdown clips: bit.ly/3kmXiUf
• Playlist met Nederlandstalige acts bij Countdown: bit.ly/3qJ0NFQ
Countdown has been owned since 2016 by the American company Reelin’ In The Years Productions & the Dutch company Double 2 BV. The Countdown archive contains thousands of unique musical performances, interviews and concert appearances by the greatest rock, R&B, pop, new wave and rap/hip-hop artists of the era. The archive is fully digitized and catalogued and is available for licensing to all forms of media worldwide.
For licensing inquiries please contact David Peck - reelinintheyears.com and for business within the Benelux countries please contact Jan Douwe Kroeske - http://www.double2bv.nl Please note that we do not supply our material to fans, collectors, or other private entities and will only send material out for legitimate projects to clients in the entertainment industry.
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OVER COUNTDOWN
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Het Nederlandse televisieprogramma "Countdown" was van 1976 t/m 1993 “Europe’s Number 1 Rock Show” en werd uitgezonden bij Veronica. Later werd het programma ook uitgezonden in het buitenland en was het op z'n hoogtepunt in meer dan 20 landen op televisie te zien.
Gedurende deze 17 jaar muziekgeschiedenis zijn er opnames gemaakt met talloze internationale sterren, zoals Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Tina Turner, Janet Jackson, Stevie Wonder, The Rolling Stones, George Harrison, U2, The Police, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Lenny Kravitz, Depeche Mode, New Order, Whitney Houston, Duran Duran, R.E.M., Frankie Goes To Hollywood, The Cure, Run DMC, Cyndi Lauper, Iron Maiden, New Kids On The Block, LL Cool J.
Uiteraard kwamen Nederlandse top-acts als Doe Maar, Andre Hazes, Herman Brood, Frank Boeijen, Spargo, Golden Earring, Time Bandits, De Dijk, De Raggende Manne, Hans de Booij, Gerard Joling, Drukwerk ook langs voor een optreden in Bussum.
Countdown werd gepresenteerd door oa Lex Harding, Erik de Zwart, Adam Curry, Simone Walraven Wessel van Diepen, Jeroen van Inkel, Rob Stenders, Simone Angel en Jasper Faber.
Het Countdown archief is vrijwel helemaal compleet en sinds 2017 eigendom van het Amerikaanse Reelin’ In The Years Productions (David Peck - reelinintheyears.com/) en Double 2 Hilversum (Jan Douwe Kroeske - http://www.double2bv.nl). Het archief bestaat uit meer dan 3.000 analoge mastertapes die allemaal gedigitaliseerd en gearchiveerd zijn. Indien u gebruik wilt maken van beeldmateriaal in een documentaire, tv-programma of andere mediaproductie neemt u voor een licentiedeal contact op met Double 2 BV via info@d2bv.nl. Beeldmateriaal wordt enkel verstrekt aan zakelijke projecten en niet aan particulieren.
"I've been in my room watching TV and I heard giggling... it was two girls hiding in the closet."
In this classic 1991 interview from the Countdown archives, Jonathan Knight of New Kids on the Block (NKOTB) sits down to discuss the highs and lows of life at the peak of boy band mania. From the pre-show gospel ritual that keeps the group grounded to the exhaustion of six shows a week and 24-hour bus rides, Jonathan gives a rare, candid look at the reality behind the "routine."
Are you a Blockhead who remembers this era? Let us know your favorite NKOTB memory in the comments!
Jonathan also addresses:
The wildest things fans have done to get close to the band (including some unexpected hotel room guests!)
Dealing with the deafening screams on stage and why they sometimes feel "embarrassed" hearing tapes back.
Their evolving relationship with producer Maurice Starr and their desire to prove they aren't just "stupid little kids" by taking creative control of their next album.
Honest reflections on the pressure of fame and those moments he thought about quitting.
#NKOTB #NewKidsOnTheBlock #JonathanKnight #90sMusic #Countdown #BoyBands #VintageInterview
The television show was broadcasted by Veronica from 1976 to 1993 and was "Europe's Number 1 Rock Show" with performances by the greatest artists from all over the world like Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Tina Turner, Janet Jackson, Stevie Wonder, The Rolling Stones, George Harrison, U2, The Police, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Lenny Kravitz, Depeche Mode, New Order, Whitney Houston, Duran Duran, R.E.M., Frankie Goes To Hollywood, The Cure, Run DMC, Cyndi Lauper, Iron Maiden, New Kids On The Block, LL Cool J.
• Subscribe to our channel: bit.ly/3kepHLP
• Playlist 70's Countdown clips: bit.ly/3bBwY4L
• Playlist 80's Countdown clips: bit.ly/3qVyKE5
• Playlist 90's Countdown clips: bit.ly/3kmXiUf
• Playlist met Nederlandstalige acts bij Countdown: bit.ly/3qJ0NFQ
Countdown has been owned since 2016 by the American company Reelin’ In The Years Productions & the Dutch company Double 2 BV. The Countdown archive contains thousands of unique musical performances, interviews and concert appearances by the greatest rock, R&B, pop, new wave and rap/hip-hop artists of the era. The archive is fully digitized and catalogued and is available for licensing to all forms of media worldwide.
For licensing inquiries please contact David Peck - reelinintheyears.com and for business within the Benelux countries please contact Jan Douwe Kroeske - http://www.double2bv.nl Please note that we do not supply our material to fans, collectors, or other private entities and will only send material out for legitimate projects to clients in the entertainment industry.
====
OVER COUNTDOWN
====
Het Nederlandse televisieprogramma "Countdown" was van 1976 t/m 1993 “Europe’s Number 1 Rock Show” en werd uitgezonden bij Veronica. Later werd het programma ook uitgezonden in het buitenland en was het op z'n hoogtepunt in meer dan 20 landen op televisie te zien.
Gedurende deze 17 jaar muziekgeschiedenis zijn er opnames gemaakt met talloze internationale sterren, zoals Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Tina Turner, Janet Jackson, Stevie Wonder, The Rolling Stones, George Harrison, U2, The Police, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Lenny Kravitz, Depeche Mode, New Order, Whitney Houston, Duran Duran, R.E.M., Frankie Goes To Hollywood, The Cure, Run DMC, Cyndi Lauper, Iron Maiden, New Kids On The Block, LL Cool J.
Uiteraard kwamen Nederlandse top-acts als Doe Maar, Andre Hazes, Herman Brood, Frank Boeijen, Spargo, Golden Earring, Time Bandits, De Dijk, De Raggende Manne, Hans de Booij, Gerard Joling, Drukwerk ook langs voor een optreden in Bussum.
Countdown werd gepresenteerd door oa Lex Harding, Erik de Zwart, Adam Curry, Simone Walraven Wessel van Diepen, Jeroen van Inkel, Rob Stenders, Simone Angel en Jasper Faber.
Het Countdown archief is vrijwel helemaal compleet en sinds 2017 eigendom van het Amerikaanse Reelin’ In The Years Productions (David Peck - reelinintheyears.com/) en Double 2 Hilversum (Jan Douwe Kroeske - http://www.double2bv.nl). Het archief bestaat uit meer dan 3.000 analoge mastertapes die allemaal gedigitaliseerd en gearchiveerd zijn. Indien u gebruik wilt maken van beeldmateriaal in een documentaire, tv-programma of andere mediaproductie neemt u voor een licentiedeal contact op met Double 2 BV via info@d2bv.nl. Beeldmateriaal wordt enkel verstrekt aan zakelijke projecten en niet aan particulieren.
