{"id":8505,"date":"2026-04-10T05:53:33","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T05:53:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/98-degrees-tour-bus-held-an-age-of-consent-guide-for-every-state-nick-lachey-confesses\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T05:53:33","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T05:53:33","slug":"98-degrees-tour-bus-held-an-age-of-consent-guide-for-every-state-nick-lachey-confesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/98-degrees-tour-bus-held-an-age-of-consent-guide-for-every-state-nick-lachey-confesses\/","title":{"rendered":"98 Degrees’ Tour Bus Held an Age\u2011of\u2011Consent Guide for Every State, Nick Lachey Confesses"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the boy band 98\u202fDegrees first hit the road in 1999, the group\u2014comprising Nick and Drew Lachey, Jeff Timmons, and Justin Jeffre\u2014was still a handful of years away from the fame and fortune that would later define their careers. Yet even then, the band carried a surprisingly practical tool on their tour bus: a book that listed the age\u2011of\u2011consent laws for every state in the United States. In a candid interview for the new documentary Boy Band Confidential<\/em>, Nick Lachey explains why the guide was deemed essential and how it reflected the realities of touring as a young pop act.<\/p>\n

A Shocking Roadside Manual<\/h2>\n

Nick Lachey recalls the moment the guide first appeared on the bus. \u201cIt was going to sound super shady, but when we first went out, someone at the label gave us a book, and it was the age of consent in every state in the country,\u201d he says. The book, a straightforward reference, was meant to protect the band from legal pitfalls that could arise when interacting with fans, especially in an era when the boundaries between celebrity and public were still being negotiated.<\/p>\n

While the idea of a legal handbook on a tour bus might raise eyebrows, Lachey emphasizes that the intent was precautionary. \u201cWe kept that book on the tour bus as a safeguard to keep us out of trouble,\u201d he explains. \u201cUnfortunately, there were people out there looking to tear you down.\u201d The band\u2019s early days were marked by a mix of adoration and scrutiny, and the guide served as a reminder that the law applied to everyone, regardless of fame.<\/p>\n

Living on a Shoestring While Touring<\/h2>\n

Signing with Motown in 1999 brought 98\u202fDegrees a modest advance, but the contract came with a catch: all expenses were recoupable. \u201cWe knew that all expenses were recoupable and so we took the opposite approach from other bands,\u201d Lachey says. Instead of splurging on luxury accommodations or private transportation, the group adopted a frugal lifestyle that mirrored the financial reality of many touring musicians.<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Minimal Accommodations:<\/strong> The band often stayed in budget hotels or shared rooms, keeping lodging costs low.<\/li>\n
  • Public Transit:<\/strong> After late\u2011night recording sessions, the four members would hop on the A train back to Brooklyn at 4\u202fa.m., even in the middle of winter.<\/li>\n
  • DIY Meals:<\/strong> Rather than dining out, they would grab quick, inexpensive snacks or cook simple meals in shared spaces.<\/li>\n
  • No Car Services:<\/strong> The band avoided expensive rideshares or taxis, opting instead for the subway or walking when possible.<\/li>\n
  • Careful Spending:<\/strong> Every purchase was scrutinized, with the band prioritizing essentials over indulgences.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    These habits not only kept the band\u2019s finances in check but also fostered a sense of camaraderie. \u201cWe\u2019d take a break, go around the corner to Wendy\u2019s, and then head back to the studio,\u201d Lachey recalls,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When the boy band 98 Degrees first hit the road in 1999, the group\u2014comprising Nick and Drew Lachey, Jeff Timmons, and Justin Jeffre\u2014was still a handful of years away from the fame and fortune that would later define their careers. Yet even then, the band carried a surprisingly practical tool on…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3500,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8505","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8505","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8505"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8505\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3500"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8505"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8505"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8505"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}