At the tender age of 16, entertainer Lance Bass skyrocketed to fame in the internationally successful boyband NSYNC. The band went on to sell over 56 million albums worldwide, solidifying household name status for all involved. Bass has since grown his own personal successful empire as an actor, singer, New York Time’s best-selling author and radio DJ on his wildly popular Sirius XM radio show “Dirty Pop”. Having just wed his love and best friend Michael Turchin in a televised ceremony, Bass talks to Runway about their special day, why comfort trumps labels and what his relationship is like with his former bandmates.
Congratulations on becoming a newlywed! Your wedding special aired on television and it looked beautiful! What was your favorite moment of the special day?
- There were so many amazing moments, it’s hard to choose. One of my favorite moments was walking out, before walking down the aisle and seeing all of our friends and family there, just celebrating the love. That was way more emotional than I ever thought it would be.
Was there any wedding stress leading up to the big day?
- Of course. I mean anytime you’re planning a wedding, there’s going to be stress. But we knew what we were getting into and that there would be drama surrounding it and we’d have to accept it. But when the day came, it was pretty drama free.
That is great! We also have to congratulate you on your radio show, Dirty Pop. Can you share a little bit about the shows premise and what inspired you to start the show?
- Since I was a little kid, I always dreamed of being a radio DJ, like Rick Dees, and I loved countdown shows. When Sirius XM approached me to a do a show, almost 4 years ago, I jumped at the chance. Dirty Pop is a 2-hour live talk show, all surrounding pop culture and today’s news, and we play music and a featured countdown.
SEE LANCE’S BEHIND THE SCENES VIDEO ON RUNWAY TV
So your dream came true! How did the Dirty Pop team, or your “Peanuts” as you call them, come to be?
- Basically, it’s just a bunch of my friends. All the “peanuts” you will hear on the show are the people who make up my circle and are where pop culture comes from. As for the name “peanuts”, I was nervous when I first started the show, and it just came natural, they were my little peanut gallery.
Landing your big break and having performed for many years with the multiplatinum boy band, NSYNC, do you ever miss performing in that capacity?
- Oh yes, every day. The adrenaline you get from performing in front of that many people with your best friends, it’s a rush you can’t explain. It’s like a drug, you want it every day. So, of course.
You have shown support for Joey Fatone’s show, Rewrapped, on the Cooking Channel through social media. Are you and the guys still close?
- Oh yeah. When you go through something like NSYNC, you are bonded for life, you’ll be family forever. We love each other like brothers, and we hate each other like brothers. Haha! We chat every week, and those guys, they’ll always be a part of my life.
That’s good to hear! We must talk about fashion. You always look stylish and put together. Do you have a favorite go-to designer for red carpet events?
- I really don’t. During my NSYNC years, my fashion was terrible and I wish someone would have slapped me and woke me up. Looking back, I wonder what I was doing. Since going solo and moving to New York, I started to really learn about fashion and good clothes. Like on my Runway shoot, I enjoyed going against the grain of what I would wear. My go to is a good fitted suit with a little edge. Like a John Varvatos or Boss design.
What about for everyday and hanging out at the radio station? Who is your favorite casual go-to designer?
- I am a jeans and t-shirt guy. I like being comfortable. I’m really particular in the type of shirt I wear. They have to be soft. American Apparel has amazingly soft shirts. So to me it’s not about designers, it’s about the feel.
You have had a quite an impressive list of stars featured on the show. Do you have a dream interview you would like to see happen?
- I think my dream interview would be… I love Michelle Obama. I love all the initiatives she is taking on education and obesity. And the ultimate, Oprah. I love what I do, I love interviewing people, and to learn from the best would be incredible.
I am a dog lover myself, and your little dog Lily is beyond adorable. I noticed she gets her share of the spotlight. Have you always been a dog lover? And can you share your rescue story?
- My whole life I’ve been an animal person. Dogs have become very special to me. Right now I have three rescue dogs, and two were fosters I got when I moved to Los Angeles, Dingo and Foster. They were thrown away in a trash bag, so I went and rescued them, and they are the best things to ever happen to me. And Lily is a little terrier mix and runs the house. We work with a great place called Lucky Puppy and we will foster dogs needing a home until we find a home for them either through friends or the radio show.
Being a part of our music issue, we’d like to know what’s on your music playlist?
- Right now, I’m loving Hozier. I think he’s so great with his Irish roots. And “Take Me Church” is just one of those songs that I heard this year and just loved.
As an advocate for LGBT rights, do you work with any specific organizations?
- I work with a ton. From GLAAD to HRC, the big dogs of course. I also love organizations like The Trevor Project, that’s something near and dear to my heart. It’s an amazing suicide prevention hotline someone can call if they are feeling down or need someone to talk to.
You have had success in fields outside of music, including many television and film appearances, as well as being an author on the New York Times Best Seller list for your previously published autobiography. Are there any more plans to publish further works? What about film and television plans?
- I have a lot of TV and film projects going right now, that are still in the development stage. I am working on a comedy project with Cheri Oteri. And I’m developing a cookbook with my family, I come from a family of amazing cooks and I’m really looking forward to that.
We look forward to it all! Tune into Dirty Pop with Lance Bass on Sirius XM Radio and help to rescue dogs in need by visiting MyLuckyPuppy.com.
Interview by Mandi Pimental for RUNWAY Spring 2015
