When the 98 Degrees caravan rolled into New York, the boys talked to the MTV Radio Network's John Gill about overly enthusiastic groupies, their thoughts on getting naked in front of the camera, and the fact that their success means that they can actually find dates now... not that they find much time for them. The group also talks about life on the tour bus, and their approach to making videos.

　　You'll find that and more right here in our MTV News Online feature, "98 Degrees and Rising."

　　Enjoy it!

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MTV: You guys are heading out on a U.S. tour...

DREW: We actually leave tomorrow afternoon to do go out and do some club and theater dates all around the country. Mostly up and down the East coast. And it's our first time in an actual real live tour bus. I mean, we've had our motor home as a lot of people know 'cause it was all over the country and stuff, but this is our first time in a real motor home, tour bus-type thing with the play station and the TV and an actual driver... we don't have to drive ourselves this time. So you can tell that we're having a bit of success, we get a driver.

NICK: We're moving up baby! JEFF: We've got a driver now, so watch out! MTV: Do you feel like you've arrived now?

JUSTIN: We just feel that the roads are a lot safer now.

JEFF: You always feel like you can do more and you always have goals but I think we're getting there. We're getting to where we want to be. There are some things we want to accomplish...not only the attainable goals like physical things like Grammies and number one songs or things like that, but I think we just want to expand artistically, to sing with other artists, rock groups, things like that.

MTV: How do you feel about the success of "Because of You?"

JEFF TIMMONS: We're really excited about it It's amazing We always thought that the song was good, we had faith in the song and thought it would do well but it's really been at the top of the charts for a long time now and we couldn't be happier. It's been great for our career definitely...no doubt about it.

NICK LACHEY: It's kind of cool too because we've been overseas for about six of the last eight weeks, so you could see a real difference between when we left and now. The song's really kind of moved up the chart and done a lot of great stuff while we've been gone.

JUSTIN JEFFRE: I think that people are recognizing us a lot more because the video has been getting so much airplay. And it's such a cool video that we just want to say thanks to Wayne Isham for doing such a wonderful job and we're really proud of it.

MTV: You must've liked the video.

JEFF: Yeah.

JUSTIN: It was worth it.

NICK: The wild blue yonder. Yeah, it was cool though. That was a once in a lifetime opportunity to get up there, and yeah, it was great. Never forget that one.