KEY POINTS:
Think back, just two years ago, before the release of High School Musical and Hannah Montana. It was an innocent time. The name Miley Cyrus didn't so much as raise an eyebrow, let alone the frantic screams of thousands of tween-age fans.
In January 2006, few would have
predicted the cultural phenomenon that was about to unfold - the mass hysteria that would surround the simple songs and dance of a made-for-TV movie.
Two years on, as Disney Channel prepares to unveil its next original production in New Zealand - Camp Rock featuring the Jonas Brothers - there can be no doubt these boys are set for superstardom.
But just who are these musical siblings and where did they come from?
WHO: Paul Kevin Jonas II (Kevin), Joseph Adam Jonas (Joe), Nicholas Jerry Jonas (Nick).
BORN: Kevin - November 5, 1987; Joe - born August 15, 1989; Nick - September 16, 1992; All three were born and raised in Wyckoff, New Jersey.
BACKGROUND: The brothers began playing music together three years ago, signed to Columbia Records. But despite opening for acts like Kelly Clarkson, Jesse McCartney and the Backstreet Boys, the band failed to capture the public's imagination.
The boys soon found a niche, however, playing on various children's television soundtracks, including Nickelodeon's Zoey 101 and Disney's Hannah Montana. Disney was quick to realise the boys' potential, signing them to star in Camp Rock, and a reality series, Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream.
FANS: Since Camp Rock premiered in America in June, the boys can barely move for shrieking fans. Earlier this month, more than 1000 fans queued, some for up to two days, to see the boys perform live at a special in-store concert in New York. Only the first 500 were allowed entry. One reporter likened the scene to the boy-band hysteria of the mid-90s and the days of N'Sync and the Backstreet Boys.
"You kind of either just look around and laugh, or just, like, enjoy it," says Joe of the frenzy. "We're in awe ... It's a whirlwind, and we're happy to be on the ride."
Kevin, the elder Jonas, credits their popularity explosion to the diligence of their fans. "They, really in the last year, kicked into high gear with coming to the shows, following the music and continuing to talk about it online," he said. "The online thing has been really big for us: the YouTube videos, the MySpace ... all of that. But for us, all of them outside make it all possible."
MUSIC: Fandemonium for the Jonas Brothers reached fever pitch this month with the release of their third album, A Little Bit Longer.
"We are just really living the dream right now," Kevin said. "For us, having this album finally hit stores and having them sing the songs, knowing that they can actually hear them and have it in their possession is the most amazing thing for us. We're so excited."
When the Jonas Brothers released their first CD two years ago, the CD barely made a blip on the pop scene. But thanks to a stint with Miley Cyrus on her Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds tour last October and their own best-selling tour this year, the brothers have now become bona fide superstars, matching the teen queen on the path to world domination.
SUCCESS: A Little Bit Longer arrived just as the trio finished a three-night, sold-out stint at Madison Square Garden, which was also the site of filming for their upcoming 3-D concert flick.
They recently signed a multimillion dollar, two-year pact with concert promoter Live Nation, Rolling Stone magazine put them on its cover, and they are one of the headline performers of this year's MTV Video Music Awards in September.
A Little Bit Longer sold more than 525,000 copies to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 album charts. Only Lil Wayne and Coldplay's Viva La Vida have had better debuts this year.
The album's success also saw their self-titled album, released last August, re-enter the charts, soaring into the top 10. According to Billboard.com, the last group to have two albums in the top 10 was fellow teen sensation,'N Sync, back in 1999.
They also made history after being the first band to sell more than 100,000 digital downloads for three consecutive singles - Burnin' Up, Pushin' Me Away and Play My Music.
Camp Rock premieres on Disney Channel (Sky Digital channel 40) on Friday, September 26 at 6.30pm.
