Backstreet Boys' Howie Dorough says One Direction remind them of the ''mania'' in their heyday.

The boy band - who were catapulted to the spotlight in the 90s - warn Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Liam Payne not to ''burn out'' and ''pace'' themselves since it's easy to get ''lost'' in the excess of the music industry.

Howie told the Daily Star newspaper: ''One Direction remind me so much of us back in the day, all that mania.

''It's a marathon, not a sprint, so pace yourselves so you don't burn out too quickly.

''They have credited us as their inspiration, which is very flattering, but I can see how people get lost in this business when it comes to excesses in fame, success and money.''

Howie - who was catapulted to the spotlight alongside band mates A. J. McLean, Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson and Brian Littrell - insists 1D should ''keep their feet on the ground'' if they want long-term success.

He added: ''If we give 1D advice, would they even want to take it? I don't know if we would've at their age.

''But people who keep their feet on the ground don't go away, so they need a good support system around them.

''If they write great, timeless music and be good to their fans long career.''