Music

BEL CANTO Band Members: Anneli Drecker (vocals/lyrics), Nils Johansen (programming/violin/keyboards ++), Torbjørn Brundtland (keyboards/percussions/programming), and Andreas Eriksen (percussions) In 1985, Nils Johansen and Geir Jensen decided to form a band. Later the same year, the 16 year old Anneli Decker was recruited as the vocalist of the band. The band was given the name Bel Canto, which means 'beautiful song' in Italian. In 1990, Geir Jensen left the band, and in 1992, Andreas Eriksen gave first support in the studio and on stage. Bel Canto was also voted the 'official musicians of the Olympic Games' in Lillehammer this year. In 1995, a new member joined the band; bass player Kirsti Nyutstumo. Andreas Eriksen had also become a full band member. In 1997, Bel Canto received Norway's biggest music award, 'Spellemannsprisen'. They also came into contact with Torbj¢rn Brundtland, who are now a full member of the band. Kirsti Nyutstumo quit the band in 1999. Discography: Crammed Discs (1987), Birds of Passage (1990), Shimmering Warm and Bright (1992), Magic Box (1996), Rush (1998).

CRANBERRIES Band Members: Dolores Mary O'Riordan Burton(vocals/electric and acoustic guitars/keyboards), Noel Anthony Hagan (electric and acoustic guitars), Michael Gerard Hogan (bass), and Fergal Patrick Lawler (drums/percussion) Noel Hogan, his brother Mike and Fergal Lawler formed the group - initially known as The Cranberry Saw Us - as teenagers in their hometown of Limerick in 1990. Soon after the group's formation, its original male vocalist was replaced by Dolores O'Riordan. Cranberries' first release was a cassette-only single of Nothing Left At All. After that, they quickly emerged as Ireland's most-touted young band. Their second album, No Need To Argue, has sold about 8 million copies worldwide, and their next album, Bury The Hatchet, is due to be released 19th April 1999. Discography: Everybody Else Is Doing It So Why Can't We? (1992), No Need To Argue (1994), and To The Faithful Departed (1996).

K.D.LANG k.d.lang, or Kathryn Dawn Lang, was born on November 2, 1961 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. She is one of the fastest evolving, most provocative entertainers of our time. As a high school student, she was nationally ranked in the javelin. kd has been a vegetarian since January 13, 1981, and has not worn leather since 1991. Animal rights is one of the two causes she has chosen to support publicly. The other is the fight against AIDS. She has her own line of lipstick, Viva Glam II, of which every penny og the retail price goes to the MAC Aids Fund. kd has recorded numerous duets with other well-known artists, like Roy Orbison, Elton John, Andy Bell from Erasure, and Tony Bennett. She has also appeared in two films, Salmonberries and Teresa's Tattoo. Furthermore, she is taking on the responsibilities of producing the all female rock group, The Murmurs. Discography: A Truly Western Experience (1984/86), Angel With A Lariat, Shadowland (1988), Absolute Torch and Twang (1989), Ingenue (1992), Even Cowgirls get the blues (soundtrack) (1993), All You Can Eat (1995), Drag (1997).

TOM JONES Tom Jones was born Thomas Jones Woodward in Pontybridd, South Wales, UK, June 7 1940. In Wales, he is known as 'Jones the Voice'. He has become one of the most respected, admired and loved performers in modern music. Tom has sustained his popularity for more than three decades. In his youth, he was a rebel, performing music dominated by the birth of rock'n roll. However, his recordings have spanned the spectrum from pop and rock to standards, rhytm and blues to rockability, country to dance and contemporary urban sounds. His first international hit was 'It's Not Unusual'. Discography: Jones has published far too many albums for me to mention here. If you'd like to see Tom's complete Discography, click here

BLUR Band Members: Damon Albarn (vocals/lyrics), Alex James (bass), Dave Rowntree (drums), and Graham Coxon (guitar) The history of Blur can be dated as far back as 1980 when Damon Alabarn and Graham Coxon met as schoolboys in the city of Colchester. Both Damon and Graham showed considerable musical talent as teenagers, with Damon winning a Young Composer competition and Graham playing saxophone in the local bands. In 1988, Graham introduced Damon to Alex James, and they formed a band called Seymour, together with an old friend from Colchester, Dave Rowntree. When they signed to Food Records in 1989, they were asked to change their name. Food Records provided them with a list of names, and Blur was the one most favored. They released their first album, Leisure, in 1991, however, they got their critical break-through with their next album, Modern Life Is Rubbish. The music created by Blur drew from many classic English influences, such as Kinks, Bowie, Smiths, and Magazine. Blur's third album, Parklife, became a huge success, making it to Number 1 in the British album charts. The success has since then continued, with three more alvbums entering high up in the charts all over the world, and numerous Number 1 singles. Apparently, all the band members are vegetarians, and they all smoke Marlboro. In addition to singing like a God, Damon Albarn has also appeared in the film 'Face', with Robert Carlyle, where he plays a member of a gang of thieves. Discography: Leisure (1991), Modern Life(1993), Parklife (1994), Great Escape (1995), Blur (1997), 13 (1999).

CARDIGANS Band Members: Nina Persson (vocals), Peter Svansson (guitar), Bengt Lagerberg (drums), Magnus Sveningson (bass), and Lasse Johansson (keyboards/acoustic guitar) The Cardigans is a Swedish pop band that was formed in October, 1992 by Peter Svensson and Magnus Sveningsson in Jonkoping, Sweden. Later, Nina Persson, Bengt Lageberg, and Lasse Johansson joined the band, and they relocated to Malmo, Sweden. After a couple of years of priming, The Cardigans signed a deal with Stockholm Records in 1994 and released their first full length effort Emmerdale to instant acclaim. The record was voted 1994's best by Scandinavia's leading music magazine Slit. Their second album, Life, was their definitive international break-through, with hits such as Carnival, Sick And Tired, Daddy's Car, and Rise And Shine. Their two last albums have been equally successful, with hit singles Lovefool (First Band On The Moon), and Erase/Rewind and Favourite Game (Gran Turismo). Discography: Emmerdale (1994), Life (1995), First Band on the Moon (1997), Gran Turismo (1998).

ALANIS MORISSETTE Alanis Morissette has been writing songs for fun since she was 9. She admired the music and character of Olivia Newton John tremendously when she was young, which is the main reason why she was so interested in music. With the help of a friend of the family who was in the music business, Alanis released her first single, 'Fate Stay With Me', at the age of eleven. At the age of 13, she met Leslie Howe and they started writing together. Eventually, she was signed to MCA, and she recorded her first albu, 'Alanis', which became a big success in her native country, Canada. However, it was not until she released her third album, 'Jagged Little Pill', that she became an international success. Discography: Alanis (1991), Now Is The Time (1992), Jagged Little Pill (1996), and Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie (1998).

THE DOORS Band Members: James Douglas Morrison (vocals), John Paul Densmore (percussion), Robert Alan Krieger (guitar), and Raymond Daniel Manzarek (keyboards). The Doors were formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California. Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarek had known each other at UCLA where they majored in film. In the summer of 1965, Manzarek was on the beach in Venice when Morrison came walking toward him. Jim sat down and the two them started talking about what they had been doing during the summer. Jim said he had been writing some songs. Ray asked him to sing one of them. Jim sang a few lines from Moonlight Drive. Ray was very impressed with the lyrics and suggested the two of them form a rock band. Jim said that that was his idea all along. The very first line-up of the band consisted of Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarek, along with Ray's two brothers, Rick and Jim. There was no bass player or regular drummer. They just hired whomever they could whenever they landed a gig. Then Ray met John Densmore at the Third Street Meditation center in Los Angeles. Ray and John were both disciples of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi who opened the center in 1965. Ray invited John to join the group and be their regular drummer. In late 1965, Rick and Jim Manzarek quit the band as they seemed to be on a fast road to nowhere. They had shopped a demo tape around with little interest until Billy James at Columbia Records signed them to a deal. However once signed, Columbia did not show much interest in actually developing the band. On top of all this, they now had to replace Rick Manzarek who had been their guitar player. The name `The Doors' was Jim's idea and it was inspired by a quote from William Blake, "If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear as it is, infinite." Jim himself was fond of saying, "there are things known and things unknown and in between are The Doors." Discography:The Doors (1967), Strange Days (1967), Waiting For The Sun (1968), The Soft Parade (1969), 13 (1970) Morrison Hotel (1970), Absolutely Live (1970) L.A.Women (1971), Weird Scenes Inside The Goldmine (1972), Best Of The Doors (1973) An American Prayer(1979), Greatest Hits (1980), Alive She Cried (1983), Classics (1985), Live At The Hollywood Bowl (1987), The Best Of The Doors (1987), In Concert (1990), The Doors: Original Soundtrack Recording (1991), The Doors Box Set (1997). Studio albums recorded after Jim's death: Other Voices (1971), Full Circle (1972).

SIMON AND GARFUNKEL Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel teamed up musically in high school. Using the alias Tom and Jerry they recorded "Hey, Scoolgirl", which sold 150,000 copies. They produced a range of hits, until they broke up in 1970. Since then, they have mainly worked as solo artists, however, they reunited several times for special occassions, like the free outdoor concert in New York's Central Park in 1981. This concert also resulted in a live double album. Discography: As a duo: Wednesday Morning 3am (1964), Sounds of Silence (1966), Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme(1967),Bookends (1968), Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970), and The Concert in Central Park (1982). As solo artists: Paul Simon (Simon: 1972), There Goes Rhymin' Simon (Simon: 1973), Angel Clare (Garfunkel: 1973), Live Rhymin' (Simon: 1974), Still Crazy After All These Years (Simon: 1975), Breakaway (Garfunkel: 1975), Watermark (Garfunkel: 1977), Greatest Hits, Etc. (Simon: 1977), Fate For Breakfast (Garfunkel: 1979), One-Trick Pony (Simon: 1980), Scissors Cut (Garfunkel: 1981), Hearts And Bones (Simon: 1983), Graceland (Simon: 1986), Lefty (Garfunkel: 1988), The Rhytm Of The Saints (Simon: 1990), Paul Simon's Concert In The Park (Simon: 1991), and Songs From The Capeman (Simon: 1997).

MAZZY STAR Band Members: Hope Sandoval (vocals/harmonica/percussion/lyrics), Davis Roback (guitars/keyboards/other instruments/lyrics), William Cooper (strings), Keith Mitchell (drums), Jill Emery (bass), and Suki Ewers (keyboard/guitar). If you are looking for blissed-out music with a happy smile on its face, this is not your kind of music... The druggy states Mazzy Star evoke are comfortably numb rather than euphoric. Mazzy Star's roots in the California Paisley Undergrounde movement of the 1980s are deep. After leaving the band The Rain Parade, David Roback founded Opal in the mid-1980s with ex-Dream Syndicate bassist Kendra Smith. When Smith left the band in the middle of an American tour with The Jesus And Mary Chain, Hope Sandoval, who had been introduced to Roback by Smith, was tapped as her replacement. After that tour, Opal disbanded, and Roback and Sandoval decided to continue collaborating in Mazzy Star. Though theoretically a full band, Mazzy Star is very much Roback and Sandoval's show, as they write all of the material. Discography: She Hangs Brightly (1990), So Tonight That I Might See (1993), and Among My Swan (1996).

THE BEATLES Band Members: (James) Paul McCartney, John (Winston) Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr (original name Richard Starkey). All the members of the band came from a working-class background in Liverpool, and all had experience in various other rock groups before they started performing together. The group began in the pairing of MvCartney and Lannon in 1956, joined by harrison in 1957; the three (along with one member who died in 1962 and another who was later replaced by Starr) adopted the name the Beatles in 1960, perfoming at clubs in Liverpool and Hamburg. In 1962 the group signed a recording contract and recruited Starr from another band. The subsequent commercial release of such songs as "Love me Do", "Please Please Me", "She Loves You, and "I want To Hold Your Hand" made them the most popular rockgroup in England, and early in 1964 what soon came to be called "Beatlemania" struck th United States. The Beatles' music, originally inspired by such US performers as Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, and Bill Haley, recaptured much of the freshness and excitement of the earliest days of rock and roll and, in combination with the simple but engaging lyrics of Lennon and McCartney, kept the group at the popularity charts for several years. The Beatles engaged in other artistic pursuits, together in two critically well-received films, A hard Day's Night (1964) and Help! (1965), and separately. Finalyy, the pressures of their public lives, together with their growing outside interests, led to the group's dissolution in 1971. McCartney produced solo albums and in 1971 formed his own band, Wings. harrison worked alone and with Lennon and Starr in the 1970s. Starr appeared in films and showed some attraction to coutry music. Lennon continued as a musician with his wife, Yoko Ono, and as a political activist. He was assassinated in 1980. Discography: Please Please Me (1963), With The Beatles (1963), A hard Day's Night (1964), Beatles For sale (1964), Help! (1965), Rubber Soul (1965), Revolver (1966), Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), the Beatles (The White Album (1968), Yellow Submarine (1969), Abbey Road (1969), Let It Be (1970).

HOOVERPHONIC Band Members: Geike Arnaert (vocals), Alex Callier (guitar), Frank Duchene, Raymond Geerts. Hooverphonic, or Hoover as they were first called, was started by Alex Callier, Frank Duchene, Raymond Geerts and Liesje Sadonius. They released the single 2Wicky in 1996, which became a radio hit in several countries. Their first record, A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular received rave reviews from the critics and they made a much acclaimed tour through Europe and America. In the spring of 1997, Liesje Sadonius left the group and was replaced by 18-year old Geike Arnaert. Discography: A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular (1997), Blue Wonder Power Milk (1998).

BEE GEES Band Members: Barry Alan Crompton Gibb, Robin Hugh Gibb, and Maurice Ernest Gibb. Born on the Isle of Man, where their late father Hughie was a big band leader, the brothers began harmonizing in their bedroom in the late 1950s. Barry (then 9) and twins Robin and Maurice (only 6 years old) amdde their first appearance at a local cinema, miming to the hits of the day. After their family emigrated to Australia in 1958, the Bee gees graduated to Aussie nightclubs as pre-teens where they were a successful act. In 1964 the brothers became a teenaged pop group, and by the end of 1966 they went to number 1 in Australia with "Spicks and Specks". They got their first international hit in 1967 with "N.Y. Mining Disaster, 1941", and for the next 5 years, they had an unendung stream of hit singles. In the early 1970s, despite a pair of number 1 singles, the Bee Gees fell out of favour. Struggling to connect with listeners, they relocated to Miami where they hoped to re-establish their musical identity. When they joined forces with the legendary producer Arif mardin, they found "the sound" and began making the kind of soul-drenched records that reflected their real influences. Their "comeback" began in 1975 witrh "Jive Talking", the first of their dance-tinged number 1 hits that would trigger an unprecedented second round of superstardom. The Bee Gees is still among the most popular bands in the world, and they are the only band that has had number 1 hits in 4 separate decades. Discography: Bee Gees 1st (1967), Idea (1968), Horizontal (1968), Odessa (1969), Best Of The Bee Gees, Volume 1 (1969), Cucumber Castle (1970), Trafalgar (1971), 2 Years On (1971), To Whom It May Concern (1972), Life In A Tin Can (1973), Best Of The Bee Gees, Volume 2 (1973), Mr. Natural (1974), Main Course (1975), Gold (1976), Children Of The World (1976), Here At Last...Live (1977), Spirits Having Flown (1979), Bee Gees Greatest (1979), Living Eyes (1981), E.S.P. (1987), One (1989), Tales From The Brothers Gibb: A History In Song 1967-1990(1990), High Civilization (1991), The Bunbury tales (1992), Size Isn't Everytrhing (1993), The Very Best Of The Bee Gees (1996), Still Waters Run Deep (1997), One Night Only (1998).

R.E.M. Band Members: Peter Buck (guitar and other stringed instruments), Mike Mills (bass, keyboards, and vocals), and Michael Stipe (vocals). Until late 1997, the band included Bill Berry (percussion, backing vocals). In the scientific field of sleep research, the acronym r.e.m. stands for "raoid eye movement" and refers to the stage of sleep in which, among other things, dreaming occurs. But in the case of the band, the story related by Peter Buck on the band's early 1983 "Late Night David Letterman" appearance is that they picked it out of the dictionary and they liked it because it was so ambiguos. Discography: Chronic Town (1982), Murmur (1983), Reckoning (1984), Fables Of The Reconstruction (1985), Lifes Rich Pageant (1986), Dead Letter Office (1987), Document (1987), Eponymous (1988), Green (1988), Out Of Time (1991), The Best Of R.E.M. (1991), Automatic For The People (1992), R.E.M. Singles Collected (1994), Monster (1994), New Advetures In Hi-Fi (1996), R.E.M. The Attic CD (1997), Up (1998).