In their small snowy country of Norway, members of the 1980s super group A-ha are considered close to royalty. The pretty boys of Oslo were the first Norwegian band to make it big in pop-music. By the end of 1980s, they had amassed numerous awards and platinum albums.

Two of the band members, Magne Furuholmen and Pal Waaktaar, grew up in Oslo. Their first band together, Spider Empire—formed in 1977—was heavily influenced by the music of the Doors and Jimi Hendrix. Spider Empire evolved into another band called Bridges in 1979 and took on a bassist and drummer. Soon they released their first album, Fakkeltog —Torchlight Procession—on their own label, Vakenatt. The Bridges were working on their second album when Morten Harket entered the scene. Influenced by the falsetto of Freddy Mercury of Queen, Harket had been singing in other Oslo bands.

After deciding to work together, the band, with Harket on lead vocals and Furuholmen writing many of the lyrics, the band began tossing around ideas for a new name. They decided upon A-ha because, as Furuholmen explained, it was easily memorized and familiar exclamation in any language. "Originally, we were trying to find a Norwegian word that people would be able to say in English. Eventually Harket spotted a song called "a-ha" in Waaktaar's song notebook. It was a terrible song, but a great name. I mean, you say it, a-ha, all the time," Furuholmen said online. 

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In 1982, the band began changing its tune and started working on becoming a more commercial, synth-pop sounding band, like pop kings Duran Duran. The trio began looking toward England for a record label to offer them a contract. Even with their chiseled good looks and snappy sound, success would take a while.

983 was to be the dawning for the Norwegian music marvels. After ringing in the new year by relocating to London in January, the trio managed to purchase some recording time at Rendezvous Studios. One demo, "Lesson One," caught the ear of John Ratcliff, manager of the recording studio. Ratcliff in turn played it for Terry Slater, a former record company executive who once worked with the Everly Brothers. Slater was so impressed with the band that he agreed to manage the trio immediately and arrange a series of influential auditions.

As a Christmas present for their families and compatriots, A-ha brought home a worldwide contract with Warner Bros. Records. The first album Hunting High and Low, included the single "Take On Me." Released in early 1984, it was re-worked version of "Lesson One." The band experienced a successful Norwegian debut, but failed to reach audiences over in England and abroad. Only 300 copies of the album were sold outside its native Norway. In 1985, the band, at the urging of Slater, remixed and re-released the single.

During the summer of 1986, Warner Bros. Records decided to invest some money on a revolutionary video for the struggling band. "Take On Me," directed by Steve Barron, was a charcoal animation of the band members was a fore-runner in semi-animated video-market. At the third MTV Music Awards in 1986, the video won for Best New Concept Video, Best New Artist Video, Best Special Effects, Best Direction, Most Experimental and the Viewers Choice awards, among others awards. According to the Encyclopedia of Rock Stars, it was a record number of wins by one act for both the fledgling ceremony and band. 

In 1986, A-ha released it's sophomore album, Scoundrel Days. Although less successful than Hunting High And Low, the album did include the hit single "Cry Wolf." A year later, the band was commissioned to create the theme song for the new James Bond movie, The Living Daylights. Their third album, Stay on These Roads, almost entirely written by guitarist Pal Waaktaar continued A-ha's popularity in England while marking its journey into obscurity in the United States. The album entered the English charts early in 1988 at number two.

After a two year holiday, A-ha released their fourth album, East of the Sun, West of the Moon, in November 1990. This new album shows a departure from the heavy synth-ladled albums of the past. In 1991, after a string of little noticed singles,, A-ha released a six year retrospective album entitled Headlines and Deadlines, The Hits Of A-ha. 

During the fifth annual World Music Awards, the darlings of Norwegian pop music were named Best Selling Norwegian Artist of the Year two years in a row 1992-93. In 1993, the band releases Memorial Beach, which featured the single "Dark Is the Night." More than previous A-ha albums, this album highlighted the talents of the other band members including new members bassist J.B. Bogeberg and Per Hillestad on drums. Much of the album reflects time spent in America.

After feeling "spent out" artistically, the band took a two year sabbatical according to an online interview at http://www.wwiv.com/a-ha/a-ha-faq.html. The trio decided to pursued individual artistic challenges. Furuholmen co-wrote the soundtrack for the Norwegian movie Ten Knifes in the Heart, which world premiered in 1994. He also created a wood carving for the cover design for the album Songs from the Pocket, a solo project of his fellow tour mate J.B Bogeberg. During this time apart, the band did regroup to record "Shapes That Go Together, " theme song for the 1994 Special Olymics that were held in Lillehammer, Norway.

Harket recorded the Frankie Valli hit "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You" for the Coneheads soundtrack in 1983. The movie was directed by Steve Baron, the gentleman behind the record shattering "Take On Me video." In 1995, Harket released Wild Seed, his first solo album with Warner Brothers Records International. In 1996, Pal Waaktaar also released an album with Warner Brothers Records International. With his band Savoy, he released Mary is Coming in early 1996 in Europe and the United States writing all the songs on the album.

For The Record:

Members include Magne Furuholmen (born November 1, 1962), keyboards, vocals; Morten Harket (born September 14, 1959), lead vocals; and Pal Waaktaar (born September 6, 1961), guitar, vocals. 

Group formed in 1977 as Spider Empire, changed name to A-Ha in 1982. Released debut album Hunting High and Low on Warner Bros. Label, 1986; other releases on the Warner Bors. Labes include: Scoundrel Days, 1986; Stay on These Roads, 1988; East of the Sun, West of the Moon, 1991; Headlines & Deadlines, The Hits of A-Ha, 1991; Memorial Beach, 1993. Contributed "The Living Daylights" for soundtrack of the same name, 1987. 

 Awards: MTV Video Awards for Best New Concept Video, Best New Artist Video, Best Special Effects, Best Direction, Most Experimental and Viewers Choice Awards, all in 1986.

Address: Record company—Warner Bros. Records, 10907 Magnolia Blvd., Box 419, North Hollywood, CA.

Source: Gretchen Monette

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The Boomtown Rats were one of the biggest bands to come out of the UK new wave, punk genre. The group consisted of Pete Briquette (bass), Gerry Cott (guitar), Johnny Fingers (piano), Bob Geldof (vocals), Garry Roberts (guitar) and Simon Crowe (drummer). This Irish six-piece was primarily active between the years of 1975 - 1985 and best known for hits I Don’t Like Mondays and Rat Trap.

In 1977, The Boomtown Rats appeared on Britain’s Top of the Pops performing Mary of the Fourth Form. The band had an interesting stage presence; Geldof was known for being new wave’s Mick Jagger and Fingers performed in striped pyjamas.

Two years later, the band set off on a world tour and shortly after Geldof and Fingers wrote the classic I Don’t Like Mondays after hearing about a Californian girl that shot her school principal and injured other fellow students. The track was banned on American radio and only managed to reach #73 on the US charts. But it was named 1979’s Single of the Year by the British Pop and Rock awards and sold over a million copies in England alone.

The early 80s ushered in the new romantics, a spin-off of the new wave movement, with bands like Spandau Ballet and Duran Duran. It also proved to be the years that the Boomtown Rats were to break up.

After releasing its fourth album, the band began dabbling with a reggae sound and that wasn't popular with their core fans.

In 1985, after seeing a news report on Ethopia, Geldof set about arranging Band Aid that recorded a charity track called Do They Know It’s Christmas. The song featured The Boomtown Rats as well as vocals from some of the major British artists of the time including Sting, Bono, Paul McCartney and Boy George. This was the beginning of Geldof going solo and launching the Live Aid Trust.

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One year later, the band managed to release its final album In the Long Grass but it failed to produce any chart-topping singles.

In the end, some of The Boomtown Rats’ members went on to form other bands and Geldof became a household name by being an outspoken advocate for various humanitarian and charitable activities.

Juanita Appleby

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Robotic mime and music duo Tik and Tok (Tim Dry and Sean Crawford) began performing together with SHOCK: a rock/mime/burlesque/music troupe in the early 1980s with Barbie Wilde, Robert Pereno, LA Richards and Carole Caplin.

Shock's first record 'Angel Face', with production by Rusty Egan (Visage) and Richard James Burgess (Landscape) was a modest dance floor hit. In 1981, Shock co-starred with Ultravox at the legendary 'People's Palace Valentine's Ball' at the Rainbow Theatre. This was the moment when the New Romantic scene exploded and went from being an obscure cult to a global trend.

Shock went on to support Gary Numan at his Wembley Arena shows in April, 1981. They eventually broke up and reformed as a foursome with Barbie, Tim, Sean and Carole and released the single, 'Dynamo Beat', on RCA Records. However, soon Tim and Sean as Tik and Tok broke away to form their own successful double act.

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Tik and Tok, having perfected a form of mime movement called 'Robotics' in conjunction with their striking image, appeared on innumerable TV shows (including 'The Royal Variety Show' 1983 in front of HRH Queen Elizabeth and the cult Rock 'n' Roll programme 'The Tube'). They supported Duran Duran at Birmingham Odeon in '82, worked with Vangelis at his home studio, were themselves supported by a fledgling Depeche Mode, got a huge amount of press coverage and released 5 singles and a well-received album on the Survival label in the UK, Germany and Japan. Three of these singles were hits on the UK Indie Chart, "Screen Me I'm Yours" being the most successful, reaching number 17.[1] Their second single "Cool Running" earned them a place in the UK Top 70.They went to Tokyo and Germany for a while for live performances and in 1982 were featured artistes in the third Star Wars movie 'Return of the Jedi' and the cult sci-fi/ horror film 'Xtro'. Last, but by no means least, they were the support act on Gary Numan's enormously successful comeback tour 'Warriors' for seven weeks in Autumn 1983.

In 2003 Tim and Sean were invited to be guests at the first of an ongoing series of Star Wars autograph Conventions worldwide as a result of their roles in "Return Of The Jedi".This led to them coming back together as Tik and Tok after 20 years to make a new album "Dream Orphans". This was entirely recorded at Tim's home, and in hotel rooms in Holland, France, Germany and Tokyo on a Mac G4 laptop using Logic Pro 7, and many of the tracks were co-produced by Pete Steer and Geoff Pinckney of the bands Alien 6 and tenek. Another track - 'Intolerance V' was re-mixed by Jules Seifert of The Sepia (who also re-mastered the 'Intolerance - the very best of' CD). Tik and Tok appeared as special guests at the 2006 Elektrofest at Koko in London. But as of the present they've decided to take another lunchbreak. But never say never...

Discography:

Albums

• Intolerance (1984) Survival Records.
• Intolerance: The Very Best of (2006) Self-released.
• Dream Orphans (2007) Self-released.

Singles and EPs

• Summer in the City b/w Crisis (1982) Survival Records.
• Cool Running b/w Vile Bodies (1983) Survival Records.
• Screen Me, I'm Yours b/w Dangerous and Unafraid (1984) Survival Records.
• Everything Will Change b/w Cracking Up (1984) Survival Records.
• Higher Ground b/w Down From The Sky (1984) Survival Records.
• Tik & Tok EP (2004) Rephlex label.
• Slightly Deranged EP (2006) Self-released.
• Intolerance Xtras EP (2006) Self-released.
• Vintage LO-FI EP (2006) Self-released.

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Simon Le Bon is the lead singer and lyricist of one of Birmingham’s biggest bands, Duran Duran. In May 1980 when the band were on the lookout for a vocalist, Simon's ex-girlfriend  introduced him to them as a potential singer.

Simon turned up for his audition; wearing pink leopard-print trousers, and carrying a notebook containing a large collection of self-composed poetry. Professional success came with their very first  album "Duran Duran"(1981). This was followed by three more albums Rio (1982), Seven and the Ragged Tiger (1983) and Arena (1984).

In 1985, he married the model Yasmin Parvaneh amidst great publicity. Simon is now the happy dad of three children - Tallulah Pine, Saffron Sahara and Amber Rose Tamara.
Duran Duran over the years have had numerous changes in membership and swings in popularity.

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The singer had a life-threatening accident while yachting in 1985. Despite this, Le Bon participated in the Whitbread Round the World Race that year, coming in third.

Eventually he reunited with the original five members of Duran Duran in 2001 to record a new album, for Epic Records. Released in 2004, the album was a success with the single "Reach Up For The Sunrise" becoming the first UK Top 10 single of Duran Duran for a decade.

The band continue to tour.

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Robert Palmer

Boy George

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Robert Allen Palmer, born in January 1949 in Yorkshire, was a famous singer, remembered for his soulful voice and eclectic mix of music styles.

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In 1970, Palmer joined the 12-piece jazz-rock fusion band Dada, which featured singer Elkie Brooks. The band lasted a year, after which Brooks and Palmer formed the critically acclaimed rhythm and blues group, Vinegar Joe. Signed to the Island Records label, they released three albums: 'Vinegar Joe' (1972), 'Rock 'n' Roll Gypsies' (1972) and 'Six Star General' (1973).

Island Records went on to sign Palmer to a solo deal, and he released his first album ‘Sneakin’ Sally’ in 1974. His first single was a cover of Little Feat's 'Sailin' Shoes'. Although moderately successful in the UK, both the album and single reached the Top 100 in the US.

Subsequently relocating from London to New York City with his wife, Palmer released ‘Pressure Drop’ in 1976. With the failure of the follow-up ‘Some People Can Do What They Like’, Palmer decided to move to the Bahamas. In 1978, he released ‘Double Fun’, a collection of Caribbean-influenced rock, which scored a Top 20 single with single ‘Every Kinda People’.

Palmer's next album was an artistic departure, concentrating on a rockier direction. Secrets produced his second Top 20 single with Moon Martin's ‘Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)’. The 1980s saw Palmer reach the peak of his commercial success. The album ‘Clues’, produced by Gary Numan, generated hits on both sides of the Atlantic, first with the radio-friendly single ‘Johnny and Mary’ and then ‘Looking for Clues’. The success was repeated with the 1982 EP release of ‘Some Guys Have All the Luck’.

In 1985, Palmer joined drummer Tony Thompson and Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor and bass player John Taylor to form the band Power Station. Palmer performed live with the band only once that year, on Saturday Night Live.

Palmer recorded the album ‘Riptide’ in 1986, which featured the Number 1 single ‘Addicted to Love’.In 1987, he won the Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for his song ‘Addicted to Love’. Later that year, Palmer moved to Switzerland and set up his own recording studio, producing ‘Heavy Nova’ in 1988.

Palmer collaborated with UB40 for his next album, ‘Don't Explain’. Released in 1990, it featured the Bob Dylan-penned Top 10 single ‘I'll Be Your Baby Tonight’ and the Top 20 ‘Mercy Mercy Me’.

In 1995, Palmer reunited with other members of The Power Station to record a second album. ‘Living In Fear’ was released in 1996, and they had just begun touring when Edwards died of pneumonia.

The next few years saw more touring and more compilations; the next release of new material, Rhythm and Blues (1999) contained a mixture of Little Feat influenced songs, rock, and pop. His final release, Drive (2003), was critically hailed as his grittiest and most heartfelt album of his career.

Palmer died in Paris France of a heart attack at the age of 54.

Carly Page

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