Andy Bell

Andy Bell has been one of Britain’s best loved pop icons for 25 years. His powerful voice, bittersweet lyrics and flamboyant stage manner have earned him millions of fans around the world. As a performer, re-mixer, collaborator, solo artist and DJ, Andy is a byword for great music and feel-good attitude. Even in the face of personal and political adversity, he lights up the toughest of times with sunshine, passion and romantic optimism.

Born and raised in Peterborough, Andy is best known as the singer and co-songwriter of chart-topping duo Erasure, former BRIT award winners for Best British Band who have sold 25 million albums and scored dozens of Top 20 hits during their long and glorious career. One of the most enduring partnerships in British pop, Andy and Vince Clarke are loved around the world for their irresistible melodies, outlandish costumes and spectacular live shows.

Andy is rightly famous for being one of pop’s most dynamic, energetic performers. With Erasure he has been privileged to play sold-out shows at some of pop’s most legendary venues including Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, the Los Angeles Forum, the Hollywood Bowl, the historic Fillmore in San Francisco, and the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville - home of the Grand Ole Opry. At home in Britain, he and Vince also entertained 60,000 people at the gigantic Milton Keynes Bowl, and packed out London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall at the climax of their 2007 tour.

Right from Erasure’s early years, Andy has also been involved in numerous outside projects including musical collaborations, charity events, TV and film work. In recent years he has established himself as a solo artist and DJ, tapping into his lifelong love of classic electro.

“Doing stuff on my own is important to me because I really love dance music,” Andy says. “I always love doing Erasure but also I like going off and doing gigs by myself. Vince isn’t always around anyway, he’s got his family in Maine. My heart’s really in club music. I’m still waiting to make that big club record.”

Andy sang the role of Montresor in Peter Hammill's opera ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’, first released in 1991, then remixed and re-issued in 1999. Andy guested with KD Lang on her 1994 single ‘Lifted by Love’, and with Ant & Dec on ‘Shout’ in 1997. He has also remixed several Erasure singles as well as Sandra Bernhard’s 1994 cover of the Sylvester disco classic ‘You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)’, Goldfrapp’s ‘Ooh La La’ in 2005, and the 2008 re-issue of Yazoo’s ‘Nobody’s Diary’.

Andy has also been involved with numerous charity projects, including the Ferry Aid single ‘Let It Be’ in 1987. He performed with Level 42, Sir George Martin and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra at the all-star Prince’s Trust Gala at the Birmingham NEC in 1989, where he was introduced to Prince Charles and Lady Diana. He and Vince covered Cole Porter’s ‘Too Darn Hot’ for the 1990 album ‘Red Hot + Blue’ in support of AIDS and HIV research, and collaborated with Lene Lovich on ‘Rage’ for a 1991 PETA benefit album.

In 1995 Andy performed a selection of traditional folk songs with a group of Bosnian musicians at a Manchester Free Trade Hall concert hosted by UNICEF ambassador Vanessa Redgrave. The first San Francisco mayor to ride in the city’s Gay Freedom Day Parade, Art Agnos, also presented Andy with a key to the city in 1988.

Andy has sung at countless AIDS benefit shows and twice on the True Colors tour, with Erasure in 2007 and solo in 2008. Designed to raise awareness for the LGBT lobbying group Human Rights Campaign, these tours featured an all-star bill including Cyndi Lauper, Debbie Harry, Rufus Wainwright, The B52’s, Joan Jett and The Gossip.

Projects like Red Hot + Blue and True Colors confirm Andy’s trailblazing role in promoting equality and fighting prejudice. As one of the first openly gay front-men in pop, he first became famous during the intensely homophobic Thatcher years. But in 2009, to celebrate LGBT History Month, he was invited to Number 10 Downing Street to meet Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Andy has helped make history with his courageously open approach to sexuality and human rights.

“I can’t take credit for all of that,” Andy says, “because it doesn’t mean what it did any more. It mattered to me then, and you think it's going to matter for life. But then things start happening: the age of consent comes down, gay people getting married, all that stuff that you fought for. In general, we’re in a much better place.”

In 1993, Andy and Melissa Etheridge co-hosted the festive TV variety show ‘Camp Christmas’ on Channel Four in the UK. Their all-star guest list included Quentin Crisp, Derek Jarman, Ian McKellen, cult Parisian artists Pierre et Gilles, and Paul O’Grady in his Lily Savage guise.

In 1994, Andy appeared in Doric Wilson’s stage play ‘The Night We Buried Judy Garland’, a historical drama about the gay rights struggle, at London’s Shaw Theatre. One of several guest stars who played Garland during the play’s run, the part included seven show-stopping musical numbers. Andy made his screen acting debut four years later playing a porn-film director in Len Richmond’s comedy ‘Merchants of Venus’, starring Michael York and Brian Cox. He also acted in the short films ‘I Hate Christmas’ and ‘Victoria Hotel’.

In 2005, Andy released his debut solo album ‘Electric Blue’. Showcasing a wide variety of musical styles, the self-penned album featured 14 brand new tracks, including duets with Claudia Brucken (of Propaganda and Act) and Jake Shears (of Scissor Sisters). It also featured beats by Manhattan Clique, and generally took more muscular and club-friendly direction than Erasure’s recent work. The first single from the album, ‘Crazy’, featured a dazzling sci-fi video created and directed by the genius of Al and Al.

“His zest for living and enjoyment comes over very strongly throughout,” gushed the BBC website, “and his enthusiasm for pop music is as strong now as it ever was.” Pop Matters described ‘Electric Blue’ as “lyric-heavy dance synth-pop that overachieves and succeeds in its mingling of emotion and sexuality” while All Music Guide branded it “triumphant” and “downright blissful.”

Andy followed ‘Electric Blue’ with a fresh round of Erasure commitments, co-writing the lush gospel-pop confessionals on the duo’s acclaimed 2007 album ‘Light At The End of the World’. Then came the mighty career-spanning retrospective ‘Total Pop! 40 hits’, released to rave reviews in February 2009.

Andy’s bond with Vince remains as strong as ever, and initial sessions for the next Erasure album are scheduled for autumn 2009. But the singer is currently taking a long sabbatical to work on his second solo album, as yet untitled, for release in 2010. An all-star affair, it will feature collaborations with Perry Farrell of Jane’s Addiction, Kate Peirson of the B52’s, Stephen Hague and Pascal Gabriel.

“I decided I really needed a year and a half off from Erasure,” Andy says. “Just to get my head together and work out who I am outside this Erasure thing. I’ve spoken to Debbie Harry and she always refers to Blondie in the third person. I could never understand that before, but now I do. You don’t get bored but you just become consumed by it, you are no longer your own person.”

Besides recording and performing as a solo artist, Andy is also building his profile as a DJ playing hard-edged electro and classic 1980s dance-pop. This marks a natural return to the singer’s teenage roots as a “soft punk” infatuated by New Wave icons like Japan, Siouxsie, Lene Lovich and Nina Hagen.

“I was doing electro anyway before I met Vince,” Andy nods. “I was in a band called The Void, writing with Pierre Cope and producer Pete Gage, doing the usual demo-tape hiking around the record companies. That was the reason I moved to London in the first place. What I really love is electro has always been underground since that big splurge in the ‘80s. Once you’ve been to a club like Nag Nag Nag and heard those tracks on a bass amp, they sound really incredible. The bass goes right through your bones.”

Whether on stage or screen, in the studio or behind the decks, Andy remains an icon of party-friendly positivity. Even when times are tough, he provides passion, sunshine and romance - plus lashings of operatic drama, of course. Everybody needs a bit of Andy Bell in their lives. (END)

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Perry Twins

The Perry Twins are based in Los Angeles and have been dj'ing professionally since the late 90's. They have spun throughout the country at hot clubs, outrageous parties, pride festivals, and star-studded events. Originally from the east coast, Doug & Derek developed a passion for music at a very young age. They inherited their rhythm and love of performing from their parents who are in a rock band called "Fortune". Their Mom sings and Dad plays drums. The twins grew up dancing and playing music so it was no surprise when they decided to take on dj'ing, choreographing, dancing and remixing professionally.

At the same time The Perry Twins began spinning at clubs, they started their own radio mixshow, "Dance Planet", which aired for 5 years in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. During that time, Derek & Doug's dance troupe of the same name performed throughout New York and the east coast at concerts, clubs and Pride events.

Since moving to Los Angeles in '03, the twins have danced and choreographed for shows all over the country and their mixshows featuring the freshest circuit / tribal / progressive / house / electro / dance music can now be heard all over the world on Energy Hits Radio, 1DanceFM, Tag Art Music Online, TheRealMixShow.comand Partylist.com's Circuit Mix.

In addition to working with some of dance music's hottest artists including Kristine W, Gioia Bruno (Expose'), Alyson, Taborah, Lauren Hildebrandt, Thea Austin, Ari Gold, Jeanie Tracy, Pleasure Center, Evan Cowden, Ernest Kohl, Josh Riptide & Randy Friess, DJW, Oryon, Kristy Kay, Ohsha Kai, and Rockell, Doug and Derek have danced on NBC's "American Dreams", interviewed celebrities on FOX's "On-Air With Ryan Seacrest", competed on UPN's "Dance 360", back-up danced in "Chippendales: The Show", appeared on Disney Channel's "That's So Raven", starred in national TV commercials and they also create original music for film and television.

Derek & Doug recently completed a remixed production of the Donna Summer classic "Heaven Knows" for Kristine W and the video they produced for Kristine W's #1 Billboard smash hit "Save My Soul" has appeared on Promo Only and Rock America. The video for ACTIVATE MY BODY, directed by Evan Cowden, has just been released worldwide.

The Perry Twins are now touring in support of their hit single ACTIVATE MY BODY and their just-released, full-length CD, ACTIVATE.

When not on the road, the Perry Twins can be found in the studio, working on new projects for Curb Records' artists Nemesis, Warren Malone, Kelly King, Erin Hamilton, and an upcoming original production with Niki Haris. They have recently completed projects for Gioia Bruno, Taborah, Alyson, Ohsha Kai, Stevie Jewel, Ashton, Sara Niemietz, Lauren Hildebrandt, Logo's "Big Gay Sketch Show", and Funny Boy Films' "Naked Boys Singing".

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Expose

Exposé is born (1984-1986)
After the tremendous response of their first two singles, "Point of No Return" and "Exposed To Love", it was clear that an entirely new era of dance music was about to spread around the world.  Some called it "The Miami Sound", others referred to it as Freestyle, 80's Dance, Dance/Pop.  We knew them as Exposé and one thing was for certain...music would never be the same again. Exposé consisted of Jeanette Jurado, Gioia Bruno, and Ann Curless.

Exposure (1986-1988)
Toward the end of 1986, Exposé released their debut album Exposure. Led by the huge pop/dance hit "Come Go With Me," this album proved to be one of the most successful dance albums ever released, going multi-platinum. In 1987, a re-recorded version of "Point of No Return" was released (with Jurado performing lead vocals). "Let Me Be the One" followed next and performed well on both the Pop charts and R&Bcharts, and Exposé established a distinction from other "girl groups" with this single. As Gioia performed lead vocals for this song, it soon became apparent that each member would alternate singing lead vocals to each song as opposed to maintaining one lead singer for the group. Their biggest hit occurred in the winter of 1988 with the single "Seasons Change," along with that came a Soul Train Award nomination for Best New Artist, appearances on Solid Gold, Showtime At The Apollo and served as the opening act for Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam during their tour. In addition, Exposé surpassed The Beatles and The Supremes for having the most top 10 hit singles on the Billboard Hot 100 released from a debut album.

What You Don't Know (1989-1990)
Their second album, What You Don't Know (1989), went gold and proved to be almost as much of a success as their debut. The success of Exposé in the U.S. lead to a lot of similar girl groups being created by producers and existing ones being signed to labels, such as Company B, The Cover Girls, Sweet Sensation, Pajama Party, and Seduction. Shortly after the success of the singles "What You Don't Know" (Bruno on lead vocals) and "When I Looked at Him" (Jurado on lead vocals), the release of the single "Tell Me Why" (Bruno on lead vocals) made music history for the group when they became the first girl group to have 7 back-to-back Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. "Your Baby Never Looked Good in Blue" (Jurado on lead vocals) and "Stop, Listen, Look & Think" (Curless on lead vocals) soon followed afterwards. Their continued success granted Exposé their first headlining tour and continued television appearances on Soul Train, The Pat Sajak Show and The Byron Allen Show, among others.

Exposé (Self Titled Album)(1992-1995)
After Kelly Moneymaker joined Exposé to replace Gioia while she recoverd from vocal damage, the group released their third album Exposé, which integrated more adult-contemporary material in addition to their established Freestyle, House, R&B, Pop and love ballad repertoire.  They managed to hit the U.S. Top 40 pop charts again with "I Wish the Phone Would Ring" and "I'll Never Get Over You (Getting Over Me)," which also reached #1 on the adult-contemporary chart  (Jurado performing lead vocals). Subsequent releases "As Long As I Can Dream" and "In Walked Love" featured Curless in the lead vocal spotlight. A final club-marketed single "I Specialize In Love" featured Jurado on lead with Curless and Moneymaker each supporting lead vocals towards the song's conclusion.

Greatest Hits (1995)
In 1995, Exposé recorded the Diane Warren-penned song "I'll Say Good-Bye for the Two of Us" for the soundtrack of the film Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home with Jurado performing solo; that same year, the song was issued on their Greatest Hits.

The Hiatus of Exposé (1997-2003)
After the group took time off, Jurado performed in the stage play "Mad Hattan," supplied vocals for Jazz artist Nils, and later sang with a group called Safe Sax; Moneymaker married soap opera actor Peter Reckell and released two solo albums (Like A Blackbird and Through These Basement Walls); Curless engaged in song writing, supplied vocals to several club/dance projects and provided academic instruction on music and the music business.  Both Jeanette & Ann took time away from the business to start families and enjoy being parents.

In 1997, Bruno fully recovered from her throat problems and began singing again. After a small stint with the band Wet, she worked on a solo career focused mostly on dance-oriented material. Her single releases "Free To Be", "From The Inside", and "Wreckin' My Nerves" lit up dance floors around the world. Her first album, Expose This, was released in the Spring of 2004. A solo release entitled "Why Did You Call Me" is set to be released in late 2006.

The Reuniting of Exposé and the Return of Bruno (2003-Present)
On August 1, 2003, the lineup of Curless, Jurado, and Moneymaker reunited briefly for a reunion concert at the Mid State Fair in Paso Robles, CA. Members of Safe Sax, including guitarist/musical director/road manager Steve Fansler, were part of the live band Exposé used. 

On October 21, 2006, Exposé performed for the first time since August 1, 2003 at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami for the "Freestyle Explosion" concert. This performance also featured the official return of Bruno to the group.

On October 26, 2006, Exposé performed in New York City at the legendary Supper Club to a sold-out audience.

The first official full length concert listed is on November 29, 2006 at the Potawatomi Casino's Northern Lights Theatre in Milwaukee, WI.

Exposé consists of the original vocalists: Ann Curless, Gioia Bruno and Jeanette Jurado.  The touring band, under the  Musical Direction of Steve Fansler, features  Tony De Augustine on drums, Doug Turley on bass guitar, former Oingo Boingo keyboardist Mike Bacich, and Steve Fansler on guitar.

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Flava

Born Mark Martinez, Flava has been dancing all his life. He began his career in Las Vegas performing in the Siegfried and Roy show, but it was during his time abroad dancing in Europe’s most infamous dance clubs, which allowed him to hone his skills and launch his notoriety as a performer. After three rewarding years performing with venerable talents Siegfried and Roy in Las Vegas, which he merits for his strong backbone in the entertainment business, Mark took a chance by following his instincts and moved to Stockholm, Sweden to find new venues to explore his versatile and lively performance skills. He landed his first job at Patricia, Stockholm’s most notorious club, known for it’s extravagant and unique performers, from one audition. It was clear his instincts had put him on the right path to success. His androgynous appearance set him apart and garnered him laudatory reviews from his electric routines that set the stage alive. Mark landed in Paris, France where he quickly rose in popularity becoming the Lead Dancer at Lido de Paris. While simultaneously performing at Queen in Paris, Mark was spotted by the producer of IT, the largest club in Amsterdam, and was asked to become the Lead Go-Go Dancer of IT. While in constant demand, Mark’s reputation grew so strong that he was often credited for bringing the excitement and flavor to nightlife. Hence, Mark’s stage name Flava was christened.

With talent, experience and a new name baptized, Flava headed back to the States and found a willing audience in Southern California. He has since become one of LA’s finest and most recognized performers and caught the eye of Producer/DJ Manny Lehman. Since surrendering to Flava’s presence, Mark has performed at venues around the world including the 25th anniversary of London’s famed Heaven Nightclub, The Black Party in Rio de Janero, Brazil and has appeared on the world’s largest gay cruises for Atlantis. He was named one of L.A.’s Icons in 2006 and was recently asked to return to his European roots

& perform at Amsterdam’s Gay Pride events for 2006 and 2007, including appearances at Club Rapido with Producer/DJ's Manny Lehman and Abel. Flava has performed at major circuit party events including Jeffrey Sanker’s White Party events in Palm Springs and Miami, Miami New Years and Gay Days Orlando. In constant demand for Pride celebrations throughout the U.S., Flava has also had the pleasure of performing with other top notch stage Divas including Inaya Day, Kristine W., Extreme (Shokraw), Kitty Meow, Kevin Aviance and Power Infinity plus DJs including Paulo, Brett Henrichsen and Tony Moran to name a few.

In 2005, Flava recorded the hit single The Music with producers DJ Dan DeLeon and DJ Alexander. Since the release of The Music, Flava has recorded to additional tracks including Freedom with Producer/DJ Manny Lehman for the Tommy Boy Silver CD of the same name. His latest release, Raise Your Hands, appears on the upcoming 2008 Manny Lehman compilation.

Mark Martinez (aka Flava) will be next seen performing the roll of Sylvester in Gus Van Sant's Milk, starring Sean Penn, James Franco, Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna, Victor Garber and Josh Brolin in theaters December 5th, 2008.

Mark is known throughout the Hollywood community as a highly respected choreographer, working with such corporate clients as Nike, Diesel, Sketchers and Harrah’s Casino Corp. Television credits include Dick Clark’s Your Big Break (synd.) and commercial work for Dr. Pepper and Disney.