Plain White T's

Five years is a long time, but it's also an advantage. Plain White T's formed in '97 sometime between the summer and fall. Tom Higgenson (vocals/guitar), and Ken Fletcher (bass), had been in a band together and decided to move on and asked friend Dave Tirio to play drums for a power-pop trio. Tom had already written several songs, which the band adopted to their new style, and eventually made a recording of. After two years of playing every show they could, it was time to make some changes. Steve Mast (lead guitar/vocals), brought in his experience and voice to the mix. And three years just seemed to fly by, just like that.

It brings us to present day. Two albums later, the first self-released debut effort was a 13 song record called "Come On Over", which sold over 3,000 copies. The most recent recordings all made it onto "STOP", which they released in November of '01. 12 of their most mature and honest songs yet. The focus on this album is what drives you to listen from start to finish. It's as if they know what you have been through everyday of your life and wrote an album about it.

Along with their rapidly growing fan base in the Midwest, the band has toured the South from Texas to Arizona, and played up and down California with some great bands. Besides opening for great bands such as Sum41, Jimmy Eat World and Me First and the Gimme Gimme's, just to name a few, they have played numerous sold out shows at a couple of Chicago's most prestigious venues, one being the Metro.

PLAIN WHITE T'S have proved their worth through a DIY attitude and their relentless pursuit of national success. This band has high hopes for the future and refuses to settle for anything less of great. They have extremely hard work ethics and push their name out there through shameless promoting. They believe that honesty mixed with simple but solid structure creates the best songs. They believe in their music and that's something to get behind and work for. The music is the best part about these guys. It always comes down to great songs. This band has plenty of them.

source:http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Plain-White-T's-Biography/603583EAD8EA034448256C5A00134908

Placebo

Brian Molko, Stefan Olsdal and Steve Hewitt. Placebo. An American, a swede and an englishman. A bisexual, a homosexual and a heterosexual. These three men crashed into the world of rock and haven't looked back since...
Meeting by chance in a London tube station, old classmates Brian Molko and Stefan Olsdal got talking and Brian, noticing that Stefan had a guitar strapped to his back, invited him to come and watch him sing and play guitar... The two guys hadn't been friends at the school they went to in luxembourg, Brian had been unpopular- preferring drama to sport- and Stefan was a star player on the basketball team... But by the end of that evening stefan came up to brian and said 'lets start a band'. This is quite incredible as brian says that in the space of 7 years him and stefan may have exchanged 'one sentence', and now all of a sudden they were starting a band.
Brian had been playing occasional gigs with a guy called Steve Hewitt who he had met outside of burger king in 1991, through a friend of his who was Steve's then girlfriend. Steve didn't play drums for Placebo at first as he had another band he was committed to at the time called Breed, he only played on occasional placebo demos... This is where swedish drummer Robert Schultzberg comes into the picture. Robert had been with Stefan at school in luxembourg and in a band with Stefan in sweden. This was placebo mark 1.

This wasn't meant to last it seems, as tensions ran too high between Brian and Robert, Brian thinks it may be beacause he had more attention and was more flamboyant than Robert, but Robert was asked to leave the band just before a gig at 'the white room'. And from then on Steve Hewitt permanently re-joined the band.
During 1995, Placebo released a single 'bruise pristine' and toured with ash, whale and bush and in 1996 signed a deal with hut records... Just 51 weeks after their first ever gig. They also set up their own label, elevator music. They began life with hut with the acclaimed first single 'come home' and part way through '96 toured the UK with belgian group evil superstars and then toured with David Bowie around europe, playing to crowds of 8,000- 12,000 people. Bowie became a fan of the band and invited them on several more of his european dates.
Placebo's first album was recorded in 1996 in Dublin and the singles 'teenage angst' and '36 degrees' were also released that year... The self titled album went on to achieve gold status and if anything more was needed to secure placebo's fame it was the 1997 breakthrough single 'nancy boy', this got to number 4 in the UK charts.
Incredibly, Placebo played in Madison square garden the same month as nancy boy was released, to celebrate David Bowies 50th birthday. They re-released 'bruise pristine' and started to headline their own shows at brixton academy, london.... Then they supported u2 on many popmart european dates.
In 1998 Placebo were invited to star alongside ewan Mcgregor and Eddie Izzard in the glam rock film 'velvet goldmine' by REM frontman and executive producer Michael Stipe... This was great for Brian as he is an accomplished actor and was now living out his first love... 1998 also saw placebo back in the studio working on a much anticipated second album.... a collection of love songs and loneliness, called 'without you i'm nothing' the first single form this album 'pure morning' went straight to number 4 in the uk charts, despite placebo's long absence from the mainstream music scene... David Bowie lent his vocals to the forth single from the album 'without you i'm nothing'. Also for the pleasure of Placebo's French fans the band released a french version of 'burger queen'. Other singles that came off this album included 'you don't care about us' 'allergic'and 'every you every me'(which was also used on the soundtrack to teen flick 'cruel intentions')
Placebo returned in 2001 with another highly anticipated album of 'anger and energy' called black market music. The first single lifted from this album was called 'taste in men' and was a new start for placebo's music with a trance synth in the background and wailing distorted guitars, taste in men was a strong first single from an equally strong album..... much followed including 'special k' 'slave to the wage' 'black eyed' and the controversial 'commercial for levi'. More sold out shows at brixton came about and amazingly brian allegedly pronounced himself a monogamist.
A two year silence followed but that was soon shattered when placebo came back with a new album 'sleeping with ghosts'. With a powerful instrumental 'bulletproof cupid' slower ballads 'centrefolds' and 'i'll be yours' and full on rock 'the bitter end', 'plasticine' and 'second sight' sleeping with ghosts secured Placebo's place in rock's finest.
The trio sold out venues in Brixton and Manchester in 2004 and also created a bit more for their history by playing their first wembley gig (almost a sell out). This followed a singles collection entitled 'once more with feeling', a single entitled '20 years' and a dvd including all their videos and an exclusive documentary interview with the band members.
Placebo ended 2004 on a high, their popularity and fan base bigger than ever and everyone eagerly awaiting their return in 2006.... This is no way the bitter end for the guys.

Thanks to drink_u_pretty@hotmail.com for submitting the biography.
source:http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Placebo-Biography/3ECAB98DE613670B48256A2500150190

Pink

At 5'3 with blue eyes, flamingo pink hair and an extreme personality to match Pink was born on September 8th 1979 under the normal name of Alecia Moore. An R&B artist from the notorious LaFace Record label (home to ToniBraxton and TLC) her influences include Mary J. Blige, Whitney Houston, Madonna, Eminem and her father. Although, as an adolescent her style jumped from one extreme to another e.g. skateboarder to rave child to hip-hopper. This probably explains her self-confidence and rebellious nature, she has seen a lot and done a lot and this is reflected in her music.

"I decided at 15 that I didn't want to be one of those artists that gets up and sings love songs they don't mean," Pink explains in regards to her debut album. "I decided that I was going to be me to the fullest extent, that my songs were going to reflect relationships I've had, things I've been through, and even the stuff I'm embarrassed about."

Music was a major part of her childhood, her father left an indelible print on her through his guitar lessons, educating her in the likes of Dylan and McLean. Other inspirations included Janis Joplin, Shirley Murdock and Donna Hathaway, so much so that by 14 Pink had laid down her first song. However, it was in the clubs (in particular Club Fever in Philidelphia) that she began to shine. It was at her regular Friday night five minute slot that a rep from MCA spotted and asked Pink to audition for Basic Instinct, although the group didn't come to much Pink wasn't disappointed as she confessed that she didn't 'see myself as belonging to any group.'

This was only a temporary setback as almost immediately she was signed to another female group known as Choice whose demo led to them being signed to LaFace. The group disbanded due to differing choices in music styles but Pink's place with LaFace solidified thanks to her rediscovery of her writing talent while with Choice in Atlanta. Hooking up with Daryl Simmons to write the bridge for 'Just to be Loving You' confirmed her abilities. This was the beginning of Pink's career in her eyes. However, the emergence of her powerful Soprano voice whilst recording 'Just to be Loving You' no doubt contributed to her notoritity within LaFace.

Pink's songs are written to compliment and display her vocal range and her love of the pop side of R&B. L.A. Reid signed Pink as a solo artist when she approached him with her songs. Each song was greeted with the same response, 'yeah, I like that one, yeah that's a single'. Reid's obvious admiration and appreciation of Pink's talents led to her collaborating with various well known writing partners such as She'kspeare, Babyface and 112.

'There U Go', the debut single which displays the wide range of her voice, (which is also visible in her favourite track of the album 'Split Personality') is impossible to resist, becoming a top ten hit in early 2000. In the accompanying video, Pink rebukes her PlayStation obsessed-boyfriend (what else is new) while wearing a disapproving expression and a series of sexy outfits, alternating with a fondness for driving motorcycles through his windows, (very cool if you can manage it). Obviously supplying the tough-chick role model which the female population is in desperate need of, having been subjected to the likes of Mariah Carey and Britney Spears for far too long. The rest of her debut album, 'Can't Take Me Home' isn't nearly so good, (too much high octave love songs which never quite achieve their pitch). However, it has found acclaim among the public, reaching the Top 40 of the US's album charts.

It will be interesting to see what style she adopts as her place among
LaFace becomes more secure.....

Thanks to Solargirl@sbcglobal.net for submitting the biography.
source:http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Pink-Biography/1CD78993A69BBB564825691A0025FE6E

Pet Shop Boys

The Pet Shop Boys are an English pop duo: keyboarder Chris Lowe and singer Neil Tennant. Neil and Chris first met in 1981 by accident in an electronics shop on the London Kings Road. They discovered their common interest in electronic music and started to write songs together. First they called themselves West End but soon changed the name into Pet Shop Boys - inspired by friends who worked in a pet shop.

Their first single West End Girls was first released in 1984. But it wasn't successful. The record company wanted to make a new song, but Neil and Chris were convinced of the yet-to-come success of this record and made a new mix, which became their first number one hit in 1986. That was the first step in becoming the world's most successful pop duo! They had more number one hits with It's a sin, Heart, Always on my mind and Go West . In 1999 they started a big comeback with their album nightlife and their successful worldtour - brilliantly titled: nightlife on tour 99/00.
source:http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Pet-Shop-Boys-Biography/41D4C6E4C3A3EA4C482568A2000C5EF5

Pearl Jam

Pearl Jam, Formed Seattle, 1990.

The genesis of Pearl Jam was rooted in chance and tragedy. Stone Gossard
(guitar) and Jeff Ament (bass) had both been members of seminal grungers Green River, and later MOTHER LOVE BONE with ex-Malfunkshun member, Andrew Wood, on vocals. When Wood died of an overdose, his longtime friend Chris Cornell (of Soundgarden) put together a tribute project called TEMPLE OF THE DOG (1991) -- Gossard, Ament and new recruit Mike McCready(guitar) were roped in, as was Eddie Vedder (vocals), who had provided some vocals for a demo tape put together by the others.

Once TEMPLE OF THE DOG was in the can Dave Krusen (drums) joined the other four. Flirting with different names on the way (Mookie Blaylock and Reenk Roink), they eventually settled on Pearl Jam, after an allegedly hallucinogenic recipe belonging to Vedder’’s grandmother. By spring 1991, Pearl Jam had begun to play live shows in the Seattle area supporting the likes of Alice In Chains. As the word spread about the Seattle scene, the band signed to Epic and their debut TEN (1992) was rushed out. Although it was recorded speedily, it distilled the pain and attitude of the disaffected, but injected it with an electric, classic rock feel. Gossard and McCready’’s playing owed as much to Jimi Hendrix as to any punk band. Vedder’’s lyrics and vocals carried a rare, raw emotion, and the soaringly poetic ““Evenflow””, ““Alive”” and ““Jeremy”” took elements of his own traumatic childhood and transformed them into universal experience.

Just as TEN entered the US charts, Krusen left to deal with personal problems and was replaced by Dave Abbruzzese. Fresh recording sessions produced ““State Of Love And Trust”” and ““Breathe””, for the soundtrack of Singles, a teen-romance comedy based on the Seattle music scene, starring Matt Dillon. Three of the band members even managed to make cameo appearances as part of Dillon’’s grunge combo, Citizen Dick. Despite this media exposure, the press were less than kind to Pearl Jam, reviews equating their driven sound with the rock dinosaurs of the 70s, while Kurt Cobain fuelled the controversy by calling them a corporate band (conveniently forgetting their lengthy apprenticeships for some of Seattle’’s finest). The fans on the other hand could not have cared less; TEN outstripped NEVERMIND in the US metal charts and outsold it worldwide in 1992.

A new album was planned for late 1992, but touring schedules slowed things to a crawl. Gossard kept himself fresh by working on SHAME (1993), the sole product of his Brad side-project; it was a mellow, danceable mix of psychedelia and funk rhythms. The summer of 1993 saw Pearl Jam providing support for NEIL YOUNG and tearing into soulful, breathtaking versions of old favourites along with fresh punk-inspired material. They joined Young for a powerful version of ““Rockin’’ in the Free World””, a song they reprised later in the year at the MTV Awards.

A new and important alliance had been forged.When VS. (1993) finally saw the light of day, the fan response was awesome, and it entered at #1 in the Billboard charts. The guitars and rhythms raged more freely, and Vedder displayed his vocal and lyrical diversity, with songs of raw, blood-curdling anger (““Go””, ““Animal””, ““Blood””) balanced by mellower textures (““Daughter””). Overall, it sounded more caustic, accomplished and mature than TEN.

Pearl Jam have always gone out of their way to be as accessible as possible; if fans write they will usually get a personal reply. This dedication to the public took a new turn in 1994. While continuing to tour, and make occasional appearances with Neil Young, they weighed in against the corporate might of the Ticketmaster booking agency, which they accused of raising prices beyond the spending power of their younger followers. They were joined in their protest by such artists as R.E.M., Aerosmith and, of course, Neil Young, and were to stay in dispute with the agency for the next two years.To show their faith in vinyl, VITALOGY (1994) was first released on record, and then on CD, which saw it rocket to the top of the Billboard charts. Tracks like the searing ““Spin The Black Circle”” and the belligerent threats of ““Not For You”” delivered the usual doses of mayhem. However, tracks such as the pointless ““Stupid Mop”” dragged on the album’’s momentum.

Apart from McCready’’s Mad Season side-project, 1995 saw Pearl Jam’’s partnership with Neil Young flourish, their encore jams developing into the poignant, broad sweep of the MIRROR BALL (1995) album. Recorded in a mere four days, the record was a potent blend of Pearl Jam’’s hard rock influences and Young’’s poetic meanderings, oiled with doses of teeth-grating, overdriven feedback. Unfortunately, in a fit of marketing pique, Young’’s record company refused to allow Pearl Jam’’s name to appear on the cover.Meanwhile the band, true to their word, continued to make a stand against Ticketmaster by touring less established venues. Progress was hampered by forced cancellations and security problems, but when things went well audiences were treated not only to Pearl Jam, but to Young joining in on songs from MIRROR BALL.

The following year saw the band lose Dave Abbruzzese and finally focus their collective attention on a new studio effort. NO CODE (1996) was steeped in the all-American tradition of garage punk but instead of lunging headfirst into a soundscape of heaving guitars the songs marked out a more thoughtful approach. Opening track ““Sometimes”” was a slow burner and it wasn’’t until ““Hail Hail”” that things kicked off in familiar style. What the album lacked in pace it made up for in poise and moving, troubled lyrics.

Overall, though, it received a less-than-ecstatic reception and the band turned back to what they knew best for YIELD (1998) and the live opus LIVE ON TWO LEGS (1998), straight-ahead hard rocking. While LIVE ON TWO LEGS featured former Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron (replacing Jack Irons) as part of the live set-up, he actually contributed to the writing of new LP BINAURAL (2000). As ever it was a tour de force showcase of the band’’s subtlety and power, addressing both social and personal issues with a deft touch. Later that same year, as if to emphasize the band’’s punk credentials, they also opted to release a series of 25 official live bootleg CDs, all of them recorded warts ‘‘n’’ all during their European tour.

The tradition of releasing such bootlegs has continued through each tour in the past few years, and Pearl Jam now hold the World Record for most songs in the Billboard Chart at once, thanks to bootlegs.

In 2000, a tragic safety failure at Roskilde claimed the lives of 9 fans and Pearl Jam took this as their responsibilty which it wasn't. The Danish authorities didn't help either, by claiming the band were to blame, although these claims were quickly dumbed down. The Roskilde incident left a huge mark on Pearl Jam's attitude and music, and the band released a statement implying they would probably never play a festival again

In 2002 the band released "Riot Act", which contained a mix of acoustic and hard-hitting rock songs with titles such as "Ghost" and "Thumbing My Way". The album title is rumoured to either be named after the "Riot Act" or the "Patriot Act", or maybe a play on both by Vedder. The album's first single "Love Boat Captain" contained the lyric "Lost 9 friends we'll never know", a tribute to those lost at Roskilde in 2000.

PJ split from Sony Records after 10+ years under contract, and so Sony cashed in by releasing a 2 Disc greatest hits titled "Rearviewmirror". After many dubbed PJs split from the money grabbing record company, they signed a contract with J Records, an affiliate of Sony, showing that it's difficult to be a big band without the support of a big company these days.
However, their music is now more independent and free from constraint, and the band have total control over their music and speed of how they do things.

Pearl Jam took part in the Vote For Change Tour in 2004, aimed at raising John Kerry's vote in the US Elections (PJ are strongly against George W Bush)and played at many undecided states such as Boston. Eddie Vedder was quoted as saying that Pearl Jam would move to Canada if Bush won, and he did, but they remain in the US.

Pearl Jam did a South American tour in late 2005, amid rumours that the new album would be released in early 2006. Sure enough, in February '06 Pearl Jam announced the new album "Pearl Jam" would hit stores on May 2nd. The first single was accepted as a "grower" and the band were quick to sell out tickets to a North American tour and book festivals across the world, breaking their no-festival stance to the joy of festival goers and organisers.

It is rumoured that Pearl Jam's self titled album is a sign of their acknowledgment that the end is near. Perhaps family commitments and such will slow the band down, maybe stop it all together, but I personally feel that Pearl Jam crave their career as passionate music makers too much to stay away from the music, and we can expect their already lengthy careers to become more fruitful and evolved over the next few years!

Thanks to d_r_carr@hotmail.com Dan Carr for submitting the biography.
source:http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Pearl-Jam-Biography/C37A0D1406261F2C482568620004D10C

Patience

It must be hard being a George Michael fan. Patience is only his fourth studio effort in the 18 years since Wham! split, so its release must be some cause for celebration. There always seems to have been something preventing him from releasing a new album--from arrests for lewd behavior, protracted battles with record companies, or prolonged periods of grieving for departed family and friends. Thankfully, Patience is pretty good.
Flitting between fraught ballads and up-tempo adult pop (the misguided sample-laden single "Freeek!" being the unnecessary exception), George here returns to the structure and mood of 1990s Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1. Patience is at its most delicate and moving with its title track, the intense, tabloid-attacking "Through" and the painful family memories of "My Mother Had a Brother." To balance this, hearts will be raised by "Amazing," with its echoes of the Bee Gees, "Round Here," in which George remembers his early days scampering around Bushey with Andrew Ridgley, and "Cars and Trains," which celebrates the kind of lifestyle that so riled the LAPD back in 1998. That's the thing about George Michael these days. Love him or loathe him, he is unapologetically himself. And fans should be very grateful for that. --Dominic Wills

source : http://www.amazon.com/Patience-George-Michael/dp/B00020SHH6

Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton was born February 17, 1981, to Rick and Kathy Hilton, making her the great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton, founder of the Hilton hotels and source of the family fortune -- estimated at $300 million. Her grandfather, Conrad ''Nicky'' Hilton, Jr., also brought some notoriety to the family, as he was the first of Elizabeth Taylor's many ex-husbands. Paris' younger sister, Nicky (born in 1983), shares the throne as co-heiress of the Hilton empire.

Growing up in Manhattan's ritzy Waldorf-Astoria, the family's New York home, as well as other Hilton digs in Beverly Hills and the Hamptons, Paris didn't seem to yearn for much. Even after graduating from high school, college didn't appeal to her. So, around the year 2000, Paris decided to branch out and become famous.

She began to make a name for herself as a model, soon appearing in shows for designers such as Marc Bouwer and Catherine Malandrino, and she later completed an ad campaign for Iceberg, an Italian label. In addition, Paris has posed for spreads in national magazines such as GQ, Vanity Fair and FHM; she was most recently profiled, along with her sister, in People magazine.

At the same time, Paris became the center of attention because of her relationships -- real or imagined by the paparazzi -- with some of Hollywood's hottest young stars. In early 2000, Paris was spotted around town with Leonardo DiCaprio. However, the press, especially the National Enquirer, blew their casual friendship far out of proportion. Nevertheless, she apparently dated Terminator 2's Edward Furlong for a few months, and was later seen out and about with boxer Oscar de la Hoya. The latest news is that Paris is currently shacked up with actor and Tommy Hilfiger model, Jason Shaw.

Paris, along with her younger sister Nicky, also became notorious as socialites, gracing party after party and getting bad press for their antics. For example, Paris has grabbed headlines by shoving ahead of others in a washroom line, then, when upbraided for her rudeness, quipped that she only wanted to look at herself in the mirror. She has also danced on top of bar banquettes, gone topless for attention, and paraded around in designer T-shirts with slogans like, ''Got Blow?'' Yet Paris maintains that the bad press ''sucks'' and that ''people are mean.''

Perhaps in an effort to clean up her image, Paris has tried to make her mark by working on more substantial projects. In 2001, she had a cameo appearance in Ben Stiller's fashion spoof, Zoolander. Other appearances include a role as a strung-out supermodel in the film short QIK2JDG and the upcoming The Hillz (co-starring boyfriend Jason Shaw), and negotiations are underway for Paris to star in an upcoming FOX reality show along the lines of Green Acres.

On top of that, along with her sister, Paris has designed a high-end collection of purses for Tokyo label Samantha Thavasa. Paris has also given back; she has done charity work for Toys for Tots. Unfortunately, her attempts to start a modeling company and a makeup line seem to have fizzled.

source:http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Paris-Hilton-Biography/382E09914AE200C7482571C700831C49