A1 (band)
Encyclopedia
A1 are a British
-Norwegian
boyband
. They were originally made up of Mark Read
, Ben Adams
, Christian Ingebrigtsen
and Paul Marazzi. Their first single, "Be the First to Believe
", entered the UK singles chart at #6 in early 1999. They had a huge amount of success worldwide and charts with two number #1s and eight top 10 hits. Adding to this they also won a BRIT Award
for "British Breakthrough Act" in 2001. They were formed by band manager Tim Byrne, who also formed Steps. A1 came to an end in 2002 when original member Paul Marazzi
left in 2002 and the band subsequently decided to split.
In August 2009, Ingebrigtsen, Read and Adams announced that they would reform A1, albeit without Marazzi, for a series of concerts in Oslo
in December 2009 at the Christiania Theatre
. Since their comeback they have already released four new singles, "Take You Home
", "Don't Wanna Lose You Again
", "In Love and I Hate It
" and "Waiting for Daylight
". Their fourth studio album, Waiting for Daylight
, was released on 11 October 2010. The band have sold 3 million records worldwide.
, Ben Adams
, Christian Ingebrigtsen
and Paul Marazzi
were formed in 1998 by the management team of Tim Byrne and Vicky Blood. They signed with Columbia Records
in February 1999 and released "Be the First to Believe
" in Summer 1999. In 2000 they achieved two number ones with "Take on Me
" and the hit "Same Old Brand New You
". Their third album, Make It Good
, featured a sound closer to traditional rock music, but was to be their last studio project. The 3rd album have a lot of success then on 8 October 2002, Paul Marazzi left the group citing personal reasons, and a1 subsequently decided to split. In 2001, the band began a massive arena tour of Asia, where they were very well received. The video for their seventh single, "No More", was filmed in Singapore
while they were on tour there. During a concert in Indonesia
, four teenage girls were killed in a stampede. In January 2004, Asian fans were treated to an exclusive Best Of A1
album, a compilation featuring all of their singles, two previously unreleased concert recordings and three exclusive B-Sides. In 2009, following Adams' appearance on Celebrity Big Brother
, the band released their Greatest Hits in the UK.
In 2001 Sony Music UK launched a paid subscription service for A1 called 'Access All Areas', the first for an artist signed to the company. This was a very early version of a social network allowing fans to meet and chat online. The subscription service was a forerunner of an online fan club which has since become more popular amongst musicians.
. Adams was also due to record an album but due to an argument with his record label, he was later dropped. In 2009, he appeared as a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother
, becoming one of the remaining five housemates. In 2003, Christian Ingebrigtsen also began a solo career, with his first solo single, "In Love With An Angel", being released in 2004. The single stayed in the Top 10 of the Norway Singles Chart for nearly three months. The song was switfly followed by "Things Are Gonna Change", which became Ingebrigsten's final solo single before he moved into other areas of showbusiness. In 2002, Mark Read focused on becoming a songwriter for other artists, after signing a deal with Metrophonic. Read has written for artists such as Charlotte Church
, Joe Brown
, Sam Brown
, Mark Owen
, Jarvis Cocker
and Roger Cook
. Read released his debut solo single, "Greatest Lady In My Life", on the 2 March 2009. The single featured a karaoke version of the track, exclusive to retailers iTunes and Amazon. His debut solo album, Peace At Last, was released in June 2009. Months after he left the band, Paul hosted the Andy Cole Children's Foundation (now All Star Kids) on April 26, 2003 together with Jo Good. He turned down the offer to appear in I'm a Celebrity... Get Me out of Here! in 2004 Later in late 2005, he started forming a soul/rock band in Sunderland, Northeast England. The band was named Snagsby in 2006. Later in 2008, the band announced in their official MySpace that Marazzi is leaving Snagsby on January 2009. Paul then went to work in The George Hotel in Whitby as a club DJ.
account to keep fans updated of their current situation. In Summer 2009, the band made an official announcement, stating that not only were they to reform, but they were to play a series of concerts in Oslo in December of that year. The announcement also stated that the band's first new single in seven years, "Take You Home
", would be released via iTunes
in Norway on 2 November. The single entered the Norway Singles Chart at #9, based on download sales only. It was announced in late 2009 that the band would compete to represent Norway
in the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest, with the band's second single since their reformation, "Don't Wanna Lose You Again
". The song peaked at #4 on the Norwegian Singles Chart, based entirely on download sales. The band reached the final of the contest and finished in second place. The band made their official UK comeback on New Year's Eve by performing at the Heaven New Year's Eve Party in South London. In March 2010, the band embarked on a worldwide tour that began in Norway, with performances in Oslo, Stavanger, Kristiansand, Bergen, Trondheim and Haugesund. The tour will extend to Europe and ROTW in Autumn 2010. The band's first new studio album since 2002 was released on 11 October 2010, and includes the singles "Take You Home
", "Don't Wanna Lose You Again
", "In Love and I Hate It
" and "Waiting for Daylight
".
In October 2011, the group appeared on Channel 5's OK TV and Live with Gabby to promote their UK comeback gig at the O2 Academy Islington on October 31st 2011.
In November 18, 2011, a1
is going to release another single, a Christmas/New Year song called "Another Year Gone".
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
boyband
Boy band
A boy band is loosely defined as a popular music act consisting of only male singers. The members are expected to dance as well as sing, usually giving highly choreographed performances. More often than not, boy band members do not play musical instruments, either in recording sessions or on...
. They were originally made up of Mark Read
Mark Read (singer)
Mark Daniel Read is a British singer/songwriter, best known as member of the boy band A1 from 1998 to 2002, and 2009–present.-Background:...
, Ben Adams
Ben Adams
Ben Adams is an English singer-songwriter, best known as a member of the boy band, a1.-Early life:...
, Christian Ingebrigtsen
Christian Ingebrigtsen
Christian Ingebrigtsen is a Norwegian singer-songwriter and musician. He is a member of the British-Norwegian pop group A1.-Biography:...
and Paul Marazzi. Their first single, "Be the First to Believe
Be the First to Believe
"Be the First to Believe" is a song by British-Norwegian boy band A1. It was their debut single and was released as the first single from their debut album, Here We Come...
", entered the UK singles chart at #6 in early 1999. They had a huge amount of success worldwide and charts with two number #1s and eight top 10 hits. Adding to this they also won a BRIT Award
Brit Awards
The Brit Awards are the British Phonographic Industry's annual pop music awards. The name was originally a shortened form of "British", "Britain" or "Britannia", but subsequently became a backronym for British Record Industry Trust...
for "British Breakthrough Act" in 2001. They were formed by band manager Tim Byrne, who also formed Steps. A1 came to an end in 2002 when original member Paul Marazzi
Paul Marazzi (singer)
Paul Marazzi is a British musician, formerly a member of A1.Marazzi was a member of A1, a British/Norwegian boy band whose first single, "Be the First to Believe", was released in 1999. Together with Marazzi were Britons Mark Read, Ben Adams and Norwegian Christian Ingebrigtsen...
left in 2002 and the band subsequently decided to split.
In August 2009, Ingebrigtsen, Read and Adams announced that they would reform A1, albeit without Marazzi, for a series of concerts in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
in December 2009 at the Christiania Theatre
Christiania Theatre
Christiania Theatre, or Kristiania Theatre, was Norway's finest stage for the spoken drama between October 4, 1836 - September 1, 1899. It was located at Bankplassen by the Akershus Fortress in central Christiania, in Norway...
. Since their comeback they have already released four new singles, "Take You Home
Take You Home
"Take You Home" is a song by British-Norwegian boyband A1, released as the lead single from their fourth studio album, Waiting for Daylight. Released nearly a year prior to the album, it is the group's first single release not to feature former band member Paul Marazzi, as he left the group seven...
", "Don't Wanna Lose You Again
Don't Wanna Lose You Again
"Don't Wanna Lose You Again" is a song by British-Norwegian boyband A1, released as the second single from their fourth studio album, Waiting for Daylight. The single was released on 22 January 2010, following its success as the group's entry for the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest.The single peaked...
", "In Love and I Hate It
In Love and I Hate It
"In Love and I Hate It" is a song by British-Norwegian boyband A1, released as the third single from their fourth studio album, Waiting for Daylight. Released on 4 August 2010, the track was a last-minute choice for a single, as the album's title track, "Waiting for Daylight", was originally due to...
" and "Waiting for Daylight
Waiting For Daylight (song)
"Waiting for Daylight" is a song by British-Norwegian A1, released as the fourth single from their fourth studio album, of the same name. The single was released on April 22, 2011. The single's artwork is identical to the cover of the album. The single peaked at number five on the Norwegian Singles...
". Their fourth studio album, Waiting for Daylight
Waiting for Daylight (A1 album)
-Charts:...
, was released on 11 October 2010. The band have sold 3 million records worldwide.
Career
A1, consisting of Mark ReadMark Read (singer)
Mark Daniel Read is a British singer/songwriter, best known as member of the boy band A1 from 1998 to 2002, and 2009–present.-Background:...
, Ben Adams
Ben Adams
Ben Adams is an English singer-songwriter, best known as a member of the boy band, a1.-Early life:...
, Christian Ingebrigtsen
Christian Ingebrigtsen
Christian Ingebrigtsen is a Norwegian singer-songwriter and musician. He is a member of the British-Norwegian pop group A1.-Biography:...
and Paul Marazzi
Paul Marazzi (singer)
Paul Marazzi is a British musician, formerly a member of A1.Marazzi was a member of A1, a British/Norwegian boy band whose first single, "Be the First to Believe", was released in 1999. Together with Marazzi were Britons Mark Read, Ben Adams and Norwegian Christian Ingebrigtsen...
were formed in 1998 by the management team of Tim Byrne and Vicky Blood. They signed with Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
in February 1999 and released "Be the First to Believe
Be the First to Believe
"Be the First to Believe" is a song by British-Norwegian boy band A1. It was their debut single and was released as the first single from their debut album, Here We Come...
" in Summer 1999. In 2000 they achieved two number ones with "Take on Me
Take on Me
"Take on Me" is a song by the Norwegian pop band A-ha. Written by the band members, the song was produced by Alan Tarney for the group's first studio album Hunting High and Low, released in 1985...
" and the hit "Same Old Brand New You
Same Old Brand New You
"Same Old Brand New You" is a song by British-Norwegian boy band A1, released as the second single from their second album, The A List. The single was the band's second and final number one single on the UK Singles Chart....
". Their third album, Make It Good
Make It Good (album)
-Charts:...
, featured a sound closer to traditional rock music, but was to be their last studio project. The 3rd album have a lot of success then on 8 October 2002, Paul Marazzi left the group citing personal reasons, and a1 subsequently decided to split. In 2001, the band began a massive arena tour of Asia, where they were very well received. The video for their seventh single, "No More", was filmed in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
while they were on tour there. During a concert in Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, four teenage girls were killed in a stampede. In January 2004, Asian fans were treated to an exclusive Best Of A1
The Best of a1
The Best of A1 is the first compilation album released by British-Norwegian boyband A1. The album was released exclusively in Asia and the UK. The album contained two discs, the first comprising eighteen audio tracks, and the second of seven live performances...
album, a compilation featuring all of their singles, two previously unreleased concert recordings and three exclusive B-Sides. In 2009, following Adams' appearance on Celebrity Big Brother
Celebrity Big Brother 2009 (UK)
Celebrity Big Brother 2009 was the sixth series of Celebrity Big Brother. It began on 2 January 2009 and ran for 22 days until 23 January 2009. It was broadcast on Channel 4. The launch show was watched by approximately 6.4 million people...
, the band released their Greatest Hits in the UK.
In 2001 Sony Music UK launched a paid subscription service for A1 called 'Access All Areas', the first for an artist signed to the company. This was a very early version of a social network allowing fans to meet and chat online. The subscription service was a forerunner of an online fan club which has since become more popular amongst musicians.
Post A1 and solo careers
In 2005, Ben Adams went on to release his first solo single, "Sorry", which peaked at #18 on the UK Singles ChartUK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. Adams was also due to record an album but due to an argument with his record label, he was later dropped. In 2009, he appeared as a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother
Celebrity Big Brother 2009 (UK)
Celebrity Big Brother 2009 was the sixth series of Celebrity Big Brother. It began on 2 January 2009 and ran for 22 days until 23 January 2009. It was broadcast on Channel 4. The launch show was watched by approximately 6.4 million people...
, becoming one of the remaining five housemates. In 2003, Christian Ingebrigtsen also began a solo career, with his first solo single, "In Love With An Angel", being released in 2004. The single stayed in the Top 10 of the Norway Singles Chart for nearly three months. The song was switfly followed by "Things Are Gonna Change", which became Ingebrigsten's final solo single before he moved into other areas of showbusiness. In 2002, Mark Read focused on becoming a songwriter for other artists, after signing a deal with Metrophonic. Read has written for artists such as Charlotte Church
Charlotte Church
Charlotte Maria Church is a Welsh singer-songwriter, actress and television presenter. She rose to fame in childhood as a classical singer before branching into pop music in 2005. By 2007, she had sold more than 10 million records worldwide including over 5 million in the United States...
, Joe Brown
Joe Brown
Joe Brown may refer to:*Joe Brown , British singer*Joe David Brown , American novelist*Joe E. Brown , American actor and comedian*Joe L. Brown , Major League Baseball front office executive...
, Sam Brown
Sam Brown
Sam Brown may refer to:* Sam Brown , singer/songwriter, daughter of the singer, Joe Brown* Sam Brown , artist and author, noted for his explodingdog web site...
, Mark Owen
Mark Owen
Mark Anthony Patrick Owen , is an English singer-songwriter. He is a member of pop band Take That. The band were hugely successful during the 1990s and have enjoyed even more success since their reunion in 2005...
, Jarvis Cocker
Jarvis Cocker
Jarvis Branson Cocker is an English musician and frontman for the band Pulp. Through his work with the band, Cocker became a figurehead of the Britpop movement of the mid-1990s. Following Pulp's hiatus Cocker has led a successful solo career...
and Roger Cook
Roger Cook
Roger Cook may refer to:* Roger Cook , British* Roger Cook , New Zealand investigative journalist, best known in the UK* Roger Cook Roger Cook may refer to:* Roger Cook (songwriter) (born 1940), British* Roger Cook (journalist) (born 1943), New Zealand investigative journalist, best known in...
. Read released his debut solo single, "Greatest Lady In My Life", on the 2 March 2009. The single featured a karaoke version of the track, exclusive to retailers iTunes and Amazon. His debut solo album, Peace At Last, was released in June 2009. Months after he left the band, Paul hosted the Andy Cole Children's Foundation (now All Star Kids) on April 26, 2003 together with Jo Good. He turned down the offer to appear in I'm a Celebrity... Get Me out of Here! in 2004 Later in late 2005, he started forming a soul/rock band in Sunderland, Northeast England. The band was named Snagsby in 2006. Later in 2008, the band announced in their official MySpace that Marazzi is leaving Snagsby on January 2009. Paul then went to work in The George Hotel in Whitby as a club DJ.
Reunion
In November 2008, the remaining members of the band formed a MySpaceMySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
account to keep fans updated of their current situation. In Summer 2009, the band made an official announcement, stating that not only were they to reform, but they were to play a series of concerts in Oslo in December of that year. The announcement also stated that the band's first new single in seven years, "Take You Home
Take You Home
"Take You Home" is a song by British-Norwegian boyband A1, released as the lead single from their fourth studio album, Waiting for Daylight. Released nearly a year prior to the album, it is the group's first single release not to feature former band member Paul Marazzi, as he left the group seven...
", would be released via iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
in Norway on 2 November. The single entered the Norway Singles Chart at #9, based on download sales only. It was announced in late 2009 that the band would compete to represent Norway
Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010
Norway will host the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 at the Telenor Arena in Oslo, after Alexander Rybak won the 2009 Contest with "Fairytale"....
in the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest, with the band's second single since their reformation, "Don't Wanna Lose You Again
Don't Wanna Lose You Again
"Don't Wanna Lose You Again" is a song by British-Norwegian boyband A1, released as the second single from their fourth studio album, Waiting for Daylight. The single was released on 22 January 2010, following its success as the group's entry for the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest.The single peaked...
". The song peaked at #4 on the Norwegian Singles Chart, based entirely on download sales. The band reached the final of the contest and finished in second place. The band made their official UK comeback on New Year's Eve by performing at the Heaven New Year's Eve Party in South London. In March 2010, the band embarked on a worldwide tour that began in Norway, with performances in Oslo, Stavanger, Kristiansand, Bergen, Trondheim and Haugesund. The tour will extend to Europe and ROTW in Autumn 2010. The band's first new studio album since 2002 was released on 11 October 2010, and includes the singles "Take You Home
Take You Home
"Take You Home" is a song by British-Norwegian boyband A1, released as the lead single from their fourth studio album, Waiting for Daylight. Released nearly a year prior to the album, it is the group's first single release not to feature former band member Paul Marazzi, as he left the group seven...
", "Don't Wanna Lose You Again
Don't Wanna Lose You Again
"Don't Wanna Lose You Again" is a song by British-Norwegian boyband A1, released as the second single from their fourth studio album, Waiting for Daylight. The single was released on 22 January 2010, following its success as the group's entry for the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest.The single peaked...
", "In Love and I Hate It
In Love and I Hate It
"In Love and I Hate It" is a song by British-Norwegian boyband A1, released as the third single from their fourth studio album, Waiting for Daylight. Released on 4 August 2010, the track was a last-minute choice for a single, as the album's title track, "Waiting for Daylight", was originally due to...
" and "Waiting for Daylight
Waiting For Daylight (song)
"Waiting for Daylight" is a song by British-Norwegian A1, released as the fourth single from their fourth studio album, of the same name. The single was released on April 22, 2011. The single's artwork is identical to the cover of the album. The single peaked at number five on the Norwegian Singles...
".
In October 2011, the group appeared on Channel 5's OK TV and Live with Gabby to promote their UK comeback gig at the O2 Academy Islington on October 31st 2011.
In November 18, 2011, a1
A1
A1 may refer to:-Products:* A1 paper size * A1 Steak Sauce* Canon A-1, a 35mm SLR camera manufactured from 1978 to 1985* Canon XH-A1, a handheld prosumer HDV camcorder released in 2007...
is going to release another single, a Christmas/New Year song called "Another Year Gone".
Studio albums
- Here We Come (1999)
- The A List (2000)
- Make It GoodMake It Good (album)-Charts:...
(2002) - Waiting for DaylightWaiting for Daylight (A1 album)-Charts:...
(2010)
Compilation albums
- The Best of A1The Best of a1The Best of A1 is the first compilation album released by British-Norwegian boyband A1. The album was released exclusively in Asia and the UK. The album contained two discs, the first comprising eighteen audio tracks, and the second of seven live performances...
(2004) - Greatest Hits (2009)
Singles
- "Be the First to BelieveBe the First to Believe"Be the First to Believe" is a song by British-Norwegian boy band A1. It was their debut single and was released as the first single from their debut album, Here We Come...
" (1999) - "Summertime of Our LivesSummertime of Our Lives"Summertime of Our Lives" is a song by British-Norwegian boy band A1, released as the second single from their debut album, Here We Come. The single was released in August 1999, and peaked at #5 on the UK Singles Chart....
" (1999) - "Ready or Not/EverytimeReady or Not/Everytime"Ready or Not" and "Everytime" are two songs by British-Norwegian boy band A1, both taken from their debut album, Here We Come. The songs were released in a double A-side single in November 1999, and the single release peaked at #3 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the most successful of four...
" (1999) - "Like a RoseLike a Rose"Like a Rose" is a song by British-Norwegian boy band A1, released as the fourth single from their debut album, Here We Come. The single was released in February 2000, peaking at #6 on the UK Singles Chart....
" (2000) - "Take on Me" (2000)
- "Same Old Brand New YouSame Old Brand New You"Same Old Brand New You" is a song by British-Norwegian boy band A1, released as the second single from their second album, The A List. The single was the band's second and final number one single on the UK Singles Chart....
" (2000) - "No MoreNo More (a1 song)"No More" is a song by British-Norwegian boy band A1, released as the third single from their second studio album, The A List. It was released as a single on 19 February 2001. The song was written by Stevie Bensusen, Claudio Cueni, Lindy Robbins, and Damon Sharpe, and produced by the former two...
" (2001) - "Caught in the MiddleCaught in the Middle"Caught in the Middle" is a song by British-Norwegian boy band A1, from their third studio album, Make It Good. Released as the album's lead single on 21 January 2002, it peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart...
" (2002) - "Make It GoodMake It Good (a1 song)"Make It Good" is a song by British-Norwegian boy band A1, released as the second single from their third album, Make It Good. The single peaked at #11 on the UK Singles Chart.A music video was produced to promote the single...
" (2002) - "Nos DifferencesNos Differences"Nos Differences" is a song by British-Norwegian boy band A1, released as the third single from their third studio album, Make It Good...
" (2002) - "Take You HomeTake You Home"Take You Home" is a song by British-Norwegian boyband A1, released as the lead single from their fourth studio album, Waiting for Daylight. Released nearly a year prior to the album, it is the group's first single release not to feature former band member Paul Marazzi, as he left the group seven...
" (2009) - "Don't Wanna Lose You AgainDon't Wanna Lose You Again"Don't Wanna Lose You Again" is a song by British-Norwegian boyband A1, released as the second single from their fourth studio album, Waiting for Daylight. The single was released on 22 January 2010, following its success as the group's entry for the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest.The single peaked...
" (2010) - "In Love and I Hate ItIn Love and I Hate It"In Love and I Hate It" is a song by British-Norwegian boyband A1, released as the third single from their fourth studio album, Waiting for Daylight. Released on 4 August 2010, the track was a last-minute choice for a single, as the album's title track, "Waiting for Daylight", was originally due to...
" (2010) - "Waiting for DaylightWaiting For Daylight (song)"Waiting for Daylight" is a song by British-Norwegian A1, released as the fourth single from their fourth studio album, of the same name. The single was released on April 22, 2011. The single's artwork is identical to the cover of the album. The single peaked at number five on the Norwegian Singles...
" (2011) - "Another Year Gone" (2011)