Mr BIG

Origin USA
Genre(s) Hard rock, heavy metal, Power pop
Years active 1988–2002,2009 (reunion)
Label(s) Warner/Atlantic
Associated acts Racer X, Poison, Steve Vai, G3, David Lee Roth, Tak Matsumoto Group
Website www.mrbigsite.com

Members
Eric Martin
Pat Torpey
Billy Sheehan
Paul Gilbert

Former members
Richie Kotzen

Mr. Big is a hard rock super-group that formed in 1988. The band is a quartet composed of Eric Martin (vocals), Paul Gilbert (guitar), Billy Sheehan (bass), and Pat Torpey (drums); Mr. Big also included Richie Kotzen, a reputable blues-based guitarist who replaced Paul in 1999 when Paul decided to focus on a solo career. The band is noted especially for their "shred guitar" musicianship, intense live performances, and well-crafted songs.

Identified early on as a "musicians' band", Mr. Big was able to produce numerous hit songs that ranged across a wide array of rock genres, be it ballad, heavy metal, or blues rock. Prior to the formation of the group, each of the members already had a reputation of being virtuosos as well as established song-writers/ composers. Their songs were often marked with strong vocals and vocal harmonies, and a technical proficiency in all instruments. Their hits include "To Be With You" (Billboard Hot 100 number one single in 15 countries for weeks, in 1991), "Wild World", "Green-Tinted Sixties Mind", "Just Take My Heart", other ballads, and a host of heavy metal songs that were played mostly during their live performances, such as "Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy", "Addicted to that Rush", "Colorado Bulldog", and "Take Cover", among the rest.

Mr. Big's following and reputation remained strong for over two decades, despite the band being challenged by personal internal conflicts and the changing trends in mainstream music. Over the years, through the different heights of the band's career, the fan-base of the group has remained steadfast - even after the demise of the band in 2002. Fans have always asked for the band's reunion.

In February 2009, as a result of fan-demand and also after several coincidences over the past couple of years that have gradually brought the group back together again, Eric, Pat, Paul, and Billy finally announced their decision to reunite. This announcement was marked with celebration and excitement amongst fans all over the world, especially in Japan. The band members themselves are very happy to be together again as friends, and to perform once more for fans all over the world. Their first tour is in Japan in June 2009.

History

Formation

It was bass player Billy Sheehan who scouted and gathered the people who would, together with himself, become the enduring icons of Mr. Big. Billy Sheehan left David Lee Roth's solo band in 1988, due to differences in musical direction. Almost immediately after his exit, Sheehan began piecing together a new outfit, with the help of Mike Varney from Shrapnel Records, a label specialized in the shredding genre. However, what Sheehan did not know was that he was about to form one of the most revered "supergroups" to come out of America.

The Buffalo, New York-born bassist had already honed his skills during a decade spent touring with his band, Talas, but with the recruitment of Eric Martin in 1988, he knew the foundation for this ultimate musical venture was well in place. Martin (who was born in Long Island, New York, but grew up all over the world as one of the sons of an Army officer) had already ventured into the light, both with melodic rock-oriented Eric Martin Band, and as a more soul-leaning solo artist.

The group was made complete with talents of guitarist Gilbert and drummer Torpey. Hailing from Pittsburgh, Gilbert was already a well-respected guitarist who had released four highly-touted albums with his Los Angeles-based band, Racer X. Torpey came to California after playing his dues behind the kit in the Arizona rock community. He soon became a much sought-after road horse, touring with a number of high-profile artists, most notably Robert Plant.

Breakthrough

The newly formed band hired Herbie Herbert to be their manager (he was the former manager of Journey and Santana). By 1989, the newly formed quartet had already inked a recording contract with Atlantic Records, resulting in the release of a self-titled debut the same year. Despite causing a buzz amongst musicians, the album failed to cross over to a mainstream rock audience stateside; however, Mr. Big was an immediate smash success overseas in Japan. In June 1990, the group went on tour in America as the opening act for the Canadian band “Rush”.

It was Mr. Big's second album in 1991, “Lean Into It”, that provided major breakthrough for the band. The album featured two ballads that established them as a commercial success: "To Be with You” (number one song in 15 countries) and "Just Take My Heart", as well as rock songs that remained as staples of their live set for years to come, such as "Green-Tinted Sixties Mind".[23] The album propelled Mr. Big to huge international record sales in the multi-millions. The release of “Lean Into It” was followed by a British tour in April and May of the same year, supported by bands “The Throbs” and “Heartland”.

Another British tour ensured before the quartet opted to release the 'Mr. Big Live' album in 1992 and set to work on a third album to be released in 1993. Live headliners across the U.K. in December saw “Forgodsake” as support. However, the band had broken away from this run to put in support for Aerosmith’s three-night, sold out stand at London's Wembley Arena.

In 1993, another ballad from Mr. Big's new album “Bump Ahead” rose to the top 10 of the charts - a cover of Cat Steven’s “Wild World”. The band also contributed the soundtrack to the Sega Mega CD release of The Amazing Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin.

And in 1995, their next album,Hey Man, was released. The song "Take Cover" from the album "Hey Man", was included on the soundtrack to the cartoon series Mega Man, which is based on the best selling video game franchise of the same name by Capcom, and was played during the end credits of the episodes "Bad Day At Peril Park" and "Mega X".

Discography

Studio albums

* Mr. Big (1989) (The Billboard 200 #46, Japan Oricon Album Chart #22, JPN - Gold, UK #60[18])
* Lean Into It (1991) (The Billboard 200 #15, Japan Oricon Album Chart #6, US - Platinum, JPN - Platinum, UK #28[18])
* Bump Ahead (1993) (The Billboard 200 #82, Japan Oricon Album Chart #4, JPN - Platinum, UK #61[18])
* Hey Man (1996) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #1, JPN - 2x Platinum)
* Get Over It (2000) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #5, JPN - Gold)
* Actual Size (2001) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #5)

Live albums

* Raw Like Sushi (1990) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #32)
* Mr. Big Live (Live in San Francisco) (1992) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #45)
* Raw Like Sushi II (1992) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #8, JPN - Gold)
* Japandemonium: Raw Like Sushi 3 (1994) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #11, JPN - Platinum)
* Channel V at the Hard Rock Live (1996) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #32)
* Live at Budokan (1997) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #20)
* In Japan (2002) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #12)

Singles

* "Addicted to That Rush" (1989) (Mainstream Rock Tracks #39)
* "Wind Me Up" (1989)
* "Green-Tinted Sixties Mind" (1991) (Mainstream Rock Tracks #33, UK #72[18])
* "To Be With You" (1991) (The Billboard Hot 100 #1 (3 weeks), Mainstream Rock Tracks #19, Adult Contemporary #11, UK #3[18])
* "Just Take My Heart" (1992) (The Billboard Hot 100 #16, Mainstream Rock Tracks #18, Japan Oricon Single Chart #68, UK #26[18])
* "Wild World" (1993) (The Billboard Hot 100 #27, Mainstream Rock Tracks #33, Top 40 Mainstream #12, Japan Oricon Single Chart #40, UK #59[18])
* "Ain't Seen Love Like That" (1994) (The Billboard Hot 100 #83)
* "Take Cover" (1996) (Japan Oricon Single Chart #1)
* "Not One Night" (1997)
* "Superfantastic" (2000) (Japan Oricon Single Chart #97)
* "Static" (2000) (Japan Oricon Single Chart #66)
* "Where Are They Now" (2000) (Japan Oricon Single Chart #47)
* "Shine" (2001) (Japan Oricon Single Chart #1)
* "Arrow" (2001) (Japan Oricon Single Chart #42)

Compilations

* Big Bigger Biggest: Greatest Hits (1996) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #2, JPN - 4x Platinum)
* Deep Cuts (2000) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #12)
* Greatest Hits (2004) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #70)

Michael Jackson

Background information

Birth name Michael Joseph Jackson
Born August 29, 1958(1958-08-29)
Gary, Indiana, U.S.
Died June 25, 2009 (aged 50)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genre(s) Pop, dance, R&B, rock, soul
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, producer, dancer, choreographer
Voice type(s) Soprano, tenor,[1] falsetto[2]
Years active 1964–2009
Label(s) Motown, Epic
Associated acts The Jackson 5/The Jacksons
Website MichaelJackson.com

King of Pop

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009), often dubbed the "King of Pop," was an American recording artist, widely regarded as one of the greatest entertainers of modern times. With his trademark black fedora and single, sequinned glove, his unique contributions to music and dance, along with a highly publicized personal life, made him a central part of popular culture around the world for four decades.

One of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, his achievements included multiple Guinness World Records—including the "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time"—13 Grammy Awards, 13 number one singles, and the sale of over 750 million records. He was also a notable philanthropist, donating millions of dollars to the 39 charities he supported, and raising more through his own Heal the World Foundation.

The seventh child of the Jackson family, he made his debut in 1968 as a member of The Jackson 5, beginning a solo career in 1971. His 1982 album Thriller remains the best-selling album of all time, with four others—Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991), and HIStory (1995)—among the best selling. He popularized several physically complicated dance moves, such as the robot and the moonwalk, now iconic. He is widely credited with having transformed the music video from a promotional tool into an art form, with videos such as Thriller, "Beat It" and "Billie Jean" making him the first African American to amass a strong crossover following on MTV, and others, such as "Black or White" and "Scream", ensuring his popularity well into the 1990s.

Jackson's personal life generated significant controversy. His changing appearance was noticed from the early 1980s, his skin appearing paler and his facial features becoming almost androgynous. He was accused in 1993 of child sexual abuse, and though no charges were brought, his health suffered when he started using painkillers to cope with the stress. He married twice, first in 1994 and again in 1996, and brought up three children, one of them with a surrogate mother, actions that triggered more speculation about his life. In 2005, he was tried and acquitted of different child molestation allegations, which provoked a further decline in his health. Jackson died at the age of 50 on June 25, 2009, in Los Angeles, after suffering a cardiac arrest. His memorial service was broadcast live around the world, watched by up to one billion people.

Discography


* Got to Be There (1972)
* Ben (1972)
* Music & Me (1973)
* Forever, Michael (1975)
* Off the Wall (1979)
* Thriller (1982)
* Bad (1987)
* Dangerous (1991)
* HIStory (1995)
* Invincible (2001)

Lita Ford

Lita Ford (born September 19, 1958) is an American rock musician and singer who was the lead guitarist for The Runaways and achieved popularity for her solo career during the 1980s.

Early life

Ford was born Carmelita Rossanna Ford to a British father and an Italian mother in London, England. She moved with her family to the United States at age 4. She began playing the guitar at age 11. Her vocal range is mezzo-soprano.

In 1975 at the age of 17 she joined the all-female rock band The Runaways, for whom she played lead guitar.

Solo career

After the group fon 1979, she began a solo career. Her first two albums, Out for Blood and Dancin' on the Edge were moderately successful. Out For Blood featured the single "Out For Blood". Her next album Dancin' on the Edge was even more successful. It featured the single "Fire in my Heart" which reached the top 10 in several countries. The next single "Gotta Let Go" was one of Ford's biggest hits. It reached number one on the Mainstream Rock charts.

Ford toured extensively and made several guest appearances on TV shows for the next four years, but had no releases; a follow-up to Dancin' on the Edge, titled The Bride Wore Black, was abandoned and never released due to the fact Ford did not like the production of the album and this upset the head of her record label causing Ford to switch from Mercury Records to RCA Records. By the time Ford returned again, the lighter pop-metal she had long favored had broken through to mainstream audiences, which set the stage for her most commercially successful album, 1988's Lita. With Sharon Osbourne as her manager, and again produced by herself, the album featured four commercial hits, including the #1 "Kiss Me Deadly", #9 "Back to the Cave", #2 "Close My Eyes Forever", "Cross My Eyes-ah Forever(in Japan), and #3 "Falling In and Out of Love" (co-written with Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe). The ballad "Close My Eyes Forever," was a duet with Ozzy Osbourne. It was also her only Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hit, reaching #8.

Her next release was called Stiletto. It featured the singles "Hungry" and "Lisa"; which was dedicated to her mother. However this album was not as successful as Dancin' on the Edge and Lita.

Ford's next release was Dangerous Curves. Ford's last release would be with ZYX Records and would be titled Black. It failed to repeat the success of 1991's Dangerous Curves.

Ford was asked by VH-1 to be in the cast of "The Surreal Life" for its 7th season, in 2007. She declined.

Ford appears in the 1992 film Highway to Hell as 'The Hitchhiker'.

During her solo years, she was an endorsee of B.C. Rich guitars and used Warlock, Eagle, Mockingbird and Bich single and double-neck models.

In mid June 2008, Ford and her new solo band played several warm up gigs prior to Rocklahoma under the name Kiss Me Deadly in the New York City area.

Return to stage 2008, new album and tour 2009

For the first time in 15 years, Lita Ford took the stage in her only North American appearance at Rocklahoma, in Pryor, Oklahoma, July 12. Her new band was drummer Stet Howland (W.A.S.P.), Teddy Cook (Dio) and Michael T. Ross (Angel/XYZ).

Ford plans to release a new album during the summer of 2009, as well as playing a 75 date tour.

Lita Ford also takes to the stage at the Legendary Buffalo Chip, Sturgis South Dakota on August 3 2009, supporting Toby Keith

Personal life

Lita Ford is married to Jim Gillette, of the band Nitro. With him she has two sons, with their first son having been born on Jim and Lita's third wedding anniversary. She was previously married to W.A.S.P. guitarist Chris Holmes, and was engaged to Black Sabbath leader/guitarist Tony Iommi in the mid-1980s.

Tributes

An achievement in the Xbox 360 version of the video game Guitar Hero II, is titled the "Joan & Lita Award" in tribute to Lita and Joan Jett. It is awarded to two players who can get a 100 note streak in cooperative mode.

Her song, Close My Eyes Forever, was included in Karaoke Revolution: American Idol Encore.

The song "Kiss Me Deadly" was covered in a compilation album called Viva La Internet/Blank CD by Reel Big Fish.

Discography

The Runaways Studio albums

1976 The Runaways
1977 Queens of Noise
Waitin' for the Night
And Now... The Runaways
1980 Flaming Schoolgirls

Solo studio albums

1983 Out for Blood
1984 Dancin' on the Edge
1988 Lita
1990 Stiletto
1991 Dangerous Curves
1995 Black

Compilation albums

* The Best of Lita Ford (1992)
* Greatest Hits (1999)
* Greatest Hits Live (2000)
* Platinum and Gold Collection - The Best of Lita Ford (2004)

Other appearances

* "I Want to Be Loved" with LOU on The Other Side (2005)
* "I'll Be Home for Christmas" with Twisted Sister on A Twisted Christmas (2006)
* "Brütal Legend" Video Game (2009)

Singles

1983 "Out for Blood"
"Dressed to Kill"
1984 "Fire In My Heart"
"Gotta Let Go"
1988 "Kiss Me Deadly"
"Back to the Cave"
1989 "Close My Eyes Forever" (ft. Ozzy Osbourne)
"Falling In and Out of Love"
1990 "Hungry"
"Lisa"
1991 "Shot of Poison"
1992 "Playing with Fire"
"Larger Than Life"
1995 "Killin' Kind"

Tours

* 1981 - Queens of Rock Tour with Joan Jett and Sandy West
* 1982 - Rulers of Metal Tour with Black Sabbath
* 1983 - Out For Blood Tour with Scandal, Wes Luthor, and Tony Schladora
* 1984 - Dressed To Kill Tour with Anthrax, The Johnson Brothers Band, Skillet, Metal Mania
* 1985 - South and Central America Tour with Soundgarden
* 1986 - Wild Tour with several local bands opening at different venues
* 1986 - Metal Rulz Tour with Poison, Mötley Crüe, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Ozzy Osbourne.

Joan Jett

Joan Jett (born Joan Marie Larkin September 22, 1958) is an American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and actress.

She is best known for her work with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts including their hit cover "I Love Rock N' Roll", which was #1 on the Billboard charts from March 20 to May 1, 1982, as well as for their other popular recordings including "Crimson and Clover", "I Hate Myself for Loving You", "Do You Want to Touch Me", "Light of Day", "Love Is All Around", "Bad Reputation" and "Little Liar."

Jett has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Her musical and song-writing approach is heavily influenced by the hard-edged, hard beat-driven rhythms common to many rock bands of her native Philadelphia, often featuring lyrics surrounding themes of lost love, criticisms of insincerity, the struggles and resolution of the American working class, and the quest for authenticity.

The Runaways

Joan Jett is one of the founding members of The Runaways along with drummer Sandy West. Micki Steele (who was later replaced), Jackie Fox, Lita Ford, and Cherie Currie completed the line-up. While Currie initially fronted the band, Jett also shared some lead vocals, played rhythm guitar and wrote or co-wrote a lot of the band's material along with Ford, West and Currie. The band recorded five LPs, with Live In Japan becoming one of the biggest-selling imports in U.S. and U.K. history. The band toured around the world and some of their opening acts included Cheap Trick, Van Halen and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. They found huge success abroad, especially in Japan.

While The Runaways were popular in Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada and South America, they could not garner the same success in the U.S. After Currie and Fox left the band (to be replaced by bassist Vicki Blue and later, Laurie McAllister), the band released two more albums: Waitin' for the Night and And Now... The Runaways. Altogether they produced five albums from 1975 until they disbanded in spring of 1979.

Soon after, Jett produced The Germs' first and only album (GI).

Solo

In the spring of 1979, Jett was in England pursuing a solo career. While there, she cut three songs with ex-Sex Pistols Paul Cook and Steve Jones (one of which was an early version of a cover song called "I Love Rock N' Roll," originally written and performed by The Arrows). Later that year, she moved to Long Beach, New York and ultimately, Los Angeles, where she reluctantly began fulfilling an obligation of the Runaways to complete a film loosely based on the band's career called We're All Crazee Now!, with three actresses standing in for her departed band members. While working on the project in 1979, Jett met songwriter and producer Kenny Laguna, who came in to help Jett with writing some tracks for the film. They became friends and decided to work together. The plug was pulled on the project halfway through shooting, but in 1984, after Jett had become a major star, producers were looking for a way to make use of the footage from the incomplete film. Bits of the original footage of Jett were used in a completely new project never commercially released, an underground movie called DuBeat-Eo, produced by Alan Sacks.

Jett and Laguna entered The Who’s Ramport Studios with the latter at the helm. Jett's self-titled solo debut was released in Europe on May 17, 1980. In the United States, the album was rejected by 23 major labels. Jett and Laguna released it independently on their new Blackheart Records label, which they started with Laguna's daughter's college savings. Laguna remembers, "We couldn't think of anything else to do, but print up records ourselves, and that's how Blackheart Records started. It was more or less Joan's idea to do it ourselves." Jett inadvertently became the first female performer to start her own record label.

Albums


1980 Joan Jett
1981 Bad Reputation
I Love Rock 'n Roll
1983 Album
1984 Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth
1986 Good Music
1988 Up Your Alley
1990 The Hit List
1991 Notorious
1992 I Love Rock 'n Roll 92
1994 Pure and Simple
1995 Evil Stig (with The Gits)
1979
2004 Naked
2006 Sinner

Compilations

1993 Do You Wanna Touch Me?
Flashback
1996 Great Hits
1997 Fit to Be Tied
1999 Fetish
2003 Jett Rock

Singles

1981
"Bad Reputation"

1982 "I Love Rock 'n Roll"
"Crimson and Clover"
"Do You Wanna Touch Me"
"Nag"
"Victim of Circumstances"
"Everyday People"

1983 "Fake Friends"
"The French Song"

1984 "I Need Someone"
"I Love You Love"
"Cherry Bomb"

1986 "Good Music"
"Roadrunner"

1987 "Light of Day"

1988 "I Hate Myself for Loving You"
"Little Liar"

1990 "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap"
"Love Hurts"
"Have You Ever Seen the Rain?"

1991 "Backlash"
"Don't Surrender"
"Treadin' Water"

1994 "I Love Rock 'n Roll"
"Spinster"
"As I Am"
"Eye to Eye"

1995 "Bob (Cousin O.)"
1996 "Love Is All Around"
1999 "Fetish"
2002 "The Word"
2006 "A.C.D.C."
"Change the World"
2007 "Androgynous"

Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd are an English rock band who initially earned recognition for their psychedelic and space rock music, and later, as they evolved, for their progressive rock music. Pink Floyd are known for philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album cover art, and elaborate live shows. One of rock music's most successful acts, the group have sold over 210 million albums worldwide including 74.5 million albums in the United States. Pink Floyd influenced progressive rock artists of the 1970s such as Genesis and Yes, as well as contemporary artists such as Nine Inch Nails, Dream Theater, and Porcupine Tree.

Pink Floyd were formed in London in 1965 when Syd Barrett moved there from Cambridge and joined The Tea Set, a group consisting of Regent Street Polytechnic architecture students Nick Mason, Roger Waters, Richard Wright and Bob Klose. The group had moderate mainstream success and were one of the most popular bands in the London underground music scene in the late 1960s as a psychedelic band led by Syd Barrett. However, Barrett's erratic behaviour eventually led his colleagues to replace him with guitarist and singer David Gilmour. After Barrett's departure, singer and bass player Roger Waters became a dominant force in the group, a situation which developed through the late 1970s and lasted until his departure from the group in 1985. The band had always been popular in England, though they did not achieve worldwide critical and commercial success until the concept albums The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Wish You Were Here (1975), and Animals (1977), and the rock opera The Wall (1979).

In 1985, Waters declared Pink Floyd "a spent force", but the remaining members, led by Gilmour, continued recording and touring under the name Pink Floyd. Waters sued them for the name and eventually the parties reached a settlement out of court, under which Gilmour, Mason and Wright would continue as Pink Floyd. Without Waters, the band again enjoyed worldwide success with A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987) and The Division Bell (1994). Waters performed live with the band for the first time in 24 years on 2 July 2005 at the London Live 8 concert.

Personnel

Note: Pink Floyd were founded in 1965. Earlier dates refer to associations in previous bands.

* Syd Barrett – lead guitar, lead vocals (1964–1968)
* Bob Klose – lead guitar (1964–1965)
* Nick Mason – drums, percussion (1964–1994)
* Richard Wright – keyboards, vocals (1964–1981; 1987–1994)
* Roger Waters – guitar (1964), bass guitar, vocals (1964–1985)
* David Gilmour – lead guitar, vocals (1968–1994)

Albums

* The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967)
* A Saucerful of Secrets (1968)
* Soundtrack from the Film More (1969)
* Ummagumma (1969)
* Atom Heart Mother (1970)
* Meddle (1971)
* Obscured by Clouds (1972)
* The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
* Wish You Were Here (1975)
* Animals (1977)
* The Wall (1979)
* The Final Cut (1983)
* A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987)
* The Division Bell (1994)

DVD and video

* London '66-'67 (1967)
* Live at Pompeii (1972)
* The Wall (1982)
* Delicate Sound of Thunder (1988)
* La Carrera Panamericana (1991)

Gazebo

Paul Mazzolini (born February 18, 1960; stage name Gazebo), is an Italian musician. He has a legend status among the fans of the "italo-disco" music style, a variation of 1980s eurodance (also known as eurodisco).

Biography

Mazzolini was born in Beirut, Lebanon, the son of an Italian diplomat and an American singer. Reportedly, he learned to play the guitar aged 10 to impress a German girl in his class.

As a rather cosmopolitan teenager Mazzolini began a career in a variety of jazz, rock and punk bands before meeting Rome based producer Paul Micioni. The first release, Masterpiece, was a minor hit in 1982.

His footnote in charts history is his 1983 release "I Like Chopin", popular opinion notwithstanding, the piano motif herein is not a Chopin composition.

The follow-up song "Lunatic" and the eponymous album also entered the Top 20 across Europe.

Since then Mazzolini has released more albums, not counting the occasional hit compilation with all his best track called Portrait & Viewpoint. In autumn 2006 he released a new single called "Tears for Galileo", which achieved constant radio airplay on Italian RAI Radio2 and peaked at #1 in the Euro dance chart.

Recently Gazebo released a new single, "Virtual Love" after "Ladies!", from his upcoming new album The Syndrone.

Discography

Albums

* Gazebo (Baby Records, 1983)
* Telephone Mama (Baby Records, 1984)
* Univision (Carosello, 1986)
* The Rainbow Tales (Carosello, 1988)
* Sweet Life (Carosello, 1989)
* Scenes From The Broadcast (Lunatic, 1991)
* Portrait (Giungla-BMG Italy, 1994)
* Viewpoint (Softworks, 1997)
* Portrait & Viewpoint (Softworks, 2000)
* Ladies ! (iTunes Softworks, 2007)
* The Syndrone (Softworks, 2008)

Singles

* "Masterpiece" (1982; #2 Italy, #35 Germany, #5 Switzerland)
* "Gimmick!" (1982)
* "I Like Chopin" (1983; #1 Italy, #1 Germany, #1 Switzerland, #7 Netherlands, #1 Austria)
* "Lunatic" (1983; #3 Italy, #4 Germany, #6 Switzerland, #13 Austria)
* "Telephone Mama" (1984; #10 Italy)
* "Trotsky Burger" (1986)
* "Sun goes down on Milkiway" (1986)
* "Give me one day ... / Diamonds are forever" (1987)
* "Face to face / Dolce Vita" (1989)
* "Fire" (1991)
* "The 14th of July" (1991)
* "I like Chopin" (remix) (1991)
* "Masterpiece" (remix) (2000)
* "Tears For Galileo" (CD Single Softworks, 2006)
* "Ladies!" (2007)
* "Virtual Love" (2008)

Toto

Toto was an American rock band founded in 1977 by some of the most popular and experienced session musicians of the era. The band enjoyed great commercial success in the 1980s, beginning with the band's self-titled debut, released during 1978. Continuing with 1982's critically acclaimed and commercially successful Toto IV, Toto became one of the best selling music groups of their era. They also composed the theme music for the film Dune. Although their popularity in the United States diminished in the 1990s and 2000s, they continued to tour and sold out arenas, clubs, and theaters internationally. Toto was known for their technical skill in the studio, as well as a musical style that combines elements of pop, rock, soul, funk, progressive rock, hard rock, R&B, and jazz, and although they were regularly associated with the soft rock genre, and particularly the neo-progressive rock genre, this broad array of musical styles helped them appeal to a variety of musicians and non-musician listeners. The band released 17 albums and have sold over 30 million records to date. Their 18th album Falling In Between Live, was released in August 2007. It was recorded in March 2007 in Paris. As a result of guitarist Steve Lukather's departure from the band, which he agreed with the other members, Toto broke up after the last leg of their 2008 tour.

Official band members

* Steve Lukather - guitars, vocals, keyboards, mandolin (1977–2008)
* David Paich - keyboards, vocals (1977–2008; 2003-2008 retirement from touring)
* Bobby Kimball - vocals, occasional keyboards (1977–1984; 1998–2008)
* Mike Porcaro - Bass guitar, cello (1982–2008)
* Simon Phillips - Drums, percussion, keyboards (1992–2008)
* Greg Phillinganes - keyboards, vocals (2005–2008)
* David Hungate - Bass guitar (1977–1982)
* Fergie Frederiksen - Vocals (1984–1985)
* Steve Porcaro - keyboards, synthesizers, vocals (1977–1988)
* Joseph Williams - Vocals (1986–1988)
* Jeff Porcaro - Drums, percussion (1977–1992; his death)
* Jean-Michel Byron - Vocals (1990)


Former lead/co-lead vocalists

* Jenny Douglas-McRae - Vocals (1990–1993, 1995, 1996-1997)
* John James - Vocals (1992–1997)

Tour musicians

* Tony Spinner - Guitar, vocals (1999–2008)
* Leland Sklar - Bass guitar (Filling in for Mike Porcaro in 2007-2008)
* Ricky Lawson - Drums, percussion (Filled in for Simon Phillips in late 2003)
* Jon Farriss - Drums (Filled in for Simon Phillips in October 2003)
* Jeff Babko - Keyboards (Filled in for David Paich for the 2000 tour)
* John Jessel - Backup keyboards/effects/vocals (1990-2003)
* Buddy Hyatt - Percussion/guitar/vocals (1999)
* Gregg Bissonette - Drums (Filled in for Simon Phillips in late 1995)
* Chris Cadeau - Drums (Filled in foor Gregg Bissonette in late 1996)
* Donna McDaniel - Vocals (1992–1994)
* Sofia Bender - Vocals (filled in for McRae in early 1996)
* Chris Trujillo - Percussion (1990-1993)
* Denny Dias - Guitar (1991)
* Fred White - Vocals (1991)
* Jackie McGhee - Vocals (1990–1991)
* Luis Conté - Percussion (1988)
* Warren Ham - Sax/harmonica/keyboards/guitar/vocals (1986–1988)
* Ralph Rickert - Horns/Backup vocals (1986-1987)
* Paulette Brown - Backup vocals (1985-1987)
* Scott Page - Sax/guitar/backup vocals (1985)
* Jon Smith - Sax/backup vocals (1981-1982)
* James Newton Howard - Keyboards (1981-1982)
* Timothy B. Schmit - Backup Vocals (1981, 1982)
* Keith Landry - Guitar/backup vocals (1980)
* Lenny Castro - Percussion (1979-1981, 1982-1987)
* Tom Kelly - Guitar/backup vocals (1979)

Discography

1978 Toto
1979 Hydra
1980 Turn Back
1982 Toto IV
1984 Isolation
1986 Fahrenheit
1988 The Seventh One
1992 Kingdom of Desire
1995 Tambu
1999 Mindfields
2002 Through the Looking Glass
2006 Falling in Between