- Nelson (band)
-
Nelson 
Gunnar and Matthew Nelson, 2007Background information Origin Santa Monica, California, United States Genres Hard Rock Years active 1990–present Labels Geffen Records, Stone Canyon Records, Frontiers Records Associated acts Ricky Nelson Members Matthew Nelson
Gunnar NelsonNELSON is a American hard rock band founded by singer/songwriters Matthew and Gunnar Nelson (the twin sons of Ricky Nelson and Kristin Nelson). NELSON featuring the twin lead front men had a No. 1 hit in the United States with "(Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection" during the week of September 29, 1990. They are listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the only family to reach number one record status in three successive generations (beginning with grandparents Ozzie and Harriet Nelson). They are sometimes mistaken as a glam metal band, however they are more hard rock
The band split with Geffen Records record label after 1995, but they have continued to produce and release albums independently under their label, Stone Canyon Records. In 2010, they released three new NELSON albums in Europe through Frontiers Records Italy, including the new original CD album, Lightning Strikes Twice, a sequel to their multi-platinum debut album After the Rain. To complement the new original CD album release, NELSON also released twin catalogue albums Before the Rain and Perfect Storm - After the Rain World Tour 1991. Before the Rain features the collection of songs that secured Nelson their recording deal with Geffen Records, the original demonstration recordings that caught the attention of A&R legend John Kalodner in late 1989. The album documents the story of the Nelson twins and their five-year musical journey leading up to their multi-platinum debut. Perfect Storm - After the Rain World Tour 1991 is a live concert album; these audio recordings are all that remain to document the height of Nelsonmania for posterity.
Contents
Band history
Matthew and Gunnar Nelson, the twin sons of Rick Nelson and Kristin Nelson, were always involved in music. In the early 1980s, they joined a band called Strange Agents. Later that decade, they recorded the song "Two Heads are Better Than One" under the name Power Tool for the film Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. (Dweezil Zappa assisted with this production.) [1][2] After that, the duo put together their own band (Nelson Nelson) and got a recording contract with Geffen Records. Their multi-platinum debut classic album, 1990's After the Rain, was a success, and the band went on tour to support it. The album produced the No. 1 hit "(Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection." NELSON’s “After the Rain” record and tour became a phenomenon just prior to the rise of grunge. NELSON has had (1) Number One, (4) Top Ten, and (5) Top 40 Billboard Hot 100 hit singles, plus (5) #1 MTV videos and has sold over 6.5 million albums worldwide.
Following that tour and music paradigm shift, the band immersed itself in the recording of their next project. The result was a harder and heavier concept album called Imaginator. However, when they played the album for Geffen, the label considered it too heavy. According to Nelson members, Geffen even threatened to drop the band from the label if they did not produce another record more to their tastes.
The band spent another year recording another album called Because They Can. The label finally approved and released it in 1995. Still, the pop music landscape had undergone a dramatic change in the five years following After the Rain, and Geffen chose not to promote the new album and quickly dropped Nelson entirely from its roster. Matthew and Gunnar Nelson then set up their own label, Stone Canyon Records, and released Imaginator in 1996.
In 2010, Mark Slaughter joined NELSON on tour as lead guitarist for the Firefest in Nottingham, England, U.K.
As of Spring 2011, NELSON has received tremendous critical acclaim around the world for their latest original CD album Lightning Strikes Twice. NELSON performed at HARD ROCK LIVE Biloxi & has been touring the globe – from the M3 Rock Fest to headlining at the Firefest in the U.K. and the Holisland Rock Festival in China.
In addition to touring as NELSON, the twin singer-songwriters also perform a separate tribute act for their father, called "Ricky Nelson Remembered." Plus, they perform with celebrity all-star rock and roll rat pack SCRAP METAL.
Discography
Albums
- After the Rain (Geffen 1990) #17 US
- Because They Can (Geffen 1995)
- Imaginator (Stone Canyon 1996)
- The Silence Is Broken (Stone Canyon 1997)
- Brother Harmony (Stone Canyon 1998)
- Life (Stone Canyon 1999)
- Like Father, Like Sons (Stone Canyon 2000)
- Lightning Strikes Twice (Frontiers-Stone Canyon Records 2010)
- "Before the Rain" (Frontiers-Stone Canyon Records 2010)
Compilations
- 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Nelson (Geffen 2004)
Live Albums
- Perfect Storm - After The Rain World Tour 1991 (Frontiers Records 2010)
Singles
Year Song US Hot 100 US MSR Canada UK Singles[3] Album 1990 "(Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection" 1 20 11 54 After the Rain "After the Rain" 6 39 6 - 1991 "More than Ever" 14 44 30 - "Only Time Will Tell" 28 - 81 - Guest singles
Year Song Artist US Hot 100 US AC CAN Hot 100 Album 1991 "Voices That Care" Various Artists 11 6 61 single only Music videos
Year Video Director 1991 "Voices That Care"(Various Artists) David S. Jackson Band members
Current members
- Matthew Nelson - lead vocals, bass guitar, guitars
- Gunnar Nelson - lead vocals, guitars, drums
Former members
- Brett Garsed - guitars
- Joey Cathcart - guitars, background vocals
- Paul Mirkovich - keyboards, background vocals
- Bobby Rock - drums
Television
- Nelson inspired a cartoon called "Nelson: Rock & Roll Detectives".
See also
References
- ^ <http://nelsonrockband.com/?p=857%7CFifth paragraph in bio on this page.>
- ^ < http://idiotbastard.com/Interviews/DweezilZappa.htm%7C1991 interview with Dweezil Zappa.>
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 389. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
External links
Categories:- Pop Rock musical groups
- Identical twins
- Rock music duos
- American rock music groups
- Sibling musical duos
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
