Berlin (band)

Berlin
Company type	Musical group
Industry	Music
Founded	1978 in Los Angeles, California, United States
Headquarters	Los Angeles, United States
Products	Music albums, singles

Berlin is a new wave and synth-pop ensemble from the United States, established in Los Angeles in 1978. The group gained widespread popularity during the 1980s with hits such as "The Metro", "Sex (I'm a ...)", "No More Words", and the number-one single "Take My Breath Away" from the 1986 motion picture Top Gun. This particular track earned both an Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. Shortly after reaching international acclaim, the band parted ways. The lineup most commonly associated with their success included vocalist Terri Nunn, bassist and vocalist John Crawford, keyboardist David Diamond, guitarist Ric Olsen, keyboardist Matt Reid, and drummer Rob Brill.

Formation and early period

Berlin emerged from the rock group the Toys, which was founded in 1976 in Orange County, California by John Crawford on bass, Dan Van Patten on drums, Chris Ruiz-Velasco on guitar, and Tyson A. Cobb as lead singer. After performing several shows, they adopted the name Berlin and continued for approximately three years before reorganizing without Cobb as frontman. Following a short tenure with Toni Childs, Terri Nunn joined in 1979 after answering an advertisement through Hollywood’s Musicians Contact Service. Despite their moniker, Berlin had no direct connection to the German city; the name was selected to evoke a European and exotic aura. In a 2003 statement, Nunn indicated that Berlin played a role in introducing electronic music styles popular in Europe to American audiences. Their influences included keyboard-centric acts such as Kraftwerk, Devo, Sparks, Giorgio Moroder, and The Screamers.

Their debut single, "A Matter of Time," was issued in 1979 via Renegade Records, complemented by a TV appearance on the brief series Hollywood Heartbeat. Later that year, Nunn departed to focus on acting and was succeeded by Virginia Macolino. With Macolino as lead singer, Berlin released their 1980 album Information, though they struggled to attract major label interest without Nunn. Manager Perry Watts-Russell noted that labels initially intrigued when Nunn fronted the band lost enthusiasm after her exit, which led to the group’s effective dissolution by late 1979. John Crawford then formed Fahrenheit but preserved some compositions suited for Nunn’s vocals and eventually invited her back to perform them.

Rise to prominence

In 1980, Nunn returned as Berlin’s vocalist, resulting in a deal with independent label Enigma Records. They issued a double A-side single featuring "Tell Me Why" alongside "The Metro". Originally intended as a side project for Crawford, the single’s unexpected success financed the EP Pleasure Victim, produced on a modest $2,900 budget. This EP included their breakthrough synth-driven track "Sex (I'm a ...)" (1982), which encountered radio bans due to explicit content but received targeted airplay on Los Angeles station KROQ-FM. This exposure attracted interest from major labels; ultimately, Berlin signed with Geffen Records, which reissued Pleasure Victim and "The Metro" internationally in early 1983. By this time, key members comprised Nunn, Crawford, and longtime keyboardist/guitarist David Diamond, supported by guitarist Ric Olsen, keyboardist Matt Reid, and drummers Rod Learned followed by Rob Brill.

In 1984, Berlin released Love Life along with the single "No More Words", which became their first top-40 charting song accompanied by a memorable video portraying Nunn in a Bonnie and Clyde-inspired storyline. Their greatest commercial achievement arrived in 1986 with "Take My Breath Away", produced and co-written by Giorgio Moroder for the Top Gun soundtrack; this track stands as their best-selling release and final major hit.

Members

The original lineup, besides lead singer Terri Nunn, comprised John Crawford, who was the chief songwriter and played bass guitar and synthesizer, along with David Diamond on synthesizer and guitar. Ric Olsen became part of the group during the final stages of recording Pleasure Victim. Additional contributors included Matt Reid on synthesizer, Rod Learned handling drums from 1982 to 1983, and Rob Brill on drums from 1983 through 1987. The breakthrough EP Pleasure Victim featured Nunn, Crawford, Diamond, Olsen, drummer and producer Dan Van Patten, and guitarist Chris Ruiz-Velasco. Both Van Patten and Ruiz-Velasco departed prior to the EP's completion, with Olsen completing the recording process.

Dissolution and re-formation

Berlin disbanded in 1987 following the commercial failure of Count Three & Pray and internal conflicts regarding "Take My Breath Away," a song that generated worldwide recognition but was written outside the band, causing resentment among some members. After releasing her solo project Moment of Truth in 1991, Nunn obtained legal rights to the Berlin name amid disputes with Crawford. Meanwhile, Crawford and drummer Rob Brill established The Big F, an alternative hard rock trio that produced two albums. In 1997, Nunn revived Berlin with a new ensemble; by 1999, they supported The Go-Go's during their West Coast reunion tour.

After 2000

From 2000 to 2001, Berlin participated in various tribute albums; their rendition of Marilyn Manson's "The Dope Show" appeared both on their album 4play and the tribute compilation Anonymous Messiah. They also contributed covers honoring artists like Madonna, Blondie, and Depeche Mode.

In 2004, Berlin reunited most of the pre-Love Life lineup for a sold-out performance at The Roxy Theatre in California as part of VH1's Bands Reunited series.

During the summer of 2011, Berlin toured alongside rock band INXS, led by Nunn. That year also saw Gerald Casale from Devo produce a video for Berlin scheduled for late 2011. Additionally, Nunn launched a radio program on KCSN-FM and announced plans for a new album.

Their album Animal was unveiled with a release date set for September 17, 2013, featuring the lead single "It's The Way".

In August 2016, Nunn disclosed that original members Crawford and Diamond were collaborating on fresh material with intentions for a tour and album in 2017.

At the 80s Cruise event in 2018, Olsen, Diamond, and Crawford joined Nunn’s current lineup to create a six-member version of Berlin performing new tracks from an anticipated album titled Woke, which was projected for release later that year.

In May 2019, Nunn announced the release of the reunion album by the trio entitled Transcendance, which came out on August 2, 2019.

Berlin was reportedly among artists whose recordings were lost in the 2008 Universal fire, though producer Vinny Vero later confirmed their master tapes remained unharmed. Universal subsequently recovered session reels from 1983 containing rare material recorded between Pleasure Victim and Love Life.

On November 27, 2020, Berlin released their ninth studio album titled Strings Attached, consisting of orchestral reinterpretations of earlier songs.

On December 31, 2020, Terri Nunn performed solo at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago New Year's Eve event alongside Vanilla Ice. She later expressed remorse about participating due to unawareness of COVID-19 safety protocols at the gathering.

Studio albums

Information (1980)
Pleasure Victim (1982)
Love Life (1984)
Count Three & Pray (1986)
Voyeur (2002)
4Play (2005)
Animal (2013)
Transcendance (2019)
Strings Attached (2020)

Live albums

Live: Sacred and Profane (2000)
Terri Nunn & Berlin – All the Way In (2009)
Sweet Surrender (Live 1984) (2019)

External links