One of the key writers behind many of the Kitten songs!  Check out the lyrics pages and you'll see!  Andy McCluskey has an extensive history in the music business having started in a band by the name 'Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark' (or OMD for short).  Read on to find out more about OMD and McCluskey...

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark (OMD), a synthesiser pop duo began their career back in the early 1980's at a time when this high-tech style of music was dominating the music scene.  OMD was composed of Paul Humphreys and Andy McCluskey.  Humphreys was born on 27th February 1960 and McCluskey on the 24th June 1959, both in Liverpool, England.

They began their collaboration in Equinox, a school band and progressed through a number of successive bands that included The Id.  In 1978, the band separated.  McCluskey went on to become part of Dalek I Love You.  In October of the same year McCluskey and Humphreys along with Paul Collister went on to perform live under a new title, 'Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark'.  This sparked a debut single release, 'Electricity' following a sign-up with Factory Records led by Tony Wilson.

'Electricity' was re-released following the signing up of OMD with DinDisc, a subsidiary of the Virgin record label.  This poured success and shortly afterwards other members came along: Dave Hughes (formerly of Dalek I Love You) and Macolm Holmes (formerly of Equinox and The Id).  In 1980, another hit single, 'Red Frame/White Light' came to the fore.  'Enola Gay', the next single became a UK Top 10 and established OMD as a force in music.  In the same year, OMD released their first album, 'Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark' and this was followed by another album 'Organisation', also in 1980.  Dave Hughes was replaced by Martin Cooper.  Further albums came out: 'Architecture And Morality' and 'Dazzle Ships' in 1983.  By now, DinDisc had fallen by the wayside and OMD moved to Virgin.  'Junk Culture' was OMD's 1984 album but this was not a success.  Brothers, Graham Weir and Neil Weir joined OMD for the 1985 album, 'Crush'.  'The Pacific Age' in 1986 began to mark a declining road for OMD.  Graham and Neil Weir left the group.  This was not too long followed by the quitting of the group by the other members: Holmes, Cooper and original member, Paul Humphreys.  Humphreys went on to form a new band, Listening Pool.  McCluskey kept the OMD name and went solo.  Further releases came out: a Best Of album in 1988, then came the band split with McCluskey going it alone with 'Sugar Tax' in 1991 and the most recent, 'Liberator' in 1993.  Barry White, famous music soloist with hits like 'You're The First, The Last, My Everything' and 'Just The Way You Are' was one of the producers on the 'Liberator' album.

Kiara Hunter is here because she was the supporting act for Atomic Kitten on their 'Right Now Tour' 2002.  You can find out more about her, right here...

Kiara Hunter was born in Vancouver, Canada and lived there for much of her life.  She emerged into the pop scene following a whole set of major roles in sport, film and modelling.  She was once with the Canadian National Swim Team and worked alongside major actors such as Dennis Hopper.  Her latest venture into music was helped in its launch by a special role as support act for Atomic Kitten on their tour from February to April 2002.  Her first releases include a special Limited Edition Extended Play that include tracks such as 'Work It Out' and 'Believe'.  She's due to release her first major album, 'Eternity' in June 2002.  She's been working with great music names such as Ian Prince and Chin Injeti.  In talking about her new album, Kiara said: "It's my own compilation album.  What I tried to do with it is cover the emotional gamut while encouraging a truly healthy and optimistic outlook on life."  She is accompanied in her live performances by two dancers.

Visit the official Kiara Hunter website by clicking here.

Atomic Kitten have made a huge success with their single, 'Eternal Flame'.  The cover version they do is brilliantly performed and there's no doubt it was going to be a No.1 smash hit!  The original version was done by another all-girl group, the Bangles, back in 1989.  Read on to find out a bit more about this group and their own rise to fame...

Bangles were an all-female pop phenomenon back in the 1980's.  Forming in 1981, the group composed of: Susanna Hoffs, Debbi Peterson, Vicki Peterson and Annette Zilinkas.  They originated amidst a multitude of initial names such as the Colours and the Bang, but eventually settled with their current name.  

They first established their own record label, Downkiddie and on this made their initial recordings.  They moved onto Faulty Products led by Miles Copeland and released an album that did not reach fruition.  In 1983, Bangles signed up with CBS.  Annette Zilinkas left the group and was replaced by Michael Steele.  'Hero Takes A Fall' and 'Going Down To Liverpool' (a coincidence!!!) were first records on the label but these did not break charts.  In 1986, the single, 'Manic Monday' won praise with the listeners and made its debut at the No.2 position in both the UK and US singles charts.  The accompanying album, 'In A Different Light', released in the same year also gained recognition and popularity.

Later in the year, more chart successes came the Bangles way.  'Walk Like An Egyptian' made a leap to the US No.1 singles chart position (and No.3 in the UK).  'Hazy Shade Of Winter', a cover version of the original by Simon & Garfunkel came out at No.2 in the US (No.11 in the UK) and featured in a film, 'Less Than Zero'.  In 1988, the next Bangles album, 'Everything' was released.  This presented hits like 'In Your Room', debuting at No.5 in the US.  It was also from the 'Everything' album that 'Eternal Flame' emerged.  This scored No.1 in both the US and UK singles charts and Atomic Kitten have successfully brought the track to No.1 again, in 2001!!!  

The Bangles eventually separated by the end of the decade, following little successes with subsequent singles: 'Be With You' and 'I'll Set You Free' and friction within the group.  Susanna Hoffs went on to a solo career.

Atomic Kitten have recorded a massive single called 'The Tide Is High (Get The Feeling)'.  It is 'The Tide Is High' element of the new single that is a cover of the hit single performed by famous band, Blondie.  Check out more on this popular group...

Blondie, In 1974 a new group going by the name of Blondie came together in New York City, New York, USA.  Composed of Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, Bill O'Connor and Fred Smith this new band emerged from another band named Stilettos.  Initially there was a shuffle of band members.  Bill O'Connor and Fred Smith left Blondie early on and new recruits included: Tish and Snookie, aka Julie and Jackie who took up positions as backing vocals, James Destri, Gary Valentine and Clement Burke.  Blondie were ready to take to the music recording road with a first record deal signing orchestrated by producer, Richard Gottehrer.  The self-titled debut album released on the Private Stock record label first demonstrated the unique music of the band but did not immediately receive all the appraisal of the music market.  Nevertheless popularity for the band was heightened and more so in the UK.  More band departures emerged with Gary Valentine leaving to make way for newcomers, Nigel Harrison and Frank Infante.  The band progressed with a record label shift to Chrysalis Records and further albums: 1979's 'Plastic Letters' which featured two Top 10 singles, and another album in the same year, 'Parallel Lines'.  'Eat To The Beat', Blondie's next album featured a number of successful tracks and in 1980, the album, 'Autoamerican' presented listeners with two US chart-topping hits: 'The Tide Is High' (now covered brilliantly by Atomic Kitten!!!) and 'Rapture'.  'The Tide Is High' was a cover of the original performed by The Paragons, a 1960's reggae group based in Jamaica.

As Blondie continued their musical presence into the 1980's, much overlap occurred between who Blondie and who lead singer, Debbie Harry were with some confusion between the two.  This was emphasised by the increased media attention on Harry.  'The Hunter' in the early 1980's became the final album to be released by Blondie, (for the time being).  The demise of the band was fuelled by disappointments with the final album and the ill-health of Chris Stein.  Both Stein and Debbie Harry left performance altogether and with this Blondie dissolved.  Debbie Harry continued to record solo, while joining The Eurythmics alongside Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart was other Blondie recruit, Clement Burke.

In the late 1990's, a revival comeback of Blondie occurred.  The band recorded a new album called 'No Exit'.  More recently, Blondie have remained active having released a new single, 'Good Boys' and an all-new album, 'The Curse Of Blondie'.  They are set to embark on a tour of the UK in 2005.

Our thanks goes to Louis A. Bustamante, webmaster of the Official Blondie website, for contributing information to parts of this biography.
Click here to visit the Official Blondie website.

'Ladies Night', a smash hit for Atomic Kitten was also a massive hit for the successful group, Kool & The Gang, the original artists to cover the tune!  Find out more about Kool & The Gang here...

Kool & The Gang was originally a quartet going by the name of The Jazziacs.  Formed by Robert Kool Bell, Robert 'Spike' Mickens, Ronald 'The Captain' Bell and Dennis D.T. Thomas, this early band were based in Jersey City, New York, USA.  The formation expanded with the addition of new members: Charles Claydes Smith and Funky George Brown.  They changed name calling themselves The Soul Town Band and playing music to the soul and funk genres.  By 1969, The Soul Town Band had established themselves as Kool & The Gang, and from 1973 onwards with the debut 'Funky Stuff', the group became a massive sensation with a string of 19 Top 40 hits to their credit in the US, releasing material on their own De-Lite record label.  Top 10 hits included 'Jungle Boogie' and 'Hollywood Swinging'.  In 1979, Kool & The Gang added more members to the line-up: James J.T. Taylor and Earl Toon Jr.  Also, a new producer, Eumir Deodato, became involved with Kool & The Gang and the group set off releasing more top hits overseas.  These massive releases included 'Ladies Night' in 1979, 'Too Hot' in 1980 and 'Celebration', also in 1980.  Even more favourable music came from the formation with the 1981 release of 'Get Down On It', 1984's 'Joanna' and the 1985 hit, 'Cherish'.  Through the latter part of Kool & The Gang's presence, James J.T. Taylor became the top lead vocally.  Clifford Adams and Michael Ray became later members for the band playing trombone and trumpet respectively.  At a later stage, Earl Toon Jr left the band and in 1988, Taylor departed from Kool & The Gang, and in his place three vocalists took their positions: Skip Martin (formerly of Dazz Band), Odeen Mays and Gary Brown.  While James J.T. Taylor, clearly one of the most influential members of the band, pursued his own solo career, the new Kool & The Gang line-up continued to release material from their album, 'Sweat'.

More recent material from Kool & The Gang included their album, 'The Singles Collection' released in 1988 and 'Kool Love' released in 1990.

The connection between Westlife and Atomic Kitten is special: it's the romantic relationship between Westlife's Bryan McFadden and former Atomic Kitten member, Kerry!!!  They've recently got married and we wish them all the best for the future.  Here's some info on Westlife, the band that Bryan's one of the key members of.  Read on and find out more about Westlife!!!

Westlife was formed originally from six members but this became five and the band called themselves 'Westside' but they found this was not an original name and 'Westlife' came into being.  The members: Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Bryan McFadden, Kian Egan and Nicky Byrne began their music careers as the guest performers on a show by another big all-male group, the Backstreet Boys, in Dublin, Ireland in 1998.  In April of the following year, Westlife debuted on the UK singles charts with 'Swear It Again' and this was an immediate success.  It scored the No.1 spot.  This was followed by 'If I Let You Go' which too became a No.1 single and Westlife continued on their run of the charts striking the No.1 position in the UK singles chart with each and every subsequent release.

Amongst the many No.1s, these included 'Flying Without Wings' and the double A-side 'Seasons In The Sun/I Have A Dream'. 'I Have A Dream' featured on a special tribute recording to the massive Swedish band, ABBA, titled 'ABBAMania'.

Shane Filan

Mark Feehily

Bryan McFadden

Kian Egan

Nicky Byrne

Westlife was once managed by two big names in the music business: Ronan Keating of Boyzone and Louis Walsh. Ronan decided to leave management in 2000 when his own solo career and involvement with Boyzone was becoming in itself a busy schedule. By now, Westlife had already strived forward as a huge pop act. Back at the end of 1999, Westlife won the Britannia 'Record Of The Year' with 'Flying Without Wings' to beat Ronan's own 'When You Say Nothing At All'.

By mid-2000, Westlife moved forward to promote themselves big in the US.  They had already become recognised as a huge pop act across Europe and Asia.  The band had already released their massive debut album self-titled 'Westlife' which became No.1 in the UK.  It was in 2000 that Westlife went onto release their second album, 'Coast To Coast', another No.1 album in the UK.  From this came another string of highly-successful No.1s including 'My Love', 'Against All Odds' which was performed in duet with the famous Mariah Carey and 'I Have A Dream'.  At the end of 2000, Westlife celebrated another victory with their second 'Record Of The Year' award.

The start of 2001 saw Westlife record a special track: the cover version of Billy Joel's 'Uptown Girl' for Comic Relief, which scored the UK No.1 singles position.  Towards the end of 2001, Westlife released their third and more personal album, 'World Of Our Own', yet another No.1 album in the UK, which includes the No.1 hit, 'Queen Of My Heart'.  The album features some superb upbeat tracks such as the excellent title track, 'World Of Our Own' as well as some powerful ballads and many tracks have been written by the members of Westlife themselves representing their progressive talents as professional song performers and songwriters.  Towards the end of 2001, Westlife celebrated award victories, for example, in the Smash Hits Poll Winner's Party where they won Best Album for 'World Of Our Own' and Best Band.

Into 2002 and a special wedding took place between Bryan McFadden, and former Kitten, Kerry Katona.  The couple had been engaged for around 2 years and had their first child in September 2001, a daughter they named Molly.

Later on into 2002 and Westlife received further rewards.  In February, Westlife won the Best Pop Act award at the Brit Awards and only a few days later they made it big again by scoring their tenth UK No.1 with the massive upbeat song, 'World Of Our Own'.

Westlife have continued to produce more interesting material.  They had further singles including 'Obvious' and released a greatest hits compilation titled 'Unbreakable', incidentally, the name of another recent single.  In 2004, Bryan McFadden departed Westlife leaving the remaining foursome to produce a complete change of image album, 'Allow Us To Be Frank', in which Westlife cover hits made famous by The Rat Pack: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr., in the 1950s.

Click here to visit the Official Westlife website.