Biography

Mum, Dad, one brother and one sister.Grew up on his mum's Tracy Chapman records, became head chorister of St Margaret's Westminster Abbey, recorded two classical CDs, still at school when he joined a1.

I can play the piano and I can play that very, very well. I can also play the violin and the oboe not very well! But I can play the recorder extremely well - my favourite song is called "The Fireman."

Getting my dog, who's called Holly. She's a little miniature long-haired dachshund

Getting back our finished tracks from Mike Hedges, because we've always wanted to create our own sound and I think we've managed to capture that.

For everyone to cotton on to this and get some radio play at last! Apart from that, to just keep on having a lot of success and doing what we love.

Robbie Williams, I thought he was fantastic, really nice. He was just about to go on-stage in Manchester, and he was not feeling very well and he still took the time to come and say, "Thanks for coming, nice to see you.

I'd love to meet Tracy Chapman, and I won't stop going on about her until I finally do meet her!

Looking forward to weekends. When I was at school you'd get that Friday feeling, which was a fantastic feeling.

We catch you on a Saturday night off, what are you doing?

Probably doing boring stuff like watching TV - though me and Christian go out a lot to clubs or for something to eat.

We burst into your flat on a Sunday morning, what are you doing

I'm probably getting out my shotgun, taking shots at you to get you out of my house!

Michael Jackson, when I was just three and watching Top Of The Pops. I actually turned to my mum and said, "I want to be on Top Of The Pops."

Tracy Chapman's self-titled album, Watermark by Enya - it's a flippin' excellent chill-out album - and Snoop Doggy Dogg's Doggy Style.

A lot of Usher stuff is quite sexy and there's an artist called Joe, whose first album was tremendous.

"Take each day as it comes and what you give out comes back multiplied."

Small, bald and cool! It's a rhyming three-word description!

Grew up in the East End and Hertfordshire, moved to Benidorm when he was 18, modelled, became a rep and a dancer before he was discovered at a karaoke bar by a record producer.

I'm actually learning the bass at the moment - I can write songs on it and play along to stuff, but I don't think I'm ready to play live yet. But I'm a master of the tambourine.

I made to my mum's 50th birthday in Spain, which was excellent as I don't usually make birthdays.

I know the Brit Awards is the obvious one, but we kind of suspected it as everyone was being weird to us all day. But going six times platinum in Asia was wicked, that's something you normally associate with Michael Jackson or Mariah Carey.

Seeing our album at Number One in the American Billboard charts! Though I don't think we're going to make such a big thing about breaking America like a lot of people have.

Prince Charles was really nice - we met him at Party In The Park.

I'd like to meet Outkast because I saw them twice in concert this year, and they're really, really cool.

Normally I'd say seeing my family, but I've seen them a lot recently, it's been wicked!

I actually think my sister's my soulmate, because even though we're not twins we say things at the same time and we think the same things. But I'm sure there's a girlie out there for me…

What a stupid question! Yeah, of course I do. My mum and dad have been together for 32 years and they're so in love it's not even funny, it's disgusting!

We catch you on a Saturday night off, what are you doing?

You'll usually catch me in playing computer games and stuff.

We burst into your flat on a Sunday morning, what are you doing

Either just getting ready to go to the pub or in the pub for Sunday lunch!

People like Prince because I like watching them performing. But my dad, who used to be a singer said you don't get a better feeling than being on a stage singing.

There's more, but I'll say Purple Rain, by Prince, Rainbow Bridge by Jimi Hendrix, and The Temptations Anthology album.

Let me think… "Untitled (How Does It Feel?)" from D'Angelo's Voodoo album.

"Never kiss a cow's bottom with your tongue!" Ben actually told me that, and I'm taking it to the grave!

Mum, Dad, one younger brother and one older half-sister.

Dad used to be a famous pop star in Norway, started the piano very young, after secondary school came to the UK to study at Paul McCartney's 'Fame' school in Liverpool.

I'm a classical pianist and I play the guitar well enough to play all the guitars on the new album. I can also play the bass a little and various flutes. Once you play one instrument, you can pretty much make any instrument sound OK though I find it really difficult to play brass.

Things are really beginning to fit into place at the moment. I used to work and work and work, but I've now got a nice house, a nice car and a good set of stable friends all over London!

The BRIT Award, Best International Artist in the MTV Mandarin Awards and when we were in the Philippines we realised we'd gone six-times platinum! But I've also had a tremendous sense of satisfaction making this new album - I played all the guitars, the bass and some piano.

The best thing would be for as many people in the world as possible to appreciate the music and that we are musicians and songwriters and that we're trying really hard to be good guys!

Lionel Ritchie, without a doubt. We've met him a few times and he always remembers us. He's a nice guy, really genuine and friendly.

Not really! But if anything, it's quality time with family and friends because there's never enough time. It requires a lot of understanding from the people you love.

Yes, I believe there are soulmates, and I'm hoping real bad that I'll meet her. I really just want someone who's like me, but a girl! Someone I can share everything with.

Yes, definitely. Love is the most important thing, it helps decide everything you do!

We catch you on a Saturday night off, what are you doing?

Meeting up with friends. We might have a waffle party round my house or just play games, watch TV, talk or listen to music.

We burst into your flat on a Sunday morning, what are you doing

I'm in a hurry trying to make it in time for church! There's a Norwegian seaman's church in London, just a little oasis of Norway that I go to every Sunday if I can, but I'm always late.

Bruce Springsteen - the greatest musical and lyrical writer of all time.

I guess Bruce Springsteen and my dad - my dad was a pop star in Norway, so I always wanted to be a bit like him.

Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen, Listen Without Prejudice by George Michael and then it gets very difficult as there are so many. A lot of Aerosmith fans will disagree, but I think Nine Lives.

There's a whole album by Boyz II Men called Evolution, which is cool for lovin'!

Same as ever - though I've chilled out a lot over the last year. I'm only hyper when it counts.

From a musical family, joined parents' covers band and travelled around the world on cruise ships while still at school, represented the UK in a song festival in Rumania and won the contest as Best Young Newcomer, discovered by a1's management in his brothers' band.

I've played the piano since I was three but I still can't master the kazoo. I'd like to learn the guitar soon.

Buying a house and a car, but we've had a nice quiet year, even though we've been busy in the studio and in Asia.

Winning the BRIT Award, that was such a great thing: being up there with some of the greatest artists of all time, and being one of the lucky few who went home with a BRIT.

Being Number One on all the radio charts with our new material and I'd like to see a1 broadening out to new audiences - that'd be great.

It was very, very special to meet Elton John at the BRITS. I had a quick chat with him, and that was great.

The Rock! No, for me meeting Elton John was meeting my biggest idol and I was impressed - I still went away a fan, and that's the most important thing when you meet your idol.

Probably, but the stuff that we do get to do makes up for that ten-fold.

Everybody has a soulmate. Mine would be someone I can get along with, someone I can talk to for a long time - you've got to be a friend before you become lovers.

We catch you on a Saturday night off, what are you doing?

At home watching a movie or at the cinema 'cause we never get time to watch movies.

We burst into your flat on a Sunday morning, what are you doing

It is nice to stay in bed till 1pm but I like to enjoy the day, so I'd be up and out. I might go the gym, or something like that.

My folks, because they're performers, so I grew up listening to them and performing with them.

Any Beatles album and Paul McCartney solo album, any John Lennon solo album, any Elton John album… and any Elvis album too!

For some strange reason, it's Billy Joel's "River of Dreams."

"Always remember the people who are around you who helped you get where you are today."


	A1 Fanzite 2002 \| home Biography Top Ben Paul Christian Mark BEN! Name Benjamin Stephen Adams. Date of birth 22nd November 1981, in Middlesex. Family Mum, Dad, one brother and one sister. Description Confident, friendly, and… a little bit crazy! The story so far Mum, Dad, one brother and one sister.Grew up on his mum's Tracy Chapman records, became head chorister of St Margaret's Westminster Abbey, recorded two classical CDs, still at school when he joined a1. Instruments I can play the piano and I can play that very, very well. I can also play the violin and the oboe not very well! But I can play the recorder extremely well - my favourite song is called "The Fireman." Best personal moment Getting my dog, who's called Holly. She's a little miniature long-haired dachshund Best a1 moment so far Getting back our finished tracks from Mike Hedges, because we've always wanted to create our own sound and I think we've managed to capture that. Best a1 moment you can imagine For everyone to cotton on to this and get some radio play at last! Apart from that, to just keep on having a lot of success and doing what we love. Favourite celebrity you've met Robbie Williams, I thought he was fantastic, really nice. He was just about to go on-stage in Manchester, and he was not feeling very well and he still took the time to come and say, "Thanks for coming, nice to see you. Celebrity you'd still like to meet I'd love to meet Tracy Chapman, and I won't stop going on about her until I finally do meet her! Is there anything you miss out on because you're famous Looking forward to weekends. When I was at school you'd get that Friday feeling, which was a fantastic feeling. Do you think you've got a soulmate out there Yes, and it's a girl! A nice strawberry-flavoured girl. Do you believe in love I do. You must be really cynical not to. We catch you on a Saturday night off, what are you doing? Probably doing boring stuff like watching TV - though me and Christian go out a lot to clubs or for something to eat. We burst into your flat on a Sunday morning, what are you doing I'm probably getting out my shotgun, taking shots at you to get you out of my house! Number one musical hero Michael Jackson. Who made you want to be a pop star? Michael Jackson, when I was just three and watching Top Of The Pops. I actually turned to my mum and said, "I want to be on Top Of The Pops." Top three albums Tracy Chapman's self-titled album, Watermark by Enya - it's a flippin' excellent chill-out album - and Snoop Doggy Dogg's Doggy Style. A song that always makes you get down Blackstreet's "You Blow My Mind." A song that always gets you in the mood A lot of Usher stuff is quite sexy and there's an artist called Joe, whose first album was tremendous. A song that you always sing in the shower "Trouble' by Shampoo. What's your motto "Take each day as it comes and what you give out comes back multiplied." To Top PAUL! Name Paul Thomas Leo Marazzi. Date of birth 24th January 1975 in Wanstead, London. Family Mum, Dad and older sister. Description Small, bald and cool! It's a rhyming three-word description! The story so far Grew up in the East End and Hertfordshire, moved to Benidorm when he was 18, modelled, became a rep and a dancer before he was discovered at a karaoke bar by a record producer. Instruments I'm actually learning the bass at the moment - I can write songs on it and play along to stuff, but I don't think I'm ready to play live yet. But I'm a master of the tambourine. Best personal moment I made to my mum's 50th birthday in Spain, which was excellent as I don't usually make birthdays. Best a1 moment so far I know the Brit Awards is the obvious one, but we kind of suspected it as everyone was being weird to us all day. But going six times platinum in Asia was wicked, that's something you normally associate with Michael Jackson or Mariah Carey. Best a1 moment you can imagine Seeing our album at Number One in the American Billboard charts! Though I don't think we're going to make such a big thing about breaking America like a lot of people have. Favourite celebrity you've met Prince Charles was really nice - we met him at Party In The Park. Celebrity you'd still like to meet I'd like to meet Outkast because I saw them twice in concert this year, and they're really, really cool. Is there anything you miss out on because you're famous Normally I'd say seeing my family, but I've seen them a lot recently, it's been wicked! Do you think you've got a soulmate out there I actually think my sister's my soulmate, because even though we're not twins we say things at the same time and we think the same things. But I'm sure there's a girlie out there for me… Do you believe in love What a stupid question! Yeah, of course I do. My mum and dad have been together for 32 years and they're so in love it's not even funny, it's disgusting! We catch you on a Saturday night off, what are you doing? You'll usually catch me in playing computer games and stuff. We burst into your flat on a Sunday morning, what are you doing Either just getting ready to go to the pub or in the pub for Sunday lunch! Number one musical hero Prince. Who made you want to be a pop star? People like Prince because I like watching them performing. But my dad, who used to be a singer said you don't get a better feeling than being on a stage singing. Top three albums There's more, but I'll say Purple Rain, by Prince, Rainbow Bridge by Jimi Hendrix, and The Temptations Anthology album. A song that always makes you get down "Gasoline" by Outkast. A song that always gets you in the mood Let me think… "Untitled (How Does It Feel?)" from D'Angelo's Voodoo album. A song that you always sing in the shower "Pack It Up" by Freddy King. What's your motto "Never kiss a cow's bottom with your tongue!" Ben actually told me that, and I'm taking it to the grave! To Top CHRISTIAN! Name Christian Ingebrigtsen. Date of birth 25th January 1977 in Oslo, Norway. Family Mum, Dad, one younger brother and one older half-sister. Description Sensitive, romantic, and quite sensible, I guess. The story so far Dad used to be a famous pop star in Norway, started the piano very young, after secondary school came to the UK to study at Paul McCartney's 'Fame' school in Liverpool. Instruments I'm a classical pianist and I play the guitar well enough to play all the guitars on the new album. I can also play the bass a little and various flutes. Once you play one instrument, you can pretty much make any instrument sound OK though I find it really difficult to play brass. Best personal moment Things are really beginning to fit into place at the moment. I used to work and work and work, but I've now got a nice house, a nice car and a good set of stable friends all over London! Best a1 moment so far The BRIT Award, Best International Artist in the MTV Mandarin Awards and when we were in the Philippines we realised we'd gone six-times platinum! But I've also had a tremendous sense of satisfaction making this new album - I played all the guitars, the bass and some piano. Best a1 moment you can imagine The best thing would be for as many people in the world as possible to appreciate the music and that we are musicians and songwriters and that we're trying really hard to be good guys! Favourite celebrity you've met Lionel Ritchie, without a doubt. We've met him a few times and he always remembers us. He's a nice guy, really genuine and friendly. Celebrity you'd still like to meet I'd love to meet Aerosmith and Bruce Springsteen. Is there anything you miss out on because you're famous Not really! But if anything, it's quality time with family and friends because there's never enough time. It requires a lot of understanding from the people you love. Do you think you've got a soulmate out there Yes, I believe there are soulmates, and I'm hoping real bad that I'll meet her. I really just want someone who's like me, but a girl! Someone I can share everything with. Do you believe in love Yes, definitely. Love is the most important thing, it helps decide everything you do! We catch you on a Saturday night off, what are you doing? Meeting up with friends. We might have a waffle party round my house or just play games, watch TV, talk or listen to music. We burst into your flat on a Sunday morning, what are you doing I'm in a hurry trying to make it in time for church! There's a Norwegian seaman's church in London, just a little oasis of Norway that I go to every Sunday if I can, but I'm always late. Number one musical hero Bruce Springsteen - the greatest musical and lyrical writer of all time. Who made you want to be a pop star? I guess Bruce Springsteen and my dad - my dad was a pop star in Norway, so I always wanted to be a bit like him. Top three albums Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen, Listen Without Prejudice by George Michael and then it gets very difficult as there are so many. A lot of Aerosmith fans will disagree, but I think Nine Lives. A song that always makes you get down "All Night Long" by Lionel Ritchie. A song that always gets you in the mood There's a whole album by Boyz II Men called Evolution, which is cool for lovin'! A song that you always sing in the shower Usually in the shower I sing new ideas in my head. What's your motto "Smile to the world, and the world will smile back." To Top MARK! Name Mark Daniel Reed. Date of birth 7th November 1978 in Kingston, Surrey. Family Mum, Dad, two brothers. Description Same as ever - though I've chilled out a lot over the last year. I'm only hyper when it counts. The story so far From a musical family, joined parents' covers band and travelled around the world on cruise ships while still at school, represented the UK in a song festival in Rumania and won the contest as Best Young Newcomer, discovered by a1's management in his brothers' band. Instruments I've played the piano since I was three but I still can't master the kazoo. I'd like to learn the guitar soon. Best personal moment Buying a house and a car, but we've had a nice quiet year, even though we've been busy in the studio and in Asia. Best a1 moment so far Winning the BRIT Award, that was such a great thing: being up there with some of the greatest artists of all time, and being one of the lucky few who went home with a BRIT. Best a1 moment you can imagine Being Number One on all the radio charts with our new material and I'd like to see a1 broadening out to new audiences - that'd be great. Favourite celebrity you've met It was very, very special to meet Elton John at the BRITS. I had a quick chat with him, and that was great. Celebrity you'd still like to meet The Rock! No, for me meeting Elton John was meeting my biggest idol and I was impressed - I still went away a fan, and that's the most important thing when you meet your idol. Is there anything you miss out on because you're famous Probably, but the stuff that we do get to do makes up for that ten-fold. Do you think you've got a soulmate out there Everybody has a soulmate. Mine would be someone I can get along with, someone I can talk to for a long time - you've got to be a friend before you become lovers. Do you believe in love Of course! We catch you on a Saturday night off, what are you doing? At home watching a movie or at the cinema 'cause we never get time to watch movies. We burst into your flat on a Sunday morning, what are you doing It is nice to stay in bed till 1pm but I like to enjoy the day, so I'd be up and out. I might go the gym, or something like that. Number one musical hero The Beatles, and then Elton John. Who made you want to be a pop star? My folks, because they're performers, so I grew up listening to them and performing with them. Top three albums Any Beatles album and Paul McCartney solo album, any John Lennon solo album, any Elton John album… and any Elvis album too! A song that always makes you get down "Play That Funky Music," by Wild Cherry. A song that always gets you in the mood "Let's Get It On," by Marvin Gaye. A song that you always sing in the shower For some strange reason, it's Billy Joel's "River of Dreams." What's your motto "Always remember the people who are around you who helped you get where you are today." To Top