Animotion

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Animotion


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Genre = Synthpop
Years_active = 1983–1989, various reunions
Label = Polygram
Associated_acts = Red Zone, Device
URL = [http://www.animotionlive.com/ Animotion Web Site]
Current_members = Astrid Plane
Bill Wadhams
Charles Ottavio
Don Kirkpatrick
Greg Smith
Kevin Rankin
Past_members = Paul Antonelli
Frenchy O'Brien
Jim Blair
Cynthia Rhodes
Paul Engemann

Animotion was a 1980s U.S. New Wave/synthpop band best known for their songs "Obsession" (originally written by Michael Des Barres and Holly Knight), "Let Him Go", "I Engineer" and "Room to Move". Formed in 1983 from the remnants of a retro science-fiction band called Red Zone, they signed a record deal with Polygram Records in 1984 and made three albums.

Biography

Animotion was originally comprised of six members, four of whom (lead singer Astrid Plane, keyboardist Paul Antonelli, bassist Charles Ottavio, and drummer Frenchy O'Brien) had originally been members of the band Red Zone. After the demise of that band, the four aforementioned members set about creating a new group. Lead singer/guitarist Bill Wadhams joined soon thereafter to co-front the new band with Plane. After the formation of Animotion around this nucleus, Don Kirkpatrick (lead guitar) was brought on board, completing the line-up. They released their self-titled debut album in 1984. The following year, a single from this album, "Obsession" brought the band international success and became the band's first Billboard Hot 100 Top Ten single. The follow-up single from this album, "Let Him Go" also cracked the U.S. Top 40.

Session keyboardist Greg Smith, who had played on the band's debut, became an official member of the band prior to the recording of the follow-up album, "Strange Behavior", which also saw Jim Blair replacing O'Brien on the drum kit. While several singles were released from this album, its success paled in comparison to the debut. During 1986 and 1987, Animotion toured extensively, appearing alongside performers such as Phil Collins, Depeche Mode, Eurythmics, Genesis, Howard Jones, INXS, and Simply Red. Animotion had great success in Germany and South Africa with their two first albums, thanks to the singles "Obsession" and "I Engineer" (both Top 10 in those countries), and entered several European charts in high positions during this period.

In the midst of recording their third album, Animotion went through personnel changes as all three of the remaining founding members (Bill Wadhams, Astrid Plane and Charles Ottavio) departed. Following their departure, Ottavio and Plane married. Actress/dancer/singer Cynthia Rhodes, known for her performance as the character "Penny Johnson" in the 1987 film "Dirty Dancing", replaced Plane as female lead singer, and former solo artist/Device member Paul Engemann replaced Wadhams as the male lead for Animotion's second self-titled album, informally known as "Room to Move" (due to the success of this song) to distinguish it from their first LP. By the time of this album's release, only Kirkpatrick and Smith remained officially in the "band" backing Rhodes and Engemann, and other session musicians were used during its recording. The single "Room to Move," aided by its inclusion in the movie "My Stepmother is an Alien", became a radio hit in April 1989, and their second Top 10 hit in the U.S., after "Obsession" in 1985; but the album itself failed to chart and Animotion disbanded for good after that.

The members reunited on February 8, 2001 in response to a request from KNRK in Portland, Oregon. In the summer of 2005, founding members Wadhams, Plane and Ottavio appeared as "Animotion" in the American version of the TV show "Hit Me Baby One More Time," performing their hit "Obsession" and a cover of Dirty Vegas' "Days Go By".

As of 2008, Animotion have again reunited in a line-up including original members Wadhams, Plane, Ottavio, and Kirkpatrick; veteran keyboardist Greg Smith; and drummer Kevin Rankin for a few touring dates along the West Coast.

Other Activities

Original frontman Bill Wadhams has ventured into other aspects of entertainment, including starting the record company, Blue Dog Records and performing graphic design. Wadhams, a Portland, Oregon native has three sons, and at least one daughter. Two of his sons, Charlie and Chris have formed their own band in Los Angeles, and his daughter, Natalie is a singer and violinist [cite web|url=http://www.kitschy-kitschy-coo.com/columns/2005/2/7/ |title=Kitschy-Kitschy-Coo - Bill Wadhams Interview, Part Two |publisher=Kitschy-kitschy-coo.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-16] .

Original frontwoman Astrid Plane married bassist Charles Ottavio shortly after they both left Animotion in the later half of the 1980s. They are currently living on the West Coast, raising their daughter Victoria. When not playing with Animotion, Astrid is still involved in the music business, having recently released her album, "If I Was Magic". She also has a MySpace page.

According to Animotion's MySpace page, original lead guitarist Don Kirkpatrick, in addition to touring with Animotion also currently tours with Rod Stewart.

Original keyboardist Paul Antonelli, who left the band sometime in the mid-1980s, began composing and directing music for various TV series programs. [cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0031291/ |title=Paul F. Antonelli |publisher=Imdb.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-16] Immediately after leaving Animotion, Antonelli had played in the band Radio Werewolf. While he does not currently participate in Animotion reunion tours, he has attended some of the band's recent performances.

Discography

* "Animotion" (Mercury Records/Polygram Records 1984) #28 US
* "Strange Behaviour" (Casablanca Records/Polygram Records 1986) #71 US; #19 Germany; #21 Switzerland
* "Animotion (Room to Move)" (Polygram Records 1988) #110 US
* "Obsession : The Best of Animotion" (1996)
* "Animotion [Rebound] " (1998)

The group's self-titled debut was released in Canada as "The Language of Attraction"

ingles

* "Obsession" (1985) #6 US; #5 UK; #6 Canada, #17 Austria; #8 Germany; #9 South Africa
* "Let Him Go" (1985) #39 US; #78 UK; #41 Germany

* "I Engineer" (1986) #76 US; #19 Austria; #2 Germany; #4 South Africa; #6 Switzerland
* "I Want You" (1986) #84 US; #27 Germany

* "Room To Move" (1989) #9 US, #87 UK
* "Calling It Love" (1989) #53 US

References

External links

* [http://www.animotionlive.com/ Official Website]
* [http://www.billwadhams.com/ Bill Wadhams' Website]
* [http://www.the-trades.com/article.php?id=3648 Bill Wadhams Interview following "Hit Me Baby One More Time" appearance]
* [http://www.answers.com/topic/donald-kirkpatrick-1?cat=entertainment Brief Don Kirkpatrick Bio]