rage rhythms by lance perkins
Terri Nunn
R
l
I
n
Be
of
One of many noted groups to come out of Orange County, the new wave TN: Yeah, it was such a big dream because it scared the shit out of me. To me, the
band, Berlin, began in 1979 with main founding members John Crawford, David musicians I looked up to were gods. When I was about 17, I dated this guy who
Diamond and lead singer Terri Nunn. Kids of the 1980s will no doubt remember was a music engineer. One day he took me to his studio and Linda Ronstadt was
Berlin’s string of hits like, “No More Words,” “The Metro,” “Masquerade” and the there singing, who he was engineering for at the time under Peter Asher, a huge
erotic, “Sex (I’m A...).” Of course, if that doesn’t ring your bell… everyone knows the producer in the 1970s. Another time he was engineering Joni Mitchell and I got to
hit from the Top Gun soundtrack, “Take My Breath Away.” experience her too. I was so completely awestruck at these women. I knew I was
If you haven’t yet had a chance to see Berlin play live, now is your perfect op- home and this is what I wanted to do. But with seeing them as gods, it all seemed
portunity. A Los Angeles native, Terri will be right at home headlining at Sunday’s so far away from where I was at the time, so I started doing something different.
L.A. Pride festival. Get ready for the time of your life as Terri takes you on a ride I got a commercial agent and by a stroke of luck I started doing commercials.
through all their greatest hits and more. The Rage Monthly gets the entire scoop Television opened up from there and in my teens my crossroads came when I was
from the original pleasure victim herself. offered a large part on the TV show Dallas. I had to decide then whether to continue
on my acting path or follow my dream of music. I thought there is no way I could do
Rage: Hi Terri, how has the tour been going? both. So, I went in the music direction, just praying for it to work out because I had
Terri Nunn: Great! This year we’re going all over the states and we’re setting up a left a very lucrative career in television. The money I had made acting bought me
European tour for the fall, which will be really nice. We’ve played San Diego Pride, some time and I gave myself a year to pursue my music career and see if I really had
Long Beach Pride and two years at L.A. Pride, which were some of the most fun any talent. Exactly a year later I met John Crawford, my partner in Berlin. After that,
times, on stage of my life. We opened for Joan Jett and other acts before, but this things really clicked with him and happened really fast. Within a year we had our
year we’re headlining! first record deal offer. The hilarious thing is, I left the band the week that happened.
They scrambled and made the record with another girl in Germany. Nobody liked
Rage: What do you think it is that makes gay fans really connect with your music? it and it fell apart. So John called me and said, “I thought you and I had something
TN: I don’t know… I guess there’s a big dance element to our music. I love dance special going on, you want to do this anymore or not?” I said, “Yeah, I liked you… my
music, so a lot of it’s geared to dance. There’s also a big sexuality to it, especially problem was with another guy in the band.” So at that time just John and I worked
when we first started. That was a big component for us. We were a bit outrageous... together and that was when Pleasure Victim started.
and in the beginning our keyboard player David Diamond, the youngest member
of the band, was gay. He was right out there with it in a big way, especially in those Rage: So you recently filmed a Berlin concert at House of Blues?
days when a lot of people weren’t. He took a big stand. The gay fans had someone TN: Yes, we have a new live DVD/CD package coming out called Terri Nunn and
they could see and relate to who was out there in the world. Berlin: All The Way In. We’re working around the clock to finish it and get it pack-
It’s like with women; when I see strong women role models, it’s a big deal for me. aged so that we can have it ready for L.A. Pride. They’ll be available to purchase
So many women like Stevie Nicks, Grace Slick, Ann Wilson from Heart, watching at the event.
them they were such big role models for me.
Rage: Are you also working on a new album?
Rage: Are there any female musicians that you would like to collaborate with whom you TN: Yes, we are working on it right now. I’m hoping for it to be released in the
haven’t yet? fall of this year, but we might have to push it to next year. I’m just not sure yet. I am
TN: I think Sheryl Crow is pretty phenomenal; she’s a great writer. I think really inspired by the producer I’m working with, who’s in my band, Carlton Bost.
Courtney Love is a good writer, although I don’t know what she’s like as a human He’s been my guitar player for three years, he’s from the band “Deadsy.” We’ve
being to work with, but as a talent I am a big fan. Oh my God, Allison Goldfrapp’s started working together in this new capacity and he’s blowing my mind. I got so
last record, Seventh Tree just knocked me on my ass. What they recently did was excited, I said, “OK, we’re doing a record!”
not like their previous works, which I thought was actually similar to Berlin, very
dance and electronic. She’s got a really velvety voice and I really like it. It reminded Rage: Is there anything that you want to say to your gay fans?
me a lot of what we were like when I started and now she’s taken it into this whole TN: Thank you for creating one of the greatest community experiences I’ve
beautiful direction. ever had in Pride. It is a wonderful gathering of amazing people who emit light
There are all kinds of women that I would like to sing with. We have a project and beauty, safety, love and community. I love that energy. I try to be a part of it
we’re putting together called ‘Girl’s Night Out,’ and that’s bringing together whenever I can and luckily I get to be a part of it this year at L.A. Pride. Be sure to
women from all over the spectrum of music here in America, not just to sing on stay for the end of the show because the last ten minutes are not to be missed…
the same bill but to sing together. Last August, I did a show with Pat Benatar and we have something to say and we’re going to say it in a big way!
Patty Smyth.
Berlin will be headlining L.A. Pride on Sunday, June 14th. For more info and to purchase tickets
Rage: When you were a kid was it your dream to be a musician? visit
lapride.org and
berlinpage.com. Berlin’s live DVD/CD is slated for release early June ‘09.
16 RAGE monthly | June 2009
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