Initially formed by keyboard player Jascha Richter and his friend and drummer Kåre Wanscher, the group later invited guitarist Mikkel Lentz and bassist Søren Madsen to complete the lineup. Following a rush of blood to the head Jascha named the group Michael Learns to Rock, and on the success of their debut demo tape, the group were invited to compete in the Rock Grand Prix at the largest venue in Aarhus, the Ridehuset. Michael Learns to Rock finished second in the competition and earned a performance slot at the year’s Aarhus Outdoor Festival, which 20 people turned up for. The group subsequently became managed by Jens Peter Andersen, recorded a series of promotional material and ultimately signed with Danish label Medley Records in association with U.S. label Impact.
Michael Learns to Rock issued their debut, self-titled album in September 1991. Produced by Americans Tony Peluso and Steve Barri, the record was led by the radio single “My Blue Angel” and went on to top the Danish Album Chart. The band’s subsequent single “The Actor” proved more popular however, peaking at No. 1 on the Danish Singles Chart and performing well in Norway, Sweden, Indonesia, and other Asian states. The band’s sophomore album, “Colours” was released in October 1993 selling over 1.1 million records. Once again proving hugely popular in Asia, the album spawned the hit singles “Sleeping Child”, “25 Minutes”, and “Out of the Blue”, and was supported by their first tour of Asia.
In August 1995, Michael Learns to Rock issued their third studio album “Played on Pepper”, recorded and produced by themselves. Selling over 1.2 million records, with most of those sales from Asia, the album looked to tap into the markets of Brazil, South Africa, and Japan, notably with the singles “That’s Why (You Go Away)” and “Someday”. The greatest hits compilation “Paint My Love” arrived in 1996 outselling all previous releases, followed by their fourth full-length “Nothing to Lose” in 1997, which topped the charts in South Africa.
In 2000 Madsen left the group and the remaining three members released the studio album “Blue Night”, which once again was popular in both Denmark and Asia and charted at No. nine on the Danish Albums Chart. Cementing the band’s respected position in large parts of the world the record was succeeded by the albums “Take Me to Your Heart” in 2004, “Eternity” in 2008, and “Scandinavia” in 2012.
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Charli XCX
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