The beginning - 1997
The good time dance machine par excellence was how one critic described Fun Factory - probably the most accurate, characterization ever made of this group. With their high-explosive mixture of pop, dance, rap, techno and reggae elements, they have achieved international acclaim and their singles can be found in the charts the world over.
Tracks such as "Groove Me","Take Your Chance", "Close To You", "Pain" and most of all "I Wanna Be With You" and also "Celebration" made their way into the top ranks of all important at Media Control and Dance Charts. And not only in Germany, Fun Factory tracks have climbed high in the charts in Canada, England, Sweden, the Far East, Finland, Poland, France, Italy and in the USA as well, and have made the group one of the most remarkable European acts internationally.
For a band whose strength is interpreting the European idea of dance, this is a major success. it should come as no surprise that the members of Fun Factory are almost all European. There's Marie-Anett, the front lady of French descent, Smooth T the Italian dancer, rapper and background singer and Steve, the dance partner from Germany. American rapper and freestyle king Rod D rounds out the Factory crew.
Fun Factory are more than just one of the many nameless DJ projects who ascend to chart heaven for a short time only to fall again and disappear into obscurity. The members see themselves more as a band in the classical sense of the word, influenced by the spirit and roots of R&B, but taking full advantage of the most modern studio technology, Fun Factory won't allow themselves and their music to be filed away under any particular category. "The main thing is that it grooves, it kicks, it beeps and that the people feel good..." is Smooth T's answer when asked about the group's secret recipe for international success.
The evergrowing number of Fun Factory fans are thrilled by the group's live performances and during 12 months they toured three times in the USA, in South East Asia and in the whole of Europe. Doing shows is very important for the band members too. They need the direct contact with their public like they need air to breathe. On stage, the true talent of a dance act is exposed and is all too often disappointing but Fun Factory really make it happen. Their stage act is pure entertainment, conceived and developed to perfection by Steve and Smooth T who both have a background in the martial arts.
"Combining elements of the martial arts and dance creates something totally new.
We don't want any lame disco choreography, we want real action entertainment" explains Steve.
When not performing live, Fun Factory can be found, often for nights on end, in their studio in Hamburg working on their tracks with the support of the many friends who help out now and again with vocal parts, guest raps and instrumentals.
Fun Factory's music speaks to anyone and everyone and forces all who listen "into the groove" which for Fun Factory is what it's all about. It's as simple as it sounds "We want fun" says Marie-Anett, "that's our philosophy and there's really nothing else more important".
The title of the second album "Fun-Tastic" is really programmatic and the "good time dance machine" presents an ultimate, highly concentrated smash album for the Christmas season. Massive grooves, very catchy refrains, bitter sweet soul ballads and sharp raps combine to an ingenious/commercial essence of all styles that have made dance the most important pop genre of our time and guarantee us numerous encounters with Fun Factory.
1997
In 1997 Smooth T and Toni Cottura left the band.
In the end of summer 1997 the single called "Party with Fun Factory" was released.
Fun Factory - The Second Generation
The original members of Fun Factory, Rod D, Smooth T, Marie Anett and Steve left the group and for some time it seemed the band had ceased to exist. But in 1998 a new formation came into the picture and Fun Factory was once again ready to conquer the world. The new members were Al Walser (leadsinger, rapper and composer), Anett and
T-Rock.
Over a 100 000 copies of the album "The Next Generation" were sold in Japan and Europe; The first single release
"Party with Fun Factory" became a huge success and jumped to number 1 of the official Japanese radio and single
charts (1, 5 weeks in a row).
The single "Sha-la-la-la-la" was released in 1999.
2002
On August 21st the new album "ABC of Music" was released in Japan. A single called "Tam Tam..." was also released.
2005
Fun Factory released a promo entitled "Ilarie" in May 2005.
I love your music..thanx for the add...where's "close to you"...the name is there but it's "celebration"..it would be great if you can put it up..Love ya music lots!!
