Kittens in the

USA

Biography (from www.atomickitten-usa.com)

Atomic Kitten are Natasha Hamilton (Tash), Elizabeth McClarnon (Liz or Lil) and Jenny (Jen). They officially formed as Atomic Kitten in 1999 as a trio, with Tash, Liz and Kerry Katona. They traveled to London to play a showcase for one record company - and six labels showed up. The years since Atomic Kitten's May 1999 signing to Virgin Records have been a whirlwind of success. Their arrival was signaled that November with their first single, the uptempo, tongue-in-cheek "Right Now." The track hit the top 10, spent 7 weeks inside the top 40, and was followed up in March 2000 with the infectious "See Ya." Placed in the Fiat car company's ad campaign in Italy and France, the song got Atomic Kitten noticed across Europe. Wider attention followed - and the group made their U.S. premiere - when Sony Music included "See Ya (Radio Mix)" on the soundtrack album for Peyton Reed's popular inner city cheerleading movie that summer, Bring It On. Atomic Kitten's third top 10 hit later that year, "I Want Your Love," found them making numerous television appearances and playing out as main support act on the Steps' tour. Atomic Kitten won the much-coveted Best Newcomer Awards at the both the prestigious Smash Hits Poll Winners' Party and the Disney Awards. As 2001 rang in, and the beautiful ballad "Whole Again" was being released as their fourth single, Kerry announced her pregnancy with fiance Bryan McFadden. She stepped down from the group, though they've all remained close friends and confidantes ever since.  Soon, Jenny came into the picture.  Natasha came across Precious, Jenny's previous group, at the pub - and invited Jenny on the spot to join Atomic Kitten.  Jenny was immediately sketched in and began promoting "Whole Again" with Tash and Liz.  

The fans embraced Jenny and "Whole Again" entered at #1 where it stayed for four weeks, fending off competition from U2 and others. One of the year's biggest selling singles, it also hit #1 in Germany for six weeks. They followed up with "Eternal Flame," again winning the #1 U.K. spot. Five hits deep, the decision was made to redo Right Now with Jenny's vocals. 

Looking ahead to their new album, "It's OK!" arrived just in time to take its place as the perfect summer single - and the first hit (reaching #3) from Feels So Good. When "Tide Is High (Get The Feeling)" was released later that summer, it provided Atomic Kitten with a new single and their third #1 hit.  Their third single of the year was issued in late November, "The Last Goodbye," which was released as a double-A side with the track "Be With You."

With their sights set on the U.S., Atomic Kitten is anxious to meet American audiences. "We're so excited and we know we can prove it," Lil concludes. "We've got the whole Liverpool attitude thing as well, and that's going to be good for us."  If Natasha, Liz and Jenny have their way, 2003 will be known as the year that Atomic Kitten established themselves in America - a double challenge in a country that not only takes its girl groups most seriously, indeed, but also has been the proving ground for some of Liverpool's most rocking exports. "It's going to be hard work," Jenny declares, "and it's going to be a challenge, but we're totally up for it. When it comes down to great music, hard work and determination, we've got all three. I think we've got a really good chance, you know? Think positive and things happen!"

Their self-titled debut album on Virgin Records in America, Atomic Kitten, is impossible to resist, with half of its 12 tracks already top-charted hits in the U.K. and other territories. With the exception of two early signature tunes that appeared on the Kittens' first album - the title track "Right Now" (their debut single of late 1999) and their cover of The Bangles' classic "Eternal Flame" (a #1 British hit in 2001) - the balance of Atomic Kitten is drawn from their second U.K. album, Feels So Good, released in 2002.

One of the centerpieces of Atomic Kitten is their reggae-flavored cover of Blondie's "Tide Is High (Get The Feeling)," which hit #1 in the U.K. the same week that Feels So Good entered the national album chart at #1. With that, Atomic Kitten had the distinction of joining the Supremes and the Spice Girls as the only female artists in U.K. history to top both charts at the same time. Now, "Tide Is High (Get The Feeling)" has been chosen as the kick-off single from the soundtrack of The Lizzie McGuire Movie. The eagerly anticipated Walt Disney Pictures release, starring Hilary Duff, opened on May 2nd. At the same time, Virgin has included "Tide Is High (Get The Feeling)" on the label's first Got Hits! Perfect Pop Album compilation, set for an April 8th release.

Cheeky, with the dash of pluck that is characteristic of native Liverpudlians, Atomic Kitten has - in the space of three years - surpassed every one of their hopes of accomplishment in Great Britain and territories ranging across Europe to the Far East. With two number one U.K. albums to their credit and a string of no less than eight hit singles, you'd think they'd be satisfied. Think again. The Colonies beckon. "We've still got a lot to work for," says Natasha. "But hopefully Americans will warm to us Kittens, and enjoy our music."

 

Individual Biography (from AtomicKitten.com)

Full Name: Natasha Hamilton
Also Called: Tash
Date Of Birth: 17th July 1982
Born In: Kensington, Liverpool
Siblings: 1 sister
Starsign: Cancer
School: Broughton Hall High
Hair Colour: Brunette
Martial Status: Boyfriend

It has always been the flame-haired sassy Kitten's ambition to be a successful singer, and she has been practicing for the Kittens success a long time having been performing on stage since she was a mere 12 years old! Tash was born Natasha Hamilton on 17th July, 1982 in Kensington, Liverpool. a Cancerian who wins friends whoever she goes, whether it's on tour, meeting new fans or when she gets some time off to go out dancing with her mates to the latest club. Natasha Hamilton has lifelong love affair with Motown, soul and funk music ensued. A school production of Cinderella at age four put the singing and dancing stage bug in her blood. At age 12 she joined a show group called Starlight, "kids between the age of 10 and 18, all going around - to theatres, pubs and clubs - and putting on shows on weekends, and after school." Her musical tastes ran to Earth, Wind and Fire, Quincy Jones, Marvin Gaye, and George Benson, along with Michael Jackson of course. After four years, Natasha struck out on her own, performing in the north of England while attending Performing Arts College. "I was only in Performing Arts College for about five months, when I came across the audition for Atomic Kitten." Tash had a baby boy, Josh, last December, and still remains very active and busy in the group!

Full Name: Elizabeth McClarnon
Also Called: Liz, Lil
Date Of Birth: 10th April 1981
Born In: Liverpool
Siblings: 1 brother
Starsign: Aries
School: Newborough Huyton College
Hair Colour: Brownish Blonde
Martial Status: Single

Liz McClarnon (better-known as Lil to Kitten fans and friends) owns some big brains as well as beauty - she was all set to go to Uni to study to be a lawyer until the singing bug hit her and she decided to focus all her energies on music… luckily for Kitten fans everywhere! Born in Liverpool on the 10th April 1981, Lil is a proud Aries. She describes herself as `sensitive, intelligent and sarcastic', while the rest of us describe her as a real sweetie!  Liz didn't have the benefits of wall-to-wall music videos on TV as she came of age in the '80s. "We didn't have MTV when I was a kid. Not on the four channels that we had!" she laughs. Instead, the sounds of the Beatles and the Eagles and My Fair Lady were heard around her house. Later on, Liz transferred out of the Belvedere School halfway through her GSEs. She enrolled at the prestigious Elliot Clark School, taking academic courses during the day and a rigorous schedule of dance and music at night as part of the drama program. In college, while holding down a full load of four A levels, she and original member Kerry Katona formed Atomic Kitten. "Basically just to have a laugh, really, and maybe make a bit of money while we were there. We never planned for it to get so serious, and be so big, really, until we got that record deal."

Full Name: Jennifer Frost
Also Called: Jenny
Date Of Birth: 22nd February 1978
Born In: Liverpool
Siblings: 1 sister
Starsign: Pisces
School: St. Monica's High School
Hair Colour: Blonde
Martial Status: Boyfriend

Cool beautiful blonde Jenny Frost is the Kitten joker and keeps everyone around her laughing come rain or shine! Born on the 22nd Feb 1978 in Liverpool. Brought up in nearby Manchester, she was greatly influenced by her father's eclectic CD collection and the music she heard around the house. "Sunday morning, you wake up, there's tunes blasting out downstairs while Mom's making breakfast, and she's singing along we just always really appreciated good music."
Jenny joined the Kittens in 2000.  Already a pal of the Kittens from tours with her old band Precious, this Kitten proved she could work and play as hard as needed to ensure `Whole Again' reached the No.1 slot around the world! Very much her own person, our Jenny is a softy at heart, very popular with friends and very funny, ambitious and hard-working. Jen is equally happy staying in or going out. If it's an evening in she'll be happy with a Thai takeaway meal and catching up on all the TV she's missed. If going on on the town for the evening Jen will likely head for a club where her boyfriend Dominic is dee-jaying!

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