1.
Sir Bani Yas
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Sir Bani Yas is a natural island located 170 km southwest of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. It lies 9 km offshore from Jebel Dhanna, which serves as a point to other islands such as Dalma. Sir Bani Yas is 17.5 km from north to south and 9 km from east to west, located just off the shore of the Western region of Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas island was originally home to Arabias largest wildlife reserve. Spanning over 87 km2, the reserve was established in 1977 by Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, thanks to decades of conservation work and ecological investment, it is now home to thousands of large free-roaming animals and several million trees and plants. A bird sanctuary as well as a reserve, Sir Bani Yas showcases nature through activities such as adventure safaris, kayaking, mountain biking, archery. The name Sir Bani Yas Island originates from the Bani Yas tribe, Sir Bani Yas Island is the crest of a salt dome created millions of years ago by natural geological forces. The first human settlers arrived several years ago. Thirty-six archaeological sites have been discovered throughout Sir Bani Yas, each providing an insight into the islands history. One of the oldest sites is the remains of a Nestorian Christian monastery which dates back to 600 AD, each of these sites has now been carefully covered, to protect them until the time when they can be incorporated into the destination experience. Sir Bani Yas Island was first mentioned in European literature around 1590 and it was also described in some detail during the 1820s and 1850s by British naval officers who were surveying the lower Gulf waters. In 1971 Sheikh Zayed became the first president of the United Arab Emirates, several millions trees were planted and numerous animals species introduced to the island, including gazelle, oryx, llama, rhea, giraffe, and ostrich. Once the reserve was established, Sheikh Zayed wanted to share the results with the world and these tours soon became so popular that visits would often have to be booked over one year in advance. In 2007, the Government of Abu Dhabi established the Desert Islands and this brought together Sir Bani Yas Island, neighboring Dalma Island, and six surrounding sandy outcrops into one destination. Sir Bani Yas and Dalma Islands are developed and can be visited, Sir Bani Yas Island is home to many species, from Arabian oryx, Somali ostrich, gazelle and deer to reticulated giraffes, dolphins and sea turtles. Many of the more than one-hundred species of birds which can be found on the island are indigenous to the region. The island is home to around 30 species of mammals, including a variety of antelope and one of the world’s largest herd of endangered Arabian oryx. The Arabian oryx, a species of antelope, was extinct in the wild. Taking up about half of Sir Bani Yas Island, the Arabian Wildlife Park provides an environment for animals to freely roam while the island remains opene for visitors
2.
Arabic
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Arabic is a Central Semitic language that was first spoken in Iron Age northwestern Arabia and is now the lingua franca of the Arab world. Arabic is also the language of 1.7 billion Muslims. It is one of six languages of the United Nations. The modern written language is derived from the language of the Quran and it is widely taught in schools and universities, and is used to varying degrees in workplaces, government, and the media. The two formal varieties are grouped together as Literary Arabic, which is the language of 26 states. Modern Standard Arabic largely follows the standards of Quranic Arabic. Much of the new vocabulary is used to denote concepts that have arisen in the post-Quranic era, Arabic has influenced many languages around the globe throughout its history. During the Middle Ages, Literary Arabic was a vehicle of culture in Europe, especially in science, mathematics. As a result, many European languages have borrowed many words from it. Many words of Arabic origin are found in ancient languages like Latin. Balkan languages, including Greek, have acquired a significant number of Arabic words through contact with Ottoman Turkish. Arabic has also borrowed words from languages including Greek and Persian in medieval times. Arabic is a Central Semitic language, closely related to the Northwest Semitic languages, the Ancient South Arabian languages, the Semitic languages changed a great deal between Proto-Semitic and the establishment of the Central Semitic languages, particularly in grammar. Innovations of the Central Semitic languages—all maintained in Arabic—include, The conversion of the suffix-conjugated stative formation into a past tense, the conversion of the prefix-conjugated preterite-tense formation into a present tense. The elimination of other prefix-conjugated mood/aspect forms in favor of new moods formed by endings attached to the prefix-conjugation forms, the development of an internal passive. These features are evidence of descent from a hypothetical ancestor. In the southwest, various Central Semitic languages both belonging to and outside of the Ancient South Arabian family were spoken and it is also believed that the ancestors of the Modern South Arabian languages were also spoken in southern Arabia at this time. To the north, in the oases of northern Hijaz, Dadanitic and Taymanitic held some prestige as inscriptional languages, in Najd and parts of western Arabia, a language known to scholars as Thamudic C is attested
3.
Abu Dhabi
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Abu Dhabi is the capital and the second most populous city of the United Arab Emirates, and also capital of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the largest of the UAEs seven emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the western coast. The city proper had a population of 1.5 million in 2014, Abu Dhabi houses federal government offices, is the seat of the United Arab Emirates Government, home to the Abu Dhabi Emiri Family and the President of the UAE, who is from this family. Abu Dhabis rapid development and urbanisation, coupled with the high average income of its population, has transformed the city into a large. Today the city is the center of political and industrial activities. Abu Dhabi accounts for about two-thirds of the roughly $400-billion United Arab Emirates economy, Abu Dhabi is the fourth most expensive city for expatriate employees in the region, and in 2014 was the 68th most expensive big city in the world. Abu Dhabi is full of evidence that points to civilizations, such as the Umm an-Nar Culture. Settlements were also found farther outside the city of Abu Dhabi. There is evidence of civilizations around the mountain of Hafeet and this location is very strategic because it is the UAE’s second tallest mountain, so it would have great visibility. It also contains a lot of moisture in its springs and lakes, origin of the name Abu Dhabi The origin of the name Abu Dhabi is uncertain. Meaning Father of the Gazelle, when translated from Arabic. According to Bilal al-Budoor, assistant under-secretary for Cultural Affairs at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development, The area had a lot of dhibaa, an old story tells about a man who used to chase deer and was named the father of the animal. Abu Dhabis original name was Milh salt, possibly referring to the salty water of the Persian Gulf, some Bedouins called the city Umm Dhabi, while British records refer to the place as Abu Dhabi. According to some accounts, the name Abu Dhabi was first used more than 300 years ago. The first word of Abu Dhabi is pronounced Bu by inhabitants on the western coast. In the eastern part of the city, the pronunciation is Abu, origins of the Al Nahyan family The Bani Yas bedouin were originally centered on the Liwa Oasis. This tribe was the most significant in the area, having over 20 subsections, in 1793, the Al Bu Falah subsection migrated to the island of Abu Dhabi on the coast of the Persian Gulf due to the discovery of fresh water there. One family within this section was the Al Nahyan family and this family makes up the rulers of Abu Dhabi today
4.
United Arab Emirates
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In 2013, the UAEs population was 9.2 million, of which 1.4 million are Emirati citizens and 7.8 million are expatriates. The country is a federation of seven emirates, and was established on 2 December 1971, the constituent emirates are Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Quwain. Each emirate is governed by a monarch, together, they jointly form the Federal Supreme Council. One of the monarchs is selected as the President of the United Arab Emirates, Islam is the official religion of the UAE and Arabic is the official language. The UAEs oil reserves are the seventh-largest in the world while its natural gas reserves are the worlds seventeenth-largest, Sheikh Zayed, ruler of Abu Dhabi and the first President of the UAE, oversaw the development of the Emirates and steered oil revenues into healthcare, education and infrastructure. The UAEs economy is the most diversified in the Gulf Cooperation Council, while its most populous city of Dubai is an important global city, nevertheless, the country remains principally reliant on its export of petroleum and natural gas. The UAE is criticised for its rights record, including the specific interpretations of Sharia used in its legal system. The UAEs rising international profile has led analysts to identify it as a regional. It appears the land of the Emirates has been occupied for thousands of years, there is no proof of contact with the outside world at that stage, although in time it developed with civilisations in Mesopotamia and Iran. This contact persisted and became wide-ranging, probably motivated by trade in copper from the Hajar Mountains, in ancient times, Al Hasa was part of Al Bahreyn and adjoined Greater Oman. Sassanid groups were present on the Batinah coast, in 637, Julfar was an important port that was used as a staging post for the Islamic invasion of the Sassanian Empire. The area of the Al Ain/Buraimi Oasis was known as Tuam and was an important trading post for camel routes between the coast and the Arabian interior. The earliest Christian site in the UAE was first discovered in the 1990s, a monastic complex on what is now known as Sir Bani Yas Island. Thought to be Nestorian and built in 600 AD, the church appears to have been abandoned peacefully in 750 AD and it forms a rare physical link to a legacy of Christianity which is thought to have spread across the peninsula from 50 to 350 AD following trade routes. Certainly, by the 5th century, Oman had a bishop named John – the last bishop of Oman being Etienne, in 676 AD. This led to a group of travelling to Medina, converting to Islam and subsequently driving a successful uprising against the unpopular Sassanids. Following the death of Prophet Muhammad, the new Islamic communities south of the Persian Gulf threatened to disintegrate, with insurrections against the Muslim leaders. The Caliph Abu Bakr sent an army from the capital Medina which completed its reconquest of the territory with the battle of Dibba in which 10,000 lives are thought to have been lost
5.
Yas Marina Circuit
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The Yas Marina Circuit is the venue for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The circuit was designed by Hermann Tilke, and is situated on Yas Island, about 30 minutes from the capital of the UAE, Yas Marina is the second Formula One track in the Middle East, with the first being in Bahrain. A two-day GP2 Asia Series test was held to open the circuit. It also hosted the event for the Australian V8 Supercars series. Outside motorsport the circuit was used for the stage of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Tour cycle race in 2015. The circuit has FIA Grade 1 license, the marina-based development includes a theme park, a water park, as well as residential areas, hotels and beaches. The circuit has five areas and part of its pit lane exit runs underneath the track. It also houses a building behind the pit building, Media Center, Dragster Track, VIP Tower. Additionally, one of the gravel traps runs underneath the West grandstand. Seating Capacity –41,093 Area –161.9 ha Length –5.5 km Longest straight –1140 metres The circuit was built by main contractor Cebarco-WCT WLL, under contract from developer Aldar Properties. The circuit was constructed with a permanent lighting system provided by Musco Lighting, Yas Marina Circuit is the largest permanent sports venue lighting project in the world, previously that title was held by Losail. The surface of the track is made of aggregate, shipped to Abu Dhabi from a Bayston Hill quarry in Shropshire. The surface material is highly acclaimed by circuit bosses and Formula One drivers for the level of grip it offers. The same aggregate material is used at the Bahrain International Circuit for the Bahrain Grand Prix, on 7 October 2009, the circuit was granted final approval to hold Formula One races by the FIA. Bruno Senna was the first driver to complete a test run on the circuit, gP3 visited Abu Dhabi for the first time at the end of the 2013 season. Force Indias Adrian Sutil rated the circuit as being better than Formula Ones other night race in Singapore as he felt there was too much light at Marina Bay. Not all of the drivers were complimentary, with Giancarlo Fisichella expressing a dislike of the pit exit. Although the pit exit remained free of incidents for the practice sessions
6.
Formula One
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Formula One is the highest class of single-seat auto racing that is sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de lAutomobile. The FIA Formula One World Championship has been the form of racing since the inaugural season in 1950. The formula, designated in the name, refers to a set of rules, the F1 season consists of a series of races, known as Grands Prix, held worldwide on purpose-built F1 circuits and public roads. The results of each race are evaluated using a system to determine two annual World Championships, one for drivers, one for constructors. The racing drivers are required to be holders of valid Super Licences, the races are required to be held on tracks graded 1, the highest grade a track can receive by the FIA. Most events are held in locations on purpose-built tracks, but there are several events in city centres throughout the world. Formula One cars are the fastest road racing cars in the world. Formula One cars race at speeds of up to approximately 375 km/h with engines currently limited in performance to a maximum of 15,000 RPM, the cars are capable of lateral acceleration in excess of five g in corners. The performance of the cars is very dependent on electronics – although traction control and other driving aids have been banned since 2008 – and on aerodynamics, suspension, the formula has radically evolved and changed through the history of the sport. F1 had a global television audience of 425 million people during the course of the 2014 season. Grand Prix racing began in 1906 and became the most popular internationally in the second half of the twentieth century. The Formula One Group is the holder of the commercial rights. Its high profile and popularity have created a major merchandising environment, since 2000 the sports spiraling expenditures and the distribution of prize money favoring established top teams have forced complaints from smaller teams and led several teams to bankruptcy. On 23 January 2017 it was confirmed that Liberty Media had completed its $8 billion acquisition of Delta Topco, the Formula One series originated with the European Grand Prix Motor Racing of the 1920s and 1930s. The formula is a set of rules that all cars must meet. Formula One was a new formula agreed upon after World War II during 1946, the first world championship race was held at Silverstone, United Kingdom in 1950. A championship for constructors followed in 1958, national championships existed in South Africa and the UK in the 1960s and 1970s. Non-championship Formula One events were held for years, but due to the increasing cost of competition
7.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
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The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is a Formula One motor race. It was announced in early 2007 at the Abu Dhabi F1 Festival in the United Arab Emirates, the first race took place on 1 November 2009, held at the Hermann Tilke designed Yas Marina Circuit. On 25 June 2008 the FIA announced the provisional 2009 Formula One calendar including the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as the 19th and final race of the season on 15 November. On 5 November 2008, however, it was announced that the race would be held as the finale on 1 November. The inaugural race was Formula Ones first ever race, starting at 17,00 local time. Floodlights used to illuminate the circuit were switched on from the start of the event to ensure a transition from daylight to darkness. Subsequent Abu Dhabi Grands Prix have also been day-night races, Formula 1 first came to Abu Dhabi in 2007 in the guise of the first ever Formula One Festival. Announced in January 2007, the event which place on 3 February 2007 was free. At the festival it was announced that Abu Dhabi had won the rights to host a Grand Prix from 2009 until 2016, later that year, Etihad Airways negotiated a three-year deal for them to become sponsors of the Grand Prix. For the 2009 Formula One season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was added to the schedule and it was provisionally announced as being held on 15 November 2009, as the 19th and final Grand Prix of the season. In August 2009, it was announced that the time would be 1700 local time. The inaugural race was won by Sebastian Vettel for Red Bull Racing, for the 2010 Formula One season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was held on the Yas Marina Circuit, for the weekend of 12,13,14 November 2010. The first race in Abu Dhabi in 2009 was a dead rubber as the championships had been sealed in Brazil. This time around however, the championship was decided in Abu Dhabi for the first time. With championship leader Fernando Alonso losing out and Sebastian Vettel completing his second victory on this track, the 2011 Grand Prix was the 18th and penultimate race of the 2011 Formula One season, and took place on 13 November. The race was won by Lewis Hamilton in a McLaren-Mercedes, second was Fernando Alonso in a Ferrari, with Jenson Button coming third in a McLaren-Mercedes. Sebastian Vettel, in a Red Bull-Renault, had been in pole position and his main championship rival Fernando Alonso finished 2nd behind the Finnish driver Kimi Räikkönen, who won for the first time after his return to Formula One earlier in 2012. Red Bull Racing celebrated their fourth in Abu Dhabi
8.
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
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Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is an amusement park located on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It is the first Ferrari-branded theme park and has the record for the largest space frame structure ever built, formula Rossa, the worlds fastest roller coaster, is also located here. The foundation stone for the park was laid on 3 November 2007 and it took three years to develop the park and it officially opened to the public on 4 November 2010. Ferrari World Abu Dhabi covers an area of 86,000 square metres, ferrari World Abu Dhabi was named the Middle Easts Leading Tourist Attraction at the World Travel Awards 2015. Best Commercial, Office, Retail Future Development, Cityscape Abu Dhabi,2010, Best International Leisure Development, International Property Award and Bloomberg,2010. CIAT Open Award for Technical Excellence in Architectural Technology, The Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists,2010, overall GCC Project of the Year 2010, MEP Middle East Awards,2010. Excellence in Live Design Award, Live Design Magazine,2011, gold Winner designation for Best Permanent Exhibition, Event Design Award by Event Design Magazine,2011. Hospitality & Leisure Project of the Year, Middle East Architect Awards 2011,2011, most Innovative Retail & Leisure Concept of the Year Award, Global Retail and Leisure International Awards,2011. PALME award - Best A/V solution in a development, PALME Middle East,2011. PALME award - Best 3D projection of the year, PALME Middle East,2011, Project Excellence Award, IPMA – NL,2011. Best Theme Park in the UAE, Hospitality India,2013, Middle Easts Leading Tourist Attraction 2015, World Travel Awards,2015
9.
Ferrari World
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Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is an amusement park located on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It is the first Ferrari-branded theme park and has the record for the largest space frame structure ever built, formula Rossa, the worlds fastest roller coaster, is also located here. The foundation stone for the park was laid on 3 November 2007 and it took three years to develop the park and it officially opened to the public on 4 November 2010. Ferrari World Abu Dhabi covers an area of 86,000 square metres, ferrari World Abu Dhabi was named the Middle Easts Leading Tourist Attraction at the World Travel Awards 2015. Best Commercial, Office, Retail Future Development, Cityscape Abu Dhabi,2010, Best International Leisure Development, International Property Award and Bloomberg,2010. CIAT Open Award for Technical Excellence in Architectural Technology, The Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists,2010, overall GCC Project of the Year 2010, MEP Middle East Awards,2010. Excellence in Live Design Award, Live Design Magazine,2011, gold Winner designation for Best Permanent Exhibition, Event Design Award by Event Design Magazine,2011. Hospitality & Leisure Project of the Year, Middle East Architect Awards 2011,2011, most Innovative Retail & Leisure Concept of the Year Award, Global Retail and Leisure International Awards,2011. PALME award - Best A/V solution in a development, PALME Middle East,2011. PALME award - Best 3D projection of the year, PALME Middle East,2011, Project Excellence Award, IPMA – NL,2011. Best Theme Park in the UAE, Hospitality India,2013, Middle Easts Leading Tourist Attraction 2015, World Travel Awards,2015
10.
Formula Rossa
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Formula Rossa is a launched roller coaster located at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Manufactured by Intamin, Formula Rossa is the worlds fastest roller coaster with a top speed of 239 km/h, in its planning stage it was called F1 Coaster. On 4 November 2010, the roller coaster opened to the public. The coaster train accelerates to its top speed in approximately 5 seconds using a launch system which generates a release velocity similar to that of steam catapults on an aircraft carrier. The initial acceleration from standstill reaches 100 kilometres per hour in 2 seconds, riders experience up to 1.7 g of force during acceleration and up to 4.8 g throughout the ride. The roller coaster track is 2.2 km in length and its shape was inspired by the legendary Italian racetrack Autodromo Nazionale Monza. Due to the high air speeds and thus risk of an impact with airborne particulates or insects, Formula Rossa surpassed Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure as the worlds fastest roller coaster with Kingda Ka retaining the record of the tallest roller coaster in the world. Ferrari Formula One drivers Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso rode Formula Rossa on 11 November 2010, in 2014, Alonso and new teammate Kimi Räikkönen rode the coaster, while Räikkönen and Sebastian Vettel rode in 2015
11.
DC Comics
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DC Comics, Inc. is an American comic book publisher. It is the unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. a division of Time Warner, the company has also published non-DC Universe-related material, including Watchmen, V for Vendetta and many titles under their alternative imprint Vertigo. The initials DC came from the popular series Detective Comics. Random House distributes DC Comics books to the market, while Diamond Comic Distributors supplies the comics shop specialty market. DC Comics and its major, longtime competitor Marvel Comics together shared 70% of the American comic book market in 2016, entrepreneur Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson founded National Allied Publications in autumn 1934. The company debuted with the tabloid-sized New Fun, The Big Comic Magazine #1 with a date of February 1935. That title evolved into Adventure Comics, which continued through issue #503 in 1983, in 2009 DC revived Adventure Comics with its original numbering. In 1935, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the creators of Superman, created Doctor Occult. Wheeler-Nicholsons third and final title, Detective Comics, advertised with a cover illustration dated December 1936, the themed anthology series would become a sensation with the introduction of Batman in issue #27. By then, however, Wheeler-Nicholson had gone, Detective Comics, Inc. was formed, with Wheeler-Nicholson and Jack S. Liebowitz, Donenfelds accountant, listed as owners. Major Wheeler-Nicholson remained for a year, but cash-flow problems continued, shortly afterward, Detective Comics, Inc. purchased the remains of National Allied, also known as Nicholson Publishing, at a bankruptcy auction. Detective Comics, Inc. soon launched a fourth title, Action Comics, Action Comics #1, the first comic book to feature the new character archetype—soon known as superheroes—proved a sales hit. The company quickly introduced such popular characters as the Sandman and Batman. That year, Gaines let Liebowitz buy him out, and kept only Picture Stories from the Bible as the foundation of his own new company, at that point, Liebowitz promptly orchestrated the merger of All-American and Detective Comics into National Comics. Next he took charge of organizing National Comics, Independent News, National Periodical Publications became publicly traded on the stock market in 1961. The company began to move aggressively against what it saw as copyright-violating imitations from other companies, such as Fox Comics Wonder Man and this extended to DC suing Fawcett Comics over Captain Marvel, at the time comics top-selling character. Despite the fact that parallels between Captain Marvel and Superman seemed more tenuous, the courts ruled that substantial and deliberate copying of copyrighted material had occurred, faced with declining sales and the prospect of bankruptcy if it lost, Fawcett capitulated in 1955 and ceased comics publication
12.
Batman
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Batman is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, originally named the Bat-Man, the character is also referred to by such epithets as the Caped Crusader, the Dark Knight, and the Worlds Greatest Detective. Batmans secret identity is Bruce Wayne, a wealthy American playboy, philanthropist, after witnessing the murder of his parents Thomas Wayne and Martha Wayne as a child, he swore vengeance against criminals, an oath tempered by a sense of justice. Wayne trains himself physically and intellectually and crafts a bat-inspired persona to fight crime, Batman operates in the fictional Gotham City, with assistance from various supporting characters, including his butler Alfred, police commissioner Gordon, and vigilante allies such as Robin. A large assortment of villains make up Batmans rogues gallery, including his archenemy, Batman became popular soon after his introduction in 1939 and gained his own comic book title, Batman, the following year. As the decades went on, differing interpretations of the character emerged, the late 1960s Batman television series used a camp aesthetic, which continued to be associated with the character for years after the show ended. Various creators worked to return the character to his dark roots, the success of Warner Bros. live-action Batman feature films have helped maintain the publics interest in the character. The character has also intrigued psychiatrists, with trying to understand the characters psyche. In 2015, FanSided ranked Batman as number one on their list of 50 Greatest Super Heroes In Comic Book History. Kevin Conroy, Bruce Greenwood, Peter Weller, Anthony Ruivivar, Jason OMara, Batman has been portrayed in both film and television by Lewis Wilson, Robert Lowery, Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale, and Ben Affleck. In early 1939, the success of Superman in Action Comics prompted editors at National Comics Publications to request more superheroes for its titles, in response, Bob Kane created the Bat-Man. Collaborator Bill Finger recalled that Kane had an idea for a character called Batman, I went over to Kanes, and he had drawn a character who looked very much like Superman with kind of. Reddish tights, I believe, with boots, with a small domino mask, swinging on a rope. He had two wings that were sticking out, looking like bat wings. And under it was a big sign, the bat-wing-like cape was suggested by Bob Kane, inspired by Leonardo Da Vincis sketch of an ornithopter flying device as a child. Finger suggested giving the character a cowl instead of a domino mask, a cape instead of wings. Finger said he devised the name Bruce Wayne for the secret identity, Bruce Waynes first name came from Robert Bruce. Wayne, being a playboy, was a man of gentry, I searched for a name that would suggest colonialism
13.
Superman
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Superman is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, high school living in Cleveland, Ohio. They sold Superman to Detective Comics, the future DC Comics, Superman debuted in Action Comics #1 and subsequently appeared in various radio serials, newspaper strips, television programs, films, and video games. With this success, Superman helped to create the superhero archetype, the character is also referred to by such epithets as the Man of Steel, the Man of Tomorrow, and The Last Son of Krypton. Discovered and adopted by a Kansas farm couple, the child is raised as Clark Kent, very early on he started to display various superhuman abilities, which, upon reaching maturity, he resolved to use for the benefit of humanity through a secret Superman identity. Superman resides and operates in the fictional American city of Metropolis, as Clark Kent, he is a journalist for the Daily Planet, a Metropolis newspaper. Supermans love interest is generally Lois Lane, and his archenemy is supervillain Lex Luthor and he is typically a member of the Justice League and close ally of Batman and Wonder Woman. Like other characters in the DC Universe, several versions of Superman have been depicted over the years. Supermans appearance is distinctive and iconic, he wears a blue costume with a red-and-yellow emblem on the chest, consisting of the letter S in a shield shape. This shield is used in media to symbolize the character. Superman is widely considered an American cultural icon and he has fascinated scholars, with cultural theorists, commentators, and critics alike exploring the characters impact and role in the United States and worldwide. The characters ownership has often been the subject of dispute, with Siegel, the character has been adapted extensively and portrayed in other forms of media as well, including films, television series, and video games. Several actors have portrayed Superman in motion pictures and TV series including Kirk Alyn, George Reeves, Christopher Reeve, Dean Cain, Tom Welling, Brandon Routh, Henry Cavill, Siegels fanzine did not sell well. Siegel and Shuster shifted to making comic strips, which they self-published in a book they called Popular Comics, the pair dreamed of becoming professional authors and believed that syndicated newspaper strips offered more lucrative and stable work than pulp magazines. The art quality standards were lower, making them more accessible to the inexperienced Shuster. In early 1933 or in 1934, Siegel developed a new character, also named Superman, but now a heroic character and this first prototype of Superman had no fantastic abilities and wore casual clothing. Siegel and Shuster often compared this version to Slam Bradley, a character they created in 1936. Siegel shared his idea with Shuster and they decided to turn it into a comic strip, the first publisher they solicited was Humor Publishing in Chicago, after having read one of their comic books, Detective Dan
14.
Warner Bros.
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Entertainment Inc. – colloquially known as Warner Bros. or Warner Bros. It is one of the Big Six major American film studios, Warner Bros. is a member of the Motion Picture Association of America. The companys name originated from the four founding Warner brothers, Harry, Albert, Sam, Jack, the youngest, was born in London, Ontario. The three elder brothers began in the theater business, having acquired a movie projector with which they showed films in the mining towns of Pennsylvania. In the beginning, Sam and Albert Warner invested $150 to present Life of an American Fireman and they opened their first theater, the Cascade, in New Castle, Pennsylvania, in 1903. When the original building was in danger of being demolished, the modern Warner Bros. called the current building owners, the owners noted people across the country had asked them to protect it for its historical significance. In 1904, the Warners founded the Pittsburgh-based Duquesne Amusement & Supply Company, in 1912, Harry Warner hired an auditor named Paul Ashley Chase. By the time of World War I they had begun producing films, in 1918 they opened the first Warner Bros. studio on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. Sam and Jack produced the pictures, while Harry and Albert, along with their auditor and now controller Chase, handled finance and distribution in New York City. During World War I their first nationally syndicated film, My Four Years in Germany, on April 4,1923, with help from money loaned to Harry by his banker Motley Flint, they formally incorporated as Warner Brothers Pictures, Incorporated. The first important deal was the acquisition of the rights to Avery Hopwoods 1919 Broadway play, The Gold Diggers, however, Rin Tin Tin, a dog brought from France after World War I by an American soldier, established their reputation. Rin Tin Tin debuted in the feature Where the North Begins, the movie was so successful that Jack signed the dog to star in more films for $1,000 per week. Rin Tin Tin became the top star. Jack nicknamed him The Mortgage Lifter and the success boosted Darryl F. Zanucks career, Zanuck eventually became a top producer and between 1928 and 1933 served as Jacks right-hand man and executive producer, with responsibilities including day-to-day film production. More success came after Ernst Lubitsch was hired as head director, lubitschs film The Marriage Circle was the studios most successful film of 1924, and was on The New York Times best list for that year. Despite the success of Rin Tin Tin and Lubitsch, Warners remained a lesser studio, Sam and Jack decided to offer Broadway actor John Barrymore the lead role in Beau Brummel. The film was so successful that Harry signed Barrymore to a contract, like The Marriage Circle. By the end of 1924, Warner Bros. was arguably Hollywoods most successful independent studio, as the studio prospered, it gained backing from Wall Street, and in 1924 Goldman Sachs arranged a major loan
15.
Looney Tunes
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Looney Tunes is an American animated series of comedy short films produced by Warner Bros. from 1930 to 1969 during the golden age of American animation, alongside its sister series Merrie Melodies. Coyote and the Road Runner, the Tasmanian Devil, and many others and these characters themselves are commonly referred to as the Looney Tunes. From 1942 to 1964, Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies were the most popular animated shorts in movie theaters, many of the characters have made and continue to make cameo appearances in various other television shows, movies and advertisements. The most popular Looney Tunes character, Bugs Bunny, is regarded as an icon and has his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Several Looney Tunes films are regarded as some of the greatest animated cartoons of all time, in the beginning, Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies drew their storylines from Warners vast music library. From 1934 to 1943, Merrie Melodies were produced in color and Looney Tunes in black, after 1943, both series were produced in color and became virtually indistinguishable, varying only in their opening theme music and titles. Both series made use of the various Warner Bros. cartoon characters, in 1929, to compete against Walt Disneys Mickey Mouse short cartoons, WB became interested in developing a series of animated shorts to promote their music. They had recently acquired Brunswick Records along with four music publishers for US $28 million and were eager to promote this material for the sales of sheet music, Warner made a deal with Leon Schlesinger to produce cartoons for them. Schlesinger hired Rudolf Ising and Hugh Harman to produce the first series of cartoons, Schlesinger was impressed by Harmans and Isings 1929 pilot cartoon, Bosko, The Talk-Ink Kid. The first Looney Tunes short was Sinkin in the Bathtub starring Bosko, when Harman and Ising left Warner Bros. in 1933 over a budget dispute with Schlesinger, they took with them all the rights of the characters and cartoons they had created. In 1935 they debuted the first major Looney Tunes star, Porky Pig, Beans was the star of the next Porky/Beans cartoon Golddiggers of 49, but it was Porky who emerged as the star instead of Beans. The ensemble characters of I Havent Got a Hat, such as Oliver Owl, and twin dogs Ham and Ex, were given a sampling of shorts. Beans was later phased out when his popularity declined, leaving Porky as the star of the Schlesinger studio. The debuts of other memorable Looney Tunes stars followed, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Bugs initially starred in the color Merrie Melodies shorts and formally joined the Looney Tunes series with the release of Buckaroo Bugs in 1944. Schlesinger began to phase in the production of color Looney Tunes with the 1942 cartoon The Hep Cat, the final black-and-white Looney Tunes short was Puss n Booty in 1943 directed by Frank Tashlin. The inspiration for the changeover was Warners decision to only the color cartoons in the Blue Ribbon Classics series of Merrie Melodies. Schlesinger sold his interest in the studio in 1944 to Warner Bros. and went into retirement. During the mid-late 1960s, the shorts were produced by DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, the change in the introductory title cards was possibly to reflect the switch in the animation style of the shorts themselves
16.
Hanna-Barbera
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Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. was an American animation studio that dominated American television animation for over three decades in the mid 20th century. In late 1966, it was sold to Taft Broadcasting and spent two decades as its subsidiary and it is officially considered the very first major animation studio to successfully produce cartoons exclusively for television. For their achievements, Hanna and Barbera together won seven Academy Awards, eight Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, the pair was also inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1993. Hanna-Barberas fortunes declined in the mid-1980s when the profitability of Saturday morning cartoons was eclipsed by weekday afternoon syndication, in late 1991, the animation studio was purchased from Taft by Turner Broadcasting System, who used much of its back catalog to program its new channel, Cartoon Network. After Turner purchased the company, Hanna and Barbera continued to serve as creative consultants, Turner merged with Time Warner in 1996 and the studio became a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Animation, into which Hanna-Barbera was absorbed after Hanna died in 2001, Cartoon Network Studios continued the projects for the channels output. Barbera went on to work for Warner Bros, Animation until his death in 2006. As of 2017, the studio exists as a unit used to market properties and productions associated with the Hanna-Barbera library. Melrose, New Mexico native William Hanna and New York City-born of Italian heritage Joseph Barbera first met while working at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer cartoon studio in 1939. Their first directorial production and collaboration was the Academy Award-nominated Puss Gets the Boot, Hanna and Barbera served as directors of the shorts for over 20 years, with Barbera in charge of the stories and pre-production and Hanna in charge of supervising the animation. Hanna also provided the screams, yelps and yells for Tom Cat, in addition to the series being nominated for twelve more Oscars, seven of the cartoons won the Academy Award for Best Short Subject between 1943 and 1953. The trophies were awarded to their producer Fred Quimby, who was not involved in the development of the shorts. In addition to their work on the cartoons, the two men moonlighted on outside projects, including the title sequences and commercials for the CBS sitcom I Love Lucy. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer decided in early 1957 to close its cartoon studio, as it felt it had acquired a reasonable backlog of shorts for re-release, Hanna and Barbera, contemplating their future while completing the final Tom and Jerry cartoons, began producing animated TV commercials. During their last year at MGM, they developed a concept for an animated TV program about a dog, a coin toss determined that Hanna would have precedence in the naming the new studio. Harry Cohn, president and head of Columbia Pictures, took an 18 percent ownership in Hanna and Barberas new company, H-B Enterprises, Screen Gems became the new studios distributor and its licensing agent, handling merchandizing of the characters from the animated programs. Sidney and several Screen Gems alumni became members of the board of directors. H-B Enterprises was one of the first American cartoon studios to produce cartoons specifically for TV broadcast
17.
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment
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SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment is a family entertainment, amusement park and attraction company formerly owned by Blackstone Group, which retains a minority share. It operates and maintains eleven parks located throughout the United States. Formerly a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch since 1959, under which it was known as Busch Entertainment Corporation, SeaWorld Parks is headquartered in Orlando, Florida. According a previous Securities and Exchange Commission filing, annual attendance for calendar year 2012 was 24.4 million, average revenue per attendee was $62.79, of which 62% consists of admission fees. 55% of revenues were generated from parks in Florida, 20% in California, the sale was completed on December 1,2009 and with it came a new company name, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. Anheuser-Busch initially created the subsidiary to run the various Busch Gardens parks, the parks at Tampa, Florida and Williamsburg, Virginia were located adjacent to breweries, and the parks included tours of the facilities and even free samples of the products made there. In 1989, Anheuser-Busch purchased the park unit of publisher Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. The purchase also included two other parks in Central Florida, Cypress Gardens and Boardwalk and Baseball, Boardwalk and Baseball was promptly closed, while Cypress Gardens was later sold and transformed into Legoland Florida, which opened in October 2011. The parks were managed out of Anheuser-Buschs headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri until 2008, when the company relocated the division to Florida, in 2008, Anheuser-Busch was acquired by Brazilian-Belgian brewer InBev. In early 2009, InBev began soliciting bids for assets in advance of an anticipated sale. As part of the plans to shed the division, Busch Entertainment ended the free beer-sampling programs at those parks that had them, at the time, InBev was thought to be considering selling the parks to the highest bidder, or spinning off Busch Entertainment as an independent company. Other cited reasons for an apparent reluctance to sell off the company included still-volatile credit markets, in late 2009, the Blackstone Group reportedly entered into negotiations to acquire Busch Entertainment. Previous estimates have valued Busch Entertainment at somewhere between USD $2. 5-3.0 billion, as part of the deal, Blackstone will maintain the current management team from Busch Entertainment and operate it as a separate entity. In announcing the deal, Busch Entertainment President Jim Atchison said that Blackstones acquisition brings a lot of strategic vision for us. Were going to continue to grow the business together, the acquisition would be done with no loss of jobs at the parks or at the companys Orlando headquarters. New departments will be hired to fill positions that would previously been managed by Anheuser-Busch, such as a department and procurement staff. The largest proposed change to the operation of the parks would be the removal of Anheuser-Buschs Clydesdale from those parks that currently have them, Anheuser-Busch licenses the Busch Gardens name to SeaWorld Entertainment perpetually. On December 27,2012, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment announced that it had filed for a public offering of stock
18.
Killer whale
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The killer whale or orca is a toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family, of which it is the largest member. Killer whales have a diet, although individual populations often specialize in particular types of prey. Some feed exclusively on fish, while others hunt marine mammals such as seals and they have been known to attack baleen whale calves, and even adult whales. Killer whales are apex predators, as there is no animal that preys on them, Killer whales are considered a cosmopolitan species, and can be found in each of the worlds oceans in a variety of marine environments, from Arctic and Antarctic regions to tropical seas. Killer whales are social, some populations are composed of matrilineal family groups which are the most stable of any animal species. Their sophisticated hunting techniques and vocal behaviours, which are specific to a particular group. Some local populations are considered threatened or endangered due to depletion, habitat loss, pollution, capture for marine mammal parks. In late 2005, the Southern Resident Killer Whales, the population that inhabits British Columbia, Wild killer whales are not considered a threat to humans, but there have been cases of captive orcas killing or injuring their handlers at marine theme parks. Killer whales feature strongly in the mythologies of cultures, with their reputation ranging from being the souls of humans to merciless killers. Orcinus orca is the only recognized extant species in the genus Orcinus, the killer whale is one of 35 species in the oceanic dolphin family, which first appeared about 11 million years ago. The killer whale lineage probably branched off shortly thereafter, english-speaking scientists most often use the term killer whale, although the term orca is increasingly used. Killer whale advocates point out it has a long heritage, indeed, the genus name Orcinus means of the kingdom of the dead, or belonging to Orcus. Ancient Romans originally applied orca to these animals, possibly borrowing it from the Greek ὄρυξ, since the 1960s, orca has steadily grown in popularity, both names are now used. According to some authors, the killer whale is a mistranslation of the 18th century Spanish name asesina-ballenas which means literally whale killer. Basque whalers would have given it such name after observing pods of orcas hunting baleen whales and they are sometimes referred to as blackfish, a name also used for other whale species. Grampus is a name for the species, but is now seldom used. This meaning of grampus should not be confused with the genus Grampus, the three to five types of killer whales may be distinct enough to be considered different races, subspecies, or possibly even species. Residents diets consist primarily of fish and sometimes squid, and they live in complex, female residents characteristically have rounded dorsal fin tips that terminate in a sharp corner
19.
The MDNA Tour
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The MDNA Tour was the ninth concert tour by American singer-songwriter Madonna. It showcased material from her studio album, MDNA. The tour visited the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East and this marked the singers first performances in the United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Scotland, and Colombia. The tour was planned to reach Australia in January 2013 but was cancelled. Madonna described the tour as the journey of a soul from darkness to light, the tour has received mostly positive reception from critics. The tour courted many controversial subjects such as violence, firearms, human rights, nudity, lawsuits threatened against Madonna have also been engaged from the tour. The MDNA Tour created immense success at the box office and many venues were sold out. It was dubbed as the tour of 2012 by Billboard. Madonna broke the record for occupying the top two highest-grossing female tours of all time, Madonna accepted the Top Touring Artist of the year at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards. A concert special titled Madonna, The MDNA Tour aired on Epix in the United States on June 22 at 8,00 pm ET. The television special documented the November 19 and 20 shows at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, a live album, MDNA World Tour, was released on September 9,2013. After performing at Hope for Haiti telethon, MTV News, stated the singer will feature the cast of Glee on the forthcoming tour, the gesture was a show of appreciation for the episode featuring Madonnas hits. This information was followed by fansite DrownedMadonna releasing a proposed tour itinerary from Live Nation. The report showed the singer playing a tour beginning in New Zealand. It also showed dates in Australia, China, Southeast Asia, Europe, days later, many media outlets around the world posted the itinerary, causing Live Nation to respond to the reports authenticity. While promoting her first feature film, W. E, Madonna partnered with Smirnoff to produce a global dance contest. Called the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project, the contest asked for dancers to submit footage to becoming a dancer on the forthcoming tour. Eleven finalists performed for Madonna and fans at the Roseland Ballroom in November 2011, the winner of the contest was Charles Riley
20.
The Rolling Stones
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The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. The original line-up consisted of Brian Jones, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, Stewart was removed from the official line-up in 1963 but continued as a touring member until his death in 1985. Jones left the less than a month prior to his death in 1969, having already been replaced by Mick Taylor. After Taylor left the band, Ronnie Wood took his place in 1975 and has been on guitar in tandem with Richards ever since, following Wymans departure in 1993, Darryl Jones joined as their touring bassist. Other touring keyboardists for the band have been Nicky Hopkins, Billy Preston, the band was first led by Jones, but after teaming as the bands songwriters, Jagger and Richards assumed leadership while Jones dealt with legal and personal troubles. The Rolling Stones were at the forefront of the British Invasion of bands that became popular in the US in 1964, and identified with the youthful and rebellious counterculture of the 1960s. Rooted in blues and early rock and roll, the group began a period of musical experimentation in the mid-1960s that peaked with the psychedelic album Their Satanic Majesties Request. During this period, they were first introduced on stage as The Worlds Greatest Rock, the band continued to release commercially successful records in the 1970s and sold many albums, including Some Girls and Tattoo You, which were their most popular albums worldwide. From 1983 to 1987, tensions between Jagger and Richards almost caused the band to split, however, they managed to patch up their friendship in 1987. They separated temporarily to work on projects and experienced a comeback with Steel Wheels. Since the 1990s, new recorded material from the group has been increasingly less well-received, despite this, the Rolling Stones have continued to be a huge attraction on the live circuit, with stadium tours in the 1990s and 2000s. By 2007, the band had four of the top five highest-grossing concert tours of all time, Voodoo Lounge Tour, Bridges to Babylon Tour, Licks Tour and A Bigger Bang Tour. The Rolling Stones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989, Rolling Stone magazine ranked them fourth on the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time list and their estimated album sales are above 250 million. They have released 30 studio albums,18 live albums and numerous compilations, Let It Bleed was their first of five consecutive number one studio and live albums in the UK. Sticky Fingers was the first of eight number one studio albums in the US. In 2008, the band ranked 10th on the Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists chart, in 2012, the band celebrated its 50th anniversary. Keith Richards and Mick Jagger were childhood friends and classmates in Dartford, Kent, Jagger had formed a garage band with Dick Taylor, mainly playing Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Howlin Wolf and Bo Diddley material. Jagger met Richards again in 1960 on platform two of Dartford railway station, the Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters records that Jagger carried revealed a common interest that prompted their musical partnership
21.
Black Sabbath
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The band experienced multiple line-up changes, with Iommi being the only constant member throughout its history. Originally formed as a rock band, the group soon adopted the Black Sabbath moniker and began incorporating occult themes with horror-inspired lyrics. They also composed songs about social instability, political corruption and drugs, Osbournes regular use of alcohol and other drugs led to his dismissal from the band in 1979. He was replaced by former Rainbow vocalist Ronnie James Dio, in 1992, Iommi and Butler rejoined Dio and drummer Vinny Appice to record Dehumanizer. The original line-up reunited with Osbourne in 1997 and released a live album Reunion, Black Sabbaths final studio album and nineteenth overall,13, features all of the original members but Ward. A year after embarking on a tour, the band played their final concert in their home city of Birmingham on 4 February 2017. Iommi has stated, however, that he has not ruled out the possibility of new material or one-off shows under the Black Sabbath name, Black Sabbath are often cited as pioneers of heavy metal music. The band helped define the genre with releases such as Black Sabbath, Paranoid and they were ranked by MTV as the Greatest Metal Band of all time, and placed second in VH1s 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock list. Rolling Stone magazine ranked them number 85 in their 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and they have sold over 70 million records worldwide. Black Sabbath were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005 and they have also won two Grammy Awards for Best Metal Performance. Following the break-up of their previous band Mythology in 1968, guitarist Tony Iommi and drummer Bill Ward sought to form a blues rock band in Aston. The new group was named the Polka Tulk Blues Band, the name taken either from a brand of talcum powder or an Indian/Pakistani clothing shop. The Polka Tulk Blues Band featured slide guitarist Jimmy Phillips, a friend of Osbournes. After shortening the name to Polka Tulk, the band changed their name to Earth and continued as a four-piece without Phillips. Iommi became concerned that Phillips and Clarke lacked the dedication and were not taking the band seriously. Rather than asking them to leave, they decided to break up. While the band was performing under the Earth title, they recorded several demos written by Norman Haines such as The Rebel, Song for Jim, the demo titled Song for Jim was in reference to Jim Simpson. Jim Simpson was a manager for the bands Bakerloo Blues Line, Simpson was also a trumpet player for the group Locomotive
22.
Eric Clapton
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Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is the only inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, once as a solo artist and separately as a member of the Yardbirds. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important, Clapton ranked second in Rolling Stone magazines list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time and fourth in Gibsons Top 50 Guitarists of All Time. He was also named number five in Time magazines list of The 10 Best Electric Guitar Players in 2009, in the mid-1960s Clapton left the Yardbirds to play with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers. Furthermore, he formed rock band Blind Faith with Baker, Steve Winwood. For most of the 1970s Claptons output bore the influence of the style of J. J. Cale. His version of Marleys I Shot the Sheriff helped reggae reach a mass market, two of his most popular recordings were Layla, recorded with Derek and the Dominos, and Robert Johnsons Crossroads, recorded with Cream. Following the death of his son Conor in 1991, Claptons grief was expressed in the song Tears in Heaven, Clapton has been the recipient of 18 Grammy Awards, and the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. In 2004 he was awarded a CBE at Buckingham Palace for services to music, in 1998, Clapton, a recovering alcoholic and drug addict, founded the Crossroads Centre on Antigua, a medical facility for recovering substance abusers. Clapton was born on 30 March 1945 in Ripley, Surrey, England, to 16-year-old Patricia Molly Clapton and Edward Walter Fryer, Fryer shipped off to war prior to Claptons birth and then returned to Canada. The similarity in surnames gave rise to the belief that Claptons real surname is Clapp. Years later, his mother married another Canadian soldier and moved to Germany, Clapton received an acoustic Hoyer guitar, made in Germany, for his thirteenth birthday, but the inexpensive steel-stringed instrument was difficult to play and he briefly lost interest. Two years later Clapton picked it up again and started playing consistently, Clapton was influenced by the blues from an early age, and practised long hours to learn the chords of blues music by playing along to the records. He preserved his practice sessions using his portable Grundig reel-to-reel tape recorder and his guitar playing was so advanced that, by the age of 16, he was getting noticed. Around this time, Clapton began busking around Kingston, Richmond, in 1962, Clapton started performing as a duo with fellow blues enthusiast David Brock in pubs around Surrey. When he was seventeen years old, Clapton joined his first band, an early British R&B group and he stayed with this band from January until August 1963. In October of that year, Clapton did a stint with Casey Jones & the Engineers. In October 1963, Clapton joined the Yardbirds, a rock and roll band
23.
Kylie Minogue
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Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE, often known simply as Kylie, is an Australian singer, songwriter, dancer and actress. She achieved recognition starring in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, where she played tomboy mechanic Charlene Robinson, since then, Minogue has been a recording artist and has achieved commercial success and critical acclaim in the entertainment industry. Minogue has been recognised with several nicknames including Princess of Pop. She is recognised as the highest-selling Australian artist of all time by the Australian Recording Industry Association, born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, Minogue has for many years worked and lived in London. She signed to PWL in 1987 and released her first studio album Kylie the next year, in 1992, she left PWL and signed with Deconstruction Records and where she created her self-titled studio album and Impossible Princess, both of which received positive reviews from critics. Returning to more mainstream dance-oriented music, Minogue signed to Parlophone and her 2001 single Cant Get You Out of My Head became one of the most successful singles during the 2000s, selling over ten million units. It is recognised as her song and was named the catchiest song ever by Yahoo. Her album Fever was a hit in countries, including the United States. In 2005, while Minogue was on her Showgirl, The Greatest Hits Tour, after treatment, she resumed the tour under the title Showgirl, The Homecoming Tour, which critics viewed as a triumph. Minogue resumed work as an actress and appeared in the films Moulin Rouge, Jack & Diane, and Holy Motors. In 2014, she appeared as a judge on the series of The Voice UK. Her other ventures include product endorsements, children books and fashion, as of 2015, Minogue has had worldwide record sales of more than 80 million. She has mounted several successful and critically acclaimed concert world tours and she was appointed OBE by Charles, Prince of Wales in 2008. She was appointed by the French government as a Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for her contribution to the enrichment of French culture, Minogue was awarded an honorary Doctor of Health Science degree by Anglia Ruskin University for her work in raising awareness for breast cancer. In November 2011, on the 25th anniversary of the ARIA Music Awards, in December 2016, Billboard ranked her as the 18th most successful dance artist of all-time. Kylie was born to Ronald Charles Minogue and Carol Ann Jones in Melbourne, Australia and her father is a fifth generation Australian, and has Irish ancestry, while her mother came from Maesteg, Wales. Jones had lived in Wales until age ten when her mother and father, Millie and Denis Jones, just before Kylies birth, Ron qualified as an accountant and worked through several jobs while Carol worked as a professional dancer. Kylies younger brother, Brendan, is a cameraman in Australia, while her younger sister Dannii Minogue is also a singer
24.
Shakira
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Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll is a Colombian singer, songwriter, dancer, and record producer. Born and raised in Barranquilla, she began performing in school, demonstrating Latin American, Arabic, Shakira entered the English-language market with her fifth album, Laundry Service. Its lead single, Whenever, Wherever, became the single of 2002. Shakiras eighth and ninth albums, She Wolf and Sale el Sol and her official song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Waka Waka, became the biggest-selling World Cup song of all time. With over 1.3 billion views, it is one of the music videos on YouTube. Shakira served as a coach on the fourth and sixth seasons of the American version of The Voice in 2013 and 2014 and her tenth album, Shakira, is preceded by its lead single, Cant Remember to Forget You. She carries out well-known philanthropic activities through charity work most notably through her Pies Descalzos Foundation, in 2014, she was listed as the 58th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes. Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll was born on 2 February 1977 in Barranquilla and she is the only child of Nidia Ripoll Torrado and William Mebarak Chadid. Her paternal grandparents emigrated from Lebanon to New York City, where her father was born and her father then emigrated to Colombia at age 5. The name Shakira is Arabic, from which language it translates as grateful and it is the feminine form of the name Shakir. From her mother, she has Spanish and Italian ancestry, although both of her mothers surnames are Spanish and she was raised Roman Catholic and attended Catholic schools. She has eight older half-siblings from her fathers previous marriage, as she was growing up, she was fascinated watching her father writing stories on a typewriter, and asked for one as a Christmas gift. She got that typewriter at the age of seven, and has continued writing poetry since then and these poems eventually evolved into songs. She started dancing on the table, and the experience made her realize that she wanted to be a performer and she enjoyed singing for schoolmates and teachers at her Catholic school, but in second grade, she was rejected for the school choir because her vibrato was too strong. The music teacher told her that she sounded like a goat, at school, she was often sent out of the class because of her hyperactivity. She says she had also known as the belly dancer girl. Thats how I discovered my passion for live performance, she says, to instill gratitude in Shakira for her upbringing, her father took her to a local park to see orphans who lived there. The images stayed with her, and she said to herself, as noted below, she eventually did exactly that
25.
Linkin Park
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Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the rose to international fame with their debut album Hybrid Theory. Their following studio album Meteora continued the success, topping the Billboard 200 album chart in 2003. In 2003, MTV2 named Linkin Park the sixth-greatest band of the video era. Billboard ranked Linkin Park No.19 on the Best Artists of the Decade chart, in 2012, the band was voted as the greatest artist of the 2000s in a Bracket Madness poll on VH1. In 2014, the band was declared as the Biggest Rock Band in the World Right Now by Kerrang. Having adapted nu metal and rap metal to a radio-friendly yet densely layered style in Hybrid Theory and Meteora, the album topped the Billboard charts and had the third-best debut week of any album that year. The band continued to explore a wider variation of musical types in their album, A Thousand Suns, layering their music with more electronic sounds. Their fifth album, Living Things, combines elements from all of their previous records. Their sixth album, The Hunting Party, returned to a rock sound. Their upcoming album One More Light is expected to be released May 19,2017, the band has collaborated with several other artists, most notably with rapper Jay Z in their mashup EP Collision Course, and many others on the remix albums Reanimation and Recharged. Linkin Park has sold over 70 million albums worldwide and has won two Grammy Awards, Linkin Park was founded by three high school friends, Mike Shinoda, Rob Bourdon, and Brad Delson. The three attended Agoura High School in Agoura Hills, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. After graduating from school, the three began to take their musical interests more seriously, recruiting Joe Hahn, Dave Phoenix Farrell. Though limited in resources, the began recording and producing songs within Shinodas makeshift bedroom studio in 1996, resulting in a four-track demo tape. Tensions and frustration within the band grew however after they failed to land a record deal, the lack of success and stalemate in progress prompted Wakefield, at that time the bands vocalist, to leave the band in search of other projects. Farrell also left to tour with Tasty Snax, a Christian punk, Bennington, formerly of a post-grunge band by the name of Grey Daze, became a standout among applicants because of the dynamic in his singing style. The band then agreed on changing its name from Xero to Hybrid Theory, in 1999 the band released a self-titled extended play, which they circulated across internet chat-rooms and forums with the help of an online street team
26.
Nickelback
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Nickelback is a Canadian rock band formed in 1995 in Hanna, Alberta, Canada. The band is composed of guitarist and lead vocalist Chad Kroeger, guitarist, keyboardist and backing vocalist Ryan Peake, bassist Mike Kroeger, and drummer Daniel Adair. The band went through a few drummer changes between 1995 and 2005, achieving its current form when Adair replaced drummer Ryan Vikedal. S. of the 2000s, behind The Beatles. Billboard ranks them the most successful group of the decade, their song How You Remind Me was listed as the best-selling rock song of the decade. They were listed number seven on the Billboard top artist of the decade, the band signed with Roadrunner Records in 1999 and re-released their once-independent album The State. The band achieved success with the release of their 2000 album The State. Following the release of Silver Side Up the band released their biggest and most known hit today, How You Remind Me which peaked number 1 on the American and Canadian charts at the same time. The bands album Dark Horse was a success which produced eight singles, one of which peaked on the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, in 2011, the band released their seventh album Here and Now which again topped the charts. Their eighth studio album No Fixed Address was released on 17 November 2014, the band is based in Vancouver, Canada. The bands original domestic signing was with EMI Canada and they subsequently obtained an American deal with global distribution via Roadrunner Records. For the release of their album, the band parted from EMI Canada. The band was formed in the early 1990s as a band called the Village Idiots by Chad Kroeger, Ryan Peake, Mike Kroeger. The band performed covers of songs from Led Zeppelin and Metallica, Chad Kroeger then asked his step-father to give him $4,000 so that the band could record their first demo, a seven-track EP of original material, called Hesher. In 1996, the recorded and released their first full-length album. Fly was included on both Hesher and Curb and was the first single produced by Nickelback, in 1997, Brandon Kroeger left the band and the band searched for a new drummer. Later that year Mitch Guindon joined the band, but he decided to leave in 1998 because he started working in a car company, in Summer 1998, Ryan Vikedal joined the band. Roadrunner A&R Ron Burman told HitQuarters that one of his West Coast scouts sent him the album and, suitably impressed. Although an unknown property in the industry at the time, the venue was packed out, in Burmans words, I immediately got the chills
27.
Eminem
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Marshall Bruce Mathers III, known professionally as Eminem, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Eminem is the best-selling artist of the 2000s in the United States, throughout his career, he has had 10 number-one albums on the Billboard 200 and five number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. Globally, he has more than 172 million albums, thus being one of the worlds best-selling artists. Rolling Stone ranked him 83rd on its list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and they were followed by Encore in 2004, another critical and commercial success. Eminem went on hiatus after touring in 2005, releasing Relapse in 2009, both won Grammy Awards and Recovery was the best-selling album of 2010 worldwide, the second time he had the international best-selling album of the year. Eminems eighth album, 2013s The Marshall Mathers LP2, won two Grammy Awards, including Best Rap Album, it expanded his record for the most wins in that category and his Grammy total to 15. In addition to his career, Eminem is an original member of the Midwest hip hop groups Soul Intent. He is also known for his collaborations with fellow Detroit-based rapper Royce da 59, Eminem has developed other ventures, including Shady Records, with manager Paul Rosenberg, which helped launch the careers of artists such as 50 Cent. Eminem has also established his own channel, Shade 45, on Sirius XM Radio. In November 2002, he starred in the hip hop film 8 Mile, Eminem has made cameo appearances in the films The Wash, Funny People, The Interview and the television series Entourage. Eminem was born on October 17,1972, in St. Joseph, Missouri, Debbie was 14 when she met 18-year-old Bruce, at age 17, she nearly died during her 73-hour labor. Eminems parents were in a band called Daddy Warbucks, playing in Ramada Inns along the Dakotas–Montana border before their separation, Bruce left the family, moving to California and having two other children, Michael and Sarah. Debbie had son Nathan Nate Kane Samara on February 3,1986, during his childhood, Eminem and Debbie shuttled between Michigan and Missouri, rarely staying in one house for more than a year or two and living primarily with family members. In Missouri, they lived in places, including St. Joseph, Savannah. As a teenager Eminem wrote letters to his father, according to Debbie, friends and family remember Eminem as a happy child, but a bit of a loner who was often bullied. One bully, DeAngelo Bailey, severely injured Eminems head, Debbie filed a lawsuit against the school in 1982, Eminem spent much of his youth in a working-class, primarily black, Detroit neighborhood. He and Debbie were one of three white households on their block, and Eminem was beaten by black youths several times, as a child he was interested in storytelling, aspiring to be a comic-book artist before discovering hip hop. Eminem heard his first rap song on the Breakin soundtrack, a gift from Debbies half-brother Ronnie Polkinghorn, when Polkinghorn committed suicide in 1991, Eminem stopped speaking for days and did not attend his funeral
28.
Rihanna
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Robyn Rihanna Fenty is a Barbadian singer, songwriter, and actress. Born in Saint Michael and raised in Bridgetown, she first entered the industry by recording demo tapes under the direction of record producer Evan Rogers in 2003. She ultimately signed a contract with Def Jam Recordings after auditioning for its then-president. She assumed creative control for her studio album Good Girl Gone Bad. Its successful lead single Umbrella became a breakthrough in her career. After releasing four consecutive platinum albums, including the Grammy Award winner Unapologetic. Her eighth studio album Anti and its lead single Work reached number-one on the Billboard 200, with sales exceeding 230 million records worldwide, Rihanna is one of the best-selling artists of all time. Widely recognized for reinventing her style, she received the Fashion Icon lifetime achievement award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 2014. Forbes ranked Rihanna the fourth most powerful celebrity of 2012, and was named one of Times 100 Most Influential People in the World later that year, Robyn Rihanna Fenty was born on February 20,1988, in Saint Michael, Barbados. Her mother, Monica, is an accountant of African American background. Rihanna has two brothers, Rorrey and Rajad Fenty, and two half-sisters and a half-brother from her fathers side, each born to different mothers from his previous relationships. She grew up in a bungalow in Bridgetown and sold clothes with her father in a stall on the street. Rihannas childhood was affected by her fathers addiction to crack cocaine. As a child, she went through a lot of CT scans for the excruciating headaches she suffered, even thought it was a tumor, by the time she was fourteen, Rihanna’s parents had divorced and her health began to improve. Rihanna grew up listening to music and began singing at around the age of seven. She attended Charles F. Broome Memorial Primary School and Combermere High School, Rihanna was an army cadet in a sub-military programme, the singer-songwriter Shontelle was her drill sergeant. Although she initially wanted to graduate high school, she chose to pursue a musical career instead. In 2003, Rihanna formed a trio with two of her classmates
29.
Andrea Bocelli
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Andrea Bocelli, OMRI, OMDSM is an Italian classical crossover tenor, recording artist, and singer-songwriter. Born with poor eyesight, Bocelli became permanently blind at the age of 12, Bocelli has recorded fifteen solo studio albums, of both pop and classical music, three greatest hits albums, and nine complete operas, selling over 80 million records worldwide. He has had success as a crossover performer bringing classical music to the top of international pop charts, in 1998, Bocelli was named one of Peoples 50 Most Beautiful People. In 1999, Bocelli was nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards, the Prayer, his duet with Celine Dion for the animated film Quest for Camelot, won the Golden Globe for Best Original Song and was nominated for an Academy Award in the same category. Seven of his albums have reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200. The single went on to sell twelve million copies worldwide. Bocelli was born to Alessandro and Edi Bocelli, doctors had advised Bocellis parents to abort Bocelli before birth as they predicted, based on studies, that Bocelli would be born with a disability. The Bocellis declined and gave birth to Andrea and it was evident at birth that Bocelli had numerous problems with his sight, and after visits to many doctors, he was diagnosed with congenital glaucoma. Bocelli has stated that his mothers decision to give birth to him and overrule the doctors advice was the inspiration for him to hold a pro-life view towards abortion. Bocelli grew up on his familys farm, where they sold farm machinery and made wine in the village of La Sterza. Bocellis mother and younger brother Alberto still live in the family home, as a young boy, Bocelli showed a great passion for music. His mother has said music was the only thing that would comfort him. At the age of 6, Bocelli started piano lessons, and later, also learned to play the flute, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, guitar and drums. Then, when his nanny, Oriana, gave him the first record of Franco Corelli, Bocelli began to show interest in pursuing the career of a tenor, by seven, he was able to recognize the famous voices of the time and tried to emulate the great interpreters. At the age of 12, Bocelli lost his sight completely following an accident during a football game and he was hit in the eye playing goalkeeper during a match and suffered a brain hemorrhage. Doctors resorted to leeches in an effort to save his sight, but they were unsuccessful. Bocelli also spent time singing during his childhood and he gave his first concert in a small village not far from where he was born. At the age of 14, Bocelli won his first song competition, after finishing secondary school in 1980, he studied law at the University of Pisa
30.
Metallica
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Metallica is an American heavy metal band based in San Rafael, California. The band was formed in 1981 in Los Angeles when vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield responded to an advertisement posted by drummer Lars Ulrich in a local newspaper, Metallicas current line-up comprises founding members Hetfield and Ulrich, longtime lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo. Guitarist Dave Mustaine and bassists Ron McGovney, Cliff Burton and Jason Newsted are former members of the band, the bands fast tempos, instrumentals, and aggressive musicianship placed them as one of the founding big four bands of thrash metal, alongside Anthrax, Megadeth, and Slayer. The band expanded its musical direction and achieved commercial success with its eponymous fifth album Metallica. The album was also their first to debut at number one on the Billboard 200, in 2000, Metallica joined with other artists who filed a lawsuit against Napster for sharing the bands copyright-protected material without consent from the band. A settlement was reached and Napster became a pay-to-use service, the band returned to its original musical style with the release of Death Magnetic, and in 2009, Metallica was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Metallica has released ten albums, four live albums, five extended plays,26 music videos. The band has won eight Grammy Awards and six of its albums have debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The bands eponymous 1991 album has sold over 16 million copies in the United States, Metallica ranks as one of the most commercially successful bands of all time, having sold over 110 million records worldwide. Metallica has been listed as one of the greatest artists of all time by many magazines, including Rolling Stone, in 2012, Metallica formed the independent record label Blackened Recordings and took full ownership of its albums and videos. The band is currently promoting Hardwired. to Self-Destruct, which was released on November 18,2016, guitarists James Hetfield and Hugh Tanner of Leather Charm answered the advertisement. Although he had not formed a band, Ulrich asked Metal Blade Records founder Brian Slagel if he could record a song for the upcoming compilation album Metal Massacre. Slagel accepted and Ulrich recruited Hetfield to sing and play rhythm guitar, the band was officially formed in October 1981, five months after Ulrich and Hetfield first met. Ulrich talked to his friend Ron Quintana, who was brainstorming names for a fanzine, Quintana had proposed the names MetalMania and Metallica. A second advertisement was placed in The Recycler for a position as lead guitarist, Dave Mustaine answered, Ulrich and Hetfield recruited him after seeing his expensive guitar equipment. In early 1982, Metallica recorded its first original song Hit the Lights for the Metal Massacre I compilation, Hetfield played bass on the song and Lloyd Grant was credited with a guitar solo. Metal Massacre I was released on June 14,1982, early pressings listed the band incorrectly as Mettallica, the bands first taste of live success came early, they were chosen to open for British heavy metal band Saxon at one gig of their 1982 US tour. Metallica recorded its first demo, Power Metal, an inspired by Quintanas early business cards in early 1982
31.
Kanye West
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Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, fashion designer, and entrepreneur. Intent on pursuing a career as a rapper, West released his debut album The College Dropout in 2004 to widespread critical and commercial success. He went on to pursue a variety of different styles on subsequent albums Late Registration, Graduation, and 808s & Heartbreak. In 2010, he released his fifth album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy to rave reviews from critics, West released his abrasive sixth album, Yeezus, to further critical praise in 2013. His seventh album, The Life of Pablo, was released in 2016, Wests outspoken views and life outside of music have received significant mainstream attention. He has been a frequent source of controversy for his conduct at award shows, on social media and he is the founder and head of the creative content company DONDA. His 2014 marriage to television personality Kim Kardashian has also been subject to media coverage. He has won a total of 21 Grammy Awards, making him one of the most awarded artists of all time, three of his albums have been included and ranked on Rolling Stones 2012 update of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list. He has also included in a number of Forbes annual lists. Time named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2005 and 2015, West was born on June 8,1977 in Atlanta, Georgia. His parents divorced when he was three years old, after the divorce, he and his mother moved to Chicago, Illinois. His father, Ray West, is a former Black Panther and was one of the first black photojournalists at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Ray West was later a Christian counselor, and in 2006, opened the Good Water Store and Café in Lexington Park, Maryland with startup capital from his son. West, was a professor of English at Clark Atlanta University, West was raised in a middle-class background, attending Polaris High School in suburban Oak Lawn, Illinois after living in Chicago. At the age of 10, West moved with his mother to Nanjing, China, according to his mother, West was the only foreigner in his class, but settled in well and quickly picked up the language, although he has since forgotten most of it. When asked about his grades in school, West replied, I got As. West demonstrated an affinity for the arts at an early age and his mother recalled that she first took notice of Wests passion for drawing and music when he was in the third grade. Growing up in Chicago, West became deeply involved in its hip hop scene and he started rapping in the third grade and began making musical compositions in the seventh grade, eventually selling them to other artists
32.
Sting (musician)
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Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, CBE, better known by his stage name Sting, is an English musician, singer, songwriter, and actor. He was the songwriter, lead singer, and bassist for the new wave rock band The Police from 1977 to 1984. He has included elements of rock, jazz, reggae, classical, new-age and he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Police in 2003. In 2000, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for recording, in 2003, Sting received a CBE from Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace for services to music, and was made a Kennedy Center Honoree at the White House in 2014. He was awarded the Polar Music Prize in 2017, with The Police, Sting became one of the worlds best-selling music artists. Solo and with The Police combined, he has sold over 100 million records, in 2006, Paste ranked him 62nd of the 100 best living songwriters. He was 63rd of VH1s 100 greatest artists of rock, and he grew up near Wallsends shipyards, which made an impression on him. At eight or ten years old, he was inspired by the Queen Mother waving at him from a Rolls-Royce to divert from the shipyard prospect towards a more glamorous life. He helped his father deliver milk and by ten was obsessed with an old Spanish guitar left by a friend of his father. He attended St Cuthberts Grammar School in Newcastle upon Tyne and he visited nightclubs such as Club AGogo to see Cream and Manfred Mann, who influenced his music. After being a bus conductor, building labourer and tax officer, he attended Northern Counties College of Education from 1971 to 1974 and he taught at St Pauls First School in Cramlington for two years. Sting performed jazz in the evening, weekends and during breaks from college and he played with the Phoenix Jazzmen, Newcastle Big Band, and Last Exit. He gained his nickname after his habit of wearing a black, bandleader Gordon Solomon thought he looked like a bee, which prompted the name Sting. In the 1985 documentary Bring on the Night a journalist called him Gordon, to which he replied, My children call me Sting, my mother calls me Sting, in Time in 2011 he said, I was never called Gordon. You could shout Gordon in the street and I would just move out of your way, in January 1977, Sting moved from Newcastle to London and joined Stewart Copeland and Henry Padovani to form The Police. From 1978 to 1983 they had five UK chart-topping albums, won six Grammy Awards and their initial sound was punk-inspired, but they switched to reggae rock and minimalist pop. Their final album, Synchronicity, was nominated for five Grammy Awards including Album of the Year and it included their most successful song, Every Breath You Take, written by Sting, in 1983. While never formally breaking up, after Synchronicity the group agreed to concentrate on solo projects, as the years went by, the band members, particularly Sting, dismissed the possibility of reforming
33.
David Guetta
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Pierre David Guetta is a French DJ, record producer, remixer, and songwriter. He co-founded Gum Productions with Lisa Dodgson and released his first album, Just a Little More Love, later, he released Guetta Blaster and Pop Life. The 2011 follow-up album, Nothing but the Beat, continued this success, containing the hit singles Where Them Girls At, Little Bad Girl, Without You, Titanium, and Turn Me On. He is among the first DJs to get into the EDM scene and is known as the Grandfather of EDM, Guetta has sold over nine million albums and 30 million singles worldwide. In 2011 Guetta was voted as the number one DJ in the DJ Mag Top 100 DJs fan poll, in 2013, Billboard crowned When Love Takes Over as the number one dance-pop collaboration of all time. Pierre David Guetta was born in Paris, France in 1967, to a Moroccan Jewish father, Guetta began to DJ at the Broad Club in Paris. He first played songs, and he discovered house music when he heard a Farley Jackmaster Funk track on French radio in 1987. The next year, he began hosting his own club nights, in 1990, he released Nation Rap, a hip-hop collaboration with French rapper Sidney Duteil. In the mid-1990s Guetta played in clubs including Le Centrale, the Rex, Le Boy, released in 1994 Guettas second single, a collaboration with American house vocalist Robert Owens titled Up & Away, was a minor club hit. In 1994, Guetta became the manager of Le Palace nightclub and he continued to organise parties there and in other clubs, such as the Scream parties in Les Bains Douches. In 2001, Guetta along with Joachim Garraud founded Gum Productions, Willis was vacationing in France when he met Guetta. Guettas debut album Just A Little More Love was released in 2002 on Virgin Records, the follow-up singles, were released in 2002. Guetta released a compilation, F*ck Me Im Famous, in 2003 and it included Just for One Day, a remix of David Bowies song Heroes. Later in his career, Guetta continued recording compilations under that title, Guettas second album, Guetta Blaster, was released in 2004. It released four singles, Money and Stay featuring Chris Willis and The World Is Mine, in 2006 the Just a Little More Love single Love Dont Let Me Go was re-released as a mash-up with the Tocadisco remix of Walking Away by The Egg. The mash-up single entitled Love Dont Let Me Go was charted higher than the release of the song. In 2007, Guettas third album Pop Life was released, the album was successful in the UK and Ireland as well as in mainland Europe. According to EMI in 2010, the album has sold a total of 530,000 copies worldwide, the lead single Love Is Gone reached Number 1 on the American Dance Chart and charted on the Billboard Hot 100
34.
Armin van Buuren
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Armin van Buuren is a Dutch DJ, record producer and remixer. Since 2001, Van Buuren has hosted a radio show called A State of Trance. According to Djs And Festivals, the radio show propelled him to stardom, Van Buuren has won a number of accolades. He has been ranked the No.1 DJ by DJ Mag a record of five times and he is currently ranked No.4 on DJ Mag list for 2016. In the United States, he holds the record for most entries, twenty-one and his 2008 studio album, Imagine, entered the Dutch album chart at No. 1, a first for a trance artist in Dutch music history, Armin van Buuren was born in Leiden, Netherlands, on 25 December 1976, but grew up in Koudekerk aan den Rijn. Van Buuren started making music when he was 14 and he was inspired by French electronic music composer Jean-Michel Jarre. Van Buuren graduated from the Stedelijk Gymnasium Leiden in 1995, and he began working as a DJ in Club Nexus, playing multiple sets a week, most of which lasted six or more hours. In 1999, he met Dave Lewis who introduced him as a DJ in England, as his musical career began to take off he put his law degree on hold, although he returned to graduate from law school in 2003. On 18 September 2009, Van Buuren married Erika van Thiel and their daughter Fenna was born in July 2011. Van Buuren announced just hours before he was due to headline the main stage at Tomorrowland that his wife had given birth to a son, in 2011, Van Buuren was appointed Officer of the Order of Orange Nassau for his services to music. In 1996, Armin released EP and Push on Timeless Records, Van Buuren had his first major success with a track called Blue Fear, which was released under the Cyber Records label in 1997. Another successful track, Communication, was released under the label and became popular in Ibiza. After being signed to AM PM Records, this track entered the UK Singles Chart at No.18 in 2000, in the beginning of 1999, Van Buuren started his label Armind together with United Recordings. The first release, Gig – One, was well received, the second release, Touch Me under the name Rising Star, was signed to Ministry of Sound in the UK, before the record was released. By the time of his release, Gimmick – Free was signed to R&S Records. During this year, he remixed the first two singles of Gouryella and, under the guise of Rising Star, produced a remix of LEsperanza, in 2000, Van Buuren started his own Armin van Buuren compilation series. He found a balance between proper progressive house, and vocal trance music styles and his first compilation album, A State of Trance, sold 10,000 copies and contains Van Buurens remix of Moogwai, Viola
35.
KCON (music festival)
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KCON is an annual Korean wave convention held in different locations across the world, organized by Powerhouse Live, Mnet Media, CJ E&M and Koreaboo. It started in 2012 and is based in Southern California but expanded to the East Coast and Japan in 2015. Koreaboo broke news that in 2016, KCON would be expanding into Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates with the set for March 25,2016 and in Paris. In 2017, KCON announced that they will be hosting their first KCON Mexico at the Mexico City Arena on March 17 and 18,2017. Koreaboo again broke news that KCON would be expanding to Australia for the first time, KCON is produced by Powerhouse Live and organized by the South Korean music label and entertainment agency Mnet America. It was created in 2012 by K-Pop media company, Koreaboo in partnership with Mnet America, during KCON ‘12, Mnet Medias Ted Kim was interviewed by journalist Michael Holmes from CNN to discuss about the rise of K-Pop in the United States. On June 21,2016, Euny Hong reported in the Wall Street Journal that the North American KCONs, CJ E&Ms American CEO Angela Killoren said they are more interested in a long term goal of raising Koreas brand value than short-term gain. Numbers are important but what more is the potentials created by the event for the next five,10 and 20 years. Shin added that the goals were increasing the growth of products and services to the global market by expanding partnerships with Korean small. KCON ‘12 was held on October 13 at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Irvine, music artists invited to perform include 4Minute, B. A. P, Exo-M, Nuest, VIXX, and G. NA. Jeff Yang of The Wall Street Journal reported that KCON ‘12 attracted over 20,000 people, KCON ‘13 was held from August 24 to 25 at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. The lineup included K-Pop artists EXO, 2AM, Teen Top, f, G-Dragon, Crayon Pop, Dynamic Duo, Yu Seung Woo and it also included rapper Missy Elliott, who is featured on one of G-Dragons singles. Super Junior-Ms Henry Lau performed and spoke at a panel, KCON14 was held on August 9–10, returning for a second year to Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. The artist lineup included B1A4, BTS, CNBLUE, G-Dragon, Girls Generation, IU, Jung Joon-young, Spica, Teen Top, and VIXX. The two nightly concerts were shown on the weekly K-pop cable television show, M. Countdown,2 Nights in LA broadcast on Mnet America in the U. S. and in multiple countries. Korean gaming channel OnGameNet also organized a League of Legends Champion Festival, the convention doubled attendance from the previous year, with 42,000 attending. Of those 42,000, nearly 40 percent come from outside California, most were female, KCON15 expanded outside the United States for the first time and was held in Japan at the Saitama Super Arena. M. I. Bs Korean-Japanese vocalist KangNam was the events ambassador, the convention/outdoor stage featured Korean artists CODE-V, High4, Shu-I, Tahiti, and 5tion
36.
BTS (band)
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BTS, also known as Bangtan Boys, is a seven-member South Korean boy band formed by Big Hit Entertainment. Their name in Korean, Bangtan Sonyeondan, and Japanese, Bōdan Shōnendan, a year after their debut, they received major bonsang awards for their subsequent albums Dark & Wild and The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Part 1. The Most Beautiful Moment In Life, Part 2 also charted at number one on the Billboard World Albums Chart and remained there for multiple weeks, making BTS the first K-pop act to achieve that feat. The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Young Forever went on to win the coveted Album of the Year award at the 2016 Melon Music Awards and this win marked BTSs first daesang, or grand prize, since their debut. The group continued to surpass themselves with the release of their full album, Wings. The albums title track, Blood Sweat & Tears, became the groups first domestic number one hit on the Gaon Digital Chart, Wings went on to sell more than 1.5 million copies, making it BTSs first million seller. To date, BTSs discography has sold an estimated 4 million albums worldwide, known for their large social media presence, BTS were listed by Forbes as the most retweeted artist on Twitter in March 2016. Following that, Twitter launched its first ever K-pop Twitter emoji featuring BTS, in October 2016, Billboard placed BTS as #1 on their Social 50 chart, making them the first Korean group to top the chart. Just a year later, BTS went on to win the 2016 Mnet Asian Music Award for Artist of the Year, in 2017, BTS ranked #5 on Forbes Korea Power Celebrity list, a list ranking Koreas most powerful and influential celebrities. BTSs first members were recruited through Big Hits Hit it auditions in 2010 and 2011, the original lineup went through several changes before the final group of members was established in 2012. Before debuting in 2013, Rap Monster was already performing as a rapper and had released several tracks informally. Jin had been an arts student at Konkuk University before being streetcast for auditions. J-Hope, who was part of a dance team named NEURON, was active in the underground dancing scene, participating in various battles. Before joining Big Hit, Jimin entered Busan High School of Arts as the top student in modern dance, but later transferred to Korea Arts High School with V, who auditioned in Daegu. Jungkook was cast by seven agencies after leaving auditions for Superstar K, the first album of BTSs school trilogy series and their debut single album,2 Cool 4 Skool, was released on June 13,2013 with the lead single No More Dream. Their debut album won them several New Artist of the Year awards, including those at the 2013 MelOn Music Awards and Golden Disk Awards, on September 11, BTS released their first mini-album, O. RUL8,2. They also starred in their own variety show, SBS-MTVs Rookie King Channel Bangtan, the premise of the show was based on a fake broadcast station, Channel Bangtan, through which the members parodied variety shows such as VJ Special Forces and MasterChef Korea. Rookie King Channel Bangtan premiered its eight-episode run on September 3,2013, the third part of the school trilogy, their second mini-album Skool Luv Affair, was released on February 12,2014
37.
Kim Tae-yeon
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Kim Tae-yeon, more often credited only as Taeyeon, is a South Korean singer. Born in Jeonju, North Jeolla, Taeyeon was a trainee at S. M, entertainments Starlight Academy during middle school and debuted as a member of S. M. Entertainments girl group Girls Generation in 2007, since then, she has risen to prominence thanks to the groups success on the Asian music scene and further participated in S. M. Entertainments projects Girls Generation-TTS and SM the Ballad, aside from group activities, she has also recorded tracks for various television dramas and movies. In October 2015, Taeyeon debuted as a solo artist with her first extended play and it peaked at number two on South Koreas Gaon Album Chart and spawned the single with the same name, which peaked atop the Gaon Digital Chart and has sold over one million digital copies. Her second extended play, Why, debuted at one on the Gaon Album Chart. Following her debut, she was awarded Best Female Artist at the Mnet Asian Music Awards, in 2016, Gallup Korea ranked her as the most popular idol of 2016, the year before she was ranked third. Also in 2016, Forbes Korea listed her among their Top 40 Power Celebrities of the year, Taeyeon was born on March 9,1989 in Jeonju, South Korea. Her family consists of her parents, a brother and a younger sister. Having believed that she was talented at singing, Taeyeon harbored the dream of becoming a singer at a young age. During her second year in school, Taeyeon accompanied her father to SM Academy. During the next year, Taeyeon accompanied her father from their hometown to Seoul on every Sunday to receive her vocal lessons and she named BoA, Whitney Houston and Utada Hikaru as her pre-debut inspirations. Taeyeon was trained with her former instructor, known professionally as The One. That same year, she won first place at the SM Youth Best Competition, the training process was so tough that it nearly made her quit at one point. She continued on with her training, however, and debuted as a member of girl group Girls’ Generation in August 2007, the group gained significant popularity after the release of their hit single “Gee” in 2009. Taeyeon graduated from Jeonju Art High School and was awarded with the schools Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008, apart from Girls Generations activities, Taeyeon has appeared in several solo appearances. She first contributed her vocal to “7989”, a track taken from both Girls Generations eponymous debut album and Kangtas fourth studio album, Eternity. The former song was perceived to have more popular than its respective drama
38.
Girls' Generation
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Girls Generation, also known as SNSD, is a South Korean girl group formed by S. M. The group is composed of eight members, Taeyeon, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona, originally a nine-piece group, Girls Generation debuted in 2007 with their Korean eponymous debut album. Girls Generation further consolidated their popularity on the South Korean music scene with follow-up singles Tell Me Your Wish, Oh. and Run Devil Run, in mid-2010, Girls Generation signed with Nayutawave Records to venture into the Japanese music scene. The groups third Korean studio album The Boys was released in October 2011, an English version of the single The Boys was released by Interscope Records in an attempt to expand the groups endeavor to the global music scene. Their fifth Korean studio album, Lion Heart, was released in 2015, Girls Generations signature musical styles are characterized as electropop and bubblegum pop, though their sounds have varied widely, incorporating various genres including hip hop, R&B, and EDM. They have sold over 4.4 million albums and 30 million digital singles as of 2012, the groups immense popularity in their native country South Korea has earned them numerous accolades and the titles The Nations Singers and The Nations Girl Group. Girls Generation is also deemed one of the prominent figures of the Korean Wave and they are the first Asian girl group to achieve five music videos with over 100 million views on YouTube, Gee, I Got a Boy, The Boys, Mr. Taxi, and Oh. Because their name consists of Chinese roots, the name is similar in Chinese and Japanese, in Japan the groups name is pronounced as Shōjo Jidai. Prior to the debut, some of the members were already involved in the entertainment industry. Yoona had gone through about 200 auditions for music videos, dramas, Sooyoung was exposed to the Japanese music scene as a member of a pop duo named Route θ, which disbanded one year after its debut in 2002. The first member of the group to join S. M, entertainments training system was Jessica in 2000, after she and her sister, Krystal Jung, were scouted in a mall in South Korea during a family vacation. That same year, members Sooyoung and Hyoyeon were cast into S. M. s training system through the 2000 S. M, Open Audition, in which Hyoyeon danced for her audition. Yuri was the next Girls Generation member to become an S. M. trainee after coming second in the 2001 S. M, Yoona was cast the following year through the 2002 S. M. Saturday Open Casting Audition, where she sang and danced to her favorite singers, BoA, Seohyun, the groups youngest member, was scouted in the subway by an S. M. scout, she then auditioned in 2003, singing childrens songs. The groups leader, Taeyeon, was cast in 2004 after winning first place in the S. M and that same year, member Tiffany auditioned at S. M. s Starlight Casting System in Los Angeles, and joined the company in October 2004. The final member of the group to be added was Sunny, at Starworld, she trained to debut in a duo named Sugar, which never debuted. In 2007, on the recommendation of Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki, Entertainment and became a member of Girls Generation. In July 2007, Girls Generation had their first stage performance on Mnets School of Rock, on August 5,2007, the group officially made their debut on SBSs Inkigayo, where they performed the same song
39.
Cho Kyuhyun
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Cho Kyu-hyun, better known mononymously as Kyuhyun, is a South Korean singer and actor. He is best known as a member of South Korean boy group Super Junior, Super Junior-M and a former member of the South Korean ballad group S. M. the Ballad. He is one of the first four Korean artists to appear on Chinese postage stamps, Kyuhyun was born in Nowon, a district in Seoul. Kyuhyun has a sister named Cho Ara. Kyuhyuns father is in the business and owns a school. Kyuhyuns mother also runs an art academy and a guesthouse called MOM House located at Myeongdong, Kyuhyun was initially urged to study law and would have been a lawyer if he had not become a singer. His original plans were abandoned once Kyuhyun joined a band in high school and his father was against his dream of singing but allowed him to do so if he did well on his college entrance exams and was accepted into a university. Kyuhyun enrolled in Kyunghee University with a major in Post-Modern Music and he received his bachelors degree in 2013 and is currently enrolled in the universitys masters program. Kyuhyun won third place at the Chin Chin Singing Competition in 2005, in March 2006, SM Entertainment began to recruit new members for the next generation. However, plans changed and the company declared a halt in forming future Super Junior generations, following his addition to the group, they dropped the suffix 05 and became officially credited as Super Junior. Kyuhyun made his first appearance as a model of Super Junior in a news broadcast on 23 May 2006 where the group introduced their new single. His debut performance was on 27 May at SBSs I-Concert with U, the CD single U was released on 7 June 2006 and was their most successful single until the release of Sorry, Sorry in March 2009. In November 2006, Kyuhyun, along with Yesung and Ryeowook, was placed in Super Juniors first subgroup, the trio specialize in ballads and debuted on 5 November on KBSs Music Bank. Kyuhyun made contributions to the soundtrack of the tvN drama Hyena, released in November 2006, along with fellow member Ryeowook, Kyuhyun was featured in song Wish, in labelmate TVXQs repackaged edition of Mirotic in 2008. In April 2008, Kyuhyun was put into the seven-member sub-group Super Junior-M and they debuted in China at the 8th Annual Music Chart Awards with the release of their first music video, U on 8 April 2008. This was followed by the release of the debut Chinese-language studio album, Kyuhyun also collaborated with The Grace in early 2008 to perform Just For One Day for The Graces first album Hanbeon Deo, OK. In July 2009, Kyuhyun sang his first solo track and he was featured on Yoo Youngsuks 20th anniversary tribute album, with a remake of Yoos song 7 Years of Love. He first performed it on 12 July 2009 on the television programme Yoo Hee Yeols Sketch Book, the song was released as a digital single and on Yoos album on 30 June, with all proceeds going to UNICEF
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Super Junior
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Super Junior, also known as simply SJ or SUJU, is a South Korean boy band. Formed in 2005 by producer Lee Soo-man of S. M, Entertainment, the group comprised a total of thirteen members at its peak. Super Junior originally debuted with twelve members, consisting of leader Leeteuk, Heechul, Hangeng, Yesung, Kangin, Shindong, Sungmin, Eunhyuk, Siwon, Donghae, Ryeowook, Kyuhyun joined the group in 2006. Super Junior launched into international recognition following the release of their best-selling single Sorry, Sorry in 2009, over the years, they have been divided into smaller groups, simultaneously targeting different music industries and audiences. Largely due to Super Juniors success as entertainers, other Korean entertainment managements began to train their music groups in areas of entertainment. Super Junior is the best-selling K-pop artist for four years in a row, in 2012, they were nominated for Best Asian Act in MTV Europe Music Awards. In 2015, they won the International Artist and Best Fandom in the Teen Choice Awards, in 2000, SM Entertainment held their first overseas casting auditions in Beijing 101, China and recruited Hankyung, who auditioned against three thousand applicants. That same year, Leeteuk, Yesung, and Eunhyuk were recruited after auditioning for the companys annual casting system in Seoul, Sungmin and Donghae became trainees after jointly winning first place in an SM-sponsored contest in 2001. In 2002, Heechul and Kangin were recruited along with Kibum, Siwon became a trainee after being scouted in 2003. Shindong became a trainee in 2004, Ryeowook won the 2004 Chin Chin Youth Festival singing competition and became a trainee just two months before debut in 2005. Kyuhyun then joined the group in 2006, after winning third place in the 2005 Chin Chin Youth Festival, in early 2005, Lee Soo-man announced that he had been preparing for an all-boy project group of twelve members to debut at the end of the year. He called this group to be The Gateway to Stardom of Asia, as most of the members in this group were chosen for their experiences as actors, MCs, models. Heechul and Kibum were already established actors at the time, and most of the members had already made various kinds of appearances in television. This concept was then introduced to the K-pop market. For a while the group was rumoured to be called O. V. E. R, however, before the group settled with their current name, the company simply referred to them as juniors, a representation of the members young ages when they first became SM trainees. Super Junior 05 made their performance on the Korean channel Mnet on September 11,2005. At the showcase, they performed various styles of hip-hop dancing, Hankyung, Eunhyuk, and Donghae also performed a separate dance together, dancing to Ushers Caught Up. However, the performance did not air on television until May 16,2006 as a segment in the Super Junior Show, the group officially debuted on SBSs music program Popular Song on November 6,2005, performing their first single Twins
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Monsta X
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Monsta X is a South Korean hip hop boy group formed by Starship Entertainment through the survival show NO. MERCY on Mnet in 2015. The group is composed of seven members, Shownu, Wonho, Hyungwon, Kihyun, Jooheon, Minhyuk, the group was formed as the result of a TV program called No Mercy on Mnet, which began running in December 2014. A single released during No Mercy was 0, on February 4,2015 starring Giriboy, Mad Clown, and Jooyoung along with Jooheon, Kihyun, Wonho, Seokwon, and I. M. Interstellar was a released on February 12,2015 with Jooheon, Hyungwon. Monsta X signed an endorsement deal with apparel brand Litmus before debut, on May 14, Monsta Xs debut music video for Trespass was released. A reality web series titled Deokspatch, starring the NO. MERCY trainees, was part of the promotional effort, the song Rush was released on September 1,2015 followed by a music video for their second mini album, Rush. During Trespass era, Monsta X got 2nd place on The Show and during Rush era, Monsta X filmed a commercial for My Little TVing Stick which aired on November 19. Monsta Xs Hyungwon modeled on the Runway of SS2016 Seoul Fashion Week, on December 11, The Korean Girl Scouts Association revealed that MONSTA X would be their 7th promotional ambassadors. They also performed at part 2 of the KCONs Los Angeles event, Monsta X returned as LITMUS models. Members Kihyun and Hyungwon made regular appearances on a radio show, Monsta X placed #10 on the Top 13 Best-Selling Idol Debut Albums from Year 2012-2016 with 31,085 albums sold in 2015. They also had 1st generation official fan club recruitment, on 160616 Boy Group Fancafe Ranking, Monsta X was #23. Before the comeback, Monsta X was trending in Korea, Indonesia, Monsta Xs third mini album The Clan Part. 1 LOST was released on May 18 with the title track All In, the album was #5 on Billboards World Albums Chart and stayed for 2 consecutive weeks on it. Monsta X surpassed 1 million views on YouTube in 24 hours, topped Hanteo Chart in Korea, also, they were placed on #4 on German K-pop monthly chart. They were nominated for #1 only after first week of comeback Monsta X ranked #9 on 2016 Gaon Chart 2nd Quarter Album Overall Ranking with 81,655 physical sales. All seats for Monsta Xs first live concert MONSTA X THE FIRST LIVE X CLAN ORIGINS sold out in less than just 5 minutes right after ticket sales opened. In June 2016, Monsta X placed #12 on Brand Big data Reputation for Kpop boy group and had the high-growth of 167. 46%, MONSTA X tested their mainstream recognition by dressing up as employees of G25 convenient store in Sangam-dong. In July, Monsta X performed at Seoul Prime Concert in Bangkok, Monsta Xs Chinese fan club Monstaxfree received an award at Yinyuetai
