Berlin

For fans of electronic music - and the far-reaching wave of style and pop culture that followed in the wake of the 80s - Berlin vocalist Terri Nunn is an icon. As the charismatic vocalist for a band that virtually launched electronic dance rock in the U.S., Terri earned the No. 11 spot on VH1’s list of the "100 Greatest Women in Rock." It might come as a surprise then to hear that Terri (who inspired legions of modern female rockers) was first inspired by male role models like Robert Plant and David Bowie. "The first artists that changed my brain about what I wanted to do were men," Terri confesses. "On stage they were really loud, powerful, sexy and irreverent. The guys seemed to have a lot more fun than any of the girls I saw." But Terri’s perception shifted when she discovered the artistry of three very distinct women in rock: Grace Slick, Anne Wilson and Stevie Nicks. "Grace Slick was really like a guy on stage, and she showed me the role I wanted in a rock band," Terri explains. "Anne Wilson also had an incredible vocal power and presence, because she was very influenced by Robert Plant. Stevie Nicks was femininity and mystery in the midst of the rock world, and I wanted that, too."

Still performing and recording more than 20 years after the release of the groundbreaking debut, Pleasure Victim, Terri and Berlin are currently touring in support of 4Play, the group’s impressive 10th release. An eclectic and ambitious album, 4Play is comprised of new material along with both electronic and alternative rock covers from a first rate selection of artists - David Bowie, Depeche Mode and industrial-Goth icon Marilyn Manson, to name a few. With a mix of both studio and live recordings, 4 Play is everything you’d expect from Berlin, a band that continues to explore and perfect a sound they pioneered over two decades ago. "Although we didn’t realize it at the time," Terri recalls, "Berlin’s early sound was the start of modern electronic music. That sound has morphed into industrial, trance and now electroclash. Bands like Interpol, Fisherspooner and Goldfrapp are actually direct descendents of what we were doing in the '80s."