Celebrate the Nun

Celebrate the Nun was a German synth-pop band founded by H.P. Baxxter, Rick J. Jordan, Britt Maxime (sister of H.P.) and Slin Tompson (Nils Enghusen, formerly with the P.O.X.[1]) in 1985.

Celebrate the Nun
H. P. Baxxter
H. P. Baxxter
Background information
OriginHanover, West Germany
Genres
Years active1985–1992
LabelsWestside Music
EMI Electrola
Metronome
Enigma Records
C47 Digital
A45 Music
Twenty Ten Music
MembersH.P. Baxxter
Rick J. Jordan
Britt Maxime
Slin Tompson

Biography

The band released its first album Meanwhile in 1989. Their debut single "Ordinary Town" became a minor hit. However, their second single "Will You Be There" reached number five on the Billboard Dance Play chart on 23 June 1990. Their third single "She's a Secretary" peaked at number twelve on 8 December on the same chart. Slin Tompson left the band in 1990 to start a solo project. In 1991, the band released its second album Continuous, but this was less successful due to a decline in the popularity of synthpop. Because of this, the group disbanded in 1992. Soon afterwards, H.P. Baxxter and Rick J. Jordan teamed up with Baxxter's cousin Ferris Bueller to form Scooter. They had asked Britt to join the band as female vocalist, but she declined due to wanting to take a break from music. This would fall to Rick's wife Nikki instead. Scooter had originally been envisioned as a short-term project but when their second single "Hyper Hyper" became a hit, it was decided that they would be a full-time band.

In 1998, Slin Tompson "reformed" the group as Celebrate the None with Phoen X and Skye Burns.[2] He also teaches drums at the music school Fit in Music in Garbsen.[3]

Out of print for years, Celebrate the Nun's entire discography was made available on iTunes in 2009. This includes all remixes that had previously appeared on singles. In addition, Slin Tompson made two of his private recordings available on his website, these being the band's early demo tape, and a live show from 1987.

Baxxter and Jordan have occasionally been asked about their new wave past in interviews. Baxxter in particular remembers this period fondly, but acknowledges that the band needed to pursue more modern dance music in order to remain relevant. Scooter have occasionally done songs in a similar style to Celebrate the Nun, an example being their cover of the Chameleons' "Second Skin", from their album Under the Radar Over the Top. The "Dark Side" bonus disc that appears with the limited edition of that album was also acknowledged as a reference to this period.

Members
  • H.P. Baxxter – lead vocals, guitar (1985–1992)
  • Rick J. Jordan – keyboards (1985–1992)
  • Britt Maxime – vocals, electronic drum, keyboards (1985–1992)
  • Slin Tompson – drums, percussion, keyboards (1985–1990)

Discography

Albums
  • Meanwhile (1989)
  • Continuous (1991)

Singles

Official bootlegs
  • Live 1987 @ Hanover Capitol
  • Unreleased Songs & Side Projects (the band's demo tape and other tracks)

Bibliography

Matthias Blazek: Das niedersächsische Bandkompendium 1963–2003 – Daten und Fakten von 100 Rockgruppen aus Niedersachsen. Celle 2006, pp. 34–35 ISBN 978-3-00-018947-0

References
  1. fitinmusic.de Archived 1 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine: Nils Enghusen profile: "Mit 15 gründete er 'The P.O.X'." (engl.: At the age of 15 he formed P.O.X.)
  2. Celebrate the None discography at Discogs
  3. "Fit in Music", Garbsen music school Archived 19 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
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