Annabella Lwin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Annabella Lwin
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Lwin performing with Bow Wow Wow in Berlin, Germany in 1982
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Myant Myant Aye |
| Born | 31 October 1966 Rangoon, Burma |
| Origin | London, England, UK |
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| Years active | 1979–present |
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Annabella Lwin is an English-Burmese singer, songwriter, and record producer. She was born Myant Myant Aye on October 31, 1966. She is most famous for being the lead singer of the new wave band Bow Wow Wow.
Contents
Early Life
Lwin was born in Rangoon, Burma (now Yangon, Myanmar). Her father was Burmese and her mother was English.
Career with Bow Wow Wow
How the Band Started
In 1979, some members of the band Adam and the Ants decided to start a new group. Their manager, Malcolm McLaren, who had also managed the Sex Pistols, encouraged them. They needed a singer for their new band.
A talent scout named Dave Fishel heard 13-year-old Annabella Lwin singing at the dry cleaners where she worked. He thought she had a great voice and told McLaren to give her an audition. McLaren was impressed and she became the lead singer of the new band, Bow Wow Wow.
First Singles and Controversy
Bow Wow Wow signed with EMI Records in 1980. Their first single was called "C·30 C·60 C·90 Go!". It was the world's first-ever cassette single. At the time, many people recorded songs from the radio onto blank tapes. The song's lyrics seemed to encourage this, which was a controversial topic. Because of this, EMI did not promote the single very much.
Moving to RCA Records
Bow Wow Wow later moved to RCA Records. The band continued to create controversy. The cover of their first album, See Jungle! See Jungle! Go Join Your Gang Yeah, City All Over! Go Ape Crazy! (1981), was a recreation of a famous painting called Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe.
Because Annabella was only 14 at the time, the photo caused a lot of public discussion. It even led to an investigation by Scotland Yard after Lwin's mother complained. The band used the same photo for a later release, and the picture is now in the National Portrait Gallery in London.
The band's most famous song was "I Want Candy". It was a cover of a 1965 hit by the Strangeloves. The song became a top 10 hit in the United Kingdom in 1982. Lwin also began writing songs for the band's next album, When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going.
In September 1983, after a long tour in the United States, Lwin was suddenly fired from the band. She found out by reading about it in a music magazine.
Reunions and Later Years
In 1997, Lwin and bassist Leigh Gorman got back together for a U.S. tour as Bow Wow Wow. The band's original guitarist, Matthew Ashman, had passed away in 1995, so different guitarists filled in. They released a live album from this tour called Wild in the U.S.A..
In 2006, three Bow Wow Wow songs were featured in the movie Marie Antoinette, directed by Sofia Coppola. Lwin's style was also an inspiration for the main character in the film.
In 2010, the original band members, including drummer David Barbarossa, reunited for a special concert in London. It was a tribute to their late guitarist, Matthew Ashman.
Since 2012, there have been different versions of the band touring. Lwin continues to perform the band's classic songs, billed as "Annabella Lwin of the original Bow Wow Wow".
Solo Career
After leaving Bow Wow Wow, Lwin started a solo career. She released her first album, Fever, in 1986. One of the singles from the album, "War Boys", was a hit on the U.S. dance charts.
Over the years, she has worked with many different musicians and producers. She formed a band called Naked Experience and released singles in the 1990s. One of her songs, "Car ...", became a Top 10 dance hit in the UK.
In 2016, she released a new collection of songs called Willow Tree, which she wrote herself. She also takes part in charity concerts, including events for MusiCares, which helps musicians in need, and for animal welfare.
Personal Life
Lwin is a practicing Buddhist and follows the teachings of Soka Gakkai International. She currently lives in Los Angeles, California.
Discography
With Bow Wow Wow
- Your Cassette Pet (1980)
- See Jungle! See Jungle! Go Join Your Gang Yeah, City All Over! Go Ape Crazy! (1981)
- The Last of the Mohicans (1982)
- I Want Candy (1982)
- When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going (1983)
- Wild in the U.S.A. (1998)
- Your Box Set Pet (The Complete Recordings 1980–1984) (2018)
Solo
- Fever (1986)
- Super Boom!! (2012)
- Willow Tree (2016)
