Singer songwriter and actress TERRI DUNN is best known for being one of the creators and the front person for the 80s band BERLIN. One of the female pioneers in an industry so heavily dominated by men, Terri tells us how difficult it is to be a woman in the music industry due in part to the amount of traveling required. She says that the pandemic allowed her to spend more time with her daughter, who had become depressed and she is very grateful for the opportunity to rekindle their relationship. 

Terri Dunn is a woman who has survived the music industry for 45 years and this week she shares the genesis of the band and the music itself.  

Terri tells us the band grew out of a group called The Toys, formed in 1978 in Orange County, California, by John Crawford (bass guitar), Dan Van Patten (drums), Chris Ruiz-Velasco (guitar), and Ty Cobb (vocals). After a few shows, the band changed its name to Berlin, discharging Cobb as lead singer in the process. After a brief stint with Toni Childs as lead singer, Terri Nunn joined the band after answering an ad through the Musicians Contact Service in Hollywood in 1979. Despite its name, Berlin did not have any known major connections with the capital of Germany; the name was chosen to make them seem European and exotic. They were inspired by the keyboard work of Kraftwerk, Devo, Sparks and The Screamers.

The band’s first single, 'A Matter of Time,' was released in 1979 and the group appeared on television for the first time. Nunn left the group later that year to pursue an acting career forcing the band to replace her.. The band released the 1980 album ‘Information', without her but the band struggled to sign with a mainstream label so by later that year, Berlin had effectively broken up.

Terri Nunn rejoined the band as singer in 1980 and they released a double A-sided single, 'Tell Me Why' / 'The Metro'. The single was intended as a one-off, since Crawford was by then focusing on his new band and regarded Berlin as a side project. However, the single was a success, helping to finance the EP album, Pleasure Victim.

In 1984, the band released their next album, Love Life, and the single 'No More Words', whose subsequent video saw Terri Nunn and bandmates re-enact a Bonnie and Clyde-style car chase and shoot-out, became their first top-20 hit. 'Take My Breath Away' (from the movie Top Gun) became their best-selling single in 1986 and a huge international hit, but also their last big hit.

The band's sound was innovative at the time, incorporating synthesisers in a way that hadn't been heard before in America. This innovation caught the attention of MTV in 1982, providing Berlin with a larger platform to showcase their music and garnering more significant attention. The success of the band was undoubtedly influenced by Terri's captivating presence in their videos, drawing in fans and solidifying Berlin's prominence in the music scene.

During our conversation Terri delves into her experiences joining Berlin and how opportunity and passion intertwined. Grateful for the chance to be part of such a revolutionary musical project, Terri discusses auditioning for John Crawford under false pretences and the importance of following one's dreams to overcome challenges and explore new opportunities.

Now, after more than 40 years apart, the original trio has reunited and are making music again.

I wanted music so much, it scared me. - Terri Nunn

For more information about Berlin and Terri Nunn head for the band's website https://www.berlinpage.com/

To contact me with feedback, comments or suggestions for other interviewees, go to my website https://abreathoffreshair.com.au

I hope you enjoy this week's episode - a conversation with Terri Nunn from 80s band Berlin.