A pair of dark grey nylon stockings.

A stocking (also known as hose, especially in a historical context) is a close-fitting, variously elastic garment covering the foot and lower part of the leg. Stockings vary in color, design and transparency. By analogy, the term is also used to describe a type of horse marking in which the white coloring extends from the horse's hoof to just above the knee.

Today, stockings are primarily worn by women for fashion and aesthetics, usually in association with mid-length skirts. They can also be worn for increased warmth. They are also sometimes worn by men, and in cross-dressing and fetishism.

History[link]

Historically, even though the word sock is at least as ancient in origin, what men normally wore were often referred to as stockings, probably especially when referring to longer hose at times when they were the fashion for men.^[1] The word stock used to refer to the bottom "stump" part of the body, and by analogy the word was used to refer to the one-piece covering of the lower trunk and limbs of the 15th century—essentially tights consisting of the upper-stocks (later to be worn separately as knee breeches) and nether-stocks (later to be worn separately as stockings). (See Hose.)

Before the 1590s, stockings were made of woven cloth. The first knitting machines were for making stockings.^[2] The stockings themselves were made of cotton, linen, wool or silk. A polished cotton called lisle was common, as were those made in the town of Balbriggan.

Before the 1920s, women's stockings, if worn, were worn for warmth. In the 1920s, as hemlines of women's dresses rose, women began to wear stockings to cover the exposed legs. These stockings were sheer, first made of silk or rayon (then known as "artificial silk"), and after 1940 of nylon. The first pantyhose made an appearance in the 1940s and 1950s, when film and theater productions had stockings sewn to the briefs of actresses and dancers, according to actress-dancer Ann Miller^[3] and seen in popular films such as Daddy Long Legs. Today, stockings are commonly made using knitted wool, silk, cotton or nylon (see hosiery). The introduction of pantyhose in 1959 provided a convenient alternative to stockings, and the use of stockings declined dramatically. In 1970, U.S. sales of pantyhose exceeded stockings for the first time, and has remained this way ever since.^[4]

Benefits and drawbacks[link]

Stockings are sometimes preferred to pantyhose for a number of reasons. These may include the perception that stockings, and the associated use of garters, lace, high fashion, appliqué and the exposure of the thigh, are more aesthetically pleasing, or sexually attractive, than pantyhose. They are also regarded as cleaner and healthier, while pantyhose tends to create a humid and warm environment in the crotch area, increasing perspiration and potentially promoting fungal and bacterial growth. Stockings, on the other hand, provide ventilation in the crotch, resulting in a reduction of fungal and bacterial growth.

However, stockings have a drawback in colder weather, because more skin is exposed to the cold compared to pantyhose. Also, pantyhose does not require garters and garter belts, does not need to be adjusted as much, and leaves a smoother line under form-fitting clothing.

Support[link]

A garter belt with guipure lace

Stockings can be held up in one of three ways:

• A garter belt (AmE), or suspender belt (BrE), is the most common way of holding up stockings. It is a piece of lingerie worn around the waist like a belt which has "suspenders" or "stays" that clip to the tops of the stockings to hold them in place.

A woman wearing stay-up stockings held up by elastic

• "Stay-ups" is the second most common means of support. The inside of the top of the stockings has a band (typically silicone) of elastic or highly tractive material that resists slipping down the thigh. Stay-ups have drawbacks because there is no consistent sizing for differences in thigh circumference, resulting in some stockings either falling down or being too tight, leaving red marks and possibly aggravating varicose veins.

• A garter is the least common means of support. It is slipped over the top of the stocking to hold the stocking by essentially clamping it to the leg. These are the garters typically seen at weddings. They have much the same disadvantages as "stay-ups".

Terminology[link]

In modern usage, stocking specifically refers to the form of women's hosiery configured as two pieces, one for each leg (except for American and Australian English, where the term can also be a synonym pantyhose). The term hold-ups and thigh highs refers to stockings that stay up by the use of built-in elastic, while the word stockings is the general term or refers to the kind of stockings that need a suspender belt (garter belt, in American English), and are quite distinct from tights or pantyhose (American English).

Other terms used with stockings include:

• Cuban heel: A stocking with a heel made with folded over and sewn reinforcement.
• Demi-toe: Stockings which have a reinforced toe with half the coverage on top as on the bottom. This results in a reinforcement that covers only the tip of the toes as opposed to the whole toe. These can be with or without a reinforced heel.
• Denier: The lower the denier number the sheerer the garment. Stockings knitted with a higher denier tend to be less sheer but more durable.
• Fishnet: Knitted stockings with a very wide open knit resembling a fish net.

Fishnet hoisery

• Fencenet: Similar to fishnet, but with a much wider pattern. These are sometimes worn over another pair of stockings or pantyhose, such as matte or opaque, with a contrasting colour. Sometimes referred to as whalenets.
• Full Fashioned: Fully fashioned stockings are knitted flat, the material is then cut and the two sides are then united by a seam up the back. Fully fashioned stockings were the most popular style until the 1960s.
• Hold-ups or Stay-ups: Stockings that are held up by sewn-in elasticated bands (quite often a wide lace top band). In the US they are referred to as thigh-highs.
• Knee-Highs: Stockings that terminate at or just barely below the knee. Also known as half-stockings, trouser socks, or socks.
• Matte: Stockings which have a dull or non-lustre finish.
• Mock seam: A false seam sewn into the back of a seamless stocking.
• Nude heel: Stockings without reinforcement in the heel area.
• Opaque: Stockings made of yarn which give them a heavier appearance (usually 40 denier or greater).
• RHT: Abbreviation of reinforced heel and toe.
• Open-toed: Stockings that stop at the base of the toe with a piece that goes between the first and second toes to hold them down. They can be worn with some open-toed shoes, especially to show off pedicured toes.
• Sandalfoot: Stockings with a nude toe, meaning no heavier yarn in the toe than is in the leg.
• Seamed: Stockings manufactured in the old Full-Fashioned manner with a seam running up the back of the leg. In the past they were manufactured by cutting the fabric and then sewing it together. Today stockings are generally fully knitted and a fake or mock seam is added up the back for a particular fashion look.
• Seamless: Stockings knit in one operation on circular machines (one continuous operation) so that no seaming is required up the back.
• Sheers: Stockings generally of a 15 to 20 denier.
• Thigh-Highs: Stockings that terminate somewhere in the mid-thigh.
• Ultra Sheer: A fine denier fiber which gives the ultimate in sheerness. Usually 10 denier.
• Welt: A fabric knitted separately and machine-sewn to the top of a stocking. Knit in a heavier denier yarn and folded double to give strength for supporter fastening.

See also[link]

• Bodystocking
• Corset
• Leggings
• Sock
• Stocking fetishism
• Tabi

References[link]

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 

Further reading[link]

• Cox, Caroline (2000). Lingerie: a lexicon of style. Scriptum Editions. ISBN 1-902686-08-X.

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Stockings

• History of Nylon Stockings
• Stockings in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
• Images of stockings in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
• Children's Stockings

v t e Hosiery Lower leg Bobby socks Bootee Knee highs Leg warmer Loose socks Socks Tabi Toe socks Crew sock Dress socks Anklet Low cut Full leg Fully fashioned stockings Hold-ups Leggings Legskin Pantyhose Stocking Tights Historical Boothose · Hose Brands Aerie Aristoc Frederick's of Hollywood Gerbe Gilly Hicks Hanes HanesBrands Jockey International L'eggs Levante No Nonsense Pretty Polly Spanx Victoria's Secret VienneMilano Wolford

v t e Lingerie Upper torso Types of bras (History) Balconette brassiere • Bandeau • Cupless bra • Male bra • Nursing bra • Push-up bra • Sports bra • Training bra • Underwire bra Other Babydoll • Bustier • Camisole • Negligee • Torsolette Lower torso Bikini • Boyshorts • French knickers • Girdle • Girl boxers • Panties • Tanga • Tap pants • Thong (G-string) Full torso BodyBriefer • Corsage • Corset • Corselet • Nightshirt • Playsuit • Slip • Teddy Hosiery Garter • Knee highs • Pantyhose • Stocking Historical Basque • Bustle • Chemise • Crinoline • Farthingale • Hoop skirt • Liberty bodice • Pannier • Pantalettes • Petticoat • Pettipants • Waist cincher • Yếm Accessories Falsies • Lingerie tape Brands Aerie • Agent Provocateur • American Apparel • Andrés Sardá • Baby Phat • Bali • Berlei • Bruno Banani • Calvin Klein • Chantelle • DKNY • Formfit • Frederick's of Hollywood • Fruit of the Loom • Gerbe • Gilly Hicks • Hanes • HerRoom • Intimissimi • Intimo Lingerie • Jockey • Jolidon • La Senza • Maidenform • No Nonsense • Olga Intimates • Passport Panties • Peach John • Playtex • Pretty Polly • Trashy Lingerie • Triumph International • Ultimo • Underalls • Valisere • Van de Velde • Vassarette • Victoria's Secret • Wacoal • Warner's • Wolford • Wonderbra • XTG Extreme Game

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En Vogue
Background information
Origin	Oakland, California, United States
Genres	R&B, Soul, Funk
Years active	1989–present
Labels	Atlantic, EastWest, Discretion Ent., 33rd Street, Rufftown Entertainment Group, Inc.
Members
Terry Ellis Cindy Herron Maxine Jones
Past members
Amanda Cole Rhona Bennett Dawn Robinson

En Vogue is an American female R&B^[1] vocal group from Oakland, California assembled by music producers Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy.^[2]

The group has won more MTV Video Music Awards than any other female group in MTV history, a total of seven, along with four Soul Train Awards, six American Music Awards, and seven Grammy nominations. According to Billboard Magazine they were the 18th most successful act of the 1990s, and one of the most popular and successful female groups of all time.^[3] En Vogue have accumulated over 2,800 weeks on various Billboard charts.^[4]

Group history[link]

Beginnings[link]

Assembled in Oakland, California in July 1989, En Vogue launched with original members Cindy Herron, Maxine Jones, Dawn Robinson and Terry Ellis. The inspiration for the group came when production duo of Foster and Mc Elroy envisioned a modern-day girl group in the tradition of the 1950s/1960s female trios. The blueprint was based on the plan of recruiting singers who possessed strong voices, noticeably good looks, and intelligence. Auditions were held in 1988, with Herron, Jones and Robinson making the final cut.^[5] Like previous girl groups, En Vogue was originally conceived as a trio, but after hearing Ellis audition, Foster and McElroy decided to create a quartet. At first, they selected the name "For You." They shifted to "Vogue", but ultimately settled on En Vogue, upon learning that another group had already claimed the Vogue moniker.

[edit] 1989–91: Born to Sing

After forming, the group began working with their producers on their debut album. Recording began in August 1989 and wrapped up in December of the same year.^[6] Born to Sing was released on April 3, 1990. The album charted at number twenty-one on the Billboard 200 and number three on Billboard's R&B Albums Chart. The first single, "Hold On," was released to radio in late February 1990 and became a crossover pop hit, reaching number two on Billboard's Hot 100 singles charts, and number one on both the R&B singles and Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts. It later went to #5 in the UK, and became a hit in Europe. The next two singles, "Lies" and "You Don't Have to Worry," each went to number one on the Billboard R&B charts, while the fourth and final single, "Don't Go," charted at number three on the Billboard R&B. The album was later certified platinum by the RIAA.

"Hold On" was awarded a Billboard Music Award for "R&B Single of the Year," a Soul Train Award for "R&B/Urban Contemporary Single of the Year, Group, Band or Duo" and have been nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group". In 1990, En Vogue signed an endorsement deal to appear in a Diet Coke commercial directed by Spike Lee.

[edit] 1992–94: Funky Divas and Runaway Love

En Vogue's second album, Funky Divas, was released in the spring of 1992. The album debuted at number eight on the Billboard 200 and number one on the Billboard R&B and ultimately doubled the take of its predecessor, going multi-platinum. The album's first two singles: "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)" and "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" both went top ten pop, and peaked at number one on the R&B charts. The next single, "Free Your Mind" also went top ten. The final two singles "Give It Up Turn It Loose" and "Love Don't Love You" both were top forty hits. The album went on to sell more than three million copies, won an American Music Award for "Favorite Soul/R&B Album," and was nominated for five Grammy Awards. The music video for "Free Your Mind" earned the group three MTV Video Music Awards for "Best Choreography," "Best Dance Video," and "Best R&B Video." They were also honored with Soul Train's prestigious "Entertainer of the Year Award." In addition to this, the group were featured in Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and Essence among other major publications. Riding high on the success of Funky Divas, a six-song EP entitled Runaway Love was released in the fall of 1993, spawning the hit "Runaway Love."

The group was signed to an endorsement deal with Converse, and were featured as an opening act on Luther Vandross' 1993 tour. Among the numerous countries toured were England, Germany, the Netherlands and France which confirmed the group's live vocal and performing prowess. However, according to an article in Vibe magazine, Vandross (by his own admission in interviews) and his entourage clashed with the members of En Vogue during the tour and he vowed never to work with them again afterwards. En Vogue also made numerous television appearances on such series as In Living Color, A Different World, Roc and Hangin' With Mr. Cooper (the latter two of which they also sang the show's theme songs.) In 1993, En Vogue were featured vocalists on Salt-N-Pepa's top ten hit "Whatta Man", from Salt-N-Pepa's Very Necessary album. The track also appeared (slightly edited) on En Vogue's Runaway Love EP.

[edit] 1994–98: The departure of Robinson and EV3

In 1995, En Vogue were amongst numerous female vocalists featured on the song "Freedom" for the soundtrack to Panther. Also in 1995, group member Terry Ellis recorded a solo album entitled Southern Gal, which spun off the top ten R&B single "Where Ever You Are."

En Vogue reunited in 1996 to record "Don't Let Go (Love)" for the soundtrack to the motion picture Set It Off. Released in the autumn, it became the group's biggest hit to date; the single peaked at number two on the Hot 100, number one on the R&B singles chart, and was certified platinum by the RIAA. It, inadvertently, would also be the final En Vogue single to feature Robinson. One of Robinson's final performances with her bandmates came in October of that year, when the group sang the final National Anthem rendition in the history of Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, which came in game five of the 1996 World Series. In response to the large commercial success of "Don't Let Go (Love)", the group steadfastly went to work on its third album. As the album was nearing completion, Robinson chose to leave the group in April 1997 after difficult contractual negotiations reached a stalemate. Despite Robinson's abrupt departure, En Vogue resolved to continue on as a trio (forcing the group to re-record some of the tracks on their forthcoming album that had originally featured her on lead vocals).

EV3, the group's third album, was released in the spring and debuted at number eight on both the Billboard 200 and the Billboard R&B charts. The first single, the Babyface-penned and produced "Whatever" went on to become a top-20 pop hit, a top ten R&B hit, while also peaking at number five on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. On August 26, 1997, the single was certified gold by the RIAA. The followup single "Too Gone, Too Long" (which was produced by David Foster and written by Diane Warren) performed more modestly, managing to only peak in the top forty. Despite its being certified platinum, and the album being nominated for Grammy Award and a Soul Train Lady of Soul Award, sales of EV3 failed to live up to full commercial expectation. A world tour had been planned, but was canceled due to poor ticket sales. In 1998, En Vogue recorded "No Fool No More" for the soundtrack to the motion picture, Why Do Fools Fall In Love as well as a version of I Want A Monster to Be My Friend for the Elmopalooza special on ABC. The following year, a greatest hits compilation, The Best of En Vogue, was released.

[edit] 2000–03: Masterpiece Theatre and new member

Masterpiece Theatre, the group's fourth studio album, was released in May 2000. The album debuted at number sixty-seven and thirty-three on the Billboard 200 and R&B Albums Charts respectively. The first (and only) single, "Riddle," peaked at number ninety-two and ninety-five on the Hot 100 and R&B charts. As a result of poor sales, En Vogue was dropped from the Elektra Record label.

In 2001, original member Maxine Jones left the group to focus on her family. As a result, Amanda Cole joined the group. Ellis, Herron and Cole released a holiday album, The Gift of Christmas. Soon after the holiday album, Cole too left the group and was replaced with Rhona Bennett. Meanwhile, Robinson's first solo CD Dawn was released in early 2002. During the latter part of 2003, En Vogue toured Europe with Maxine Jones rejoining the group to fill the place of Cindy Herron, who was on maternity leave.

[edit] 2004–07: Soul Flower and impromptu reunion

In 2004, En Vogue (now composed of Ellis, Herron and Bennett) released Soul Flower on independent label 33rd Street Records. While the album failed to chart on the Billboard 200, it managed to peak at number forty-seven on the R&B charts. The albums two singles: "Losin' My Mind" and "Ooh Boy", however, failed to chart. Soon after promotion had finished on this album, Maxine Jones returned to En Vogue, turning the group back into a quartet for the first time since 1996. The group teamed with Boyz II Men for select concert dates during the summer of 2004. That same year En Vogue graced the cover of R&B Showcase magazine.^[7]

In 2005, after an eight-year absence, Robinson rejoined En Vogue. The original four went on to sign with one of the industry's largest management firms, The Firm Management Group. That September, they joined Salt N Pepa for the girl groups' first-ever joint public performance of their 1994 hit, "Whatta Man" at VH-1's Hip Hop Honors, and briefly toured. They also earned another Grammy nomination for the single "So What the Fuss", which featured Stevie Wonder and Prince. The group also appeared in the single's music video. After failing to agree on business terms, Robinson once again chose to defect from En Vogue and Bennett returned. As a result, En Vogue was let go from The Firm. En Vogue continued to perform spot dates in North America with Terry Ellis, Maxine Jones, Cindy Herron and Rhona Bennett. This line-up also saw the group return to Europe and Japan for select concert dates. During this time, En Vogue teamed up with Belgian singer Natalia for a song called "Glamorous" where Rhona Bennett's vocals are featured. The single reached No.2 in the Belgian charts and was followed by a DVD release of the concert, which went double platinum.

2008–11: Robinson returns again[link]

On June 24, 2008, the original lineup of En Vogue appeared on the BET Awards, performing with Alicia Keys, SWV and TLC as a tribute to girl groups of the 1990s. With speculation abuzz, En Vogue received the twenty-eighth highest number of hits on the Rock on the Net website for the month of June 2008. The following month, the group ascended to the twelfth position. As of June 30, Robinson stated via an En Vogue Yahoo! fan site that she had indeed returned to En Vogue. On August 6, the original members appeared on Los Angeles' KTLA television station and announced that they have reunited and would do spot dates around the country during the latter part of 2008. The foursome kicked off the Americana at Brand Concert Series in Glendale, California that same evening.^[8] Furthermore, En Vogue performed at the 2009 Essence Music Festival, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. They continue to tour throughout the United States. In October 2010, the band performed their first UK show in 18 years in London.

On September 26, 2011, a new single called "I´ll Cry Later" was sent to select urban adult contemporary radio stations.^[9]

Robinson left En Vogue again in December 2011.^[10]

2012: No new album[link]

In March 2012, a lawsuit was filed by Wells Fargo Bank against Rufftown, Inc. for breach of contract.^{[citation needed]} On May 8, Cindy Herron announced on their official En Vogue Facebook page, that no new album is coming out.^{[citation needed]} En Vogue is touring in 2012.

Members[link]

• Note: those in bold are current members.

Television and film[link]

En Vogue has appeared in Sesame Street specials including Sesame Street's 25th Birthday: A Musical Celebration and Elmopalooza in 1998. In Sesame Street's 25th Birthday: A Musical Celebration, the four original members sang "Adventure" about their adventures with some of the Sesame Street characters. The second song was "I Want a Monster"; a song about having a monster as a playmate. It appeared on Elmopalooza and was recorded after Robinson's departure- featuring Terry Ellis, Maxine Jones and Cindy Herron.

In 1993, the group appeared in a "Wanda" sketch with Jamie Foxx on In Living Color.

In the 1995 film Batman Forever, they appeared in a cameo appearance as a group of prostitutes who want to seduce Batman, but are disappointed when it is Robin who shows up instead; Robinson also appeared as a holographic prostitute demonstrating how to assemble an appropriate outfit in the film Tank Girl.

En Vogue has also appeared in A Different World as a group of country bumpkin sisters who want to sing.

The group also appeared on more than one episode of the highly acclaimed Charles S. Dutton Fox 90's television show Roc, with one of the ladies playing a love interest of Rocky Carrol's character Joey who has to choose between staying with Joey or touring with the rest of the En Vogue ladies. En Vogue recorded a brand new theme song, entitled "Live Your Life Today" for Roc's later season's.

They also recorded the theme song for Season 1 of Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, along with Dawnn Lewis and Holly Robinson-Peete.

On May 11, 2009 the group appeared on ABC's The View to perform & announce their future reunion tour. On June 7, 2009 the group appeared on A&E Network's Private Sessions, performing select hits and discussing the group's past, present and future.

Discography[link]

Studio albums

• 1990: Born to Sing
• 1992: Funky Divas
• 1997: EV3
• 2000: Masterpiece Theatre
• 2002: The Gift of Christmas
• 2004: Soul Flower

EPs

• 1991: Remix to Sing
• 1993: Runaway Love

Awards[link]

See also[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

	Book: En Vogue
Wikipedia books are collections of articles that can be downloaded or ordered in print.

• En Vogue at Rock on the Net.
• En Vogue at Allmusic
• En Vogue On AOL
• En Vogue Videos

v t e En Vogue Terry Ellis Cindy Herron Maxine Jones Amanda Cole Rhona Bennett Dawn Robinson Albums Born to Sing (1990) Funky Divas (1992) EV3 (1997) Masterpiece Theatre (2000) The Gift of Christmas (2002) Soul Flower (2004) Other releases Remix to Sing (1991) Runaway Love (1993) Compilations Best of En Vogue (1999) Very Best of En Vogue (2001) Hold On and Other Hits (2005) The Essentials (2005) The Platinum Collection (2007) Don't Let Go: The Very Best of En Vogue (2010) Singles "Hold On" " Lies" " You Don't Have to Worry" " Don't Go" " Strange" "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)" "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" "Yesterday" "Free Your Mind" "Give It Up, Turn It Loose" "Love Don't Love You" "Runaway Love" "What Is Love" "Whatta Man" "Don't Let Go (Love)" " Whatever" "Too Gone, Too Long" "No Fool No More" "Hold On" (Remix) "Riddle" "Losin' My Mind" "Ooh Boy" Featured singles "Freedom (Theme from Panther)" (w/ Various Artists) "Free Your Mind" (w/ Sub7even) "So What the Fuss" (w/ Stevie Wonder & Prince) " Glamorous" (w/ Natalia) Related topics Discography Awards and nominations Foster & McElroy Book:En Vogue

Big Ass (บิ๊กแอส)
Big Ass at MTV fast Forward
Background information
Origin	Bangkok, Thailand
Genres	Thai rock (earlier materials) Nu metal (on Seven album) Metalcore (on Begins album) Rock
Years active	1997–present
Labels	Music Bugs(1997-2003) GMM Grammy(2004-present)
Associated acts	Bodyslam
Members
Ekarat Wongcharat Poonsak Jaturaboon Apichart Promraksa Pongpan Pollasit Kachorndej Promraksa

Big Ass is a Thai rock band. It was originally a pop rock band but the music moved toward hardcore punk in some of the band's recent works. Big Ass latest release is Love, their sixth album.

History[link]

Big Ass released their first album Not Bad in 1997 with music label Music Bugs. Their second and third album, XL and My World followed in 2000 and 2003. Big Ass won numerous awards for their work but attracted a rather limited group of audience during their first three albums. It left the old music label, Music Bugs, to join Genie Records label of GMM Grammy. Their fourth album Seven (signifying seven years in the music scene) was very successful in terms of awards and popularity. The album was recognized by both major music awards in Thailand: Season Awards, and Fat Awards ^[1] (See Awards section below). Popularity-wise, they were also voted the most popular artist by fellow artists in Fat Awards #3 and nominated for the most popular group in 4th Channel [V] Thailand Music Video Awards. Their fifth full album was Begins with hit songs such as Kha Noi Somkhuan Tai and Prom Li-Kit.

Besides their studio albums, Big Ass has a song in the special album Wan Fa Mai (วันฟ้าใหม่) celebrating New Year released around the end of 2005. The song Rao (เรา) in the album was performed by Big Ass together with Bodyslam.

In 2008, an original soundtrack for Thai movie Pid Term Yai Hua Jai Wawun (ปิดเทอมใหญ่ หัวใจว้าวุ่น, also known as Hormones) featured Big Ass. The band also appeared in the movie as themselves playing the song Kon Tai (ก่อนตาย) in a pub.^[2]

Origins of the name[link]

Student Weekly: The name of your band is a bit naughty. How did you come up with the name Big Ass?

Dax: Actually when we were students we used so many different names to book studio time that the owner would get confused if we were the same band. So we wanted to find a unique name to represent our band. When we looked around, the first thing that caught our attention was an ass. It seemed firm and sturdy just like rock music, the music we like. And we didn’t want just a normal ass, so we named the band Big Ass.

Members[link]

Ekarat "Dax" Wongcharat, lead vocals

The Thai names and nicknames are given in parentheses.

• Ekarat Wongcharat, alternatively Ekkarat Wongchalard (เอกรัตน์ วงศ์ฉลาด; Dax or Dag, แด็ก): lead vocals
• Poonsak Jaturaboon (พูนศักดิ์ จตุระบุล; Off, อ็อฟ): guitar, backing vocals
• Apichart Promraksa (อภิชาติ พรมรักษา; Moo, หมู): guitar, backing vocals
• Pongpan Pollasit (พงษ์พันธ์ พลสิทธิ์; Oak, โอ๊ก): bass guitar, backing vocals
• Kachorndej Promraksa (ขจรเดช พรมรักษา; Kob, กบ): percussion

Note: In early albums, the bass guitarist of the band was Ekarat Rattanapinta (เอกรัตน์ รัตนปิณฑะ; Ton, ต้น).

Discography[link]

• Not Bad (1997)
• XL (2000)
• My World (2003)
• Seven (July 2004)
• Begins (November 2006)
• Love (12 December 2008)

Awards[link]

• Best new artist for album Not Bad, 10th Season Awards (สีสัน อะวอร์ดส์), 1998
• Best rock duo or band, best rock album for My World, and best rock song Che Wit Lang Khwam Tai (ชีวิตหลังความตาย), 16th Season Awards, March 2004
• Duo or group artist of the year for My World, Fat Awards #2, April 2004 ^[3]
• Best rock group and best rock album for Seven, 17th Season Awards, March 2005
• Song of the year for Len Khong Soong, and most popular artist voted by other artists, Fat Awards #3, April 2005 ^[4]
• Best rock group, best rock album for Begins, and best rock song for Begins, 19th Season Awards, March 2007^[5]

In the news[link]

Ekarat Wongcharat, the leading vocal of Big Ass, made the headlines when a 17 year old men's magazine model nicknamed "Fai" appeared with her baby "Justin" and claimed that Wongcharat was the baby's father on February 2006. Allegedly they had sex when Fai was 16 years old, meaning that Wongcharat would be a child sex offender if the accusation was true. Wongcharat was subsequently arrested and released on bail on 27 February. While Wongcharat gave his blood sample for DNA testing in March, Fai and Justin did not give theirs until early May. On 10 May 2006 police announced that the result was negative. A retest performed by Khunying Pornthip Rojanasunand drew the same conclusion. Even through he is not the child's father, the trial for the underage sex offense remained. The trial began on 13 February 2007 and the court decision was announced on 21 March 2007. He received two years of a suspended sentence and must produce two anti-drug songs as pledged by the singer in exchange for a light sentence.^[6][7]

See also[link]

• Thai rock
• String (Thai pop)

References[link]

• eotoday.com Big Ass profile
• News of Fai's story coming to light, Dax's arrest, DNA test result (Thai only), DNA retest result

1. ^ Kitchana Lersakvanitchakul, Indy music recognised, The Nation, March 25, 2003
2. ^ Pid Term Yai Hua Jai Wawun (Hormones) movie
3. ^ Fat Awards #2 results (Thai only)
4. ^ Fat Awards #3 results (Thai only)
5. ^ Season's Picks, Outlook, Bangkok Post, March 28, 2007 (Google cache)
6. ^ Details of case presentation and court decision (Thai only)
7. ^ Popular rocker given suspended jail term for having sex with underage girl^{[dead link]}

Louise Minchin (born 8 September 1968^[3]) is an English journalist and presenter. She is currently working freelance within the BBC.

Early life[link]

Born Louise Mary Grayson in 1968 in Hong Kong (then a British colony), to a father who was a Major in the British Army, Minchin has a degree in Spanish from the University of St Andrews.

Broadcasting career[link]

Louise has worked for the Latin American section of the BBC World Service during a year in Argentina, the Today programme, Five and various local radio stations. In 2006 she toured the country in a converted bus meeting England fans as part of the World Cup coverage for BBC News.

She started work for Radio 5 Live in 1998, where she presented many of the main programmes including Drive and Breakfast. Since September 2003, she has been a regular BBC News channel presenter, initially working alongside Jon Sopel from 7pm-10pm. Minchin now presents from 2pm-5pm with Sopel. She currently shares this shift with Emily Maitlis. In 2006-07, she covered for Kate Silverton as relief presenter on BBC Breakfast, while she in turn was covering for main anchor Sian Williams. When Williams returned Minchin continued to appear on the programme, where she is now the main relief presenter. She is also one of the main relief presenters for the BBC News at One

Louise along with Colin Jackson presents the Sunday morning show Sunday Life on BBC One.

From 21 April 2008 Louise presented a weekday programme called Missing Live along with Rav Wilding. The programme was shown at 9:15am after BBC Breakfast on BBC One and ran for 4 weeks.

The show returned for a second 4 week run from 16 March 2009, and again in March 2010, highlighting both new cases and those previously featured with updates.

Also, from 2 November 2009, Louise presented four weeks of live broadcasts of 'Real Rescues' along with Nick Knowles.

Minchin also presented In the Know, a BBC sports magazine programme on Saturday mornings on BBC One during the 2004 Athens Olympics alongside co-presenter John Inverdale.

In April 2010 Minchin co-presented The One Show for a week alongside Chris Hollins while regular hosts Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley were unavailable.^[4] She covered again when the show returned in July 2010 for two weeks alongside Matt Baker and one episode with Matt Allwright.

From July 2010 she became the new weekend presenter of BBC Breakfast due to Susanna Reid leaving to present Sunday Morning Live.

On 12 December 2011 it was announced that Minchin would become a main presenter of BBC Breakfast when the programme moves to Manchester.^[5]

Minchin and Gethin Jones present documentary series Crime and Punishment, which began on BBC One on 12 March 2012.

Acting[link]

Louise has played herself reading the news in two BBC series, spy drama Spooks and the Torchwood mini-series Children of Earth.

Charity interests[link]

Louise is a supporter of SOS Children's Villages, an international orphan charity providing homes and mothers for orphaned and abandoned children. She currently supports the charity's annual World Orphan Week campaign which takes place each February.

Louise helped support Sense-National Deafblind and Rubella Association when she interviewed celebrity photographer Dave Hogan for Deafblind Awareness Week 2009. She is also hosting the Sense Annual Awards later on this year. Louise has also taken part in "Around the World in 80 days" for Children in Need.^[6] Louise is a great supporter of the charity Missing People, which provides support for missing children, vulnerable adults and families left in limbo.

Personal life[link]

She married gastropub owner David Minchin (born c. 1964) in June 1998 in Basingstoke.^[7] The couple have two daughters: Mia India, born July 2001; and Scarlett Isabella, born in September 2004. The couple were thrown out of the restaurant Hell's Kitchen featured on ITV after David complained to Marco Pierre White about the cold asparagus served to them.^[8] David has a set of bars called So Bars in Fulham and Richmond. He is a former pupil of the preparatory Marlborough House School in Hawkhurst.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• BBC Breakfast Profile
• Louise Minchin at the Internet Movie Database

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