APL is an abbreviation, acronym, or initialism that may refer to:

Organizations[link]

• Advanced Production and Loading, a Norwegian marine engineering company formed in 1993.
• Party of Labour of Albania, the sole legal political party in Albania during communist rule (1946–1991)
• Alliance for Progress and Freedom, Alliance pour le Progrès et la Liberté, a political party in Burkina Faso, a country in West Africa
• Amateur Poker League, a U.S. based amateur poker league that feeds into the World Poker Tour
• American President Lines, a Singapore-based container transportation and shipping company
• American Protective League, a WWI era pro-war organization
• American Premier League, A Twenty20 cricket league in United States of America
• Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University
• Association of Pension Lawyers - a group of lawyers who practice pension law in the UK
• Australian Premier League, an online football gaming league
• Irish Anti-Partition League

Computer related[link]

• APL (programming language), a computer programming language with specialized array processing capabilities
• Framewave, formerly the APL, the AMD Performance Library, a compiler library for AMD multi-core processors
• apl, file extension of the Monkey's Audio metadata file
• Address Prefix List, a DNS record type

Software licences[link]

• Adaptive Public License - an Open Source license from the University of Victoria
• AROS Public License, license of AROS Research Operating System, formerly Amiga Research Operating System
• Arphic Public License, license of freely available on Debian and Gentoo (Help:Multilingual support (East Asian))

Libraries[link]

• Aurora Public Library (Aurora, Ontario), in Canada
• Aurora Public Library (Aurora, Indiana), in the USA
• Austin Public Library

Science[link]

• Abductor pollicis longus muscle, in human anatomy, a muscle in the hand
• Acute promyelocytic leukemia, a subtype of acute myelogenous leukemia
• Applied Physics Letters, journal published by American Institute of Physics

Other[link]

• Poverty threshold, the section of people who can fulfil their minimum basic needs
• Aden Protectorate Levies, a militia force for local defense of the Aden Protectorate
• apl.de.ap, pseudonym of Allan Pineda Lindo, a member of hip hop group The Black Eyed Peas
• APL, United States Navy hull classification symbol for barracks craft
• Nampula Airport, Mozambique, from its IATA airport code
• APL is the name of an asteroid: 132524 APL
• Average Party Level, a term used in Role Playing Games such as Dungeons & Dragons
• Accreditation of Prior Learning (UK) refers to a reduction in the amount of study required to pass a degree, due to previous experience or study.
• All-Purpose Linotype, a fully manual linecasting machine similar to the Ludlow Typograph, built to compete with the Ludlow on point sizes too large for a conventional Linotype.

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (March 2011)

Angel Locsin
Born	Angelica Locsin Colmenares (1985-04-23) April 23, 1985 (age 27) Bulacan, Philippines
Occupation	Actress, Model, Producer
Years active	2002-present
Website
http://www.angellocsin.com.ph

Angel Locsin (born Angelica Colmenares;^[1] April 23, 1985) is a Filipina television and film actress, commercial model, film producer and fashion designer.

She starred in the fantasy-themed television series Mulawin in 2004. Soon after, she starred as the superheroine Darna in the TV adaptation of the Mars Ravelo comics. When her contract expired on March 2007, Locsin did not renew her contract with GMA Network and signed an exclusive contract with ABS-CBN.^[1]

Her first project under ABS-CBN was the television series Lobo. Locsin starred in her first box office movie under Star Cinema,^[2] Love Me Again,^[3] directed by Rory Quintos.^[4] In 2012, she starred in the film ÜnOfficially Yours which became her highest grossing film to date.

Early life and education[link]

Locsin was born in Santa Maria, Bulacan. Her parents separated when she was 14 years old and she has since lived with her father, Angelo Colmenares.^{[citation needed]}

Locsin had her elementary education in St. James College, Quezon City and finished high school at the University of Santo Tomas High School, Manila. In August 2007 she attended a short-course for fashion design at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London.

Locsin, despite being of Christian faith, is part of a Muslim Royal Family in Marawi City in the province of Lanao de Sur through her mother. Reports also said that Locsin's maternal grandfather is one of the 15 sultanates in Lanao del Sur.

Career[link]

Early work[link]

Locsin was discovered by a talent scout when she was shopping at SM City North EDSA in Quezon City.^[1] She then auditioned for several commercials. She was supposed to be a part of ABS-CBN's Star Circle Batch 9, but failed to sign a contract because her father opposed the idea.^{[citation needed]} In 2001, she became a contract star of GMA Artist Center, first appearing on the second season of teen-oriented series,Click. Locsin was also included in the cast of Ang Iibigin Ay Ikaw Pa Rin. In 2004, she starred in All Together Now.

GMA Network[link]

On August 2, 2004, Locsin starred in Mulawin, where she portrayed "Alwina". The show ended on March 18, 2005.

After Mulawin, Locsin played the title role ("Darna") in the fantasy television series Ravelo's Darna. Since then, she has worked in TV commercials and endorsements, as well as film projects.

From March through September 2006, Locsin starred in another fantasy television series, Majika. She played the role of Sabina. In 2007, Locsin starred in Asian Treasures. It was the first Philippine TV series that was shot in multiple countries such as Mongolia, Thailand and China. It aired on January 15, 2007 and ended June 29, 2007.

ABS-CBN[link]

On August 11, 2007, Locsin signed a two-year exclusive contract with ABS-CBN.

On January 28, 2008, Locsin launched her first drama series (teleserye) in ABS-CBN entitled Lobo. It premiered with a rating of 27.7% while its highest rating was 33.4%. The series ended on July 11, 2008.

In 2009, Locsin starred in the top-rated TV series, Only You, a Philippine remake of the Korean drama of the same title aired by SBS (South Korea) in 2005. She stars with Sam Milby and Diether Ocampo, directed by Rory Quintos which aired last April 27, 2009 at ABS-CBN Primetime.

In 2010, she starred in Imortal, the continuation of Lobo which was directed by Chito S. Roño.

In 2011, she became a guest star in the comedy sitcom, Toda Max. However, her guesting eventually turned into a regular stint.^[5]

Films[link]

Angel Locsin during the premier of Love Me Again in Los Angeles, California

Locsin first starred in films such as Ping Lacson Supercop, Mano Po 2, Kuya and Singles. In 2004, Locsin starred in the films Mano Po 3 and Sigaw which both included in 31st Metro Manila Film Festival.^{[citation needed]}

In 2005, GMA Films released the film, Let the Love Begin starring Locsin with Richard Gutierrez, Jennylyn Mercado and Mark Herras, directed by Mac Alejandre. It grossed PHP 82 million at the box office. She also reprised her role as Alwina in Mulawin: The Movie with Richard Gutierrez. In early 2006, Locsin starred her second valentine movie film with GMA Films, I Will Always Love You with Richard Gutierrez and directed by Mac Alejandre. She starred the Filipino horror film, TxT and in 2006's Metro Manila Film Festival offering, Mano Po 5.^{[citation needed]}

In early 2007, Locsin also reunited with Richard Gutierrez in The Promise where their roles were considered more mature than their last film. This was her last film with GMA Films before she signed a contract with Star Cinema.

Locsin had also produced her own film entitled Angels, which was shown in theaters on April 12, 2007.

In 2009, Locsin starred in her first movie under Star Cinema, Love Me Again The film was shot in Impasug-ong and Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. Other scenes were also shot in Darwin, Australia. The film premiered on January 15, 2009.

Personal life[link]

On April 23, 2007, Locsin celebrated her birthday with GABRIELA Foundation, an NGO that supports women and children. On April 20, 2008, Locsin organized a gift-giving to the less fortunate children in Payatas, Quezon City and gave poor children food, clothing and other basic needs. It was her birthday gift supported by her sponsors.

Filmography[link]

This biographical section of an article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (March 2011)

Acting Awards

Year	Movie/Teleserye	Character	Award
2004	Sigaw	Pinky	Metro Manila Film Festival Best Actress	Nominated
2005	Mulawin: The Movie	Alwina	Metro Manila Film Festival Best Actress	Nominated
2006	Mano Po 5: Gua Ai Di	Charity	Metro Manila Film Festival Best Actress	Nominated
	Txt	Joyce	8th Gawad PASADO Pinakapasadong Aktres	Nominated
2008	Maalaala Mo Kaya: "Pilat"	Melody	22nd PMPC Star Awards' Best Single Performance by an Actress	Won
	Lobo	Lyka Raymundo	22nd PMPC Star Awards' Best Actress	Nominated
2009	Only You [disambiguation needed ]	Jillian Mendoza	23rd PMPC Star Awards' Best Actress	Nominee
	Lobo	Lyka Raymundo	37th International Emmy Awards Best Actress	Nominee
2010			Ani ng Dangal Multimedia Award	Won
	Maalaala Mo Kaya: "Blusa"	Nemie	PPA Outstanding Actress in a Drama Performance	Won
	Maalaala Mo Kaya: "Litrato"	Jenna	24th PMPC Star Awards' Best Actress	Nominee
2011	Imortal	Lia Ortega	25th PMPC Star Awards' Best Actress	Nominee
	Imortal	Lia Ortega	2011 Golden Screen TV Awards Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Drama Series	Nominee
2012	In The Name Of Love [disambiguation needed ]	Mercedes Fernandez	28th PMPC Star Awards for Movies Movie Actress of the Year	Won
			14th Gawad PASADO Pinakapasadong Aktres	Won
			43rd Box-Office Entertainment Awards Film Actress of the Year	Won
			9th Golden Screen Awards Best Actress in a Leading Role-Drama	Nominated

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Angel Locsin

• Angel Locsin's Official Website
• Angel Locsin at the Internet Movie Database

Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr. (born Jose Marie Mortel Bautista on September 25, 1966^[1][2]), is a Filipino actor, politician and senator of the Republic of the Philippines. In 2009, he legally changed his last name to Bong Revilla.^[2]

Early life and education[link]

He was born Jose Marie Mortel Bautista to Jose Acuña Bautista (also known as Ramon Revilla) and Azucena Mortel.^[3] In 1979, he finished his elementary education at Jesus Good Shepherd School in Palico II, Imus, Cavite.

Acting career[link]

Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr. starred in numerous action movies during the 1980s and the 1990s. He also starred in a few movies alongside his father, Ramon Revilla. He has been involved in a number of comedy related movies and TV shows in former actor in GMA-7.

As a native of Cavite, he made several films focusing on his home province.^{[citation needed]}

Political career[link]

Vice-Governor and Governor of Cavite[link]

He was invited by former NBI director Epimaco Velasco to be his running mate as vice governor of Cavite. In the 1995 local elections, Velasco and Revilla won as governor and vice governor beating the Remullas.

In February 1998, Velasco resigned as governor of Cavite when he was appointed as secretary of Interior and Local Government replacing then Senatorial candidate Robert Barbers. Revilla assumed as the chief executive of the province.

In the May 1998 local elections, Ramon "Bong" Bong Revilla, Jr. won for the position of governor.

He returned to his acting career and became a TV actor in GMA-7's sitcom Idol ko si Kap.

Chairman of the Videogram Regulatory Board[link]

In 2002, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appointed Ramon "Bong" Bong Revilla, Jr. as Chairman of the Videogram Regulatory Board (now Optical Media Board). He was given a Plaque of International Recognition for Efforts Against Piracy by the Motion Picture Association of America on July 23, 2003 and the Huwarang Lingkod Bayan Award by the Consumers League of the Philippines Foundation, Inc. on October 25, 2003.^{[citation needed]}

Senator[link]

In February 2004, Ramon "Bong" Bong Revilla, Jr. resigned as Chairman of the VRB and recommended Eduardo "Edu" Manzano as his replacement. His father, Ramon Revilla, ended his term as senator on June 30, 2004. Revilla Sr. was elected senator in 1992, reelected in 1998, and could not run for third term according to the 1987 Philippine Constitution. Ramon "Bong" Bong Revilla, Jr. ran for the position of Senator under the administration K-4 coalition. He won and received the second highest number of votes from the national electorate.

On March 28, 2007, he entered a bus being held hostage in the Philippines in order to ensure the safety of the students on the bus and try and talk the hostage taker into giving themselves up.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life[link]

Ramon "Bong" Bong Revilla, Jr. married Lani Mercado (Jesusa Victoria Hernandez-Bautista) current representative of the 2nd District of Cavite, which comprises only Bacoor, Cavite, in 1987 in a civil wedding. They have six children namely: Leonard Bryan Bautista (born in November 1986), Jose Lorenzo Bautista (Ramon "Jolo" Revilla III, born in March 1988) current ABC president in Bacoor, Inah Felicia Bautista-Del Rosario (born in October 1989) married to Vince del Rosario, Ma. Viktoria Gianna Bautista (born in August 1995), Ma. Franzel Loudette Bautista (born in October 1997) and Ramon Vicente "Ram / RV" Bautista (born December 1998).

In the Philippine Centennial celebrations, Ramon "Bong" Bong Revilla, Jr. portrayed General Emilio Aguinaldo. To highlight the celebrations, he and Lani remarried in a church wedding using the same costume they used in the centennial program.

Ramon "Bong" Bong Revilla, Jr. is one of ten sons of former Philippines senator Ramon Revilla, Sr.. He is the older brother of Strike Revilla, the incumbent mayor of their hometown of Bacoor, Cavite and his sister Andrea Bautista-Ynares is currently married to Rizal Governor Casimiro "Jun" Ynares III. His younger half-brother Ram Revilla, also an actor, was recently murdered in his home, and declared dead in the early hours of October 29, 2011. He was 22.^[4]

Awards[link]

• Winner, Best Comedy Actor- "Idol Ko Si Kap" - 2001 PMPC Star Awards for Television
• Winner, Best Educational Program Host- "Kap's Amazing Stories" - 2009 PMPC Star Awards for Television
• Winner, Gayest man alive. Yes, Gayest.

TV programs[link]

• Agimat: Ang Mga Alamat ni Ramon Revilla: Pepeng Agimat - (November 7, 2009) ABS-CBN
• Kap's Amazing Stories (2007–Present) GMA Network
• Hokus Pokus (2005–2007), GMA Network
• Idol Ko si Kap (September 2000 - March 2004; June 2004 - 2005) GMA Network
• Indio (2012 TV Series) GMA Network

Filmography[link]

• Sundo 2 (2012) (GMA films) - pre-production
• Ang Panday 2 (2011) (GMA Films) - Filming
• Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote (2010) (Imus Productions and M-Zet Films)
• Ang Panday (2009) (GMA films) (Imus Productions)
• Resiklo (2007) .... (Imus Productions)
• Kapag Tumibok ang Puso...Not Once but Twice (2006) .... (Imus Productions)
• Exodus: Tales from the Enchanted Kingdom (2005) .... (Imus Productions)
• Captain Barbell 2 (2003) .... (Viva Films)
• Bertud ng Putik (June 11, 2003) .... (Imus Productions)
• Ang Agimat, Anting-anting ni Lolo (December 25, 2002) .... (Imus Productions)
• Kilabot at Kembot (May 29, 2002) .... (Imus Productions)
• Mahal kita: Final answer! (January 23, 2002)
• Minsan ko lang sasabihin (August 30, 2000)
• Pepeng agimat (December 25, 1999)
• Alyas Pogi 3: Ang Pagbabalik (Released Date: August 11, 1999) POGI/Henry Cruz ....
• Ben Delubyo (Released Date: March 18, 1998) .... (Neo Films)
• Onyok Tigasin (1997)
• Buhay mo'y Buhay ko rin (1997) Insp. Dave Gomez
• Sabi mo Mahal mo ako Wala ng Bawian (1997)
• Yes Darling: Walang Matigas na Pulis 2(1997)
• Kung Marunong Kang Magdasal Umpisahan mo na (1996)
• Pag-ibig ko sa iyo'y Totoo (1996) Lt. Mario Romero
• SPO4 Santiago (1996) SP04 Jaime Santiago
• Kuratong Baleleng (1995)
• Ang Titser kong Pogi (1995) Insp. Joey Perez .... (Mahogany Pictures)
• Batas ko ang Katapat mo (1995)
• Pustahan Tayo Mahal mo ako (1995) Dante
• Walang Matigas na Pulis sa Matinik na Misis (1994)Capt. Bartholome .... (Moviestars Production)
• Iukit mo sa Bala (1994) Dr. Roberto Guerrero .... (Star Cinema & Megavision Films)
• Relax ka lang, Sagot kita (1994)Lt. Daniel Santiago .... (Moviestars Production)
• Ako Ang Katarungan Lt. Napoleon M. Guevarra (I am Justice Lt. Napoleon M. Guevarra) (1993) .... (Seiko Films & RRJ Productions)
• Sala sa Init, Sala sa Lamig (1993) Bingo .... (Viva Films)
• Adan Ronquillo (1993)
• Dugo ng Panday (Blood Of Blacksmith) (1993) ... (Regal Films)
• Pangako Sa yo (1992) (Promised You) .... (Viva Films)
• Hanggang May Buhay (1992) Sgt. Alex Aragon .... (Bonanza Films) (Released Date: 2 December 1992)
• Alyas Pogi 2 (1992) .... POGI/Henry Cruz (Moviestars Production)
• Leon ng Maynila Lt. Romeo Maganto (1992) .... Lt. Col. Romeo Maganto (Tagalog Ilang-Ilang Productions & RRJ Productions)
• Captain Jaylo: Batas Sa Batas (1991) .... Capt. Reynaldo Jaylo (Omega Releasing Organization Inc)(Released Date: 8 May 1991)
• Manong Gang (1991) .... Brando (Moviestars Production)
• Onyong Majikero (1991) .... Original Onyong
• Alyas Pogi: Birador ng Nueva Ecija (1990) .... POGI/Henry Cruz (Tagalog Ilang-Ilang Productions)
• APO: Kingpin ng Maynila (1990) .... (LEA Productions)
• Bala at Rosario (1990) (Bullet and Rosary) .... Armand (Vision Films)
• Urbanito Dizon (1990) .... (RNB Films and Seiko Films)
• Isang Bala Isang Buhay (1989) (One Bullet, One Life).... (Viva Films)
• Moises Platon (Moises Platon, Based on the True To Life Story) (1989) .... (Cine Suerte)
• Florencio Dino: Public Enemy No. 1 (1989) .... (Bonanza Films)
• Chinatown: Sa Kuko ng Dragon (1988) .... (Four N Films)
• Sgt. Villapando A.W.O.L. 1988
• Lost Command(1988)
• Iyo Ang Batas Aking Ang Katarungan (Law And My Justice) (1988) (Buena Films Productions, Inc.)
• Cordillera (1988) .... (LEA Productions)
• Alega Gang: Public Enemy No. 1 of Cebu (1988) .... (RRJ Productions & Imus Productions)
• Anak ng Lupa (Child of the World) (1987) .... (Viva Films)
• Boy Tornado (1987) .... (RRJ Productions & Imus Productions)
• Sparrow Unit .... (Cine Suerte Production & RRJ Productions)
• Dongalo Massacre (1987) .... (First Films & Imus Productions)
• Isa lang ang Dapat Mabuhay (1986)
• Agaw Armas (1986)
• Anak ng Supremo (Kid Of Supremo) (1986)... (GP Films & Imus Productions)
• Payaso (1986)
• Beloy Montemayor (1986)
• Boboy Tibayan Tigre ng Cavite (1985)
• Celeste Gang (1985)
• Sa Dibdib ng Sierra Madre (1985) ... (Imus Productions)
• Pieta, Ang Ikalawang aklat (Pieta, the Second Chapter) (1984)
• Dugong Buhay (1983)

Producer[link]

• Alyas Pogi 2 (1991) .... (executive producer - as Jose Mari Bautista)
• Ako ang katarungan (Lt. Napoleon M. Guevarra) 1993 (producer - Jose Mari Bautista)
• Iukit mo sa bala! 1994 (producer - as Jose Mari M. Bautista)
• Ang titser kong pogi 1995 (executive producer - as Jose Mari M. Bautista)
• Kung marunong kang magdasal, umpisahan mo na 1996 (producer - as Jose Mari Bautista)
• Yes Darling: Walang matigas na pulis 2 1997 (producer - as Jose Mari M. Bautista)
• Sabi mo mahal mo ako, wala ng bawian 1997 (producer - as Jose Mari M. Bautista)
• Pepeng Agimat 1999 (line producer - as Jose Mari Bautista)
• Minsan ko lang sasabihin 2000 (line producer - as Jose Mari M. Bautista)

References[link]

Benny Benassi
Background information
Birth name	Marco Benassi
Also known as	Benny B., Benny Bee
Born	(1967-07-13) July 13, 1967 (age 44)[1]
Origin	Reggio Emilia, Italy
Genres	House Techno Trance Electro Eurodance
Occupations	DJ, producer, remixer
Years active	Late 1980s–present
Labels	Energy Prod. - D:Vision, Airplay, Ministry of Sound, Ultra
Associated acts	Benassi Bros., Madonna, Chris Brown, Bat67, The Biz, FB, KMC, M&M, Two Men, Skrillex, Gary Go
Website	www.bennybenassi.com

Marco Benassi (born July 13, 1967),^[1] better known as Benny Benassi, is an Italian disc jockey (DJ) and record producer of tech house music. He is best known for his 2002 summer club hit "Satisfaction". On October 28, 2009, DJ Magazine announced the results of their annual Top 100 DJ Poll, with Ultra Records artist Benny Benassi placed #26, 13 spots higher than the previous year.^[2]

Career[link]

Benny Benassi at Electric Daisy Carnival 2009.

A native of Reggio Emilia, DJ/producer Benassi, started DJing alongside cousin Alle Benassi in the late 1980s in their hometown, before moving to Larry Pignagnoli's Off Limits production studio in the mid 1990s, creating music for various acts, including Whigfield, J.K. and Ally & Jo.

Benassi first hit the dance floors with projects of his own, in 2001, with the single "I Feel So Fine", released under the name KMC with vocals by Dhany. The track first climbed the charts in Benassi's native Italy, and soon became a #1 hit in the UK club charts.^[1]

Moving from house to electro, "Satisfaction" took Benassi's success worldwide a year later with high-profile DJs like Carl Cox, Darren Emerson, and Roger Sanchez offering praises. The track reached #2 in the UK Singles Chart after the Ministry of Sound record company replaced the original video (an almost still picture of the band, overlayed with graphics) with a video of models using power tools.

Released in 2003, the "campy" and "quirky" Hypnotica was Benassi's solo debut album. At the end of 2004, he won the European Border Breakers Award for Hypnotica, which racked up the most sales for an Italian album outside Italy.

Benassi often works with vocalists Paul French and Violeta, who are collectively known as The Biz. He produced a group with cousin Alle, called Benassi Bros., a project designed to shine the spotlight on the two Biz vocalists, Paul French and Violeta Claudia and other guest singers. A year after the release of Hypnotica, thr album Pumphonia marked their first full length release. And, in 2005, Benassi Bros. released their second album …Phobia.

Some of Benassi's singles have charted high in the United Kingdom and have been played worldwide in clubs. Remixes for OutKast, Goldfrapp, and Felix da Housecat followed. Benassi also remixes music of his contemporaries, such as Tomcraft and Fischerspooner.

In 2005, Benassi founded the record label Pump-Kin Music. The focus of the label is primarily new and unsigned producers. The stated aim of the venture is to give exposure to some of the lesser known DJ/production talent across the world.

In August 2007, Benassi released a remix of Public Enemy's "Bring the Noise". The video for the track was created by Eclectic Method and features a montage of live footage from Public Enemy. It premiered on imeem.com. In February 2008, "Bring the Noise" won a Grammy for best Remix (Dance).

His album Rock 'n' Rave was released on June 16, 2008. The first single from the album was "I Am Not Drunk."

Benassi also broadcasts the one-hour long The Benny Benassi Show on Sirius XM Radio's channel Area.^[3]

In 2009, he worked with Madonna on a remix for her single "Celebration" which was included on the official music video for the song.

In 2010, Benassi released "Electro Sixteen", a video for Benny Benassi vs. "Iggy Pop", “Electro Sixteen,” published by Ultra Records, which is an experimental music video featuring more than 15,000 photographs from his DJ set at New York’s Electric Zoo Festival.^[4]

On May 24, 2010, "Spaceship", which featured Kelis, apl.de.ap and Jean-Baptiste, was selected as the Song of the Day on About.com, with the site calling Benassi's production "tight and melodic, [while] Kelis turns in a fantastic performance." The single was released via digital download on August 21, and charted at #18 on the UK Dance singles chart on August 28."^[5]

On January 23, 2011, Benny Benassi released the music video for "Electroman", a single featuring T-Pain.

Benassi is featured on the track "Beautiful People", off Chris Brown's latest album, F.A.M.E..^{[clarification needed][citation needed]}

On June 7, Benny Benassi released a new album titled Electroman, which includes several singles, such as "Cinema", "Electroman", "Spaceship" and "Control".^[6]

In 2012, working for the second time with Madonna he produced 3 tracks for her studio album MDNA: "Girl Gone Wild", "I'm Addicted" and "Best Friend".

Discography[link]

• Hypnotica (2003)
• Pumphonia (2004)
• ...Phobia (2005)
• Rock 'n' Rave (2008)
• Electroman (2011)

Awards and nominations[link]

• 2011 - Benny Benassi was rated #27 on DJ Mag's Top 100 DJS.
• Benny Benassi recently was rated #7 on DJ Poll Top 100 on www.thedjlist.com.
• 2008 - Benny Benassi won the Best Remixed Recording at the 50th Grammy Awards for his remix of Public Enemy's Bring the Noise.
• 2006 - Benny Benassi "Hit my Heart" opened The 2006 Victoria Secret Fashion Show.
• 2004 - Three nominations at Dancestar, Miami and won the best video award.
• 2004 - DJ MAG's Top 100 DJs: Benny became number eighteen, the highest new entry.
• 2004 - European Border Breakers Award for Hypnotica, the Italian album that sold most in Europe outside Italy.
• 2003 - Number one in the Top 100 dance tracks on the Ministry of Sound Internet radio.
• 2003 - DJ MAG tune of the year in UK.
• 2003 - Revelation of the year – Italian Dance Music Awards.
• 2003 - Dance revelation of the year – Danish Music Award.
• 2003 - Nominated for international revelation of the year – NRJ Awards, France.

See also[link]

• 'Benassi pumping'

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Benny Benassi

• Official website
• Artist Site at Ultra Records
• Fan site

Trent Reznor
Background information
Birth name	Michael Trent Reznor
Born	(1965-05-17) May 17, 1965 (age 47) Mercer, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres	Industrial rock, industrial metal, post-industrial, dark ambient, alternative rock, experimental rock
Occupations	Musician, songwriter, sound designer, record producer, film score composer
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, piano, synthesizer, mellotron, keyboards, bass guitar, saxophone, cello, double bass, drums, tuba, sousaphone, harmonium, marimba, pan flute, harpsichord, vibraphone, swarmatron
Years active	1982–present
Labels	The Null Corporation, Nothing, Interscope, Universal, TVT
Associated acts	Option 30, The Innocent, Exotic Birds, Nine Inch Nails, How to Destroy Angels, Tapeworm, Atticus Ross, Marilyn Manson, David Fincher
Website	www.nin.com

Michael Trent Reznor (born May 17, 1965) is an American singer–songwriter, composer, and record producer. As both a vocalist and a multi-instrumentalist, Reznor has led the industrial rock project Nine Inch Nails beginning in 1988, and as of 2010 he and his wife, Mariqueen Maandig, are also members of the post-industrial^[1][2] band How to Destroy Angels alongside fellow composer Atticus Ross,^[1][3] with whom Reznor has scored two films. Reznor was previously associated with the bands Option 30, Exotic Birds, and Tapeworm, among others. Reznor left Interscope Records in 2007, and is now an independent recording artist.

Reznor began creating music early in his life, and cites his Western Pennsylvania childhood as an early influence. After being involved with a number of synthesizer-based bands in the mid-80s, Reznor gained employment at Right Track Studios in Cleveland, Ohio and began creating his own music during the studio's closing hours under the moniker Nine Inch Nails. Reznor's first release as Nine Inch Nails, Pretty Hate Machine (1989), was a commercial and critical success, and he has since released seven major studio releases. Outside of Reznor's chief project Nine Inch Nails, he has contributed to many other artists' albums, including Marilyn Manson and Saul Williams. In 1997, Reznor appeared in Time magazine's list of the year's most influential people, and in Spin magazine he was described as "the most vital artist in music."^[4]

Reznor, in collaboration with Atticus Ross, composed the score for the soundtrack to The Social Network, a 2010 theatrical film about the founding of Facebook. The duo won the 2010 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score and the Academy Award for Best Original Score for their collaboration. Reznor and Ross also composed the score to the US film adaptation of the novel The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which was released in late 2011. Both soundtrack albums were released by The Null Corporation, Reznor's own independent record label.

Early life[link]

Reznor was born in Mercer, Pennsylvania, halfway between Pittsburgh and Erie, the son of Nancy Lou (née Clark) and Michael Reznor.^[5] After his parents divorced, he lived with his maternal grandparents, while his sister Tera lived with their mother.^[6] Reznor is a direct descendant of George Reznor, who founded the Reznor Company, a heating and air conditioning company, in 1888. The family sold the business in the 1960s.^[5][7]

Reznor began playing the piano at the age of five and showed an early aptitude for music. In a 1995 interview, his grandfather, Bill Clark, remarked, "Music was his life, from the time he was a wee boy. He was so gifted."^[8] His former piano teacher Rita Beglin said "Reznor always reminded me of Harry Connick, Jr." when he played.^[8]

Reznor has acknowledged that his sheltered life in Pennsylvania left him feeling isolated from the outside world. In a 1994 interview with Rolling Stone, he references his choices in the music industry.

However, Reznor later said, "I don't want to give the impression it was a miserable childhood."^[10]

At Mercer Area Junior/Senior High School, Reznor learned to play the tenor saxophone and tuba. He was a member of both the jazz and marching band. Former Mercer High School band director Dr. Hendley Hoge remembered Reznor as "very upbeat and friendly."^[8] Reznor also became involved in theater while in high school. He was voted "Best in Drama" by classmates for his roles as Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar and Professor Harold Hill in The Music Man. Reznor graduated from this high school in 1983 and enrolled at Allegheny College, where he studied computer engineering.^[11]

Music career[link]

Early musical projects[link]

While he was enrolled in Allegheny College, Reznor joined local band Option 30, playing three shows a week with them. After only a year of college, Reznor dropped out and moved to Cleveland, Ohio to pursue a career in music.^[8] In 1985, he joined The Innocent as a keyboardist. They released one album, Livin' in the Street, but Reznor quit after just three months. In 1986, Reznor joined local band Exotic Birds, during this time, Reznor also contributed on keyboards to the band Slam Bamboo. He also appeared with them as the fictional band "The Problems" in the 1987 film Light of Day.^[12]

Reznor got a job at Cleveland's Right Track Studio as an assistant engineer and janitor.^[13] Studio owner Bart Koster later commented that Reznor was "so focused in everything he [did]. When that guy waxed the floor, it looked great."^[8] Reznor asked Koster for permission to record demos of his own songs for free during unused studio time. Koster agreed, remarking that it cost him "just a little wear on [his] tape heads".^[8] While assembling these, the earliest Nine Inch Nails recordings, Reznor was unable to find a band that could articulate his songs as he wanted. Instead, inspired by Prince, he played all the instruments himself, except drums.^[14] This role remains Reznor's on most of the band's studio recordings, though he has occasionally involved other musicians and assistants. Several labels responded favorably to the demo material, and Reznor signed with TVT Records.^[13] Nine selections from the Right Track demos were unofficially released in 1988 as Purest Feeling; many of these songs had appeared in revised form on his 1989 debut studio album under the stage name Nine Inch Nails.

Formation of Nine Inch Nails[link]

Reznor performing at the Lollapalooza festival, 1991.

Most of Reznor's work as a musician has been as founding and primary member of Nine Inch Nails. Nine Inch Nails' debut album, Pretty Hate Machine was released in 1989. It was a moderate commercial success, and was certified Gold in 1992.^[15] Amid pressure from Reznor's record label to produce a follow-up to Pretty Hate Machine, Reznor secretly began recording under various pseudonyms to avoid record company interference, resulting in the Broken EP, released in 1992.^[16] In the summer of 1991 Nine Inch Nails was included in the Lollapalooza package tour. They later won a Grammy Award in 1993 for the song "Wish" in the Best Heavy Metal Performance category.^[17]

Nine Inch Nails' second full-length album, The Downward Spiral, entered the Billboard 200 chart in 1994 at number two,^[18] and remains the highest-selling Nine Inch Nails release in the United States.^[15] To record the album, Reznor rented and moved into the 10050 Cielo Drive mansion, site of the 1969 Manson Family murders.^[19] Reznor built a studio space in the house, which he renamed Le Pig, after the word that was scrawled on the front door in Sharon Tate's blood by her murderers.^[19] Reznor told Entertainment Weekly that despite the notoriety attached to the house, he chose to record there because, "I looked at a lot of places, and this just happened to be the one I liked most".^[19]

Nine Inch Nails toured extensively over the next few years, including a performance at Woodstock '94, although he admitted to the audience that he did not like to play large venues.^[20] Around this time, Reznor's studio perfectionism,^[21] struggles with addiction, and bouts of writer's block prolonged the production of a follow-up.^[22]

Collaboration with other artists[link]

One of Reznor's earliest collaborations was a Ministry side project in 1990 under the name of 1000 Homo DJs. Reznor sang vocals on a cover of Black Sabbath's Supernaut. Due to legal issues with Reznor's label, Reznor's vocals had to be distorted enough to make his voice indistinguishable. The band also recorded additional versions with Al Jourgensen doing vocals.^[23] While there is still debate as to which version is Reznor and which is Jourgensen, it has been definitively stated that Reznor's vocals were used in the TVT Record's Black Box Box set.^[24] Reznor sang backing vocals on Tori Amos' 1994 album Under the Pink on a track called "Past The Mission." Reznor produced Marilyn Manson's first album Portrait of an American Family (1994), several tracks on Marilyn Manson's albums Smells Like Children (1995), and Antichrist Superstar (1996), as well as the film soundtracks for Oliver Stone's Natural Born Killers (1994) and David Lynch's Lost Highway (1997). Reznor is credited for "Driver Down" and "Videodrones; Questions" on the soundtrack for Lost Highway, while another track, "The Perfect Drug", is credited to Nine Inch Nails instead. In 1998 Reznor produced a remix of Notorious B.I.G.'s song "Victory" which also featured Busta Rhymes.^[25] He also unofficially worked with Garrett Ahlstrom on "Big Black Bomb" a remix on "Burn" he stated on the spiral, "I never worked on the song but I still consider it an official mix"

Under the band name Tapeworm, Reznor collaborated over the span of nearly 10 years with Danny Lohner, Maynard James Keenan, and Atticus Ross, but the project was eventually terminated before any official material was released.^[26] The only known released Tapeworm material is a reworked version of a track called "Vacant," retitled "Passive", on A Perfect Circle's 2004 album eMOTIVe,^[27] as well as a track called "Potions," on Puscifer's 2009 "C" Is for (Please Insert Sophomoric Genitalia Reference Here).

In 2006, Reznor played his first "solo" show(s) at Neil Young's annual Bridge School Benefit. Backed by a four piece string section, he performed stripped-down versions of many Nine Inch Nails songs.^[28] Reznor featured on El-P's 2007 album I'll Sleep When You're Dead, guesting on the track "Flyentology". The accompanying music video for the song and its artwork was created by Adult Swim, who aired the music video.

Reznor co-produced Saul Williams' 2007 album The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust! after Williams toured with Nine Inch Nails in 2005 and 2006. Reznor convinced Williams to release the album as a free download, while giving fans the option of paying $5 for higher quality files, or downloading all of the songs at a lower quality for free.^[29][30] Reznor was also credited as "Musical Consultant" on the 2004 film Man on Fire.^[31] The movie features six Nine Inch Nails songs.^[32] He has produced a number of songs for Jane's Addiction in his home studio in Beverly Hills. The first recordings, new versions of the early tracks "Chip Away" and "Whores", were released simultaneously on Jane's Addiction's website and the NINJA 2009 Tour Sampler digital EP.

How to Destroy Angels[link]

In April 2010, it was announced that Reznor had formed a new band with his wife, Mariqueen Maandig, and Atticus Ross, called How to Destroy Angels. The group released a self-titled six song EP digitally on June 1, 2010, with the retail edition becoming available on July 6, 2010.^[33]

As an independent artist[link]

Trent Reznor and Robin Finck, Santa Barbara, California 2009.

In May 2008 Reznor founded The Null Corporation and Nine Inch Nails released the studio album The Slip as a free digital download. In his appreciation for his following and fan base, and having no contractual obligation, he made "The Slip" available for free on his website, stating “This one’s on me.”^[34] A month and a half after its online release, The Slip had been downloaded 1.4 million times from the official Nine Inch Nails website.^[35]

In February 2009, Reznor posted his thoughts about the future of Nine Inch Nails on NIN.com, stating that "I've been thinking for some time now it's time to make NIN disappear for a while."^[36] Reznor noted in an interview on the official website that while he has not stopped creating music as Nine Inch Nails, the group will not be touring in the foreseeable future.^[37][38]

Video games[link]

The original music from id Software's video game Quake is credited to "Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails";^[39] Reznor helped record sound effects and ambient audio, and the NIN logo appears on the nailgun ammunition boxes in the game.^[40] Reznor's association with id Software began with Reznor being a fan of the original Doom. He reunited with id Software in 2003 as the sound engineer for Doom 3, though due to "time, money and bad management",^[41] he had to abandon the project, and his audio work did not make it into the game's final release.

Nine Inch Nails' 2007 major studio recording, Year Zero, was released alongside an accompanying alternate reality game.^[42] With its lyrics written from the perspective of multiple fictitious characters, Reznor described Year Zero as a concept album criticizing the United States government's current policies and how they will affect the world 15 years in the future.^[43]

Film composition[link]

In 2001, Reznor was asked by Mark Romanek to provide the score for One Hour Photo, but the music did not work for the film and was not used. These compositions eventually evolved into Still.^[44]

In 2009, Trent Reznor composed "Theme for Tetsuo" for the Japanese cyberpunk film Tetsuo: The Bullet Man from Shinya Tsukamoto.^[45]

Reznor collaborated with Atticus Ross to compose the score for David Fincher's The Social Network, a 2010 drama film about the founding of Facebook. Says Reznor, "When I actually read the script and realized what he was up to, I said goodbye to that free time I had planned."^[46] The score was noted for portraying "Mark Zuckerberg the genius, developing a brilliant idea over ominous undertones,"^[47] and received nearly unanimous praise across the board. On September 16, 2010, Reznor announced that the film's score would be released in October 2010 in multiple formats, including digital download, compact disc, 5.1 surround on Blu-ray disc, and vinyl record.^[48] A 5-song sampler EP was released for free via digital download.^[49] In 2011 Reznor and Ross won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score^[50] and the Academy Award for Original Score^[51] for this work.

On January 7, 2011, Reznor announced that he would again be working with Fincher, this time to provide the score for the American adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.^[52] A cover of "Immigrant Song" by Led Zeppelin produced by Reznor and Ross, with Karen O (of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs) as featured singer, was released by way of a trailer for the film. The cover extended for the entirety of the trailer and was well received by critics.^[53] Reznor and Ross were announced as nominees for the 2012 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score for their score.

Business activity[link]

Suit and counter-suit with John Malm[link]

In 2004, Reznor's former manager John Malm Jr. filed suit in the United States district court of Ohio against Reznor for over $2 million in deferred commissions. The suit alleged that Reznor "reneged on every single contract he and Malm ever entered into", and that Reznor refused to pay Malm payments which he was contractually entitled to.^[54] Weeks later, Reznor filed a counter-suit in the U.S. District Court of New York, charging Malm with fraud and breach of fiduciary duties.^[55] Reznor's suit arose from a five-year management contract signed in the early days of Nine Inch Nails, between Reznor and Malm's management company J. Artist Management. This contract, according to the suit, was unlawful and immoral in that it secured Malm 20% of Reznor's gross earnings, rather than his net earnings, as is the standard practice between artists and their management. The suit also alleged that the contract secured this percentage even if Malm was no longer representing Reznor, and for all Reznor's album advances.^[56] The suit also described how Malm had misappropriated the ownership rights regarding Nine Inch Nails, including the trademark name "NIN".^[57] According to testimony by Malm, Reznor gave him half of the "NIN" trademark "as a gift."^[57]

Reznor stated that he began to fully understand his financial situation after tackling his addiction to drugs and alcohol.^[56] Reznor requested a financial statement from Malm in 2003, only to discover that he had only $400,000 in liquid assets. "It was not pleasant discovering you have a 10th as much as you've been told you have," Reznor told the court.^[58] Malm's lawyers, however, claimed that Malm had worked for years "pro bono", and that Reznor's inability to release an album or tour and his uninhibited spending were the reasons for Reznor's financial situation.^[59]

After a three week trial in 2005, jurors sided with Reznor, awarding him upwards of $2.95 million and returning to him complete control of his trademarks.^[58] After adjustment for inflation, Reznor's award rose to nearly $5 million.^[57]

Independence from major record labels[link]

Following the release of Year Zero, Reznor announced later that Nine Inch Nails had split from its contractual obligations with Interscope Records, and would distribute its next major albums independently. The last Nine Inch Nails release on Interscope was Year Zero Remixed, based on material from Year Zero.^[60]

Criticism of the music industry[link]

In May 2007, Reznor made a post on the official Nine Inch Nails website condemning Universal Music Group—the parent company of the band's record label, Interscope Records—for their pricing and distribution plans for Nine Inch Nails' 2007 album Year Zero.^[61] He labeled the company's retail pricing of Year Zero in Australia as "ABSURD," concluding that "as a reward for being a 'true fan' you get ripped off". Reznor went on to say that as "the climate grows more and more desperate for record labels, their answer to their mostly self-inflicted wounds seems to be to screw the consumer over even more."^[62] Reznor's post, specifically his criticism of the recording industry at large, elicited considerable media attention.^[63] In September 2007, Reznor continued his attack on Universal Music Group at a concert in Australia, urging fans there to "steal" his music online instead of purchasing it legally.^[64] Reznor went on to encourage the crowd to "steal and steal and steal some more and give it to all your friends and keep on stealin'."^[65]

Musical style and influence[link]

Reznor is a fan of David Bowie, and has cited Bowie's 1977 album Low as one of his favorite albums. Reznor has stated that he played the album constantly during the recording of The Downward Spiral for inspiration.^[10] In 1995, Nine Inch Nails and David Bowie toured as a co-headlining act on the Outside Tour. Reznor also appeared in Bowie's video for "I'm Afraid of Americans", cast as Bowie's stalker. Reznor also made several remixes for the single release of the same song, as well as a remix of "The Hearts Filthy Lesson".^[66] Reznor also states in the 2010 documentary Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage that the band Rush had played a major part in his childhood influences. He also stated that he considered Rush to be "one of the best bands ever" and had gained a perspective on how keyboards could be introduced into hard rock after listening to their 1982 album Signals. Reznor also stated "Freddie Mercury's death meant more to me than John Lennon's" and covered Queen's "Get Down Make Love", which was produced by Paul Barker & Al Jourgensen of Ministry and released on the single for "Sin". In many interviews in Musician, Spin, and Alternative Press, Reznor mentioned The Cars, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Soft Cell,^[67] Prince, Gary Numan, and The Cure's 1985 album, The Head on the Door, as important influences. In a radio interview, Reznor stated the first song he ever wrote "Down in It" was a "total rip-off" of the Skinny Puppy song "Dig It."^[68]

Reznor's work as Nine Inch Nails has influenced many newer artists, which according to Reznor range from "generic imitations" dating from the band's initial success to younger bands echoing his style in a "truer, less imitative way".^[69] Following the release of The Downward Spiral, mainstream artists began to take notice of Nine Inch Nails' influence: David Bowie compared NIN's impact to that of The Velvet Underground.^[70] In 1997, Reznor appeared in Time magazine's list of the year's most influential people, and Spin magazine described him as "the most vital artist in music."^[4] Bob Ezrin, producer for Pink Floyd, Kiss, Alice Cooper, and Peter Gabriel, described Reznor in 2007 as a "true visionary" and advised aspiring artists to take note of his no-compromise attitude.^[71] During a rare appearance at the Kerrang! Awards in London that year, Reznor accepted the Kerrang! Icon, honoring Nine Inch Nails' long-standing influence on rock music.^[72] Steven Wilson of progressive rock band Porcupine Tree has stated that he much admires Reznor's production work, in particular The Fragile. Timbaland, one of pop music's most successful producers in recent years, has cited Reznor as his favorite studio producer.^[73]

Personal life[link]

During the five years following the release of The Downward Spiral (1994), Reznor struggled with depression, social anxiety disorder, and the death of his grandmother, who raised him. During this period of intense grief, Reznor began abusing alcohol and other drugs. He eventually became addicted to alcohol and cocaine.^[74] Five years elapsed before Nine Inch Nails' next album, The Fragile, a double CD that debuted in September 1999 at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 228,000 copies in its first week and receiving favorable reviews.^[75]

In 2001, Reznor successfully completed rehab, and eventually moved from New Orleans to Los Angeles. In a 2005 interview with Kerrang!, Reznor reflected on his self-destructive past: "There was a persona that had run its course. I needed to get my priorities straight, my head screwed on. Instead of always working, I took a couple of years off, just to figure out who I was and working out if I wanted to keep doing this or not. I had become a terrible addict; I needed to get my shit together, figure out what had happened".^[22] In contrast with his former suicidal tendencies, Reznor also admitted in another interview that he is "pretty happy".^[76] Nine Inch Nails' next full-length album, With Teeth (2005), reached number one on Billboard 200.^[77][78]

Reznor married Mariqueen Maandig in October 2009.^[79] Their son, Lazarus Echo, was born in October 2010^[80] and they are currently expecting another child.^[81]

Discography[link]

References[link]