Look up astro in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Astro may refer to:

Entertainment and media[link]

• Astro (UB40), a member of the British reggae band UB40
• Astro (band), a Japanese noise music project
• Astro (rapper), a contestant on the first season of the U.S. version of The X Factor in 2011
• "Astro", a song by The White Stripes from their 1999 debut The White Stripes
• Astro Lounge, a 1999 album by rock band Smash Mouth
• Astro (The Jetsons), a dog on the animated television series The Jetsons
• Astro Boy (1960s), the American title for the Japanese animated series Tetsuwan Atomu
• Astro City, a comic book series
• Astro Megaship, a fictional spaceship from the TV series Power Rangers in Space

Gaming[link]

• Astro (convention), a contract bridge bidding convention
• Astro Chicken, a video game

Satellites[link]

• ASTRO, the Autonomous Space Transport Robotic Operations vehicle, an American technology demonstration satellite
• Project names of astronomy satellites developed by ISAS (now JAXA)
  • ASTRO-A (Hinotori (satellite))
  • ASTRO-B (Tenma)
  • ASTRO-C (Ginga (satellite))
  • ASTRO-D (Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics)
  • ASTRO-E and ASTRO-EII (Suzaku)
  • ASTRO-F (Akari)
  • ASTRO-G (VSOP-2)
  • ASTRO-H (NeXT)

Science and medicine[link]

• American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology or its annual conference
• Astronomy
  • Astrobiology
  • Astrochemistry
  • Astro-geodetic methods, a group of important methods in geodesy, satellite techniques and astrometry
  • Astrometry
  • Astrophysics

Sports[link]

• The Houston Astros, a Major League Baseball team
• Astrodome, a sports venue in Houston, Texas, and the first home of the Houston Astros

Television services[link]

• Astro (Malaysian satellite television), a Malaysian subscription-based multi-channel satellite TV and radio service
  • Astro MAX, a personal video recorder service for Astro (Malaysian satellite television)
• Astro Nusantara, Indonesia subscription-based multi-channel TV service

Vehicles[link]

• Chevrolet Astro, a "mid-size" van
• GMC Astro, a cabover tractor-trailer truck made by GMC from 1968-1988
• Astro-Gnome, an American automobile

Other[link]

• Adobe Flash Player version 10
• Astrology
  • Astro-twin, an astrology term
• Astro (Motorola), used to describe the digital voice radios produced by Motorola
• Astro navigation, celestial navigation, positional astronomy, navigating by the stars
• Astro yogourt, a Parmalat Canada product
• Astro Teller, a scientist and entrepreneur

See also[link]

• Astra (disambiguation)
• Astros (disambiguation)

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.

Brian Bradley
Born	(1965-01-21) January 21, 1965 (age 47) Kitchener, ON, CAN
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight	180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position	Centre
Shot	Right
Played for	Tampa Bay Lightning Toronto Maple Leafs Vancouver Canucks Calgary Flames
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	51st overall, 1983 Calgary Flames
Playing career	1986–1999

Brian Richard Walter Bradley (born January 21, 1965) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Bradley played for a number of different hockey teams in many different leagues. He played for the London Knights in the early 1980s before being selected 51st overall, in the 3rd round, by the Calgary Flames at the 1983 NHL Entry Draft. Bradley spent a season with the Canadian national team before moving to the National Hockey League (NHL) for good.

Playing career[link]

Brian Bradley's NHL debut came in the 1985–86 season with the Calgary Flames, where he saw very limited action (only 5 regular season games and one playoff game), although his first playoff game was during the 1986 Stanley Cup Finals against the Montreal Canadiens. He would spent most of the season with the Moncton Golden Flames (Calgary's minor league team), where he was linemates with future superstar Brett Hull.

In 1988, after arriving back from playing with Canadian National Men's Hockey Team, where he spend most of the 1986–87 NHL season playing, Bradley was traded to the Vancouver Canucks. During the 1989 playoffs, Bradley would tie rookie Trevor Linden with a team-leading 7 points in seven games. His best regular season totals with the Canucks came in the 1989–90 season when he scored a team respectable 48 points and was awarded The Canuck's "Most Exciting Player" Award by Canuck fans. He started out the 1990–91 season playing strongly, only to be traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for mobile defenceman Tom Kurvers.

In 1992, the expansion Tampa Bay Lightning acquired him in the 1992 NHL Expansion Draft, and he would become the team's first star. He would score the team's first preseason goal against the Minnesota North Stars. He would set personal highs in goals, assists and points before the All-Star Break. At the end of Tampa Bay's inaugural season, Bradley lead the team with a career high 42 goals and 86 points. He played well enough throughout the season that he also made his NHL All-Star debut. In 1995–96 he set a personal high of 56 assists. That same year the Lightning debuted in the NHL playoffs. The next season (1996–97) Brian Bradley would score the first goal in the history of the Ice Palace Arena. Unfortunately, he would be sidelined for most of the rest of the season due to nagging injuries. He would play with the Lightning until retiring due to chronic injuries on December 23, 1999.

Career statistics[link]

Post-hockey life[link]

Bradley is still affiliated with the Lightning's organization and makes frequent appearances on Sun Sports television, which broadcasts regular season Lightning games. Bradley currently resides in Tampa.

External links[link]

• Brian Bradley's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
• Additional link for Brian Bradley Statistics

Cher Lloyd
Lloyd performing in April 2011
Background information
Birth name	Cher Lloyd
Born	(1993-07-28) 28 July 1993 (age 18) Malvern, Worcestershire, UK
Origin	Malvern, Worcestershire, UK
Genres	R&B,pop, dance-pop, hip hop, synthpop, rap, dubstep
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, model,
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	2010–present
Labels	Syco, Epic Records
Website	cherlloyd.com

Cher Lloyd (born 28 July 1993) is an English recording artist. Lloyd rose to fame when she finished fourth in the seventh series of The X Factor. Shortly afterwards, Lloyd was signed by Simon Cowell to Sony Music subsidiary Syco Music.

Cher Lloyd's debut single "Swagger Jagger" was released in June 2011. Despite receiving negative reviews, the single entered at number one on the UK Singles Chart and number two on the Irish Singles Chart. Her second single "With Ur Love" was released on 31 October, featuring Mike Posner, and peaked at number four in the UK, and number five in Ireland, preceding her debut album Sticks + Stones, which peaked at number four in the UK Albums Chart and number seven on the Irish Albums Chart.^[1]

Life and career[link]

Early life[link]

Cher Lloyd used to live in Malvern with her parents Darren and Dina, and three younger siblings brother Josh, and sisters Sophie and Rosie. Lloyd attended Dyson Perrins CE Sports College, where she studied performing arts.^[2] She also attended theatre arts school Stagecoach.

[edit] 2010: The X Factor

During her time on the show she was mentored by Cheryl Cole (pictured).

Lloyd had previously auditioned for The X Factor twice before (when the minimum age was lower) singing ballads, but did not make it through.^[3] Lloyd has previously performed at holiday camps and said she gets a mixed reaction to her music, but was a big hit with x-factor judge at the time Cheryl Cole. She remarked on their similarity and Cheryl went on to support her throughout the show.^[4] She auditioned singing the Keri Hilson version of "Turn My Swag On".^[4] At bootcamp she sang a rap version of "Viva La Vida"^[5] adding lyrics she claimed to have written herself, but this was disputed and reports claimed she took them from a song by rapper Swizz Beatz.^[6][7] At the judges' houses she performed "Cooler Than Me"^[8] but suffered from tonsillitis and was unable to complete her song.^[9] She was given a second chance, but broke down sobbing and could not complete the song. Despite this, she was still picked as one of the final three girls by mentor Cheryl Cole.

Lloyd sang a rendition of "Just Be Good to Me" in the first of the live shows. In the second live show she sang "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)". In the third live show, she sang a mashup of "No Diggity" and "Shout", and in the fourth live show she sang "Stay". This was the first time Lloyd did not rap in her performance, and Cowell even called it "the performance of the season". In week five, Lloyd sang "Empire State of Mind", but judges stated that after last week they were disappointed, and Cowell said it was copycat. However, the judges agreed that she redeemed herself with her rendition of "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" mixed with "Mockingbird", by Elton John and Eminem respectively, in week 6. In the seventh week, Lloyd was in the bottom two for the first time after her rendition of "Imagine", but Cowell, Cole and Walsh all saved her in the final showdown, resulting in Paije Richardson being eliminated. In the following week Lloyd performed "Girlfriend", followed by "Walk This Way". Both performances were credited by the judges and she was saved by the public vote the following night, securing her position in the semi final.^[10] In the semi-final, Lloyd performed "Nothin' on You" and "Love the Way You Lie" and was in the bottom two with Mary Byrne. She was saved by the judges again and put through to the final, even though voting statistics after the show revealed that Lloyd had the fewest votes.^[11] In the final she performed a mash-up of "The Clapping Song" and "Get Ur Freak On", followed by a duet with will.i.am, which was a mashup of "Where Is the Love?" and "I Gotta Feeling". Lloyd was then eliminated in fourth place, having received the fewest public votes.^[12]

[edit] 2011–12: Sticks + Stones, touring, and other ventures

Lloyd performing on the X Factor Live Tour, April 2011, the tour saw Lloyd performing for 500,000 people throughout the UK.^[13]

After the final it was announced that Lloyd had been signed by Syco Music.^[14] Lloyd and nine other contestants from the series participated in the X Factor Live Tour from February 2011 to April 2011. The tour saw Lloyd performing for 500,000 people throughout the UK.^[15] Songwriter Autumn Rowe^[16] and producer RedOne^[17] worked on her debut album, scheduled for release in November 2011.^[18] Her debut single, "Swagger Jagger", received its first airplay on 20 June 2011 after it had been leaked onto the internet on 15 June 2011^[19] however, this version was later confirmed as only the demo of the track on Lloyd's Twitter account.^[20] The single was released on 31 July 2011^[21] and peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart on 7 August 2011.

On 28 July 2011, Lloyd previewed five tracks from her upcoming album during a Ustream session, including tracks featuring Busta Rhymes, Mike Posner, Ghetts, Mic Righteous and Dot Rotten.^[22] Lloyd confirmed on Twitter that "With Ur Love" featuring Mike Posner was to be released has her second single. The single was released on 30 October 2011. The single received its first radio airplay on 21 September 2011. The music video premiered on 1 October 2011, on morning show T4. The single sold 74,030 copies in its first week becoming the highest-selling number four single since Rihanna's "Only Girl (In the World)", which sold 74,248 copies in October 2010.^[23] Lloyd confirmed the album's title "Sticks + Stones" on her twitter. The album was released on 7 November 2011.^[24] The album peaked at number four and has sold 198,199 copies in the United Kingdom as of January 2012.^[25]

On 21 November 2011, Lloyd announced her debut headlining UK tour, the Sticks + Stones Tour, set for March and April 2012.^[26] In December 2011, two more dates were added due to popular demand for tickets.^[27] "Sticks + Stones" will be released in 2012 through Epic Records in the United States^[28] On 13 December, a music video for "Dub on the Track" featuring underground artists Mic Righteous, Dot Rotten and Ghetts, who also all appear in the accompanying video, premiered on SBTV.^[29][30] The song will not serve as the third single.^[31]

December 2011, Cher Lloyd signed a record deal with L.A. Reid to Epic Records in the United States. She is expected to release her debut album in the United States in late 2012.^[28]

"Want U Back" was confirmed^[32] as the third single from the album. The single version features vocals from American rapper Astro and was released 19 February 2012.^[33] Following the release of the music video on 6 January 2012, the single peaked at number twenty-six on the UK Singles Chart, due to digital downloads from the album.^[34] Cher confirmed via her official website that "Beautiful People" is the fourth single from the album, but there is no official release date.^[35]

In February 2012, Lloyd spoke out to BBC Radio on her consistent cyber-bullying and how she fears for her safety after becoming a victim of online bullying. "I'm public property and there's nothing I can do — I have got to deal with it." She continued: "The message that I have got for people is: I have always tried to act the hard person and that was just a front for me. It is about time now that I let people realise that I am a real person and if I can do it, with all these people that want a piece of me, then other victims can speak out as well. There have been many times when I have cried myself to sleep. I am very scared because I like to think people think I'm strong, because if they don't, then they might not think I can do it."^[36] Lloyd also spoke to Newsbeat on how she thinks the government should take more action in preventing cyber-bullying.^[37] On 24 February 2012, it was announced that Cher Lloyd has signed a modelling contract with Select. Select's special bookings revently stated:

Her strong individuality represents everything that we love about the youth today and their music. Like everyone, she is a melting pot of different emotions, from super confidence oozing fun to a vulnerability

Lloyd has previously appeared on the cover of RWD Magazine and modelled for fashion bible Wonderland.^[38]

2012–present: Marriage and second studio album[link]

On 10 April 2012, Cher Lloyd announced she has started work on her second album, and has done a few songs.^[39] Lloyd plans to re-release her single Want U Back in the US without Astro, but has recorded a remix with Snoop Dogg.^[40] L.A. Reid also plans to introduce Lloyd to American media in New York, hoping Lloyd will make a breakthrough in America.^[41] Cher Lloyd has recently confirmed her engagement to boyfriend Craig, and hopes to get married as soon as possible.^[42][43][44] However, Lloyd has received controversy due to marriage at a young age, but has argued her "Gypsy background means she should have already married by now". She hopes to get married sometime in the summer of 2012.^[45]

Discography[link]

• Sticks + Stones (2011)

Tours[link]

• 2011: The X Factor Live Tour 2011
• 2012: Sticks + Stones Tour

Filmography[link]

Television[link]

See also[link]

• List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Cher Lloyd discography at MusicBrainz

Frank Ocean
Frank Ocean performing at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2012
Background information
Birth name	Christopher Breaux
Also known as	Christopher Francis Ocean, Lonny Breaux, Frank Ocean
Born	(1987-10-28) October 28, 1987 (age 24)[1] New Orleans, Louisiana
Genres	jazz R&B, Neo Soul, Alternative hip hop, hip hop soul[2]
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, rapper, musician, entertainer, vocalist
Instruments	Vocals, Keyboards,
Years active	2007–present
Labels	Odd Future Records, Island Def Jam
Associated acts	OFWGKTA, James Fauntleroy II, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Justin Bieber, Beyonce
Website	frankocean.com

Christopher Francis Ocean (born Christopher Breaux; October 28, 1987), better known by his stage name Frank Ocean, is an American singer-songwriter from New Orleans, Louisiana. Breaux made an early career as a ghost-writer for artists such as Justin Bieber, Bridget Kelly, Aramide Makinde and John Legend. In mid 2010 he became a member of OFWGKTA premiering on Domo Genesis' track, "SteamRoller". In February 2011, he released his debut mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra to critical acclaim. He released two singles; "Novacane" and "Swim Good". Both singles achieved chart success. Ocean went on a 7 show tour through North America and Europe promoting the mixtape. He is currently located in New York City.

The mixtape caught the interest of recording artists such as Kanye West, Beyoncé Knowles and Jay-Z, and he appeared on Watch the Throne. He co-wrote the popular track "Thinking About You" for Bridget Kelly. On January 5, 2012, the BBC announced that he had finished in second place in the BBC's Sound of 2012 poll.^[3] Ocean is currently working on his debut studio album, set to be released in the first half of 2012, while the same year he appeared at Coachella and he is scheduled to appear at Lollapalooza.

Biography[link]

2005–2010: Career beginnings[link]

Frank Ocean began his career with the producer duo The MIDI Mafia. Ocean joined Los Angeles-based hip hop collective OFWGKTA, whom he met through his connections, at the end of 2009.^[4][5] In late 2009, he met Tricky Stewart, who helped Ocean sign a contract with Def Jam Recordings as a solo artist, however, he was initially unable to build a relationship with the company.^[5][6][7] In 2010, he changed his name from Christopher Breaux to Christopher Francis William Ocean via a legal website.^[5]

[edit] 2011–present: Nostalgia, Ultra and debut album

Ocean has written songs for Justin Bieber, John Legend, Brandy,^[5] and Beyoncé Knowles ("I Miss You" from the album 4),^[8][9] Ocean has also worked with Nas^[10] (on whose 10th studio album Ocean is expected to feature, along with fellow Odd Future members Tyler, the Creator and Hodgy Beats)^[11] and Pharrell Williams.^[12] On February 18, 2011, Ocean released his first mixtape, Nostalgia, Ultra, to critical acclaim.^[5][7] His music mostly focuses on interpersonal relationships, personal reflection and social commentary.^[5] NPR's Andrew Noz calls Ocean's songwriting "smart and subtle...setting him apart from the pack."^[13] Rolling Stone magazine's Jonah Weiner calls Ocean a "gifted avant-R&B smoothie".^[14] In an April 2011 interview, Ocean stated that his relationship with Def Jam has strengthened since the release of his mixtape.^[4]

Ocean appeared in Tyler, the Creator's music video for the single "She", from Tyler's second studio album Goblin (2011).^[15][16] Ocean first performed with Odd Future at the Coachella Music & Arts Festival in April 2011, then later joined his OFWGKTA bandmates for the first time on tour from May 12 to May 19, 2011. They toured the eastern seaboard of the United States.^[17] On May 19, 2011 Ocean's record label Def Jam announced its plans to re-release Nostalgia, Ultra as an EP.^[18] The single "Novacane" was released to iTunes on May 31, 2011, and the EP originally was set to be released on July 26, 2011, but through his Tumblr blog on July 24, he stated that it would not be released on that date.^[19][20] In June 2011, Ocean revealed on his Tumblr that he would be working on the upcoming Kanye West and Jay-Z collaborative album, Watch the Throne.^[21] Ocean was ultimately a writer and featured artist on the tracks "No Church in the Wild" and "Made in America".^[22][23] On July 28, 2011 a song titled "Thinking About You"^[24] was leaked on the internet. It was later revealed the song was a reference track and written for Roc Nation artist Bridget Kelly for her debut studio album.^[25] Kelly who has performed an acoustic version of the song, retitled the song "Thinking About Forever".^[26] However, on September 15, 2011, a music video directed by High5Collective for Ocean's version was released, yet the song appeared on Bridget Kelly's debut EP Every Girl.^[27] His debut album is set for a release on Def Jam Records in Spring 2012.^[28] On March 8, 2012, a re-mastered version of "Thinking About You" leaked, intended to be a single.^[29] On April 5, Ocean released the cover art for his upcoming debut studio album's lead single "Thinkin' Bout You", revealing the song would be released to digital retailers on April 10.^[30] "It succinctly defines me as an artist for where I am right now and that was the aim," he said of the follow-up to the acclaimed Nostalgia, Ultra. "It’s about the stories. If I write 14 stories that I love, then the next step is to get the environment of music around it to best envelop the story and all kinds of sonic goodness."^[30]

Ocean used the entire melody and chords of The Eagles' song "Hotel California", without permission, on his own song, “American Wedding.” When asked about it, Ocean stated that Eagles band member "Don Henley is apparently intimidated by my rendition of 'Hotel California'. He threatened to sue if I perform it again." In response to Ocean's comments, The Eagles released a statement: “Frank Ocean did not merely 'sample' a portion of the Eagles’ 'Hotel California,' he took the whole master track, plus the song’s existing melody, and replaced the lyrics with his own. This is not creative, let alone 'intimidating.' It’s illegal. For the record, Don Henley has not threatened or instituted any legal action against Frank Ocean, although the Eagles are now considering whether they should.”^[31] In early 2012, a suit was filed against Frank Ocean for the use of Hotel California.

In March 2012, Coldplay announced that Ocean would perform as an opening act for a number of shows on their European tour in July and August 2012.^[32]

Discography[link]

Collaborative albums[link]

• The OF Tape Vol. 2 (2012)

Mixtapes[link]

• Nostalgia, Ultra (2011)

Awards and nominations[link]

References[link]

Kool Keith
Kool Keith performing at Mezzanine in San Francisco, California during the 2009 Noise Pop Festival.
Background information
Birth name	Keith Matthew Thornton
Also known as	Dr. Octagon, Dr. Dooom, Black Elvis
Born	(1963-10-19) October 19, 1963 (age 48)
Origin	The Bronx, New York
Genres	Hip hop
Occupations	Rapper, producer
Instruments	Rapping, keyboard, bass guitar
Years active	1984–present
Labels	Junkadelic, Gothom, Funky Ass, DreamWorks Records, Ruffhouse/Columbia/SME Records
Associated acts	Ultramagnetic MCs Analog Brothers Masters of Illusion Thee Undatakerz The Clayborne Family KutMasta Kurt Dan the Automator The Prodigy 54-71 Diesel Truckers Spazz Princess Superstar
Website	www.koolkeith.co.uk

Keith Matthew Thornton, better known by his stage name Kool Keith, is an American rapper from The Bronx, New York. A founding member of Ultramagnetic MCs, Kool Keith has recorded prolifically both as a solo artist and in group collaborations. Kool Keith is the self-proclaimed inventor of horrorcore.^[1]