Jas Mann

Jas Mann (full name Jasbinder Mann), was born in Dudley, West Midlands, England, on April 24, 1971.

Related Topics:
Dudley - West Midlands - England - April 24 - 1971

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One of four children of Avtar Mann and Balbir Mann, his mother and father respectively, Mann is Indian or to be more precise he is Punjabi. Both his parents were born in villages within the Punjab, which lies in the North West of India near New Delhi. The Mann family are classed as Sikh by birth.

Related Topics:
Indian - Punjabi - Punjab - India - New Delhi - Sikh

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Although born in Dudley, Wolverhampton is Jas' hometown. His final years of state education were undertaken at Pendeford High School, where he developed a passion for music. He formed his first band at the age of 15 called 'The Glove Puppets', and personally funded a 7" vinyl single, sold through local record shops in 1987.

Related Topics:
Wolverhampton - Pendeford - 1987

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The Sandkings (band), another Wolverhampton band with a strong following, were keen to sign Jas as their vocalist, and he joined them in 1990. The Sandkings, named after a 1981 collection of sci-fi short stories by George R.R. Martin (called Sandkings) released five singles with Mann between 1989 and 1992, and an album. They were the opening act for The Happy Mondays and The Stone Roses in the early '90s, but Mann left the band in 1992 because of creative differences.

Related Topics:
The Sandkings (band) - 1981 - George R.R. Martin - Sandkings - The Happy Mondays - The Stone Roses - 1992

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In 1993, a three-track demo from Mann's next project Babylon Zoo earned him a contract from Phonogram Records. In 1996 Levi's used "Spaceman", their first single for a TV advert after hearing the song on a UK radio station. The single went straight to Number 1 on the UK's official music chart, selling 250,000 copies in the first week of release. However, the huge success of "Spaceman" turned Babylon Zoo into a one-hit wonder.

Related Topics:
1993 - Babylon Zoo - 1996 - Levi's

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When Babylon Zoo released an album, 1996's The Boy With the X-Ray Eyes, there was disappointingly mild interest and it was a flop.

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