Atomic Kitten
Popular group Atomic Kitten consists of Natasha Hamilton, Jenny Frost and Liz McClarnon -- better known as Tash, Jenny and Lil. Kerry Katona was one of the group's original members, but she left in order to make motherhood her full-time career, and was replaced by Jenny Frost in January 2001.
Natasha Hamilton hails from Kensington, Liverpool, and was born July 17, 1982. Naming Barry White among her favorite musicians, Tash also loves football, especially Liverpool FC, her native team.
Liz McClarnon was also born in Liverpool, on April 10, 1981. The brains of the bunch, she would have pursued a law degree if it weren't for music. Also a huge football fan, her team of choice is Everton.
The newest addition to the trio, Jenny was friends with the Atomic Kitten girls while she was a member of her former group, Precious, of "Say It Again" fame. Known as the clown, Jenny was born February 22, 1978, in Liverpool.
So how did Atomic Kitten come to be in the first place? Kerry Katona, one of the original pussycats, was a backup singer in a band near Liverpool, and wasn't completely fulfilled -- she knew she wanted a band of her own. She met Liz in 1998, and Natasha joined what is now known as Atomic Kitten, in 1999. The girls were inspired by the clothing label "Automatic Kitten" and wanted to go by that name, but they later changed their band name to "Atomic Kitten."
Kerry, Tash and Lil signed with Innocent Records in the summer of 1999 and blasted onto the scene with their hit single, "Right Now," off the album of the same name. Atomic Kitten quickly gained popularity and wide recognition in the UK, where their single "Something Spooky" was being used as the theme song for the kid's TV show Belfy Witches. They also had a sponsorship deal for a chocolate bar in Japan, where they were also a smash.
Right Now, released in 2000, has spawned the singles "Eternal Flame," "You Are" and "Whole Again," the latter which became a hit in North America as well, introducing the lovely Atomic Kitten ladies to North American audiences.
"Whole Again" and "Eternal Flame" were respectively named the 4th and 15th biggest-selling singles of 2001.
As Tash, Lil and Jenny are said to have released a book, Atomic Kitten: Our Story, finished their second album to be released in the summer of 2002, and enjoyed their first UK tour, they have become the biggest girl group in the UK since the Spice Girls unleashed their "Girl Power" on an unknowing world. They have also hinted that Kerry might return to Atomic Kitten, by saying that we shouldn't count it out.
In the meantime, Kerry has her plate full with her new daughter, Molly, and her January 2002 wedding to Bryan McFadden, of Westlife fame. And love is in the air for the Atomic Kittens: Jenny is engaged to her DJ boyfriend Dom T., and Tash is expecting a baby boy in August, with her boyfriend, bouncer Fran Cosgrove. Meanwhile, the publicized engagement of Lil and Lee Ryan from Blue was called off, on amicable terms.
The first single off their new album is called "It's Ok," and it's certainly more than okay for these purring pussycats.
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