Berlin

Berlin, as of today, is essentially the touring project of Terri Nunn, the only original member still performing under the name. The band remains active, playing nostalgic new wave and synth-pop sets at festivals and theaters across North America and Europe. Their reputation rests squarely on a handful of 1980s singles, most notably "Take My Breath Away," which topped the Billboard Hot 100 and won an Oscar.

Nunn's live performances continue to draw devoted fans who grew up with the music, and the band's catalog has found new life through streaming and film soundtracks. While the classic lineup is long gone, the Berlin name still carries weight in the new wave revival circuit. [edit]

Berlin began in Los Angeles in 1978 when bassist John Crawford and keyboardist David Diamond, both veterans of the local punk and new wave scenes, decided to form a band that fused synthesizers with a dark, danceable edge. They auditioned several singers before settling on Terri Nunn, a former model who had appeared in commercials and had a brief stint as a solo artist. Nunn's smoky, powerful voice fit the band's brooding sound perfectly.

The group spent a few years honing their craft in clubs like The Whisky and Madame Wong's, building a following with their energetic live shows. In 1982, they released their self-titled debut album on Enigma Records. The single "The Metro" became a dance club hit and a staple of the emerging new wave genre. The band's lineup shifted frequently in those early years; guitarist Ric Olsen joined in 1980, and keyboardist Matt Reid and drummer Rob Brill came aboard later to solidify the classic lineup.

Their second album, Count Three & Pray (1984), brought more attention with the singles "Sex (I'm a...)" and "No More Words," both of which topped the US dance chart. But it was the 1986 ballad "Take My Breath Away," written by Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock for the film Top Gun, that turned Berlin into a global sensation. The song hit number one in the US and many other countries. The pressure and internal tensions that followed led to the band's breakup later that year. [edit]

Berlin's sound is rooted in the synth-pop and new wave movements of the early 1980s. Their music relies heavily on analog synthesizers, driving basslines, and Nunn's expressive vocals, often with a moody, atmospheric quality. Early tracks like "The Metro" and "Sex (I'm a...)" are characterized by a dark, slightly industrial texture that set them apart from more polished pop acts.

With "Take My Breath Away," the band shifted toward a more accessible, ballad-driven sound, though it still featured lush synths and a slow, pulsing beat. Lyrically, Berlin often explored themes of love, alienation, and urban life, reflecting the anxieties of the Cold War era. After reforming in 1997, they returned to their synth-pop roots, but their later albums never matched the impact of their 80s output. [edit]

Berlin's biggest contribution to pop culture is "Take My Breath Away," a song that became inseparable from the Top Gun phenomenon and the 1980s power ballad era. It won the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Original Song, and its success helped cement the trend of movie soundtracks dominating the charts.

The band also played a role in bringing new wave and synth-pop to a wider American audience. Their fashion sense, featuring leather jackets, dark makeup, and avant-garde styling, influenced the look of the new wave subculture. In later years, Berlin's music has been embraced by LGBTQ+ communities, partly due to the queer associations of new wave and Nunn's openness about her bisexuality. [edit]

Berlin never had an official fandom name, lightstick, or fan colors, unlike many modern pop acts. Their fan base is composed primarily of 1980s music enthusiasts and new wave revivalists who discovered the band through radio, MTV, or the Top Gun soundtrack. At concerts, sing-alongs to "Take My Breath Away" and "The Metro" are a given, and fans often dress in vintage new wave attire to capture the era's aesthetic. The band's social media presence, maintained by Terri Nunn, helps keep the community connected with tour announcements and nostalgic posts. [edit]

Terri Nunn was a model before joining Berlin and appeared in commercials for products like Revlon and Kentucky Fried Chicken.

John Crawford left the band in 1984 after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis; he passed away in 2017.

"Take My Breath Away" was written by Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock, but Berlin's performance made it a hit. The band did not write the song.

The band's name was inspired by the city of Berlin, though they were formed in Los Angeles.

After the 1986 breakup, Nunn pursued a solo career and even auditioned for the role of Princess Leia in Star Wars, which went to Carrie Fisher. [edit]