Alphaville

Alphaville is a German synthpop music group which gained popularity in the 1980s. The founding members were Marian Gold (born Hartwig Schierbaum, May 26 1954) and Bernhard Lloyd (born Bernhard G&

Alphaville is a German synthpop music group which gained popularity in the 1980s. The founding members were Marian Gold (born Hartwig Schierbaum, May 26 1954) and Bernhard Lloyd (born Bernhard Gößling, February 2, 1960), and the band was originally named Forever Young. Frank Mertens (born Frank Sorgatz, October 26, 1961) joined the band in 1982. The band is best known for its two biggest hits, "Big in Japan" and "Forever Young", which was the theme for many high school proms in the 1980s.

In 1984 the re-named Alphaville released their debut single "Big In Japan", followed by "Sounds Like A Melody" and "Forever Young", quickly followed by the album Forever Young. Despite its success Frank Mertens left the band in the same year and was replaced by Ricky Echolette (born Wolfgang Neuhaus, in Cologne, August 6, 1960) in January 1985.