#fab morvan

[jodielandons]

MILLI VANILLI (2023) dir. Luke Korem | This moment in the doc really stuck with me. Imagine being a poor, abused, orphaned black child in Germany in the 80s who finally got one opportunity to follow your dreams. Your dreams ended up being exploited for a white couple's gain. Then when you lose the little success you had, you're berated by a British white man.

@jodielandons BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2024 FILM SERIES

[blckvenuz]

Milli Vanilli (2023) dir. Luke Korem

[phtharticdelights]

fabrice morvan.

[purvlereign]

“Oh s-so you doing the bending?!” 😭😭😭 like what was this photographer on

[bilbao-song]

Good morning, Amy! Here’s a pre-Milli Vanilli photo that I found. I really like Rob’s natural auburn hair color. Wish he would’ve kept it this way.

awww yessss it’s such a pretty color!!!

[mumbojumbo84317]

Fab Morvan (left) and Rob Pilatus (1965 - 1998) of Franco-German R&B duo, Milli Vanilli, Gun Wharves, Wapping, London, 27th September 1988.

📸 Michael Putland/Getty Images

[2ndtide]

Milli Vanilli (1989)

[damianodavds]

Girl You Know It's True (2023)

[intriguingpeoplebyangelafloyd]

ROB PILATUS

ROB PILATUS

8 June 1964/5 - 3 April 1998

MILLI VANILLI

            Rob Pilatus was one half of the music duo Milli Vanilli with Fab Morvan. Milli Vanilli became successful selling singles and albums and won the 1989 Best New Artist Grammy.

            Pilatus was a German model who was born in Munich, his father was African-American and his mother was German. He spent his first years of his life in an orphanage before he was adopted by a Munich family. At school he was an outsider and was verbally bullied. He left his home as a teenager to work as a model and dancer; he met Fab Morvan on the dance scene in 1988.

            The two men had connections to those in the entertainment industry and were noticed by a music producer Frank Farian who signed them to be a music act, Milli Vanilli. They were to pose as the vocalists whilst the real singers were Charles Shaw and Brad Howell who Farian didn’t believe had a marketable image. The two men created a look, wearing vests and having hair extensions put in. Their singles were released and the two men quickly gained fame and wealth.

            It wasn’t long until rumors spread that the two men were miming. Charles Shaw, the real singer went public and revealed that he was the actual singer behind Milli Vanilli. Farian paid him in hush money to retract his statement, but the cat was already out of the bag. In 1990 the men were stripped of the Emmy Award. Albums were taken off the shelves and anybody in America who had purchased the album could get a refund.

            Farian and Morvan attempted to make a comeback by telling the public that they could really sing, but it was too late. In 1996, Pilatus served time in prison for assault, vandalism and attempted robbery. Farian had a drug problem and Farian paid to have him to do drug rehab.

            In 1998, Pilatus, 32, was found dead in a Frankfurt hotel room after taking a lethal combination of drugs and alcohol. His death was ruled accidental.

#robpilatus #fabmorvan #millivanilli #smashhits #smashhitsmagazine

[lynnfriedman]

Millie Vanilli Biopic: Berlin & Beyond Film Festival

Roxie Theater hosted the Berlin & Beyond Film Festival’s North American Premiere of “Girl You Know it’s True“, a biopic about Fab Morvan, and the rise and fall of his band Milli Vanilli. Fab made a personal appearance in San Francisco to answer audience questions and graciously pose with admirers. A little history: Fab Morvan was born in 1966 in Paris, France. He met his future partner Rob…

[xtruss]

‘Rasputin’ Songwriter Dies At Age 83! German Music Producer Frank Farian, Founder of the Disco Group Boney M, Has Passed Away at his Home in Miami

Music Producer Frank Farian appears with Boney M Lead Singer Liz Mitchell at a 2007 event in Berlin, Germany. © Getty Images/Peter Bischoff

Music producer Frank Farian, the mastermind behind 1970s disco band Boney M and disgraced German pop group Milli Vanilli, has died at age 83.

Farian, a native of Southwestern Germany who grew up in the wake of World War II, passed away at his home in Miami, according to a statement issued by his family on Tuesday. He had undergone life-saving surgery two years ago in a procedure that involved inserting a pig heart valve.

“May Frank rest in peace,” Liz Mitchell, Boney M’s original lead singer, wrote in a Facebook post. “Our work was blessed and helped the people who had the privilege to hear it.” She added, “We shared and united under a star [and] rose above and beyond what we dared to expect. I say well done to the work that we did.”

Born in 1941 under the name Frank Reuter in Kirn, Germany, Farian was trained as a cook before launching his career as a singer. He later shifted his focus to being a producer and Founded Boney M in 1974. With Farian serving as the Group’s Primary Songwriter, Boney M Had Such Hit Songs As ‘Rasputin’, ‘Daddy Cool’, ‘Rivers of Babylon’, and ‘Mary’s Boy Child’.

Many of Farian’s Lyrics Were Humorous. For Instance, He Wrote of Rasputin:

“There lived a certain man in Russia long ago,

He was big and strong, in his eyes a flaming glow

Most people look at him with terror and with fear

But to Moscow chicks he was such a lovely dear”

Farian went on to produce songs that reportedly racked up more than 800 million record sales, earning him the nickname, “Mr. German Hit.” He worked with such music legends as Meat Loaf and Stevie Wonder, and he founded the infamous hip-hop duo Milli Vanilli, made up of Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus.

The latter group had to give back its Grammy Award for “Best New Artist” after Farian admitted in 1990 that Morvan and Pilatus had not sung on their records and were merely lip-synching on stage.

— RT | Tuesday January 23, 2024

[blckvenuz]

no one can make me hate you.

[urlasage]

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lies take the elevator

while the truth takes the stairs

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[purvlereign]

the category is face.

[bilbao-song]

Hello, Amy! I thought you’d like this picture of Fab and his sister, Natalie. They’re such cuties!!!

<333 !!! thank youuuuuuu omg. so adorable

[ablufox]

The Rise and Fall of Milli Vanilli and Life After Scandal

The narrative of Milli Vanilli is a rollercoaster journey filled with swift success, abrupt disgrace, and an endeavor toward personal and professional redemption.

Born out of the vision of music producer Frank Farian in the late 1980s, Milli Vanilli, comprising Rob Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan, became an emblem of commercial and overnight pop success.

Their first album “All or Nothing” (1988) achieved success in Europe leading them to release an updated version titled “Girl You Know Its True” in the United States. The album became a sensation. Propelled them to stardom resulting in three American Music Awards and a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1990.

Their dynamic stage presence and unique fashion sense made them true icons of their time. However, their image started to crumble when it was revealed that they hadn’t actually sung any of the songs on their album.

The video above showcases when their “live” performance was cut short when the audio malfunctioned by skipping during the concert. The duo rushed off stage. When this was headline news I thought to myself that many performances lip sync especially when a lot of dancing was involved. They were very active on stage with a lot of dancing. No big deal, right?

Wrong. The vocals were instead provided by actual singers Ray Horton, John Davis, Gina Mohammed, Frank Farian, and Brad Howell while Pilatus and Morvan acted as figureheads, for the group lip-syncing during performances.

The music industry and the public felt deceived, leading to a historic return of their Grammy Award. This was the first time in Recording Academy history to have any Grammy Award returned, for any reason. The scandal spurred a reevaluation of ethical practices within the industry, spotlighting the fine line between commercial success and artistic authenticity.

The question of who knew about Milli Vanilli’s deception remains a mystery. It’s possible that some people within the industry were aware of the facade. The desire for success might have outweighed ethical considerations. The scandal also ushered in a period of public ridicule and professional ostracism for Pilatus and Morvan. 

Pilatus‘ post-scandal life stood in contrast to the admiration he once enjoyed as a pop icon grappling with the disgrace, he spiraled into a life of substance abuse and legal issues, culminating in his tragic demise in 1998.

On the other hand, Fabrice Morvan demonstrated resilience as he tried to rebuild his life and career outside the haunting shadow of Milli Vanilli. Nonetheless, reminders of the past continued to cast their shadow over his endeavors.

The dazzling ascent and subsequent plummet of Milli Vanilli from the zenith of the music industry is a tale rich in irony and caution. However, amidst the debris of shattered dreams and stained reputations emerged a narrative of resilience and undying hope, epitomized by Fab Morvan’s journey post-scandal. While the world was quick to castigate and relegate the duo to the annals of infamous frauds, Fab Morvan embarked on a path less trodden, one that sought redemption through authenticity and a genuine love for music.

His efforts to rejuvenate his music career saw him venture into various collaborations, each endeavor a step towards carving a niche that resonated with his true musical essence. Fab sought to distance himself from the fabricated image that had once catapulted him to stardom, instead opting for a path that prioritized authenticity over commercial success. The road was arduous and laden with skepticism from critics, yet it was a road that Fab Morvan trod with unwavering resolve.

Parallel to his professional endeavors was Fab Morvan’s personal journey. He found love and embraced the joys of fatherhood, a phase of his life that perhaps provided the solace and grounding needed amidst the tumultuous professional landscape. His relationship with Tessa Van Der Steen and the birth of their children marked a new chapter, one that transcended the chaos that had once engulfed his existence.

Moreover, Fab Morvan’s engagement in discussions and reflections about the Milli Vanilli saga, as evidenced in recent documentaries and interviews, indicates a level of acceptance and introspection. He has become a voice of experience, offering a unique perspective on the intricacies and ethical dilemmas inherent in the music industry.

The essence of Fab Morvan’s narrative post-Milli Vanilli is a blend of professional resilience and personal growth. His journey embodies the quintessence of redemption, showcasing that even in the face of adversity, the human spirit’s quest for authenticity and genuine connection remains undeterred.

Through the lens of Fab Morvan’s experiences, the tale of Milli Vanilli transforms from a mere scandalous anecdote to a nuanced narrative rich in lessons about integrity, authenticity, and the indomitable human spirit. His life post-Milli Vanilli is a testament to the enduring essence of hope, resilience, and the inexorable drive to forge a genuine connection with the world, even when the odds are stacked against one.

I grew up in the 80s and was a huge fan of Milli Vanilli. Despite the shock heard around the world, I was in love with this duo and their fake vocals. The album had hits that resonated with my high school experiences and memories. Still to this day, I listen to their music even though they are the visual, I still enjoy the vocals of the original singers. Seeing this new documentary really reawakened my love for the duo. 

I feel that Frank Farain did not take much responsibility for creating this fraud and the fact that I feel record producer, Clive Davis, knew about it really hurts. Money makes the world go around and in the end, Rob is the one who lost most, his life. 

You can see the new “Milli Vanilli” documentary on Paramount Plus.