| Bearforce 1 | |
| Origin: | Netherlands and Northern Ireland |
| Genre: | Pop, Dance |
| Years Active: | 2006–Present |
| Label: | C+R Records |
| Associated Acts: | Spice Girls |
| Current Members: | Robert Brown (2006–present) Paul Bloomer (2014-Present) Brian McBride (2019-present) Ambrose Donnelly (2019-present) Yuri (2006–2009) Ian Turnel (2006–2008) Peter Johansson (2006–2008) Konstantinos Zouganelis (2008–2009) Peter Gerrist (2008–2009) Eddi (2007–2008) Ryan Wilkinson (2014–2018) Simon Crawford (2014–2019) Alan Gordon (2019-2022) |
Bearforce 1 is a gay dance music band from the Netherlands, known mainly for a YouTube hit video, "Bearforce 1". Founded in 2006 and promoting their image as bears,[1] they released three singles accompanied by YouTube videos, and scored hits in the Netherlands before breaking up in 2009. The band reformed in 2014 with 3 new members, with only the lead singer, Robert Brown returning.
Bearforce 1 was founded by three Dutchmen (Ian Turnel, Peter Johansson, and Yuri) and an Irishman (Robert Brown), led by actor and producer Roeland Fernhout. Their eponymous single "Bearforce 1", a medley of popular dance songs including Sabrina Salerno's Boys and Dead or Alive's You Spin Me Round, accompanied by a video clip in which the four bears dance and lip-sync, was a YouTube phenomenon[2] and ended as #20 on LOGO TV's Ultimate Queer Videos Countdown.[3] Praise by Perez Hilton led to a tour in the United States[4] [5] and attention in the US media--The Washington Post wrote of the band, "Finally, there's a boy band for older, hairy gay men."[6]
They released a second single, "Christmas is here," in 2007, also accompanied by a popular YouTube video (shot in the snow in Austria, in which the four men danced in red boxers, tank tops, ski outfits, and Santa Claus suits),[7] The song entered the Single Top 100 at #7.[8] In December 2007 they played a series of concerts in Rotterdam Ahoy with Gerard Joling,[9] and in 2008 they played at the first same-sex marriage ceremony to take place at the Tilburg Pink Monday fair.[10] A third single, "Shake That Thing," was again praised by Perez Hilton.[11]
The same year, Johansson was replaced by Peter Gerrist. On Saturday 3 January 2009, Andrew Lloyd Webber and record company executive Colin Barlow dismissed an attempt by Bearforce 1 to represent the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 on BBC1's as "hopeless". The band broke up in late 2009.[12] In 2014 Bearforce 1 reformed with three new members, Robert Brown being the only returning member.[13] The band's comeback single 'Action Man'[14] has been entered into the competition to be selected as Switzerland's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2015.
In 2020 a new line up of Bearforce1 auditioned for Britain's Got Talent.[15]