Nelson
Nelson
Multiplatinum recording artists Matthew and Gunnar Nelson, the twin brothers behind the iconic music group NELSON, embody the enduring legacy of America’s most extraordinary show business family. As the seventh generation of entertainers, they continue the traditions of excellence and integrity that have characterized their family for over 120 years.
From the moment they burst onto the scene with their self-penned debut album, “After The Rain,” Matthew and Gunnar Nelson captivated audiences with their striking good looks and trademark long blonde hair. However, it was their exceptional songwriting and commercially savvy rock sound that catapulted them to stardom, solidifying their status as third-generation torchbearers of the Nelson family legacy. In a remarkable achievement, their hit single “(I Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection” secured the Nelsons’ place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the only family in history to achieve number one record status in three successive generations.
Throughout their illustrious career, Matthew and Gunnar have continued to impress with their songwriting prowess and electrifying performances. They have written and performed one number one and five top 10 singles, garnered four number one MTV videos, sold over five million records, and enthralled millions of fans across the globe with their magnetic stage presence. Their talent extends far beyond the music industry, as they have proven themselves to be multifaceted entertainers, savvy entrepreneurs, and ambassadors of unwavering positivity and resilience.
Born into the iconic Nelson family, whose matriarch and patriarch were none other than actress Harriet Nelson and bandleader Ozzie Nelson, Matthew and Gunnar were destined for greatness. Their father, the legendary Ricky Nelson, rose to prominence as one of the most influential rock artists of the ’50s and ’60s, selling over 100 million albums and earning a well-deserved place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Matthew and Gunnar’s musical journey began at the age of five, honing their vocal, bass, and drum skills by playing originals in the hayloft above their parents’ Studio City California farm. Inspired by their father’s current success with his classic song “Garden Party” and the vibrant California country rock movement at the time, the twins dedicated their lives to music. At just 12 years old, they fearlessly took to the stages of the cutthroat L.A. punk and new wave club scene as part of the punky power-pop trio, The Strange Agents. Their concert career was born: two kids cutting heads with musicians twice their age like The Knack, The Go Go’s, and X.
In the face of tragedy, Matthew and Gunnar persevered and emerged stronger than ever. Mere months after their father’s untimely death in a plane crash, their then-band, The Nelsons, made history as the first and only unsigned act to perform as the musical guests on TV’s Saturday Night Live. Fueled by their unwavering dedication to being an unstoppable force to be reckoned with, Gunnar traded his drumming duties for the guitar, embracing a more active role in the band and blossoming into a proficient guitarist and fluent co-frontman. Guided by writing and production mentor John Boylan (Boston/Linda Ronstadt), the duo immersed themselves into refining their songwriting skills and developing their signature sound. The resulting NELSON sound coalesced a unique blend of rock attitude, pop hooks, country lyrics, and brother harmonies that has resonated with audiences globally for three decades.
In 1989, the newly rebranded NELSON, now signed to Geffen Records by the legendary A&R man John Kalodner (Foreigner/AC/DC), unleashed their debut album, “After The Rain.” With Matthew and Gunnar serving as co-producers, the record swiftly skyrocketed to triple platinum status. The album’s infectious and unapologetically radio-friendly songs, including the chart-topping “(Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection,” captivated audiences and cemented NELSON’s place in music history. Their electrifying live performances during the AFTER THE RAIN world tour are legendary, leaving a profound impact on over a million fans fortunate enough to witness their powerful, inspirational, and life-changing shows. When not headlining their own arena shows, they joined forces with rock icons STYX, Peter Frampton, Cinderella, and America to name a few.
While NELSON faced challenges amidst the ever-changing landscape of the music industry, Matthew and Gunnar Nelson remained undeterred. They founded their own Stone Canyon Records label (a joint venture with Universal Music Group), and continued to create music, release albums, and tour, showcasing their unwavering commitment to their craft and their fans.
Over the years, Matthew and Gunnar Nelson have released seventeen albums and counting- each showcasing their evolution as artists and their ability to adapt to changing musical trends while staying true to their roots. NELSON’s discography includes albums such critically acclaimed albums as “Because They Can,” “Imaginator,” “Life,” “Lightning Strikes Twice,” and “Peace Out”. NELSON’s 30 plus year career is newly enshrined on 2022’s seventeen song “NELSON: Greatest Hits and Near Misses” album.
Beyond their music, Matthew and Gunnar have become multifaceted multimedia entertainers- stars of both traditional and virtual mediums. Their impact extends beyond the stage and studio as they have graced countless magazine covers from People to Billboard, and have appeared on prominent television shows including “The American Music Awards,” “Late Night With David Letterman,” and “Good Morning America.” The Nelson family journey has been chronicled in the most successful A&E “Biography” episode in history, captivating over 300 million households. The telegenic twins are also fixtures on MTV, VH1, and Much Music as VJs, and continuously host national radio shows for Cumulus and SiriusXM. They are currently developing their own internationally syndicated podcast, “What Happens on the Road…”, and their autobiography “What Happened To Your Hair?” is scheduled for a fall of 2024 release.
In 2023, NELSON is back with a vengeance, ready to rock audiences once again. Represented by the prestigious ARM agency, they are embarking on a nationwide tour alongside esteemed bands such as Tesla, Warrant, Winger, Slaughter, Great White, and Lita Ford. Their unwavering dedication to their craft, coupled with their undeniable talent and showmanship, ensures that NELSON’s live performances continue to be a testament to their enduring legacy and their unwavering commitment to their fans.
In conclusion, Matthew and Gunnar Nelson, the dynamic duo behind NELSON, have not only carried forward the culture shaping legacy of their family but have carved their own indelible mark in the entertainment industry. Their exceptional talent, disarming charisma, magnetic stage presence, and chart-topping hits have turned this collision of the Everly Brothers and the Smothers Brothers into an American treasure. From their early beginnings paying their dues in the vibrant L.A. club scene to taking their rightful place as rock legends for this century, they have more than proven their prowess as accomplished musicians, performers, and personalities. Matthew and Gunnar NELSON’s indelible mark on the entertainment industry is a testament to their unwavering passion, talent, and dedication.
And they’re only just getting started…
HIGHLIGHTS
• Matthew and Gunnar are seventh generation entertainers who are continuing the traditions of a family that has represented the American ideal of excellence and integrity for over one hundred and twenty years.
• In their forty plus year career, Matthew and Gunnar Nelson have sold over five million records of their own to kids who had no idea who their iconic father was.
• In 1973, Gunnar and Matthew began playing music (Gunnar on drums and Matthew on bass) at the ages of five and six respectively and began writing songs shortly thereafter.
• In 1979, Matthew and Gunnar began their professional music career performing their original songs in Los Angeles rock clubs at the age of 12 with their band The Strange Agents, holding their own with iconic new wave, rock, and punk bands like The Knack, The Go Go’s, The Plimsouls, X, and The Vandals.
• At age 18, Nelson became the only unsigned band in history to perform as the musical guests on “Saturday Night Live.”
• Their No. 1 hit, “(I Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection,” marked the first and only time in history that any family has achieved No. 1 status with three successive generations. The Ozzie Nelson Orchestra went No. 1 in 1932 with “And Then Some,” Ricky Nelson in 1961 with “Poor Little Fool” and “Travelin’ Man,” and Matthew and Gunnar Nelson’s 1990 “(I Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection” which landed the Nelson Family in the Guinness Book of World Records.
• Their debut single, the self-penned “(I Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection,” was also their first No. 1 hit.
• They’ve released seventeen self-penned albums, have had five top ten Billboard hits, 6 top forty Billboard hits, four #1 MTV video awards, a platinum selling home video, plus have also attained international icon status.
• Since 1990, Matthew and Gunnar have been featured on countless magazine covers, including People, Rolling Stone, US, Variety, Pollstar, and Cashbox.
• At its peak, NELSON outsold NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, and New Kids On The Block in merch at their peaks.
• The twins have performed on shows like “The American Music Awards”, “Late Night With David Letterman”, “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve”, “The Today Show”, “Saturday Night Live,” “The Talk”, “Good Morning America”, “The Wendy Williams Show”, “The Arsenio Hall Show”, and “The Howard Stern Show” to name just a few.
• For 30 years, the telegenic duo have been regulars on CNN, MTV, VH1, and the big four networks- hosting, guesting, and featuring.
• On Father’s Day of 1998, the A&E channel broadcast a “Biography” episode of the Nelson family, spanning 100 years of American entertainment, and culminating with Matthew and Gunnar’s current career. The Nelson Biography episode earned a 4.8 share Neilson rating (over 300 million households tuning in) making it the most successful Biography episode in the history of television.
• In 2002, as an acoustic duo, Matthew and Gunnar toured the United States continuously with Styx, Peter Frampton, America, and Air Supply.
• From 2005-2007, Gunnar hosted LIFETIME’s national morning radio show for Cumulus networks.
• Matthew and Gunnar are recurrent DJ’s for SiriusXM, and due to their unique multigenerational musical expertise, have hosted 50’s on 5, 60’s on 6, 80’s on 8, and 90’s on 9, as well as Hair Nation.
• In 2010, NELSON’s LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE album distributed through the Frontiers label was their most critically acclaimed album ever, receiving a 7 out of 7 diamonds from Metal Hammer Magazine in Germany- the first 7 out of 7 to an American act in over a decade.
• In 2012, Gunnar co-founded the rock supergroup SCRAP METAL with his friend Mark Slaughter of the band SLAUGHTER, which continues to perform special events and rock festivals throughout the year ever since. The band’s cast features MTV era luminaries such as Lita Ford, Kip Winger, Dee Snider (Twisted Sister), Derek St. Holmes (Ted Nugent), Phil Lewis (LA Guns), Steve Plunkett (Autograph), Janet Gardner (Vixen), and Elliott Easton (The Cars).
• In both 2015 and 2016, the Matthew and Gunnar Nelson written and performed holiday standard THIS CHRISTMAS reached #4 on the Billboard holiday chart, making this their fifth top ten single.
• In 2021, Matthew and Gunnar signed a joint venture deal between Universal Music Group (UME) and their own Stone Canyon Records label, putting their entire career’s body of work under the same roof for the first time in history. This partnership spawned the NELSON: GREATEST HITS AND NEAR MISSES and NELSON FAMILY CHRISTMAS albums.
• In 2022, Matthew and Gunnar Nelson were inducted into the Scandanavian-American Hall of Fame along with Kris Kristofferson and Angie Dickerson.
• They are in the editing phase of their autobiography entitled What Happened To Your Hair?, co-written by acclaimed entertainment author Chris Epting which is scheduled to be released by Penquin Publishing in the summer of 2024.
• They are currently in production of several television projects centered on all things Nelson through their production company, Grain of Sand, and are currently developing their own internationally syndicated podcast WHAT HAPPENS ON THE ROAD with Fremantle’s Spyglass Entertainment.
• Matthew and Gunnar continue to perform an average of 100 shows per year.
• Matthew and Gunnar Nelson are identical twins but Matthew is 45 minutes older than his brother.
• Matthew and Gunnar were born on September 20, 1967 in Los Angeles, California.
• Matthew is right handed and started playing bass guitar at age 6.
• Gunnar is left-handed and plays lead guitar however he started out by playing drums at age five.
• Matthew and Gunnar are the grandsons of the famous TV couple, Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, and the sons of the late singer Ricky Nelson and Kris Harmon (daughter of legendary football star Tom Harmon who won the Heisman Trophy at the University of Michigan and is also the sister of actor Mark Harmon).
• Ozzie and Harriet had several big band hits in the 1930s before moving into radio and later into television with “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,” which also featured Rick Nelson and his brother David.
• “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet” holds the record as the longest-running live action sitcom in television history at 435 episodes over 14 ½ years, and shaped American culture in the post-war 1950’s, earning the Nelson family’s permanent enshrinement in the Smithsonian Institution as the standard for ideal American family… so much so that the Russians studied episodes of Ozzie and Harriet during the cold war to know their American enemies.
• Matthew and Gunnar are the only generation of #1 hit-making Nelsons to have written their own #1.
HIT SINGLES Billboard Chart Position
“(I Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection” #1
“After The Rain” #3
“More Than Ever” #3
“Only Time Will Tell” #11
“(You Got Me) All Shook Up” #38 (Top 40)
“This Christmas” #4
INTERNATIONAL HIT SINGLES
“Cross My Broken Heart” #1 Indonesia & Malaysia
“Too Many Dreams” #1 Japan, Taiwan, S.Korea
“Won’t Walk Away” #1 Japan
“Do You Believe In Religion” #1 Singapore, #3 Japan
“Say It Isn’t So” #1 Japan & Thailand
ALBUMS
AFTER THE RAIN 1991 Geffen/DGC Records (Triple Platinum/3.5 Million Sales)
BECAUSE THEY CAN 1995 Geffen/DGC Records
IMAGINATOR 1996 JVC/Victor/Stone Canyon Records
THE SILENCE IS BROKEN 1997 JVC/Victor/Stone Canyon Records
BROTHER HARMONY 1998 Stone Canyon Records
LIFE 1998 Stone Canyon Records
LIKE FATHER/LIKE SONS 2000 Stone Canyon Records
IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU 2005 Stone Canyon Records (currently unreleased)
BEFORE THE RAIN 2009 Stone Canyon Records/Frontiers
A PERFECT STORM 2009 Stone Canyon Records/Frontiers
LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE 2009 Stone Canyon Records/Frontiers
GREATEST HITS AND RARITIES 2010 Stone Canyon Records
PEACE OUT 2015 Stone Canyon Records/Frontiers
THIS CHRISTMAS 2015 Stone Canyon Records
THIS CHRISTMAS TOO 2016 Stone Canyon Records
GREATEST HITS AND NEAR MISSES 2021 Stone Canyon Records/UNIVERSAL
A NELSON FAMILY CHRISTMAS. 2022 Stone Canyon Records/UNIVERSAL
SOUNDTRACKS
Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure 1989 “Two Heads Are Better Than One”
Boxing Helena 1993 “I Can’t Make You Love Me”
VIDEOS
“After The Rain” home video compilation – Gold
“(I Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection #1 MTV
“After The Rain” #1 MTV
“More Than Ever” #1 MTV
“Only Time Will Tell” #1 MTV
“(You Got Me) All Shook Up”
“Won’t Walk Away”
“Cross My Broken Heart”
“Do You Believe In Religion?”
“You’re All I Need Tonight”
“Rockstar”
“Back In The Day”
“This Christmas” (featuring Carnie and Wendy Wilson)
GUEST APPERARANCES / COMPILATIONS:
Various Artists- Voices That Care 1990 Featured Solos
The Party- The Party 1990 “Hold Me Now”
Cher- Heart of Stone 1991 “Love Hurts”
Lemonheads- It’s A Shame About Ray 1992 “Alison’s Starting To Happen”
George Lynch- Sacred Groove 1993 “We Don’t Own This World”
Meatloaf- Bat Out of Hell II 1993 “Life Is a Lemon…”
The Muppets- Kermit Unplugged 1995 “She Drives Me Crazy”
Various Artists- Van Halen Tribute 1999 “Pretty Woman”
TOURING
Gunnar & Matthew Nelson have performed to millions of American fans at shows ranging in scale from intimate acoustic performances to headlining large concerts and festival crowds of over 70,000 people.
They have also toured the world–performing in such exotic locations as Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Italy, Sweden, The Netherlands, Brazil, Indonesia, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan and South Korea.
NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Guinness Book Of World Records – The Nelson Family is the only family in the history of the world to have three generations of #1 hitmakers.
1932 The Ozzie Nelson Orchestra “And Then Some”
1957 Ricky Nelson “Hello Mary Lou”
1958 Ricky Nelson “Poor Little Fool”
1960 Ricky Nelson “Travelin’ Man”
1991 Nelson “(I Can’t Live Without Your) Love & Affection”
Matthew and Gunnar Nelson are 2022 inductees into the Scandanavian-American Hall of Fame, separately joining 2018 inductees Ozzie, Harriet, David, and Ricky Nelson.