Bearforce 1 is a gaydance musicband from the Netherlands, known mainly for a YouTube hit video, "Bearforce 1." Founded in 2006 and promoting an image as bears, they released three singles accompanied by YouTube videos, they invited comparisons to the Village People 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.
History
Bearforce 1 was founded by three Dutchmen and an Irishman, led by actor and producer Roeland Fernhout. Their eponymous single "Bearforce 1," a medley of dance songs accompanied by a video clip in which the four bears dance and lip-sync, was a YouTube phenomenon and ended as #20 on LOGO TV's Ultimate Queer Videos Countdown. Praise by Perez Hilton led to a tour in the United States and attention in the US media--The Washington Post wrote of the band, "Finally, there's a boy band for older, hairy gay men." They released a second single, "Christmas is here," in 2007, also accompanied by a popular YouTube video, The song entered the Single Top 100 at #7. In December 2007 they played a series of concerts in Rotterdam Ahoy with Gerard Joling, and in 2008 they played at the first same-sex marriage ceremony to take place at the TilburgPink Monday fair. A third single, "Shake That Thing," was again praised by Perez Hilton. 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. In 2014 Bearforce 1 reformed with three new members, Robert Brown being the only returning member. The band's comeback single 'Action Man' 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 including Robert Brown, Brian Mcbride Ambrose Donnelly and Allen Gordon, they performed an 80’s medley. They received a great reception and standing ovation from the crowd and yes votes from Amanda Holden, David Walliams and Aleesha Dixon putting them through to the next stage, Simon however branded their vocals horrific and dancing not far behind!
