are the thompson twins still alive

Its about winning now, Amen says. But he and Ausar would always come back the next day more determined, flushing the negative thoughts away. Amen and Ausar would squeal, Were going to the NBA! at random moments. Major praise from a friend and former teammate of The King himself. It is very popular. This is normal. Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images. That would be the ultimate sacrifice: one brother leaving the other. Amen Thompson, his identical twin brother, is watching intently on the sideline, itching to get on the court. A few more minutes and Fuller had seen enough. They remember something their mother tells them: Show them who you are., You set the tone, Maya tells them. Games are now broadcast on Prime Video and have a live DJ and entertainment. They lived in Currie's home country of New Zealand when they were married and formed the techno band Babble. They glide like the best wings, handle and pass like guards and play aggressively at the rim. "Play with me" vocals. By the time June comes around, they'll have played their second full schedule against fellow OTE talent and taken advantage of the freedom the program allows by playing professionals in different settings -- including open runs with NBA pros, and a brief European tour that begins Wednesday. The two push each other in one-on-one games, sometimes playing so late into the night that they curl up on the hardwood. We take videos of each other just to show each other," Amen says. And they did it. "Their shots have gone from night to day from the first time we saw them to now," Ollie says. Leeway chose to leave the band, leaving Bailey and Currie reduced to a duo. Im nowhere near where I could be, Ausar says, adding later: I just got to not let a day go by where I didnt get better., Amen feels similarly. While the level of competition they faced can be debated, what they're able to do on the floor . note: This story dates from Jan 10, 2009] Jon Hager, who was half of the musical comedy duo the Hager. It was painful for everyone. Or Rock n Roll Curses? How is he in this class, that class? Sometimes, thats all one of them needs to do to motivate the other. The play, with $1 million at stake, can get quite physical -- and didn't play into the hands of the twins, who each check in at about 200 pounds. But its the intangibles that might ultimately distinguish them from their peers. When Ausar turned around, Amen slapped him so hard that Ausars ears were ringing. Tom was the only one who pursued music after Thompson Twins was no more. Ausar didnt spread his shooting thumb, causing the ball to come off the wrong fingers and not go straight. By 1988, they were publicly a couple and would marry as of 1991. As of September 2020, she is 62 years old. Skipping college has been an option for decades for NBA hopefuls. Neither had ever had a shooting coach. It left the twins having to choose between time with their mother and a cross-country trek based largely on their father's instincts. Your home for Wembanyama Watch and everything else related to the draft. Bailey was flanked by Alannah Currie (whom he had been in a relationship with since the late 70s) and Joe Leeway and this line-up, ultimately, is the face of the band people tend to remember. Obviously its the easiest thing to do, compare me to Amen, Ausar says. Four of these musicians: Tom Bailey, Pete Dodd, John Roog, and Jon Podgorskiwere part of the new wave band, Thompson Twins, and recruited Currie into the group in 1981. Troy coached them, having them dribble 2 miles around the track with their left hand every day. Many call both of them Twin. Of course, that began when they were children. Its another narrative that hounds the two of them. They didnt have professional trainers, but they always had someone to play one-on-one or watch film with. Alannah and Deborah became lifelong friends. Brothers and Sisters: Peak Allman Brothers. It was a serious risk, Maya says, adding: We put everything on the line for a concept. Joe was in charge of the live theatre presentation because he had a theatre background. 21 October, Tweed Heads, Twin Towns Currie, however, has kept her personal life under the radar and is not known publicly to be romantically involved with anyone at the moment. Alannah wrote the words and I wrote the music and that was great fun, Tom says. If I play guitar, I'm not . The opponents were clearly amped to take on a pair of hyped-up NBA prospects, particularly Ronnie Harrell -- a 26-year-old former Creighton Blue Jay who now plays in the Bundesliga, and primarily pressured either twin. Ausar likes to joke. Listen. Make sure you show them who you are.. College, its about the program. While many OTE players rush to find the auxiliary cord and turn on music as soon as they step onto the court, Amen and Ausar often work out in dead silence. The Thompson Twins can trace their roots back to 1977 but it was only in the 1980's that they made their name with three massive global hits in 1983-84. After the Fire, Haircut 100, Nena, The Thompson Twins, Fishbone, Romeo Void, Modern English, Adam Ant, Ultravox, Dead or Alive - This Ain't No Disco - Amazon.com Music When Amen and Ausar moved to Atlanta to start at OTE, they knew it wouldnt be easy. A year. But the one-on-one would result in fights and arguing and all that nonsense. But on this January morning, Amen and Ausar are competitors. Amen would put his shooting hand on the side of the ball instead of behind it, creating a curve-spinning ball. On the doorway. "Did I just experience a "Matrix"-like deal here? Join Songkick Theyre both really special.. the Dubwash remix is awesome early 90s rave. Tom, the Twins' ostensible frontman (though they bristle at the terminology), knows the answer, but he's not talking. They made varsity at Pine Crest, playing up as eighth graders and quickly proving they could hang despite being about 6 feet and 130 pounds. The sooner, the better.". Click to reveal Troy would tell them: You dont want to be ranked right now. What was important, Troy told them, was getting better. The Thompson twins were no exception. 1-ranked player from the 2024 class, Naasir Cunningham, signed. Basketball dominates the conversation, including how the twins studied Dwyane Wade's Euro step, particularly a nasty one-two against Kevin Garnett as a Celtic, as well as the best inside-out dribble, which belongs to Jordan Poole, according to Ausar -- "he kind of just throws it. Theres an affirmation station nearby, with little pieces of paper with messages like: I express my creativity. There is a 4-to-1 student-to-instructor ratio. They are not speaking hyperbolically or arrogantly when they say that. Thompson Twins Are Ready for the N.B.A., but Not to Split Up Amen and Ausar Thompson said they've never spent more than two days apart. Lots of Nature and Nurture in the Wikipedia write-up of Amen: Thompson was born to Maya Wilson and Troy Thompson and raised in San Leandro . Once, when they were 13, Ausar beat Amen, as he almost always did those days. At the end of the day, you just gotta look back at the work you did. Curry then told him about his shooting slump. "I truly believe they're going to come into the NBA, the first set of twins to be that generational talent where people are clamoring to come watch their games.". It was a good idea whereas I think a lot of bands all through in their opinion of everything they do and it all comes watered down. Currie squatted in South London. Now, Amen is really burning to shoot. In just 13 short years, they went from being anti-establishment, to pop superstars, to avant-garde music revolutionaries. Hes not going to score a point., Ausars smile turns serious. Deborah was a pleasure to work with. "They stay in their lane and they're just locked in," Ollie says. It must have been all those Sharpies, all that manifesting, because doctors had predicted theyd reach only 6 feet. But Amen and Ausar are identical twins, with identical 6-foot-7 frames and wingspans a touch under 7 feet (for now). Alannah Currie was born Alana Joy Currie onSeptember 20, 1957, in Auckland, New Zealand. Ive been doing this for 40 years, Leitao continues, and three or four times a week, they do something Ive never seen.. "When they were little, they'd always want to play one-on-one. "I did not want them to play like Westbrook," Troy clarifies. It feels like a pro atmosphere, but an eclectic one: You can find an NBA general manager, a 14-year-old influencer, and a college scout all sitting nearby. Former NBA player Brandon Knight had attended. The shooting leaderboard at OTE continues to shift. This time with Ausar pressing and Amen finishing. TBT is not the NBA, and neither are its officials. "It makes it so much easier to move into something knowing somebody, especially someone you've known your whole life," he says. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7e3edebd28631b06 ", "I heard the crowd is ridiculous, and I love playing in front of a crazy crowd," Amen says. Fuller had seen just one portion of one half of one game of Amen and Ausar's. Another dunk. At least not yet. In the successful threepiece version of the Thompson Twins we had a very strict division of labour where Alannah did the visual styling of the band and wrote lyrics. 26 October, Canberra, Canberra Theatre Amazing how technology can get people in touch, Im new with that though. Their time at OTE is coming to a close, but it concluded on a storybook note: In the final seconds of the championship game against the YNG Dreamerz in early March, Amen dribbled to the right side of the court, drew the defense, and kicked it to Ausar in the opposite wing for the game-winning 3 and OTE crown. They dont have drivers licenses. 2023 NBA mock draft: Who's Victor Wembanyama's No. But Troy has an uncanny sense of when to gamble, when to chase the unknown. 140,553 fans get concert alerts for this artist. Songkick is the first to know of new tour announcements and concert information, so if your favorite artists are not currently on tour, join Songkick to track Thompson Twins and get concert alerts when they play near you, like 140553 other Thompson Twins fans. Their lives were in Oakland. When I'm watching the game, I'm always cheering for him His shot has gotten so much better. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. No, Amen says. "We are a very college-educated and focused family, on both sides. "When Amen was willing to walk away from his brother, I said, 'No, thank you.'". Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. What a bassline. I try not to let peoples perception bother me.. And I'm going to be the same way toward him.". About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . Thompson Twins followed in the same vein as other pop musicians of the 80s such as Madonna and Pet Shop Boys, who both realized the importance of visual theatrics in live music. Then it turns into a scowl. Please enter a valid email and try again. The pair had managed relative anonymity in basketball circles until then. This is how they spent their last week together before. 23 October, Wollongong, Anitas Theatre While the OTE offense was effectively a series of isolations at the top of the circle, not great for the twins given how the Blue Crew packed the paint defensively, the Thompsons were absolutely terrorizing defensively and making strong impressions. Amen has now taken the lead with 6,844 made shots. He wakes with that kind of concentration, telling himself before sunrise: Youre not going to stop once in this workout.. She is a musician and activist, best known as a former member of the pop band Thompson Twins . For most of their time as a band they were a trio consisting of the lead singer, Tom Bailey, multi instrumentalist, Joe Leeway, and percussionist, Alannah Currie. Kevin Ollie, a 13-year NBA veteran and former college coach at UConn, is now the head coach and director of player development at OTE. He's become the more vocal of the two when it comes to media -- something he attributes to Ausar. The highlight is what started Overtime, says Ryan Rossi, the companys director of social media. Truth is, theyre equally talented but make different impacts on the floor. They can have everything they want. Youd also hear Bailey playing synths on Foreigners I Want To Know What Love Is, one of the most iconic pop hits of the era. Find information on all of Thompson Twinss upcoming concerts, tour dates and ticket information for 2023-2024. Awesome to know what happened to one of my favourite bands of all time. I was second-guessing myself too much, Ausar says. Initially a new wave group, they switched to a more mainstream pop sound and achieved considerable popularity in the mid-1980s, scoring a string of hits in the United Kingdom, the United States, and around the globe. "He came to our first two practices and he was like, 'I need Naas playing against them every single day next year.' Ausar would internalize those words when he found himself in a bit of a slump when OTE went to Spain last August for a few games against top European clubs. That's what I started to gather.". Nile Rodgers, too, joined them on rhythm guitar they were in good company. The game started off almost as expected: a bit sloppy on both ends. Their song Into the Gap was the chart topping song in 1984, which like a chemical reaction, makes this room absolutely erupt, with people dancing, throwing their best shapes. Bro, youre the best player Ive seen, Amen said. A lot of people want to ask, Whos better? Its a hard question to answer because it just depends on what you want, says Damien Wilkins, OTEs general manager and head of basketball. For real. Pat Quinn, his shooting coach, fires him crisp chest pass after crisp chest pass, and Ausar bends low, releasing shot after shot, finishing each with a silky follow-through. Ive slept everywhere except up there, Amen says, pointing to the third floor, which contains primarily offices and conference rooms. However, while they tore up the charts with hits such as Hold Me Now and Lay Your Hands On Me at one moment, the next they were gone. To this day, youll likely still hear In The Name of Love or You Take Me Up played by radio stations across the US. They both still sport iPhone 7s despite plenty of opportunities to upgrade. It's with great sadness that we say farewell to the iconic siblings Ronnie and Donnie Galyon - the world's oldest conjoined twins ever (male) at the age of 68 years. "'Y'all little boys,' stuff like that. Mine is more like finesse, trying to size you up type and stuff.". These are the best, most athletic two-way players Ive seen in all of my time scouting basketball., And yet, few people knew who they were. That may be because its many things. Although the Thompson Twins didnt have actual twins in their band, they played with a kind of chemistry that might make you believe they had telepathic abilities. As the ball leaves the kid's hand, Amen dives at the ball with his left hand. The Thompson twins would sign with Fuller and the Atlanta-based OTE in May, bypassing their senior year of high school to become two of the program's first four commitments. Graham is a British-based writer and an avid consumer of classic pop culture. The short-lived act would be the impetus behind her success in later years. "I've never been willing to just, like, leave Ausar, for real," Amen says. Still, some hoops traditionalists question its legitimacy. The sprawling facility has space for classes and individual study pods. Theres no way in the world I can separate twins. Earlier this month, most OTE players voted for themselves for league MVP, but Amen voted for Ausar, and Ausar voted for Amen. facebook twitter tumblr Thompson Twins Biography by Marcy Donelson By appealing to fans of '80s dance-pop as well as post-punk and new wave, the Thompson Twins were one of the more popular synth pop groups of the early MTV era, scoring a handful of hits in the early to mid-'80s. He believes in the power of manifestation. And something told him that this was the right decision. Thompson Twins were a British pop band formed in 1977 in Sheffield. These days, as theyre developing into young men, they want people to know that although theyre each others biggest champions, they are indeed two different people. They learned to study from their father, Troy, who filmed every game of their childhoods. When the twins arent being compared to each other, Amen and Ausar joke that they are seen as the consolation prize in this draft compared to Wembanyama and Henderson. LSU beats Florida 18-4, wins the 2023 DI baseball championship. Ausar insists his brother merely has "perfected the art of jumping," and isn't necessarily a better athlete. This is the Official Music Video of The Thompson Twins performing their hit "King For A Day" from 1985. Amen and Ausar, however, weren't being asked to sign with a proven organization that would definitively give them their best shot at NBA stardom right away. But you got to do these drills first. Hed tell them they couldnt get down on themselves. Youre that dude, Amen said. In July, Overtime Elite announced its latest round of signings, including top guards Tremayne Parker and Kanaan Carlyle from the Class of 2023. Ausar has done a very thankful few the favor of wearing earrings, the small diamond studs distinguishing him from his brother. Of people who see beyond the present moment. They usually had drum machines playing in the background while Currie would add in richer percussive noises by using mallets to hit large drums or by playing the bongos with her hands. Theyre already studying film of NBA players theyll be guarding. He was 50-50. Her job was in Oakland. Amen explained that the 6-foot-10, 248-pound Somto Cyril, who has a 7-foot-5 wingspan, would have blocked a lob. Id rather vomit on my boots, shed confirmed to press in 2008. They were small but skilled, Troy says. After the buzzer sounded, Ausar hugged Amen, screaming: Look!!! They didnt even know how to hold the ball properly. Comments 6 Tom Bailey made a triumphant return to mainstream music in 2018 with the release of his LP 'Science Fiction', which was met with critical acclaim. It wasnt easy. But I heard it's hard to breathe when the flares come out.". They share an apartment and go everywhere together. The thing that took us really over the hump [with OTE] was the academic side, Tony says. And they cant wait to play Victor and Scoot. "So I watch Amen timing his dribble. Quinn would send them videos of great NBA shooters having bad days. His arm wouldnt extend all the way. Amen and Ausar werent interested, though Ausar was a little more open than Amen. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-2 wunderkind from France, and potential no. It was certainly their unashamed, outlandish style and unique aesthetic that helped to propel them into becoming household names. All players take a class twice a week called pro habits to prepare them for the next level, which includes media training, financial literacy, basketball analytics, nutrition education, and mental wellness. On the stairs of their bunk bed. All their lives, the Thompson twinsAmen and Ausarhave played basketball together. "They're elite kids, they're elite workers, elite competitors, obviously elite athletes. I was trying my hardest not to cry, Ausar says. They had to be prodded to buy dress slacks for their high school graduation. "They're very, very talented, and they've got a lot of upside. Neither Joe or Alannah were musicians first, Tom Bailey explains to Noise11.com. Point guards aren't the same as American point guards. to track Thompson Twins and get concert alerts when they play near you. They'll be far from home, but Amen and Ausar will still carry an element that grounds them: a home button. The whole place erupted.". And at OTE, its about making sure that player is ready for the league or wherever is next for them., Amen and Ausar are learning to let go of being perfect. By the time they were 9, despite not being especially tall for their age, the twins started speaking their NBA dreams into the universe. Ive always wanted to play like you. They commit just as much on defense as on offense, displaying defensive instincts beyond their years. All of a sudden, the twins who had skipped college were on a college campus, about to play in a packed arena in a win-or-go-home scenario. They tied the knot on October 27, 1994, and had two children together: sonJackson Bailey (born in 1987) and daughter Indie Bailey (born in 1992). Amen had never seen his brothers confidence shaken. While performing with The Unf** Kables,Currie became acquainted with like-minded musicians of South West London's "underground" music scene. Thats the potential that they have, Leitao says. 160.153.251.244 He badly wants to prove to everyone that hes the best on the floor. The whole young man. "They both need skill development in terms of handling the ball, and both of them really need to spend a lot of time on shooting the basketball in terms of catching and shooting, rhythm-dribble pullups. They are focused on fulfilling their childhood dreams of becoming the best players in the NBA. Fuller believes it still doesn't match their actual ability. They didnt have the back-down thing in them. Theyd go from one practice to another. Wherever I get drafted, I can just chill because I got a couple million? He liked the way OTEs instructors went in-depth with subjects, offered individual attention with the material, and were always available if he asked: Hows Bryson doing? The NBA has had several sets of twins, beginning with Tom and Dick Van Arsdale, who were drafted in 1965 and went on to become three-time All-Stars. "He said if Naas can play against them every single day in practice, he's going to be one of the best players in the NBA. They learned how to correct their mistakes. Dominick Barlow, who played with OTE in its inaugural season and regularly trained with Amen and Ausar, remembers the comments he received when he signed with OTE: The stuff I saw on social media, people calling us as players dumb and that we only care about the money., But at a time when more top prospects are embracing nontraditional paths to the NBA, the fledgling league has a lot to offer. Track artist Similar artists with upcoming concerts Big Country Wed 04 Oct 2023 The Limelight 2 Belfast, UK Men Without Hats Of risk-takers. Ausar Thompson: 2023 NBA Draft Scouting Report. OTE registered a team of its players and professionals, including the Thompsons. It belongs to Overtime Elite, a league for prospects that serves as an alternative path to pro basketball. But they've got a lot of work to do as well," says one Western Conference scout who has seen the twins multiple times. If it was closed, theyd find a nearby outdoor court and play one-on-one until dark. Sometimes he overthinks, in a good way, because he cares deeply about the game. The buzz around them has grown since the Louisville AAU tournament. Go Go Gadget arms, he says. He doesnt want to be outdone by anyone, especially his brother. Your IP: Jumper is the next piece. "He's my best friend," Ausar says of Amen, who is older by a minute. Many staffers wear different hats, and everyone hopes it will sustain long term. So, college or not, it really didn't affect that," he says. Both are projected lottery picks in the 2023 NBA draft. On this morning in January, he makes good on his promise. Rossi was a little taken aback. Amen and Ausar Thompson were relatively unknown high schoolers who blossomed into star two-way prospects with the fledgling Overtime Elite. It is, after all, the primary path to the pros.

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