Gunnar & Matthew Nelson

Their music has stood the test of time. Matthew and Gunnar Nelson, revered for unforgettable past hits, explore fresh creative territory in the present with their new project, “Lightning Strikes Twice”. Magical melodic songwriting and soaring sibling harmonies continue to ensure that this dynamic duo is still a vital part of the music scene’s future.
“After the Rain” was the debut multi-platinum album by NELSON, the band led by twins
Matthew and Gunnar in the early 1990s. They zoomed to number one with their hit song,
“(Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection,” which made history landing America’s iconic Nelson family (bandleader Ozzie Nelson, rock legend Rick Nelson, and twins Matthew & Gunnar) into the Guinness Book of World Records as the ONLY family in Entertainment with 3 successive generations of #1 hitmakers. NELSON’s “After the Rain” record and tour became a phenomenon just prior to the rise of grunge. The last major success of the good time rock’n’roll era, NELSON has had (1) Number One, (4) Top Ten, and (5) Top 40 Billboard Hot 100 hit singles, plus (5) #1 MTV videos and has sold over 6.5 million albums worldwide!
Every magazine from Rolling Stone to People did cover stories, and NELSON performed on television shows like “Late Night With David Letterman” and “Saturday Night Live.”
Nelson has always been synonymous with entertainment in America. Matthew and Gunnar follow Ozzie Nelson’s vision of embracing connecting with people and audiences through all forms of media. They have been doing television-hosting work for VH1 and E! Plus, Gunnar co-hosted LIFETIME Radio’s nationally syndicated morning show.
Matthew and Gunnar have rare insights into what it takes to earn longevity in the entertainment world. They continue the inspiring story of a most remarkable show business family. Their grandparents, Ozzie and Harriet, achieved immortality with “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,” the longest-running live action sitcom in television history. Earlier, the couple had enjoyed big band success and had scored a number one hit in 1934. Long before MTV made twins Matthew & Gunnar pop-rock icons, Ozzie Nelson is credited with creating the first conceptual music video for Ricky Nelson’s “Travelin’ Man”.
Perhaps the most televised rock star in history, the twins legendary father Ricky Nelson emerged from the TV series’ popularity to establish himself as one of the most important rock artists of the ‘50s and ‘60s with over 200 million career record sales. Rick Nelson is in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame credited with founding the country rock music genre.
The world maintains its fascination with America’s First Family of Entertainment, the Nelsons.
A&E channel’s Nelson Family “Biography” episode is still one of the top-rated ‘Biography’ installments. Matthew & Gunnar embraced this fascination by creating a touring show to celebrate the TV Nelsons and the amazing career of their legendary father, Ricky, for whom LIFE magazine coined the phrase “Teen idol”. They share video clips & tell stories about their Hollywood family and perform their Pop’s music live to audiences in RICKY NELSON REMEMBERED while separately touring as “NELSON”.
NELSON has been headlining at major rock festivals around the globe celebrating the 20th anniversary of “After the Rain”. Touring in China, the U.K. and of course the U.S. where they have also toured extensively with Peter Frampton and Styx.
“’Lightning Strikes Twice’ has allowed us creatively, artistically and musically to resolve some unfinished business,” Gunnar says. “We’ve had a blast going into the studio writing and performing some of our best songs. Plus, being back on the road with NELSON is living the dream all over again. New fans are discovering our music and original fans have shown incredible support all over the world. It ROCKS!”
Matthew adds, “Who could believe we would be doing a NELSON sequel to ‘After the Rain” twenty years later? Gunnar and I feel it’s our best work to date and should live up to its name ‘Lightning Strikes Twice’. We believe NELSON fans will agree with that forecast and hope they feel it’s been worth the long wait.”