Phillip Mandelbaum

Phillip Mandelbaum (born Philophrosyne Philomelus Mandelbaum on 28 November 1990) is an American guitarist who is a member of the alternative/indie band Curriculum. Mandelbaum is one of the founding members of the band and has been since the band formed in 2006. Mandelbaum also sings background vocals on most of Curriculum songs though the vocals are predominantly by the band's lead singer Gregory Preston Athanasiadis.

Early life
Phillip Mandelbaum was born as Philophrosyne Philomelus Mandelbaum in New York City on 28 November 1990. He is of Jewish, Arabic, Indian, Japanese, and Native American descent; his "Greek-sounding" name comes from his parent's extreme fondness of Greek mythology. When Mandelbaum grew older, and though he wasn't ashamed of his given name, he began to call himself "Phillip" because thought it was as "funner" as his given name since it was simple and easy for others to pronounce.

Mandelbaum grew up in a wealthy well-to-do family in New York City and is the youngest of his parent's three children. Generations of his family has been involved and have amassed their fortune(s) from sex-oriented businesses, with the exception of his maternal grandfather who ran a multi-million dollar toy company (for children). His maternal grandmother wrote a series of best-selling erotic novels and sex advice books, his paternal grandparents both ran a brothel, his father was an AVN award-winning pornographic actor in the 1980's and 1990's and now runs his own highly popular adult fim production company, his mother teaches classes on Kama Sutra, his sister is a stripper/exotic dancer, and his brother works for a male escort service as a gigolo.

Despite their involvement in the sex industry, all of his family highly discouraged Mandelbaum from following in the "family business" and suggested that he pursue a career in business, medicine, or even music. Mandelbaum initally wanted to be a stripper, an escort/gigolo, and/or even a pornographic actor like his father but he changed his mind and pursued music instead. He is the only one in his family not involved in the sex industry.

Mandelbaum was rumored to have dated women significantly older than him during his teenage years, which is something he denies. At age eighteen, Mandelbaum got engaged to a woman who was twenty years his senior (older than him); they eventually broke off their engagement when she cheated on him with a man her age and felt Mandelbaum was "too young" for her. That same year, it was alleged that Mandelbaum had fathered a son though DNA testing proved that the baby was not his but was his older brother's instead.

Career
Mandelbaum co-founded Curriculum alongside with Gregory Preston Athanasiadis, Wyatt van Cleef, and Dana Breckenridge in 2006 and they have been together ever since. In 2011, the band released their debut single "So Mainstream" which became a big international hit. Their debut album, Syllabus, released in February 2012, has also proven to be internationally successful.

Artistry
Though he is mainly a guitarist for Curriculum, Mandelbaum oftentimes sings background vocals on most/some of the songs by the band. His voice is said to be limited and not to have much range but is also described as "decent, tolerable, and oftentimes soothing". Most of the vocals on Curriculum's song, including background, are mainly sung by the band's lead singer Gregory Preston Athanasiadis. Mandelbaum is more known and praised for his guitar-playing skills in the band.

Image
Mandelbaum is known for his "bubbly and very happy" personality. He is very optimistic, very excitable at times, and gets easily impressed by things. He has a penchant for dance music and often calls this time of music or anything uptemo "dancey". His personality can compared to that of Blonde Ambition, SARA!, or some of the other "blonde-acting" pop starlets in the music industry. Mandelbaum is noted to be "the first male ever to start acting like blonde - though nevermind the fact that he's a brunette with short hair".

Personal life
Mandelbaum is currently single.

Discography
See Curriculum discography