Belfegore

Belfegore was a German goth-rock band that released the 1983 album A Dog Is Born on Pure Freude, followed by a 1984 self-titled album on Elektra.

Members: Michael Claus (guitar, vocals), Walter Jäger (keyboards, bass, vocals), Charly Terstappen (drums), Raoul Walton (bass)

Background

Belfegore formed in Düsseldorf in late 1982 when singer-guitarist Michael “Meikel” Clauss left Nichts and redirected material he first conceived as a solo project.

Clauss joined Düsseldorf punk band KFC in early 1980 and left in January 1981 amid a split with singer Tommi Stumpff. He then formed Nichts with singer Andrea Mothes, bassist Christopher Scarbeck, and former KFC drummer Tobias Brink. Nichts made the 1981/82 albums Made in Eile and Tango 2000.

Clauss recorded A Dog Is Born with drummer Gigi Sessenhausen at Studio Lambertz-Grund in Düsseldorf and Inner Space Studio in Weilerswist. Pure Freude issued the album in April 1983 under the Belfegore name.

Between Albums

Clauss assembled a live band with drummer Manfred “Charly” Terstappen and keyboardist-bassist Walter Jäger. The new Belfegore joined The Fall for June 1983 German dates. Jäger played his final Belfegore show on August 28 at a Dia Art Foundation event in Cologne, where the performance was recorded for a planned compilation. Pure Freude issued the self-titled 12-inch in October with Jäger on keyboards and vocals.

Conny Plank connected Clauss with New York bassist Raoul Walton, who recently recorded Gabi Delgado’s Mistress with Plank. Belfegore appeared at the Progetto Germania festival at Teatro Spaziozero in Rome that October, where the Walton lineup recorded material for a live single. Pure Freude issued Belfegore in Roma in May 1984 as the final Belfegore release on the label.

Belfegore recorded the second album with producer Conny Plank from March through May at Plank’s studio near Cologne. The trio completed the mix in New York. Elektra then signed Belfegore under a reported $175,000 agreement and prepared the completed album for international release.

Postlude

Director Zbigniew Rybczyński filmed the video for “All That I Wanted” in New York for Elektra. Belfegore opened a U.S. tour for Hanoi Rocks that November. Hanoi Rocks ended the tour in December following the death of drummer Razzle. Belfegore returned to Düsseldorf for a Musik Convoy concert on December 21 at Philipshalle. The trio opened seven U2 concerts in Germany, Switzerland, and France from late January through early February.

Clauss dissolved Belfegore in spring 1985 and later attributed the decision to label pressure and public exposure. Rumor later held that one member disappeared with the Elektra advance. Another version framed the rupture as a royalty dispute among Clauss and the other members.

Clauss left the music business and later established a Heilpraktiker practice in Düsseldorf. Walton and Terstappen continued as professional musicians. Belfegore reunited on September 30, 2011, with Clauss, Walton, and Terstappen at Ratinger Hof in Düsseldorf.

Discography:

• Belfegore (EP, 1983)
• A Dog Is Born (1983)
• Belfegore (1984)

References and notes:

• Clauss’s 2009 interview places Belfegore in late 1982, confirms the U.S. Hanoi Rocks dates and U2 support, and places the breakup in spring 1985. (Ox Fanzine)
• Düsseldorf archive material reproduces the invitation for the 1983 Dia Art Foundation event with Belfegore, Red Crayola, Der Plan, and Mittagspause. (ARCHIV B – ARCHIV B)
• Raoul Walton played bass on Gabi Delgado’s Mistress, recorded with Conny Plank in late 1982; this supports the Plank–Walton connection. (Cordópolis)
• The Progetto Germania chronology places Belfegore and Lost Gringos at Teatro Spaziozero in October 1983; MusicBrainz dates Belfegore in Roma to May 1984 on Pure Freude. (From The Archives)
• The reconstructed German chronology gives the March–May Plank sessions, New York mix, and reported $175,000 Elektra deal. I would treat the dollar figure as reported, not automatically as a cash advance. (Wikipedia)
• A contemporary Washington Post review confirms Belfegore opening for Hanoi Rocks in Washington in November 1984. (The Washington Post)
• The U2 concert archive documents seven Belfegore support appearances from Hamburg through Paris. (U2 Tours – U2 Dates, News & more)
• Musik Convoy records confirm the December 21 Düsseldorf performance at Philipshalle. (Fernsehserien)
• The financial-rift story I could independently locate says royalties, not that a named member absconded with the advance. A 2002 discussion labels the Clauss/member dispute a “legend.” (ilXor)