Kraftwerk are a German electronic group formed in Düsseldorf by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider, who steered the band from avant-garde krautrock to streamlined machine music. Their early albums (Kraftwerk, Kraftwerk 2, Ralf & Florian) fused analog electronics with flute, violin, and organ in longform instrumental passages. With Autobahn (1974), Kraftwerk embraced motorik rhythm and […]
Cluster was a German electronic/experimental combo from Berlin, formed in 1969 as a trio. After two albums under the name Kluster, founder Conrad Schnitzler launched a solo career. Drummer/keyboardist Moebius and cellist/keyboardist Hans-Joachim Roedelius continued as Cluster. They made two albums on Philips and the 1974 Brain release Zuckerzeit, followed by two albums as Harmonia […]
Ash Ra Tempel was a German space-rock band that released four albums between 1971 and 1973 on Ohr. Guitarist/keyboardist Manuel Göttsching made a 1975 solo album then trimmed the name to Ashra for a late-Seventies run on Virgin Records. Members: Manuel Göttsching (guitar, vocals, electronics), Hartmut Enke (bass, guitar, electronics, 1970-73), Klaus Schulze (drums, steel […]
NEU! was a German experimental duo from Düsseldorf that released three albums on Brain between 1972 and 1975. Formed by ex-Kraftwerk members Michael Rother and Klaus Dinger, they pioneered the minimalist “motorik” rhythm and a layered, texture-based approach to rock. Their work bridged ambient abstraction and proto-punk force, presaging future post-punk, electronic, and art rock […]
Can was a German Krautrock band that debuted with the album Monster Movie on Music Factory in 1969. After the 1970 Liberty release Soundtracks, they signed to United Artists and released the 1971–74 albums Tago Mago, Ege Bamyası, Future Days, and Soon Over Babaluma. They moved to Virgin for the 1975–77 albums Landed, Flow Motion, […]
Brainticket was a Swiss Krautrock band the made the 1970–73 albums Cottonwoodhill, Psychonaut, and Celestial Ocean. Between the first two, keyboardist Joel Vandroogenbroeck performed with Drum Circus. He resurrected Brainticket for the 1980–82 albums Adventure and Voyage. Members: Joel Vandroogenbroeck (flute, keyboards, vocals), Ron Bryer (guitar), Werni Fröhlich (bass), Hellmuth Kolbe (keyboards), Cosimo Lampis (drums), […]
Missus Beastly was a German jazz-rock band that released a self-titled album on CPM in 1970. After a period of activity that saw a group of imposters parrot the nameplate, the band reconvened for three albums on NOVA, April, and Schneeball between 1974 and 1978. Members: Lutz Oldemeier (drums, 1968-75), Atzen Wehmeyer (guitar, vocals, 1968-70), […]
Xhol Caravan was a psychedelic German jazz-rock band that originated as Soul Caravan. In 1969, they released the pioneering Krautrock album Electrip on Hansa Records. Two titles appeared in 1971/72 under the shortened name Xhol. Members: Tim Belbe (tenor saxophone), Hansi Fischer (flute, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone), Gerhard Egmont “Öcki” Brevern (organ, electric piano, tuba), […]
Sweet Smoke was a German-based jam-rock/psych band comprised of expat Americans. In 1970, they released the album Just a Poke on Columbia. After an extended stay in India, they returned with the 1973/74 Harvest titles Darkness to Light and Live. Members: Andrew Dershin (bass, percussion), Jay Dorfman (drums, percussion), Marvin Kaminowitz (lead guitar, vocals, percussion), […]
Brave New World was a German Krautrock band behind the 1970 single “The World’s Full of People” and the 1972 Vertigo album Impressions on Reading Aldous Huxley. Members: Dicky Tarrach (drums, percussion), Lucas Lindholm (bass, bass fiddle, organ, piano), Herb Geller (flute, cor anglais, alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, organ), Reinhart Firchow (recorder, flute, […]
Exmagma was a German avant-jazz/rock trio that made two 1973/74 albums, Exmagma and Goldball. Their intended 1975 third album appeared as a 21st-century archival disc. Members: Andy Goldner (guitar, bass, saxophone, tapes, vocals), Thomas Balluff (keyboards, flute, effects, vocals), Fred Braceful (drums, percussion) Background Exmagma formed when American jazz drummer Fred Braceful (b. 1938) teamed […]
Mythos was a German space-rock band that made a 1972 self-titled album on Ohr. Between 1975 and 1981, they made five further albums on Kosmische Musik, Venus, and Sky Records. Members: Stephan Kaske (flute, guitar), Thomas Hildebrand (drums, percussion, 1972-77), Harald Weiße (bass, acoustic guitar, 1972-77), Robby Luizaga (bass, acoustic guitar, Mellotron, 1975), Hans-Jürgen Pütz […]
Witthüser & Westrupp were a German acid-folk duo who issued four albums between 1970 and 1972 on Ohr and Pilz. Blending acoustic instrumentation with surreal narration and countercultural themes, they explored cosmic mysticism on Der Jesuspilz and lysergic whimsy on Trips und Träume. Their work bridged the singer-songwriter tradition with the experimental fringe of the […]
Silberbart was a German Krautrock trio behind the 1971 Philips album 4 Times Sound Razing. Members: Hans Joachim “Hajo” Teschner (guitar, vocals), Werner Klug (bass), Peter Behrens (drums) Background Silberbart (German for “Silver Beard”) formed in 1969 in Varel, Niedersachsen, when guitarist/singer Hans Joachim “Hajo” Teschner teamed with bassist Werner Klug and drummer Peter Behrens. […]
Electric Sandwich was a German Krautrock band that released a 1972 album on Brain. Members: Jochen Carthaus (vocals, saxophone, harp), Jörg Ohlert (guitar, organ, Mellotron), Klaus Lormann (bass, vocals), Wolfgang Fabian (drums) Background Electric Sandwich formed in late 1969 in Bonn from a rotating pool of session players who favored spontaneous composition over rehearsed material. […]
Dzyan was a German Krautrock band that made a 1972 album on arOnda, followed by the 1973/74 Bacillus albums Time Machine and Electric Silence. Members: Reinhard Karwatky (bass, synthesizer), Jochen Leuschner (vocals, percussion, 1971-72), Gerd Bock-Ehrmann (tenor saxophone, 1971-72), Harry Krämer (guitar, 1971-72), Ludwig Braum (drums, percussion, 1971-72), Eddy Marron (guitar, saz, vocals, 1972-74), Lothar […]
My Solid Ground was a German Krautrock band that released a 1971 self-titled album on Bacillus Records. Members: Bernhard Rendel (guitar, vocals), Teddy (vocals, 1968-?), Manfred Fischer (bass, 1968-?), Willy Waid (drums, 1967-70), Werner Geilenkirchen (bass, ?-1970), Karl-Heinz Dörfler (bass, vocals, 1970-72), Ingo Werner (keyboards, 1970-72), Andreas Würsching (drums, percussion, 1970-72), Günther Mildenberger (organ, 1972-74), […]
Necronomicon was the German Krautrock band behind the 1972 album Tips zum Selbstmord. In 1990, the album reappeared in Vier Kapitel, a four-album set with two discs of archival 1971 material and a fourth of 1974 demos. Members: Walter Sturm (guitar, vocals, 1970-73, 1974-81, 2010-present), Norbert Breuer (guitar, vocals, 1970-76, 2010-present), Gerd Libber (bass, 1970-71, […]
Kollektiv was a German jazz-psych/jam band that released a self-titled album on Brain in 1973. That same year, the band were documented live and in a volume of SWF sessions that were ultimately released in the 21st century by archivists Long Hair. Members: Jürgen Havix (guitar, zither), Klaus Dapper (flute, saxophone), Jürgen “Jogi” Karpenkiel (bass), […]
Hanuman was a German Krautrock band that released a self-titled album in 1971 on Kuckuck. Three-fourths of the band continued as Lied des Teufels. Members: Wolf-Rüdiger Uhlig (organ, piano, vocals), Peter Barth (flute, alto saxophone, vocals), Jörg Hahnfeld (bass), Thomas Holm (drums) Inception Hanuman formed in May 1971 when organist Wolf-Rüdiger Uhlig befriended a jazz […]
Faust was a German krautrock band from Hamburg that released the 1971/72 Polydor albums Faust and So Far, followed in 1973 by the Virgin albums The Faust Tapes and Faust IV, plus a collaboration with American composer Tony Conrad on the Caroline release Outside the Dream Syndicate. A decade after their split, unreleased material surfaced […]
Mammut was a German Krautorck band that made an album in 1971 on Mouse Trick Track Music. Members: Klaus “Ede” Schnur (guitar, vocals), Peter “Mammut” Schnur (guitar, vocals), Rainer Hoffmann (piano, organ), Tilo Hermann (bass, flute, vocals), Günter Saier (drums, percussion) Inception Mammut sprung from Those, a Villingen psych combo with organist Rainer Hoffmann and […]
Gila was a German Krautrock band that released a 1972 BASF album and the 1973 Warner title Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. Guitarist Conrad Veit played concurrently in Popol Vuh. Members: Conrad “Conny” Veit (guitar, vocals), Fritz Scheyhing (Mellotron, 1969-72), Walter Wiederkehr (bass, 1969-72), Daniel Alluno (drums, percussion, 1969-72), Daniel Fichelscher (drums, bass, 1973-74), […]
Eulenspygel was a German hard-rock/folk band behind the 1971/72 Spiegelei albums 2 and Ausschuss. Members: Detlev Nottrodt (guitar, vocals), Matthias Thurow (guitar, violin), Cornelius Hauptmann (flute), Karlheinz Großhans (organ, vocals), Ronnie Libal (bass), Mulo Maulbetsch (vocals, harmonica), Günter Klinger (drums, percussion), Peter Weber (bass, vocals), Peter Garattoni (drums), Günther Marek (guitar) Background Eulenspygel formed in […]
Haze was the Swiss Krautrock band behind the 1971 album Hazecolor Dia on Bacillus Records. Members: Heinz Schwab (lead guitar), Christian Scherler (vocals), Hans-Jürg Frei (guitar, organ), Dietmar Löw (bass), Kurt Frei (drums) Inception Haze formed in 1969 in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, and spent two years honing a heavy psych-blues sound through local concerts and regional […]
Niagara was a German ethno-jazz/percussive jam band led by veteran drummer Klaus Weiss. They released the 1971/72 United Artists albums Niagara and S.U.B., followed by the 1973 Finger/Polydor title Afire. Members: Cotch Blackmon [Cotch Black] (percussion), Keith Forsey (drums, percussion), Juan Romero (bells, maracas), Udo Lindenberg (drums, percussion), George Green (drums), Klaus Weiss (drums, timpani, […]
Guru Guru is a German Krautrock band that released the 1970–71 Ohr albums UFO and Hinten, followed by the 1972–73 Brain titles Känguru and Guru Guru and three Atlantic discs, including 1974’s Dance of the Flames. Members: Mani Neumeier (drums, percussion, vocals), Uli Trepte (bass, 1968-73), Hans Sax (vocals, 1968-69), Eddy Naegeli (guitar, 1969-70), Jim […]
Tyll was a German jazz-rock/psych band that released the 1975 album Sexphonie on Kerston. Members: Michael Scherf (vocals), Ulrike Schempp (vocals), Susanne Schempp (vocals), Det Fonfara (guitar), Achim Bosch (bass), Günter Klinger (drums) Background Tyll grew from a Stuttgart group led by guitarist Det Fonfara with drummer Günter Klinger, who joined in 1973 from Eulenspygel. […]
Siloah was a German ethno-folk/psych band that self-issued a 1971 eponymous album, followed by the 1972 title Sukram Gurk on small-press German Blues and Underground. Members: Heinrich Stricker, Manuela Freifrau Von Perfall, Thom Argauer, Wolfgang Görner Background Siloah formed in Munich in 1970 when guitarist Thom Argauer and vocalist Heinrich “Tiny” Stricker assembled a group […]
Prof. Wolfff was a German jam-psych Krautrock band that made a 1971 self-titled album on Metronome. Members: Klaus-Peter Schweizer (vocals, guitar, electric piano), Romi Schickle (Hammond, electric piano, vocals), Friedrich “Fritz” Herrmann [aka Friedrich Glorian] (guitar, vocals), Mondo Zech (bass, vocals), Michael “Sam” Sametinger (drums, percussion) Background Prof. Wolfff formed in 1971 in Ulm when […]
Morpheus was a German jam-rock/psych band that self-released the 1976 album Rabenteuer. Members: Peter Blömeke (bass, flute), Gerold Adler (guitar), Heinrich Holtgreve (saxophone), Alfred Franke (drums, 1975-77) Background Morpheus formed near Warburg, Westphalia, in early 1975 when guitarist Gerold Adler, alto saxophonist Heinrich Holtgreve, bassist Peter “Rabe” Blömeke, and drummer Alfred Franke regrouped from the […]
A.R. & Machines were a German Krautrock band led by guitarist Achim Reichel, an icon of Sixties beatsters The Rattles. He fronted Machines for the 1971/72 Polydor albums Die grüne Reise and Echo and the 1973 Zoo albums AR3 and A. R. IV. Members: Achim Reichel (guitar, vocals), Frank Dostal (drums), Helmuth Franke (guitar), Manfred […]
Alcatraz was a German jazz-rock band that released the 1971 Philips album Vampire State Building. Between 1978 and 1982, the band self-released three albums on their own namesake label. Members: Rüdiger Berghahn (pianet, vocals), Klaus Holst (guitar), Klaus Nagurski (flute, tenor saxophone), Ronald Wilson (bass), Jan Rieck (drums, bongos) Background Alcatraz formed in March 1970 […]
GÄA was a German Krautrock band that made the 1974 album Auf der Bahn zum Uranus on Kerston. Tracks from a vaulted 1975 followup surfaced on Alraunes Alptraum, courtesy of Garden of Delights. Members: Werner Frey (guitar, lead vocals), Helmut Heisel (bass), Günter Lackes (organ, piano, vocals), Stefan Dörr (drums, vocals), Werner Jungmann (congas, vocals), […]
