SPERMBIRDS - A Columbus Feeling 2010

Now to a band that I like to play again and again and I have to admit that I would have liked to posted their debut but I can't find the record anymore. I've looked everywhere but this fucker isn't there and I know I had the first two, what I found is a burned CD of the two albums but I'm not in the mood to rip it now. I postpone that to later and now the band's eighth album (Rookie Records), and this shine with unruly Hardcore/Punk, and since 1983 the German underground scene, and Lee lyrically expresses here again his strongest and best.

We're talkin' about the Spermbirds from Kaiserslautern and by members of the melodic combo Walter Elf (including Lee Hollis, an American G.I. stationed in Germany, as vocalist and Frank & Roger (guitars), Markus (bass), Beppo (drums), they created a fast Hardcore/Punk sound with excellent lyrics that gained popularity in Germany and beyond. Spermbirds’ most successful album was their 1986 debut, Something To Prove, which drew influence from many American bands. The cover features a picture of Cerebus the Aardvark created by Canadian comic book author Dave Sim. Sim made mention of the album in his widely column in Cerebus, saying that although the band had not obtained permission to use his artwork, he would not harass them with legal action. Spermbirds split up in 1990, but reformed later in 1993 releasing a number of albums and are still touring today.

A very good powerful start into the weekend is guaranteed and let's see what's going on tonight.

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WALTER ELF - Heut' Oder Nie 1987

Walter Elf are German punx from Kaiserslautern founded in 1983. The band name refers to the nickname of the 1.FC Kaiserslautern in the 1950s, based on Fritz Walter and the so-called "Walter Elf". Most members are today active in Kick Joneses and they existed from 1982 to 1991. Together with the Spermbirds, with whom they also shared most of the band members, the band belonged to the flagships of the Kaiserslautern punk scene. After a demo they released their debut album on We Bite Records and we have eleven nice melodic mid-tempo goodies with funny lyrics. I would not call them fun-punk, rather unpolitical & jocular with much fun doing music, this album was recorded by: Beppo (vocals), Frank & Jürgen (guitars), Markus (bass), Roger (drums), Alex (trumpets) and Lee (vocals). In their life span were made five albums, a few 7Inches + many compilation contributions, one of them the Awup! EP on Unsere Kleine Welt. After their farewell concert on December 17, 1991 in the Kulturzentrum Kammgarn in Kaiserslautern, the band played on December 20, 2002 and on December 30, 2005 each again "one-time" Reunion concerts at the same venue, as well as on 27 & 28 December 2008, both were sold out. In addition, they performed on 21.July 2007 as part of the Back-To-Future Festival on the Halbinsel Pouch near Leipzig. In 2010, the band released their first record since 1991 on July 30 in form of an EP, "Männer In Rot", a tribute to the 1. FCK. There was also an appearance at the Kuseler Festival Kein Bock auf Nazis. The question of whether further appearances will follow in the future was answered by Schattner: "We let everything come to us. A tour or a new album are certainly not planned. After all, there is also Kick Joneses." Enough words, now it's party time!

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SCHLIESSMUSKEL - Untergang Der Abendländischen Kultur 1987

Last week I had some time to rip some old D-punk classics and the next four posts belong exclusively to this. Let's start with the awesome debut from Schliessmuskel (German punk band of the late 1980s and early 1990s from Hamminkeln). Along with groups such as the Mimmi's and the Abstürzenden Brieftauben they were among the best-known German bands of this genre (FunPunk). The band itself always rejected the classification "FunPunk" and saw the band rather as Punk (Hardcore) combo and I agree absolutely with them. After the band's formation in 1983 by Ede Wolff (guitar), Schlaffke Wolff (vocals), Techt Tetmeyer (drums) and Böckler Hachenberg (bass) they released their debut EP Komm Setz' Dich Zu Uns (WeBite Records) in 1986 with six short punk attacks and with their debut LP one year later they continued their fast hardcore style, same applies for the 2nd album Sehet, Welch Ein Mensch! In the coming years they played gigs with the Spermbirds, MDC or the Adicts. 1990 they were on the compilation Festival Der Volxmusik that brought together the most important German fun punk performers. The next album Weniger Fett-Mehr Muskeln appeared in the same year and reached four digit sales figures and held for weeks in the independent charts. Mid-1990 it was quiet about the group and the split from WeBite follows. In 1993 the musicians performed as the opening act for Die Toten Hosen. Renamed in Die Muskeln and in the following years, the band retreated, still published recordings (in 2000 again under the old band name). Singer Schlaffke began after the withdrawal of the group under the name "Zwakkelmann" a solo project but with no comparable success. In late 2005 the band were reformed and played in Oberhausen and early 2006 in Essen two gigs. Rumors of a reunion but were rejected. So don't be afraid what you see or read about them, Schliessmuskel is one of the best German Punk bands I've ever seen.

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DROWNING ROSES - Things Are Not The Same 1988

Very good debut record by this German combo from Minden, founded in 1985 by Zahni (bass), Prüse (guitars) and Marco (drums) from the predecessor bands Human Decay, Phalliuc Symbols and Neurotic Arseholes In 1986 the first demo cassette with eight songs was released and sold about 500 times. Drowning Roses played a lot of concerts including with Government Issue, Instigators and Spermbirds. In the spring of 1987 the band released their own produced Aus Forschung Und Technik EP in an edition of 1000 copies. In 1988, the Hamburg label Weird System drew attention to the band and released the first album "Things Are Not The Same". On 10.09.1988 began for Drowning Roses a one-month European tour with the unknown US punk band NOFX. In the course of the tour preparation the drummer Marco left the band and the first half of the performances was replaced with a drummer from Hamburg. This proved to be not tour-compatible, so the second half of the tour drummer Jeff from Hanau took place. Jeff also played drums on the split single with NOFX. A new drummer finds the band in early 1989 with Bart from Bielefeld. This line-up had their first gig on 10th March 1989 in Frankfurt, together with Nonoyesno. The second record "Youth Of Metropolis" comes in summer via Roseburg Records. In the summer of 1990 the band took a six-week tour by an invitation of Fat Mike together with NOFX. After this successful tour the band split up. On this album are twelve melodic punk numbers with very good lyrics.

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V/A - Awup! EP 1990

One more gem with more unpublished songs is this little german compilation which was released on Unsere Kleine Welt Records. Three bands, three songs. First the Bonner Präservative which brings us a song of the advantage of using a hearing aid in a funny way. Next Walter 11, the band from the Spermbirds sphere, brings with 'Goodbye, Hans-Peter' a traditional farewell song for the best football Defenser which leaves the football club FCK to play in the italian soccer league, and is a truly punk pearl, and finally The Wombels with an absolute blast piece that describes how cops dressed in women's clothes waylay punkers in the park. One of the best songs by this awesome band (unfortunately, singer Steff died on 17.07.2015, R.I.P.) - All in all three cool punk anthems which should not be missed at any party.

1.Das Kleine Hörgerät - DIE BONNER PRÄSERVATIVE 

2.Leb Wohl, Hans-Peter - WALTER ELF 

3.Psychopath - WOMBELS

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V/A - 10 Meter Ohne Kopf 1991

An absolute must have is the international live compilation in the Störtebeker, a location of the occupied houses in Hamburg Hafenstraße which where recorded between the years 1987-1991, released via Fishcore & Buback Tonträger. An interesting mix of top-class, predominantly European bands that have been there, each chosen by one song. The sound quality is excellent and the composition is quite brilliant. Hardcore, punk and a little metal (Erosion) have popped up to your deaf ears and the presentation in gatefold sleeve, with a forty-four page booklet about the squats at the Hafenstraße inside is also nice (but not scanned, I'm too lazy). Cult stuff and I can promise you that this is worth the download. Brilliant live shit!!!

1.Intro - HAFENSTRASSE BLEIBT FAHREN 

2.Present History - VERNON WALTERS 

3.Ignore The Facts - L.U.L.L. 

4.Questi Anni - KINA 

5.Mediocrity - ANGRY RED PLANET 

6.Klarhet - STENGTE DØRER 

7.Gun Man - EROSION

8.Häuser - EA80 

9.Not Listening - SNUFF 

10.Get Off The Phone - CITIZEN FISH 

11.Running - VERBAL ASSAULT 

12.Get On The Stage - SPERMBIRDS 

13.Weekend Massacra - UPSET NOISE

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V/A - Life Is Change Vol.2 1991

Late on this Sunday and my last post is another international punk compilation which is for me one of the better publication on BeriBeri Records with the philosophical title "Life Is Change ". And indeed, current to me and that is reason enough to post the album now. The band/song selection is quite excellent and most songs are not published elsewhere (EA80, Spermbirds, Vagrants, Gruschenko...). Lyrically very emotinal which is probably due to the title of this compilation and all eleven bands prove this splendid. Also the artwork is more mature than Vol.1 and the EA80 track is one of my favorite songs. Also awesome both Vagrants songs which kill slowly my heart and I never heard before a band that transfer such emotional intensity with depth. I wish there were more bands like them. Wonderful!! Highly recommend album and you should buy a copy if you have the chance.

1.Thank You - GRUSCHENKO

2.Let Bygones Be Bygones - GRUSCHENKO

3.Der Vierte Tag - EA80

4.Little Garlic Fish - PULLERMANN

5.Keep It Out - PULLERMANN

6.Just A Moment - SPERMBIRDS

7.Out There - SOFAHEAD

8.My Mummy Hurt My Head - SOFAHEAD

9.On Trial - LIFE BUT HOW TO LIVE IT!

10.Schleichfahrt - BOXHAMSTERS

11.Gemacht - BOXHAMSTERS

12.Used - VAGRANTS

13.Salvation Street - VAGRANTS

14.This Wooden Cross - DARK AGE

15.Friend - SAMIAM

16.Where D' Ya Go? - SAMIAM

17.Bigger Ass - ALICE DONUT

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V/A - How Will You Know What This Record Sounds Like If You Don't Listen To It 1987

Last post today brings us a benefit Compliation for the AJZ Ludwixhafen and the bands all from Germany except Disperazione from Italy. A colorful mix of punk, hardcore, a few live tracks and a little obscure stuff and special mention here are the bands which contribute each song, known and unknown bands and I mean this is a perfect combination. Released I think, in a limited edition and now hard to get. My copy I bought on ebay and unfortunately with no booklet. Too bad, so I can give no further information on but it's not necessary. Regardless, every song is brilliant, no failures, recorded exclusively for this compilation. Sounds neither embarrassing or boring, see for yourself, enjoy this pretty rare record and have fun!

1.Cave - SPERMBIRDS

2.Nightmare - JUMP FOR JOY

3.Grenzenlos - DUNKLE TAGE

4.Hirnkastriert - DIOXINS

5.Disarm Or Die - P.O.Y.

6.Suburb Nightmare - RESISTANCE

7.Fango Nel Aria - DISPERAZIONE

8.Martys - MEMENTO MORI

9.Wir Wollen Bauern Bleiben - WOMBELS

10.Die For Ronnie - MEMENTO MORI

11.Slambrigade - SKEEZICKS

12.Was Ist Geblieben? - P.O.Y.

13.Can't Trust - JUMP FOR JOY

14.Hochhausstadt - DIOXINS

15.Wutchi - WOMBELS

16.Heroes - RESISTANCE

17.Opfer - DUNKLE TAGE

18.The World We Life - DEAD BORN BABIES

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