Star combo Meissen
| Star combo Meißen, star Meißen | |
|---|---|
 Star combo Meißen 2019 |
|
| General information | |
| Genre (s) | Rock , progressive rock , art rock |
| founding | 1964 |
| Website | www.stern-combo-meissen.com |
| Founding members | |
| Martin Schreier | |
Keyboard , percussion, vocals |
Norbert Jäger (until 2011, † 2017) |
| Bernd Fiedler (until 1979) | |
| Werner Bertram (until 1968) | |
| Günter Manicke (until 1967) | |
guitar |
Gottfried Sieber (until 1968) |
guitar |
Dieter Schreiber (until 1967) |
| Current occupation | |
Singing, percussion
|
Martin Schreier |
Vocals, keyboard |
Manuel Schmid (from 2012) |
Keyboard |
Sebastian Düwelt (2009-2010, from 2012) |
bass |
Axel Schäfer (1986–1989, 2008–2010, from 2012) |
Drums, percussion |
Frank Schirmer (1986–1988, from 2008) |
| former members | |
singing |
Veronika Fischer (1970) |
Guitar, trumpet |
Werner Kunze (1967–1975) |
Keyboard |
Thomas Kurzhals (1972–1984, 1996–2002, 2008–2014 †) |
Guitar, vocals |
Reinhard Fißler (1972–1982, 1996–2005, † 2016) |
Keyboard |
Lothar Kramer (1975–1981) |
bass |
Peter Rasym (1979–1986) |
Guitar, violin |
Uwe Hassbecker (1981–1986) |
singing |
IC Falkenberg (1983–1989, 2004–2008 as guest) |
Keyboard, saxophone, vocals |
Andreas Bicking (1984–1989) |
Drums, vocals |
Michael Behm (1979–1982, 1996–2008) |
bass |
Alexander Procop (1996-2008) |
Keyboard |
Frank Nicolovius (2003-2008) |
Keyboard |
Eghard Schumann (1996-2009) |
singing |
Michael Larry B. Brödel (2008–2012) |
bass |
Robert Brenner (2010–2012) |
Keyboard, saxophone |
Marek Arnold (2010–2012) |
The Stern-Combo Meißen , from 1980 to 1989 Stern Meißen , is a music group founded in 1964 by Martin Schreier, Norbert Jäger and Bernd Fiedler in Meißen in the GDR . They are one of the oldest existing rock bands in Germany.
Band history
1964-1989
The star combo Meißen made its first appearance on September 24, 1964 at a party for retirees in the Meißen-Spaar air bath . Like many other East German bands of the 1960s, she played pieces by internationally known artists at the beginning of her career. Bands like Chicago , Blood, Sweat & Tears or The Flock were the models of the star combo Meißen back then. From 1970 to 1973 a brass trio consisting of Axel Gothe, Gerhard Lau and Christian Höhle belonged to the band. After this trio left and the musicians switched to professional musicians, the musical role models also changed. Progressive rock bands like Emerson, Lake & Palmer , Pink Floyd , Genesis and Yes were now inspiration for future works. Typical of this was the use of a large number of synthesizers , but stringed instruments were not used. From the mid-1970s, he added his own works that can be assigned to art rock , such as The Battle of the South Pole . In 1977 the debut star combo Meißen appeared, which reached a six-figure edition. In the following year, the album Weißes Gold was released, which as a concept album describes the story of the discovery of porcelain in Dresden . The two following works can be clearly assigned to progressive rock. A highlight is the eight-minute long title Die Sage in The Far Way. With Spring , an electronic arrangement of the Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi is also included on the album. The 1981 album Journey to the Center of Man continued the development of progressive rock.
In 1980 the name of the band was shortened to Stern Meißen . A little later there was a change in style to shorter, danceable songs, such as on the 1982 album Stundenschlag, on which string instruments could be heard again for the first time. The change was accompanied by frequent changes within the formation. The lead singers also changed: Veronika Fischer (1970) was followed by Reinhard Fißler (1978 together with Werther Lohse from the Lift group ). Fißler, who was known as the "soul singer", had to leave the band together with Michael Behm in 1982 and was replaced by Ralf Schmidt alias IC Falkenberg (1983-1989). In 1981 Stern Meißen was awarded the GDR Art Prize. In 1982 the band won 1st prize at the Dresden International Schlager Festival . The last two Stern-Meißen releases Taufrisch und Nights contained rock pop music that had practically nothing to do with the previous character of the band. Nevertheless, Stern Meißen's greatest commercial success came at this time.
Since 1990
After the political change in 1989, the band became quieter. It was not until 1996 that a comeback attempt was made, which was successful. Reinhard Fißler was there again as a singer. In addition to the “Rock-Classics” concert project carried out in cooperation with the Dresden Chamber Music Ensemble, the band continues to work in the “Sachsendreier” with the stylistically related bands electra and Lift and is still active live with their own program as the star combo Meißen . In June 2004, the opening concert for the 40th anniversary tour of the Meissen star combo took place in Meißen . There were many musical companions and friends of the band. A double CD with newly produced hits and three new songs was also released for this event.
The singer Reinhard Fißler, who suffered from ALS, took part in the performances, although he was dependent on a wheelchair, and even went on an Israel tour with other East German artists in early 2004. From March 2005 he could no longer perform live. Martin Schreier and Norbert Jäger mainly appeared singing, Ralf Schmidt made guest appearances at some concerts. On January 7th, 2006 there was the premiere of the classical adaptation of Aram Chatschaturjan's Saber Dance at a concert in Dresden's Lukaskirche together with the Dresden Chamber Music Ensemble .
The collaboration with Ralf Schmidt and three other musicians (Michael Behm, Alexander Procop and Frank Nicolovius) ended in July 2008 due to internal and musical differences. In September 2008, band boss Martin Schreier introduced the new line-up of the star combo Meißen: Keyboarder Thomas Kurzhals returned to the band, the rhythm group was supplemented by founding member Norbert Jäger with Axel Schäfer on bass and Frank Schirmer on drums. Michael Larry B. Brödel joined as singer . In February 2009 Eghard Schumann left the band; he was replaced by Sebastian Düwelt until June 2010.
A highlight was the anniversary concert for the 45th birthday on June 20, 2009 in Meißen, at which Dirk Zöllner & André Gensicke, muSix and the monastery brothers were also on stage. Reinhard Fißler was present as a guest. Following this opening concert, the band toured until the end of 2009 under the motto 45 years of star combo Meißen and worked on the songs for a new studio album at the same time. Since July 2010 the star combo Meissen has played with Robert Brenner (bass) and Marek Arnold (keyboards, saxophone). On November 18, 2010, the star combo Meißen was awarded the “Art and Culture Prize of the City of Meißen 2010” for their services as “figurehead and advertising medium” for the city of Meißen. In 2011, Lebensuhr released an album with new songs.
On July 6, 2012, Marek Arnold left the band. Michael Brödel and Robert Brenner followed suit. Instead, Axel Schäfer and Sebastian Düwelt belong to the band again, as well as Manuel Schmid as the new singer . On April 8, 2013 Stage Theater were on Potsdamer Platz realized the recordings for the first live DVD in Berlin, on 10 January 2014 double DVD / CD titled Stern Combo Meissen at the Theater am Potsdamer Platz published has been.
Thomas Kurzhals passed away after a brief serious illness in early January 2014. The star combo Meißen celebrated their 50th stage anniversary in 2014 and started their anniversary tour on March 7, 2014 with over 50 concerts. Exactly 50 years after the founding, the album Stern Meißen - The Biggest Hits was released, on which new and newly arranged songs can be found, as well as the concert recording Senftenberg 2013, on which Kurzhals last played with the band.
In June 2015, the band performed the cycle Pictures at an Exhibition - The Rock Version after Modest Mussorgsky with the Leipzig Symphony Orchestra under Stephan König and the State Youth Choir Saxony as part of the 1st State Music Festival Saxony in Grimma . Stephan König is responsible for the musical arrangement, Manuel Schmid created the lyrics. In the same year the concert was published in a special edition on CD / DVD.
Reinhard Fißler died in February 2016 at the age of 67. Founding member Norbert Jäger died on April 7, 2017 at the age of 71.
In spring 2018 a tour started under the motto "40 Years of White Gold". It puts the concept work Weißes Gold , published 40 years ago, at the center of music. The program also includes classical adaptations. On September 21, 2018, Sony Music / Amiga published the anniversary edition White Gold . On this double CD you can hear three further recordings of the work in addition to the original AMIGA production.
In August 2018, the Telepool label also released a DVD containing two concerts from 1981 and 1984, recorded by GDR television.
In October 2018 the band released the single Take the World in Hand . On January 12, 2019, the anniversary tour “55 Years of the Star Combo Meißen” started in the Lukaskirche in Dresden.
Since 2020 the band has been called Stern Meißen again . From February to June 2020 she produced the album Freiheit ist , which was created under the musical direction of Manuel Schmid. The 2020 tour planned for May 2020 could not take place due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
Timeline
Discography
Albums
- 1977: Star combo Meißen ( Amiga )
- 1978: White Gold (Amiga)
- 1979: The long way (Amiga)
- 1981: Journey to the center of mankind (Amiga, as star Meißen )
- 1982: Strike of the hour (Amiga, as star Meißen )
- 1985: Dewy (Amiga, as star Meißen )
- 1987: Nights (Amiga, as star Meißen )
- 1992: Rock aus Deutschland Ost Vol. 16 (Best-Of-Compilation)
- 1996: Live (unreleased songs)
- 1999: I want to live (classics and previously unreleased songs)
- 1999: Sachsendreier live (together with Lift and electra)
- 2004: 40 years star combo Meißen (new recordings of hits and new songs)
- 2007: Sachsendreier live - the second (together with electra and Lift)
- 2009: Hits & Rarities (hits and previously unreleased songs)
- 2011: Clock of Life (Buschfunk)
- 2014: Star combo Meißen in the Theater am Potsdamer Platz (2 DVDs and 2 CDs)
- 2014: Music of our generation - The greatest hits (best-of compilation with new songs)
- 2014: Senftenberg 2013
- 2015: Pictures at an exhibition (together with the Leipzig Symphony Orchestra and the State Youth Choir Saxony) (CD / DVD)
- 2018: White Gold - Anniversary Edition
- 2020: freedom is
Singles
- 1975: Little son / The mountain was high
- 1977: The old man / Jenny
- 1978: The old castle (split single)
- 1978: The long way / You, come here
- 1979: The saga / Give mur what you can give
- 1980: So what should become of me / The earth is silent
- 1981: Strike the hour / I want to live
- 1984: We are the sun / your eyes
- 2009: The short life of Raimund S.
- 2018: Take control of the world
literature
- Jürgen Balitzki: Electra. Lift. Stern Combo Meißen: Stories from the Saxon three . Schwarzkopf & Schwarzkopf, Berlin 2001, ISBN 978-3-89602-323-0 .
- Mike Brettschneider: I would like to live that one day I flew over clouds ... - The story of a German music legend. Self-published 2010, available at www.stern-combo-meissen.com
- HP Hofmann: Beat Lexicon. Performers, authors, technical terms . VEB Lied der Zeit Musikverlag, Berlin (East) 1977.
Web links
- Official website of the band
- Portrait at deutsche-mugge.de
- Portrait at ostmusik.de ( Memento from February 1, 2014 in the Internet Archive )
- Portrait at ostbeat.de ( Memento from May 29, 2013 in the Internet Archive )
- Portrait at ostrock24.de
- Works by and about the star combo Meißen in the catalog of the German National Library
Individual evidence
- ↑ Winner of the GDR Art Prize 1981 , In: Neues Deutschland , April 25, 1981, p. 4
- ^ Article on the award ceremony in the Sächsische Zeitung
- ^ Official website of the band , accessed July 8, 2012
- ↑ Interview with Manuel Schmid on deutsche-mugge.de accessed on October 5, 2012
- ↑ mz-web.de: Voice of star combo Meißen falls silent , article from February 15, 2016, accessed on April 27, 2018
- ↑ Official website of the band STERN MEISSEN , accessed on August 5, 2020