Wallenstein (band)

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Wallenstein
General information
origin Viersen , Germany
Genre (s) first progressive rock , krautrock , later pop
founding 1971 as Blitzkrieg
1972 as Wallenstein
resolution 1982
Founding members
Jürgen Dollase
William "Bill" Barone (until 1975)
Vocals, bass
 Ger "Jerry" Berkers († 1988) (until 1972)
guitar
 Wolfgang "Ginger" Steinicke (1971)
Harald Grosskopf (until 1975)
Last occupation
Jürgen Dollase
Michael Dommers (from 1978)
Peter Brough (from 1978)
Charly Terstappen (from 1978)
Kurt Schmidt aka "Terry Park" (from 1978)
Joachim "Kim" Merz (from 1978)
Martin Urrigshardt (temporarily guest musician from 1978)
Interim members
Vocals, guitar
 William "Bill" Barone (1971–1975)
Joachim "Kim" Merz (1978–1982)
guitar
 Gerd Klöcker (1975–1978)
Guitar , vocals
 Jakob "Jaky" servant (1977–1978)
Nicky Gebhard (1975-1978)
Dieter Meier († 1986) (1973)
Jürgen Pluta (1973–1978)
Joachim Reiser († 2009) (1973–1976)

Wallenstein , founded in Viersen on the Lower Rhine , later at home in Mönchengladbach , was a German rock band from 1971 to 1982, which is also included in the so-called Krautrock of the 1970s.

history

Wallenstein was founded in the summer of 1971 under the name Blitzkrieg by Jürgen Dollase , an art student from Viersen and now known as a gastronomy critic , who was already trained in classical music on the piano and double bass and had played in skiffle and jazz formations. The businessman and band manager Peter Gielen (†; Octopus Productions) from Mönchengladbach-Hehnerholt and Dollase's former road manager Corrado Faccioni were also involved in the establishment. Dollase and Faccioni found the original line-up in other bands. The group's first solo guitarist was Wolfgang “Ginger” Steinicke from Erkelenz , now a well-known astronomer , but the previous member of Smiddy's Blues Band (because his physics - or astrophysics - and mathematics - studies had absolute priority for him) after only a few Live appearances replaced by the American Bill Barone from Philadelphia . Dollase had already won the Hildesheim- born Harald Grosskopf as a drummer, and immediately after Barone, the Dutchman Jerry Berkers (†; around 1988) from Brunssum was acquired as a bassist and singer.

Since the name Blitzkrieg was already used by an English band, and the German record companies disliked it as politically incorrect, the group named itself at the beginning of 1972 after the general Wallenstein from the Thirty Years War . At the same time appeared debut album of Artrocker that already from September to December 1971 at the studio of Dieter Dierks in Stommeln at Cologne had been taken, and carried the first band name only as LP title. In the same year the German published record label Mushroom with Mother Universe (the cover photo taken by Harald Grosskopf shows Dollases grandma) a follow-up album.

After a few changes of musical style, Dollase exchanged all band members in 1978. In 1979 the Group reached with the single success Charline 17th place in the German pop charts after an appearance in the ZDF telecast Disco had. But the single Don't Let It Be (from the album Blue Eyed Boys ) also became relatively successful a little later and sold in larger numbers. From March to June 1981 Wallenstein went on tour for the last time ; In 1982 the group disbanded.

Some members (Brough, Schmidt, Terstappen) later played together again with the Twelve Drummers Drumming , a band that had been founded in Mönchengladbach (1983 with Schmidt) and had to immediately give up its original name Volkswagen as well.

Discography

Harald Grosskopf , drummer of the first four albums, 2011

Albums

  • Blitzkrieg (recorded 1971, published 1972, Pilz)
  • Mother Universe (1972, mushroom)
  • Cosmic Century (1973, Cosmic Couriers)
  • Stories, Songs & Symphonies (1975, Cosmic Couriers)
  • No More Love (1977, RCA)
  • Charline (1978, RCA)
  • Charline (1978, RCA, Special Edition with black book cover, multi-page booklet and 7 "single)
  • Blue Eyed Boys (1979, RCA)
  • Miss (1980, RCA)
  • SSSSS ... TOP (1981, Harvest)
  • Lunatics (Australian RI from Blitzkrieg, 1981 on CLOJ - Clear Light of Jupiter )
  • Best of Wallenstein (1982, RCA)

Singles

  • Charline / All Good Children (1978, RCA)
  • Don't Let It Be / Midnight Blue (1979, RCA)
  • If / Will You (1979, RCA)
  • Rock High / Born in the City (1980, Harvest)
  • Lady in Blue / Woman in Love (1980, Harvest)
  • Dance / I'm in the mood (1982, Harvest)

Sampler with Wallenstein

  • Rapunzel - New German Folk Music (1974, Pilz)
  • German Rock on Top (1979, RCA)
  • Superhits Original (1979)
  • Disco Laser (1979, Arcade)
  • Club Top (1979, Ariola)
  • Disco Action (1979, K-tel)
  • Oldies But Goldies (1983, Sonocord)
  • World of Krautrock (1997 2xCD)
  • The 70s (Media-Markt Vol. 3) (1999 Polymedia, CD)
  • Ulli Wenger's One Hit Wonder Volume 4 (2003 Ganser & Hanke , CD)
  • World of Krautrock Vol.2 (2006 2xCD)
  • Krautrock Music for Your Brain (2007 6xCD)
  • Krautrock Music for Your Brain Vol. 2 (2008 6xCD)
  • Krautrock Music for Your Brain Vol. 3 (2008 6xCD)

Web links