lies, lies, lies, lies
gold, gold, gold, gold
guns, guns, guns, guns
fire, fire, fire
Join in the chant!
Who don’t remember those songs back from the 80’s? well here is your chance again to join in the chant as this legendary industrial act is back on the track again with a brand new record and a busy tour. It’s good to be back!
The trio began with shows in small local venues, but their arresting stage presence, military image and energy garnered a growing base of followers and soon led to appearances in larger clubs and concert venues. They released their debut single “Isn’t It Funny How Your Body Works” on 7 January, 1985 on their own label Power Of Voice Communications, and their music soon became a fixture on the club scene. A double ‘A’ side single, “Warsaw Ghetto”/”So Bright So Strong”, followed in 1985 to similar critical and dancefloor acclaim. Two further releases, “Let Your Body Learn”/”Get Clean” and “Murderous” were released on Power Of Voice Communications before they signed to Mute Records. They’re back for good!
Live Nation & Das Bunker are proud to present the legendary EBM masters NITZER EBB live in concert at Avalon Hollywood, Tuesday September, 12 2006.
Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster & at the Avalon box office.
House of Blues Anaheim & Das Bunker are proud to present the legendary EBM masters NITZER EBB live in concert at HOB Anaheim, Wednesday September, 13 2006.
Tickets available here
With an unusual name, Teutonic beats and aggressive sound, it is often assumed that Nitzer Ebb originated within the German techno scene, but the truth of the matter is that this trio hailed from the UK, Chelmsford in Essex to be precise. Formed in 1982 by school friends Douglas McCarthy [Lead vocals, guitar], Vaughn ‘Bon’ Harris [vocals, percussion, guitars] and David Gooday, [percussion], Nitzer Ebb were influenced by the harder sounds of the early techno pop scene, distilling elements from several other genres too until they had created their own identifiable sound, characterised by extremely powerful rhythms, minimal sequenced hooklines and fierce, chanted lyrics.
From staging small shows in their local area, Nitzer Ebb’s infectious mix of pounding beats, militaristic imagery, angst and anger was soon filling alternative dancefloors across the UK, leading to live dates in London where the group caught the attention of PWL producer Phil Harding. Realising the trio’s potential he helped them establish the label Power Of Voice Communications, producing and releasing their debut single “Isn’t It Funny How Your Body
Works?”(1985).
The Nitzer Ebb sound was one of an impassioned techno rage, captured perfectly on three further singles “Warsaw Ghetto”(1985), “Warsaw Ghetto Remixes”(1986) and “Let Your Body Learn”(1986) which all raised their profile considerably to the extent that in Europe they were soon regarded as the leading exponents of the new Hard Beat or Electronic Body Music (EBM) scene.
Taking Phil Harding with them, Nitzer Ebb signed to Mute in November 1986 and released the extremely brutal beats of “Murderous”(1986) followed by the ‘International Funk Aggression’ of “Let Your Body Learn” (1987) a smash hit in the clubs of New York, whilst the follow-up “Join In The Chant”(1987) was an early and somewhat unlikely hit on the UK acid house scene. Their debut album “That Total Age” (1987) captured the essence of Nitzer Ebb in a perfectly formed package, its combination of controlled anger and irresistible rhythm that becoming for many the most definitive example of the Nitzer Ebb sound.
The rediscovery of the Hard Beat/Electronic Body Music genre by a new generation of music fans has seen Richie Hawtin (Plastikman) include Nitzer Ebb’s ‘Let Your Body Learn’ on his seductive “Decks EFX & 909″(1999) mix compilation and an exciting set of Nitzer Ebb remixes commissioned by novamute. The series of three 12” singles have seen Derrick May, Thomas P. Heckmann, Terence Fixmer, The Hacker, Phil Kieran and LFO’s Mark Bell get to grips with the classic vintage of “Let Your Body Learn” (1987/2002),”Control I’m Here”(1988/2004) “Murderous”(1986/2004),’Shame’ – Nitzer Ebb vs. Thomas P. Heckmann’ (1989/2001) and “Join In The Chant”- Nitzer Ebb vs. Derrick May (1987/2001), the latter being a previously unreleased 1989 remix by the godfather of techno himself.
2004 sees Mute Records honour the enduring influence of Nitzer Ebb with a comprehensive retrospective entitled “Body of Work” (2004). This double CD and DVD package is sure to thrill both converts and the uninitiated alike, and with the growth of interest in a period of electronic music’s history that Nitzer Ebb made their own, is sure to see their rampant energy moving dance floors all over the world once more.
