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1981 - 1991 The First Years
„Stahlwerksinfonie", Wahre Arbeit, Wahrer Lohn", „Volle
Kraft Voraus", „True Work, True Pay", „Goldfinger",
„Entering The Arena", „Machineries Of Joy" („Wahre
Arbeit, Wahrer Lohn" Remake with Nitzer Ebb), „Germaniac",
„91-82 past forward".
Die Krupps rose - like a phoenix from the ashes - from the remains of
MALE, Germany's first Punkband. After their dissolution, Jürgen Engler
founded the first version of a band that may be regarded as the apearhead
of international electronic music. Band like Nitzer Ebb of Front 242 frankly
admit to have been influenced by the KRUPPS, but reminiscences are also
traceable in songs of Depeche Mode up to Detroit-Techno-Sound.
Ralf Dörper who had produced obscurely bizarre singles so far, and
who later on was to celebrate worldwide pop successes with his band Propaganda,
joined Jürgen Engler at an early point of time.
Always bearing the idea in mind to create an authentic German music identity
being competitive on the international level, and at the same time possessing
a high identification value, they made their debut with the monumental „STAHLWERKSINFONIE",
an album that soon met with international success. Also the title „WAHRE
ARBEIT, WAHRER LOHN", released in the same year soon met with great
international approval and become a hit of independent labels of Germany.
The album „VOLLE KRAFT VORAUS" released in 1982 presented DIE
KRUPPS at the height of their time, fully synthesized but danceable - a
stylistic device they decided to maintain. After the maxis (released in
England and Germany) „TRUE WORK, TRUE PAY" and „GOLDFINGER"
(both released in 1983) and the international LP-production (ZEUS B.HELD)
dating back to 1985 „ENTERING THE ARENA", their activities came
to a temporary stop. Between 1986 and 1989, DIE KRUPPS had a break.
JÜRGEN ENGLER founded his own label, „ATOM H". The label
was exclusively orientated towards trash/speed-metal, as well as crossover
bands. This interest was to have a musical impact on the later career of
the band.
In 1989, when „MACHINERIES OF JOY" was released, a new era
began for DIE KRUPPS, reunited, ENGLER and DÖRPER celebrated the settlement
of the past. Together with their young epigones Nitzer Ebb, a reworked version
of the classic „WAHRE ARBEIT , WAHRER LOHN" was produces. Thanks
to this song, DIE KRUPPS could again establish themselves with unexpected
sovereignty, as it repeatedly received international attention, and was
placed in the American Billboard Charts (on GEFFEN Rec.).
The break was finished in order to resume work, where it hat stopped, with
the new member RÜDIGER ESCH. One hit followed the other. The title
„GERMANIAC" was their comment on the German reunification, and
was intended to distinguish themselves from the PROUD GERMANS who again,
although unreflectedly joining in the chorus by bawling „GERMANIAC
TO RULE THE WORLD", had understood nothing at all. The political direction
finding was followed by a musical one, namely „METAL MACHINE MUSIC".
The first years of THE KRUPPS were musically rendered on the compilation
„91-82 past forward" - distributed worldwide by MUTE (by ELECTRA
in the USA, and by ROUGH TRADE in Germany/Benelux).
23.3.92
„METAL MACHINE MUSIC"
DIE KRUPPS feat. ACCUSER were a program, and the music of DIE KRUPPS
took new directions. Since 1987, ACCUSER appeared on JÜRGEN ENGLER's
own label „ATOM H", and owing to his activity as a producer of
the last ACCUSER LPs, a musical connection developed. The outcome was that
the two band realized an idea that has always existed, namely a coproduction
with the title „METAL MACHINE MUSIC".
The joint project combined the qualities known from Metal, i.a. aggressiveness
in vocals and guitars, with the uptempo, hyped-up, hypnotizing elements
of techno that made blood-pressure rise.
Volker Borchert, ACCUSER drummer, becomes a firm live member of DIE KRUPPS,
and the ACCUSER guitarists Frank Thoms and Rene Schütz supported the
band during the production for the new album „1" (One). a video
was shot for the song „METAL MACHINE MUSIC":
25.6.92
METAL FOR THE MASSES PART 1
„1" (ONE)
„1" (ONE) was the title of the new DIE KRUPPS album, and it
was not only their first LP of the 1990s but also the band's first successful
attempt to join two elements which had been incompatible so far on a complete
album, namely ELECTRONIC and METAL.
This caused great difficulties to all those who held stereotype views, since
DIE KRUPPS had always been (FULL SPEED) ahead of them. „1" (ONE)
could neither be put into categories like INDUSTRIAL, TECHNO POP, EBM, HARDBEAT
or whatever label was attributed to the electronic pioneers, nor into the
categories of FUSION, CROSSOVER or METAL, but only into that of METAL MACHINE
MUSIC!
The 'COME TOGETHER' of these elements that only seem contrary at first
glance had already been realized before by DIE KRUPPS on their maxi „METAL
MACHINE MUSIC". Consistently - and for the first time live - the sound
of the Düsseldorf-based band became FASTER, LOUDER and HARDER. Although
the alarming beat, as in their very first years, was still characterized
by pulsing sequences, explosively aggressive guitars (not sampled) now penetrated
the polished surface of the digital high-tech sound, in order to compete
for predominance.
„1" (ONE) fornished the proof - no superfluous ornament, clear
conditions, not a single unnecessary tone, no lukewarmness.
No less a person than JOHN FRYER (Nine Inch Nails, Jesus Jones, Depeche
Mode a.o.) supplied the finish for the new DIE KRUPPS sound on the sound
mixer. Also among the guests, three different styles were united. Apart
from the ACCUSER guitarists who, together with JÜRGEN ENGLER, contributed
the major part of guitar work, Dirk Ivens, singer of the cult group KLINIK
appeared.
Besides an extended tour through Germany, the band also toured successfully
in England, Belgium, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Holland and Scandinavia.
Although they had been temporarily forgotten by the European music press,
the unanimous comment after „1" (ONE) was, „DIE KRUPPS are
back again, with a hot new, fresh, and incomparable sound".
Besides the hit songs „HIGH TECH- LOW LIFE" and „METAL MACHINE
MUSIC", „1" (ONE), and their Mini-LP „A TRIBUTE TO METALLICA"
may be regarded as a 100%-culmination of their whole creation so far.
The days of the early 1980s, when they have still influenced a whole generation
of young electronic body musicians, were over. At zero hour, DIE KRUPPS,
under the leadership of JÜRGEN ENGLER (synths, sound programming and
vocals) , CHRIS LIETZ (Recording Engineer) and JOHN FRYER (Mix) shut themselves
in the Düsseldorf studio. „For many years, Metallica had a great
influence on me" (Jürgen Engler), so, the idea suggested itself
to present the songs of the four American Metallers, whom DIE KRUPPS had
always admired, in a new way and form. The songs penetrate our brain. Although
the guitars were reduced, the compactness and vigour of the originals were
sophisticated by a very convincing production and interpretation. The genuine
drums combined with the thrashing digital-electronic style result in a powerful
30-minute spectacular.
When picking up the gold and platinum award for METALLICA on 24th Nov.
1992 at Dortmund, the two Metallica musicians, LARS ULRICH and KIR HAMMET
met JÜRGEN ENGLER who had personally been invited by Lars Ulrich, after
he had listened to the Minialbum „A TRIBUTE TO METALLICA".
Overwhelmed, Kirk HAMMET handed over the CD to PETER PATERNO, METALLICA's
lawyer, and at the same time managing director of Hollywood Rec., and DIE
KRUPPS signed a 6-album deal with HOLLYWOOD RECORDS/US (Sacred Reich, Queen,
Boo-Ya Tribe, etc.) for the rest of the world (except Europe).
„A TRIBUTE TO METALLICA" was distributed all over the world (in
Scandinavia on Energy Rec., in England on Equator).
Shortly before the summer festivals of 1993, JÜRGEN ENGLER confirmed
the new line up of the band now including the two Americans LEE ALTUS and
DARREN MINTER (both from HEATHEN). A video was made for the track „NOTING
ELSE MATTERS":
FATHERLAND
27.9.1993
On 04.10.1993, the first single release, „FATHERLAND", from
the 1993 album „II (TWO) - THE FINAL OPTION" will emerge. The
song which is likely to become a hit is the first outcome of the new DIE
KRUPPS Line-Up, presented on CD and vinyl Maxi.
JÜRGEN ENGLER - vocals, synthesizers, samplers, guitar
LEE ALTUS (USA/ex. Heathen) - guitar
DARREN MINTER (UAS/ex Heathen) - drums
RALF DÖRPER - samples, sound effects
RÜDIGER ESCH - bass guitar
„II (TWO) - THE FINAL OPTION"
2.11.1993
the brand new DIE KRUPPS album „II (TWO) - THE FINAL OPTION"
will be released in Germany on 2.11.1993. Late in spring of 1993, DIE KRUPPS
withdrew into the „ATOM H" studio (Düsseldorf), to tart work
for their new album. „II (TWO) - THE FINAL OPTION" was produced
by JÜRGEN ENGLER and CHRIS LIETZ, KIRK YANO (Public Enemy, Son Of Bazerk,
Spread Eagle, Heavy D.) is responsible for the mix in the Soundtrack Studios
(New York) and the GIANT Recording Studios (New York).
The master recording for „II (TWO) - THE FINAL OPTION" was
made by HOWIE WEINBERG (Slayer, Metallica, Public Enemy, Cpress Hill, Prince,
Pantera, David Lee Roth, etc.) at Masterdisk in New Yor.
A video for the single release „FATHERLAND" will also be available.
It was made during their stay in America.
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