Fehlfarben
Fehlfarben are a German language rock band from Düsseldorf, Germany. Founding members are Peter Hein (vocals, former Mittagspause), Thomas Schwebel (guitar, former Mittagspause, S.Y.P.H.), Michael Kemner (bass, former 20 Colors, Mau Mau, DAF, YOU), Frank Fenstermacher (saxophon, later Der Plan), Uwe Bauer (drums, former Mittagspause, Materialschlacht).
Band history
The band concept and the name "Fehlfarben" (german for "missing colours") were created during England vacation in 1979, during which several band members were infected by the local Ska hype. But the band dropped their Ska sound quite soon. When they made a contract with the German subsidiary of EMI, they were losing their status as an underground band. 1980 they released their debut "Monarchie und Alltag" (german: "Monarchy and everyday life"), which had an enourmous significance to the German rock scene. Even today it is valued as one of the best German language rock records ever. Yet it took until 2000 for the album to go gold in Germany.
The single "Ein Jahr (Es geht voran)" was released not until 1982, at the high time of Neue Deutsche Welle. It was the only single hit of Fehlfarben.
Shortly after the release of their debut, Peter Hein left the band, because the planned tour was lengthened from three to six weeks on short time. This was because he had an full-time occupation at Xerox until 2003. The band released two more albums without Hein during the 1980s, "33 Tage in Ketten" (german for "33 days in chains") and "Glut und Asche" (german for "Blaze and ash"). The latter one even got into the German charts. After struggles with their label they disbanded at the end of 1984.
A first revival in original cast (including 1990) took place at the beginning of the 1990s, including the release of two LPs with mixed reviews, "Die Platte des himmlischen Friedens" (german for "The record of heavenly peace") and "Popmusik und Hundezucht" (german for "Pop music and dog breeding").
In 2002 another comeback attempt was released with the album "Knietief im Dispo" (german for "Knee-deep in the overdraft loan"). It coincided with the NDW revival, which also raised the interest in German Punk and New wave roots.
Discography
Alben:
- "Monarchie und Alltag" (1980)
- "33 Tage in Ketten" (1981)
- "Glut und Asche" (1983)
- "Die Platte des Himmlischen Friedens" (1991)
- "Live" (1993)
- "Popmusik und Hundezucht" (1995, recorded 1984)
- "Knietief im Dispo" (2002)