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play sound
01.12.2000
The Absurd
Vicious Circle
30/7/93
Marquee, Hamburg
Christof Kratz - dr, Yoyo Röhm - b, Martin Ziegler - keyb, Michael Frank - g, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Hugh Tetley - voc. Friday - around noon part of band meets at Leverkusen to get van, load equipment and drive to Hamburg. Van breaks down - Turkish mechanics near Cologne manage to fix it, offering tea and providing goodwill and smiles. They charge us only very little for repairing the van - thank you very much again. Arrive in Hamburg in time to set up equipment. An ex-member of the band, at that time living in Hamburg, and his girl-friend greet us at the entrance of the club. Waiting for the last member of the current line-up to arrive at the club, a soundcheck would be great. Said ex-member has already been asked to get his instrument and set up on stage when the missing musician arrives. Gig has its highlights, curiosity brought twenty to thirty people to the Marquee, maybe some of them would've gone there for a beer or two anyway. After the gig talk to friends from Hamburg, get gear back into the van. Accomodation for most of the band is a humid basement room with some basic beds. Singer discovers that someone has stolen his echo-effects unit. Down the corridor in the basement there are a few rooms inhabited by Asian refugees. They can't return to a nicer place after one night like us.
 
play sound
02.12.2000
The Absurd
Vicious Circle
27/9/98
Feez, Cologne
Josef Kirschgen - dr, Hans Salz - perc, Guido Hafner - b, Martin Ziegler - keyb, Bernd Hilgert - g, Michael Frank - g, Steve Bohn - pedal steel, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Viola Einsiedel - v, Göttin Gala - voc. Sunday - day of general election. Original idea for the gig is to have two bands playing along to and commenting on TV coverage of the election being shown on a huge video screen. TV sound to be turned off. Miscalculation of public interest. Our friends and colleagues from the band National Disaster boldly face something like indifference during their first set , after which public opinion and the people running the bar demand a lengthy interval. Social Democrats and Greens win the election, a cause for celebration. Seemingly. After the interval the general indifference towards the music has changed. Now there are three or four people at a table near the small stage. They do their best to disrupt Göttin Gala's solo performance, i.e. they are drunk and belt out football chants or something. They can't stop Göttin Gala. Göttin Gala can deliver thrash metal drums and vocals at the same time, she plays medieval music in all women-group Filia Irata. She feels equally at home in improvised musicbetween rock and avantigardy. Göttin Gala first performed together with Martin Ziegler and drummer Fembo Fembach as Göttin Gala und die Könige der Nacht, in and around Erlangen many years ago. Fembo Fembach also played drums with The Absurd in 1987 and 1988. Steve Bohn has played with The Absurdonce before (cf. entry December 8th), his incredible pedal steel playing is only one aspect of his musicality - you can count on his expertise whether you need blues-, jazz- or country-guitar in your band. In his home studio you can record hit-singles in German Schlager-style if you want to, or songs and collages in The Absurd-style. Not sure about the hit-singles there. On September 27th, 1998, The Absurd are a small big band. At some points the mood of the evening is decidedly unenjoyable - some interesting music gets played by all because and or in spite of it.
 
play sound
03.12.2000
The Absurd
Vicious Circle
20/9/91
Stadtgarten, Cologne
Kersten Ginsberg - dr, Yoyo Röhm - b, Martin Ziegler - p, Michael Frank - g, Florian Schneider - sax, Gernot Bogumil - tr. Friday - gig clashes with radio broadcast of guitarist - almost. After the usual get to gig - hurry up and wait routine band plays set, including one or two tricky themes by friends and colleagues, the very urban jazz band Gelb. Three other acts perform that evening as part of Achim Fink's "Wildcard"-series. Later that evening it's time to hump the amp up to the apartment on the third floor - no elevator, of course. Said band member arrives at Deutschland-funk studios in time for "Soundcheck" broadcast, which starts at 1 a.m. on Saturday. Florian Schneider has contributed highly original sax parts to some studio re-cordings of The Absurd, this is his first gig with The Absurd, hopefully there are more to come. Florian Schneider co-founded Cologne's renowned Saxophon-Mafia in the late seventies.
 
play sound
04.12.2000
The Absurd
Vicious Circle
5/3/91
Luxor, Cologne
Michael Hausmann - dr, Yoyo Röhm - b, Martin Ziegler - keyb, Michael Frank -g, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Bodo Turowski - voc. Tuesday - gig to promote Arno Steffen's second compilation album with rock etc. from Cologne. Bad Little Dynamos also performing that night - no details on occasional line-up parallels - too complicated. The Absurd play a dynamic set, too. Guitarist's Vox amp threatens to pack up at beginning of first number, it can be persuaded by slap on the top to sound great for the rest of the gig. Arno Steffen apparently pleased by The Absurd's set, but complains it wasn't loud enough. Drummer remembers seeing the audience being swept back by volume of first chords of The Absurd. First gig with Bodo Turowski, singer from Düren. There he has been in bands with a future drummer of The Absurd: Josef Kirschgen.
 
play sound
05.12.2000
The Absurd
Vicious Circle
30/7/2000
Studio, Berlin
Josef Kirschgen - dr, Yoyo Röhm - b, Michael Frank - g, Joe Gutc - g. Sunday - original idea of rehearsing and recording two tunes on Sunday and another two on Monday proves illusory as time flies. Drums and guitar amp have to be collected at different places in Berlin, they are borrowed at very short notice from Berlin friends Stefan Kreuzburg (expert groove box-twiddler with The Absurd at studio date 3/99) and Christof Kratz (drummer with The Absurd from late 1992 to 1993). Recording gear has to be set up etc., drummer has to leave on Monday in the late afternoon, borrowed gear has to be transported back etc.. So it's getting familiar with song, record it, next one. Dreaming and talking about a possible studio session with Joe Gutc finally turned into actually planning it when Joe announced on the phone he'd be over here for another German tour backing Detroit singer Mitch Ryder this summer. Yoyo, now living in Berlin, managed to organize some studio time without booking fee, doing the job of recording the session himself. Acky Wiewiora, expert on rock from Detroit, agrees to drive drummer and guitarist, Vox AC30 and a few stomp boxes from Cologne to Berlin and back. More driving to be done in Berlin. Again a case of very short notice. Thank you again to everybody who made this session possible. To be continued.
 
play sound
06.12.2000
The Absurd
Vicious Circle
18/7/91
Rhenania, Cologne
Kersten Ginsberg - dr, Hans Salz - perc, Yoyo Röhm - b, Michael Frank - g, Gernot Bogumil - tr. Thursday - mainly improvised set one month after collapse of another line-up. Rhenania is an old warehouse taken over by groups of artists and musicians, it is situated on the banks of the Rhine. From 1989 to 1991 The Absurd played a couple of gigs there, getting a favourable response from the audience most of the time. Not too many people were there this time, maybe it was getting late when the band started to play. Kersten Ginsberg's first gig with The Absurd, about a month after break-up of last line-up. For years Kersten Ginsberg has drummed for Bad Little Dynamos, a band that also included Yoyo Röhm on bass and Nils Schumacher (singer with The Absurd from December 1988 to November 1989).
 
play sound
07.12.2000
The Absurd
Vicious Circle
21/8/94
WDR - stage during Ringfest/Pop-Komm, Cologne
Josef Kirschgen - dr, Markus Jovy - b, Martin Ziegler - keyb, Michael Frank - g, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Hugh Tetley - voc. Sunday - around noon. Seriously. Meeting point for the band members is a posh hotel not far from the stage. Crew passes are given out and a special permission to use a car to get to the stage and unload the equipment. During Ringfest/Pop-Komm a big area right in the middle of Cologne is turned into a succession of endless stages with acts blasting away, sometimes simultaneous-ly, so you'd better not try a quiet song there. No time to relax before the set, unloading the gear, waiting for friends and colleagues Bad Little Dynamos to finish their set, setting up on stage. The Absurd can play for about half an hour, and then the next act is on. A sunny day, lots of friends in the audience, they make up maybe one thirds of the people actually listening. Markus Jovy plays bass for The Absurd again as Yoyo Röhm is busy with a project on a Mediterranean island. Martin Ziegler enjoys playing Wurlitzer piano through a cranked up Marshall-stack. No record deals offered after the set.
 
play sound
08.12.2000
The Absurd
Vicious Circle
13/1/95
Studio, Cologne
Josef Kirschgen - dr, Hans Salz - perc, Yoyo Röhm - b, Guido Hafner - db, Martin Ziegler - p, Steve Bohn - pedal steel, Michael Frank - g, Andreas Wagner - cl, Florian Schneider - sax, Kim Jovy - sax, Tilman Bollhöfer - tr, Kerstin Bollhöfer - bassoon, Viola Einsiedel - v, voc, Max Höfler - voc, Hugh Tetley - voc. Friday - Hugh Tetley's birthday and the last of five days in a recording studio of public radio station Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR). Executive producer is Volkmar Kramarz who consented to free use of the studio. The band handed in demo with six songs, expecting to record more or less one each day. Plans are changed by producer on Monday, the first day of recording. He decides to spend four days on reconstructing, rehearsing and recording two songs. One song suddenly has a new part, so the singer must come up with new lines for it pretty quickly. On Friday 13th the band record the other four songs and an hour-long improvisation starting with another version of "Vicious Circle". These recordings are produced by the Absurd themselves. Mixing, editing and mastering at WDR are finished in November 1996. These recordings make up The Absurd's second album: "Later than never". It will be released in ... Viola Einsiedel has never met or heard The Absurd before, she happens to live just opposite the studio and Hugh Tetley walks across the road that Friday to invite her to the recording session. Great idea. Fortunately Viola Einsiedel has played more than once with The Absurd as future releases will show.
 
play sound
09.12.2000
The Absurd
Vicious Circle
4/8/90
Underground, Cologne
Michael Hausmann - dr, Yoyo Röhm - b, Michael Frank - g, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Andreas Wagner - sax, Harald "Sack" Ziegler - French horn. Saturday - "Dark Star Summer Party" with two or three bands. Since Novem-ber 1989 The Absurd down to duo - format (Michael Hausmann - dr, Michael Frank - g) and not really active. A kind of mini-reunion this evening: the second line-up from 1985 (Michael Hausmann - dr, Martin Eichler - b, Michael Frank -g) plays a couple of old songs incl. "Kochwäsche". "Kochwäsche" was first played by trio "Schleudergang" in 1983, a band including Manfred Meurer, Thomas Adams and Michael Frank. Yoyo Röhm takes over on bass for second part of set, fabulous horns add new ideas. First performance of "Vicious Circle". First gig with Gernot Bogumil, his presence and musicianship have always been uplifting. Gernot Bogumil met The Absurd via Frank Köllges' Intermission Or-chestra, his earliest band activities dating back to the late seventies, apart from playing trumpet, bass and drums he often performs in projects of Angie Hiesl.
 
play sound
10.12.2000
The Absurd
Vicious Circle
May or June 1991
Rhenania, Cologne
Josef Kirschgen - dr, Yoyo Röhm - b, Martin Ziegler - keyb, Michael Frank - g, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Bodo Turowski - voc. Rehearsal - another short-lived line up, band plays three gigs in early summer and breaks up after No. 3, a rainy outdoors gig, on a muddy field near Saar-brücken. Gig No.2, at Cologne's Underground, much more enjoyable, not least because The Absurd are support act for Tony McPhee's Groundhogs. Tony McPhee fixes broken cable in guitarist's Vox AC30 - thanks again. Needless to say Groundhogs play great gig. The Absurd's set not captured on tape, so here's a rehearsal take of "Vicious Circle", one of the first recordings with Josef Kirschgen aboard The Absurd. Josef Kirschgen is active in diverse bands, playing anything between soul grooves and Bulgarian or Moroccan rhythms. He is the percussive motor of Cologne's Schääl Sick Brass Band, award winning world music-ensemble with three CDs already released and another one being recorded at the time of writing. The Absurd are lucky to have Josef Kirschgen as proverbial driving force.
 
play sound
11.12.2000
The Absurd
Vicious Circle
22/10/93
Bel Air, Cologne
Christof Kratz - dr, Yoyo Röhm - b, Martin Ziegler - keyb, Michael Frank - g, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Hugh Tetley - voc. Friday - living-room ambience of Bel Air incl. parrot in cage always a pleasant experience, only this time parts of audience more interested in talking to each other than in listening to The Absurd. Parrot's comments not on record. Two acts are co-starring this evening: 213 and Terz. Drumming of Christof Kratz has re-vitalized The Absurd since recordings for first CD "Late then never" in December 1992. Christof Kratz und Michael Frank first played together in Yoyo Röhm's Kozmik Zirkus at the beginning of 1992, playing a memorable gig at Paris club New Moon. Singer of Kozmik Zirkus at that time Nils Schu-macher (cf. entry December 6th). Gig at Bel Air turns out to be last one - so far - with Christof Kratz as drummer with The Absurd. Next gig is less than a month away, two weeks before the gig Josef Kirschgen agrees to drum again for The Absurd. To be ctd..
 
play sound
12.12.2000
The Absurd
Vicious Circle
25/11/93
Josef's, Düren
Josef Kirschgen - dr, Yoyo Röhm - b, Martin Ziegler - keyb, Michael Frank - g, Joe Hartmuth - sax, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Hugh Tetley - voc. Thursday - rehearsal. Josef Kirschgen has just re-joined The Absurd (cf. entry December 11th). The Absurd prepare for a gig on November 26th presented as part of the Manfred Post's Six Pack series. Rehearsal for gig very enjoyable, Joe Hartmuth (sax-player with urban jazz unit Gelb) plays with The Absurd for the first time. We want more.
 
play sound
13.12.2000
The Absurd
Vicious Circle
2/4/94
Kaue - Gelsenkirchen
Josef Kirschgen - dr, Yoyo Röhm - b, Michael Frank - g, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Hugh Tetley - voc. Saturday - at rehearsal hall with a lot of natural reverb. Yoyo Röhm is now living in Gelsenkirchen, work on a couple of projects takes place there:demos with The Absurd, CDs of Yoyo Röhm's Kozmic Zirkus and Onkel Fleisch (super-vised by Yoyo Röhm and Dieter Volmar). Memory doesn't serve well as to further details on this date. Fortunately rehearsal tape hassurvived.
 
play sound
14.12.2000
The Absurd
Vicious Circle
31/12/92
ABS, Cologne
Hans Salz - dr, Martin Eichler - b, Michael Frank - g, Doris Lechner - sax, Gernot Bogumil - tr. Thursday - the band doesn't really play dance music, maybe that's why the audience's reaction to The Absurd is somewhat subdued. The Absurd have just recorded three tracks for their debut album "Late then never", but apart from Gernot Bogumil and Michael Frank this is another line-up again. The gig at ABS is a kind of reunion. Martin Eichler and Michael Frank met at university in 1980, first performed together with a small band in a lecture room. Martin Eichler was part of first incarnation of The Absurd (1984/85). He contributed, among other things, the following line to The Absurd-songbook:"Schön sein ist schwer, wenn der Nebel auf der Stadt liegt." -"It's not easy being beautiful on a foggy day". Hans Salz and Michael Frank have been playing together in various bands since 1978. Doris Lechner joined The Absurd in autumn 1991 and added new colour, but again line up didn't last long. Doris Lechner is there with us to see out 1992 and plays great. In memory of Doris Lechner
 
play sound
15.12.2000
The Absurd
Vicious Circle
3/5/91
Rhenania, Cologne
Michael Hausmann - dr, Yoyo Röhm - b, Martin Ziegler - keyb, Michael Frank -g, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Bodo Turowsky - voc. Friday - Count The Bodies - event, staged as an attempt to draw attention to the systematic disinformation of the public as to what happened during Gulf war earlier that year. Check out Ramsey Clark, The fire this time (German edition called "Wüstensturm") and John R. McArthur, Second Front - Censor- ship and Propaganda in the Gulf War (German edition entitled "Die Schlacht der Lügen"). Contents of books should cause public outcry but haven't so far. Public - i.e. we - too busy with something else, apart from noble exceptions. Eight years later, in 1999, many again too busy with something else to at least try to look through propaganada and other lies of opponents and allies in the Kosovo disaster. Participants of the Count The Bodies - event include Supreme Machine, National Disaster, Harald "Sack" Ziegler, The Absurd and peoplepresenting non - mainstream info on problems of the Gulf-region via printed matter at stalls. Last gig - so far - with Michael Hausmann on drums, he moves to Hamburg. After his return to Cologne he sporadically and magnificently records with The Absurd, playing piano, vibes or drums. The concert is self-organized: loan of P.A., humping it down the stairs to one of the basement rooms of Rhenania, getting hold of some kind of heating for the cold room, getting it to provide some heat without the diesel engine poisoning people in the basement etc., all done by musicians prior to gig. Nothing unusual but exhausting. How about cleaning up the room, getting P.A. back on time ? Save that for tomorrow.
 
play sound
16.12.2000
The Absurd
Vicious Circle
26/3/99
Forum, Grevenbroich
Hans Salz - dr, Gernot Bogumil - b, tr, Martin Ziegler - keyb, Michael Frank - g. Friday - audience made up mostly of pupils of local comprehensive school (Käthe-Kollwitz-Gesamtschule), gig features a.o. Freestyle (pupils band of said school), The Absurd and Grevenbroich punks Planlos, the main attraction of the evening. The Absurd polarize audience one more time, but quite a few pupils stay in the hall and enjoy The Absurd. Their reaction proves moreenthusiastic than that of some other audiences we have encountered. Another case of suspense à la The Absurd - one member arrives shortly before the band is due on stage, having lost his way in Grevenbroich. One member of Freestyle already talked into jamming with The Absurd in case missing musician doesn't turn up. Thank you again to Planlos for use of drums and backline.
 
play sound
17.12.2000
The Absurd
Vicious Circle
11/9/98
Großmarkt, Cologne
Josef Kirschgen - dr / voc, Guido Hafner - b / voc, Michael Frank - g / voc, Bernd Hilgert - g / voc. Friday - rehearsal for general election - event (cf. entry December 2nd, 2000), rare and spontaneous display of The Absurd's vocal prowess. Bernd Hilgert and Josef Kirschgen have known each other for a long time, they played together in various bands in their hometown Düren, Bernd Hilgert currently teaching at Hamburg music academy. Guido Hafner and Michael Frank first played together in The Absurd in 1987. Guido Hafner specializes in adventurous double bass-playing (as evidenced on The Absurd's "Late then never" and on CD by trio called Die Klangräumer - GuidoHafner - db, Andreas Wagner - reeds, Thomas Lehn - anlogue synths), can also play mean electric bass. Rehearsals of the Absurd are rare these days, but quality of rehearsal room has increased since the early days of The Absurd. There's a P.A. and a sofa. Typical smell of damp rehearsal room not yetcommunicable via web. We're working on it.
 
play sound
18.12.2000
The Absurd
Vicious Circle
25/3/99
Großmarkt, Cologne
Hans Salz - dr, Gernot Bogumil - b / tr, Martin Ziegler - keyb, Michael Frank - g. Thursday - rehearsal for gig in Grevenbroich (cf. entry December 16th), smaller than usual line up with Gernot Bogumil playing bass and trumpet, sometimes simultaneously. Hans Salz and Michael Frank have been playing together in various bands since 1978. With the band Selene they played music heavily influenced by Daevid Allen's Gong - at a time, in the late 70s and early 80s, when it was one of the most unhip things to do. Hans Salz has got his own great way of drumming, also has knack of turning disused car parts etc. into percussion instruments. Guested with The Absurd No.1 for one or two gigs, has enriched the sound of The Absurd again and again. Today's rehearsal takes place while German soldiers start being involved in bombing of Yugoslavia. Only for the right reasons, we are told. For some reason an old graffitti in a Cologne subway comes to mind, it says: "get up, vote, go back to sleep again."
 
play sound
19.12.2000
The Absurd
Vicious Circle
13/5/2000
Studio, Cologne
Michael Hausmann - dr, Michael Frank - g, Mary-Noele Dupuis - voc. Saturday - another day, another vicious circle (pardon the pun). Recorded at great 8 track recording studio of drummer Christof Kratz (c.f. entries December 1st, December 11th) and bass player Rainer Becker. Studio has been moved to Berlin - good luck and thank you for access to studio. Be seeing you. Mary-Noele Dupuis sings with The Absurd for the first time, although trio has played together in larger ensembles (Disaster, Frank Köllges' Intermission Orchestra). Welcome return of Michael Hausmann on drums, the guitarist doubles as studio engineer for the first time, dynamics of Mary-Noele Dupuis' voice push mike and L.E.D.s to the limit. Maybe more of this line up later.
 
play sound
20.12.2000
The Absurd
Vicious Circle
12/11/95
Großmarkt, Cologne
Josef Kirschgen - dr, Yoyo Röhm - b, Michael Frank - g, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Viola Einsiedel - v, Hugh Tetley - voc, Göttin Gala - voc, Angelica Schubert - voc. Sunday - rehearsal (not really), unexpected small big band version of The Absurd. Angelica Schubert is a singer, performance artist and stage designer, she guests on CD "Gas-o-magic" by Trio Klang(t)räume. She has collaborated with members of The Absurd on more than one occasion and contributed the sculpture seen on CD - label of band's first album "Late then never": Sisyphos rolling heavy stone uphill which always rolls down - again and again. The Absurd recorded an album worth's of material in January, but since then the band hasn't been too active in 1995. A few mixing dates for the still un-released album "Later than never" provide exciting moments, and, among other things, today's "Vicious Circle".
 
play sound
21.12.2000
The Absurd
Vicious Circle
18.12.93
Jugendzentrum Paaßweg, Bergisch Gladbach
Josef Kirschgen - dr, Yoyo Röhm - b, Michael Frank - g, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Hugh Tetley - voc. Saturday - Paaßweg's a great place to play, thanks again to Norbert who regularly books bands for the youth centre at that time. First band of the evening is Nilg - what a wonderful band, they are probably more absurd than The Absurd. Check out their album simply called "Nilg". One of the pleasures of playing Paaßweg is having a nice dressing room with real sofas, drinks and meals for free and privacy away from the CDs being played in the hall. You also get the impression that the promoter actually cares whether the band feels welcome at the club. Bands like us appreciate such luxury, standard procedure it isn't. So this is The Absurd live after luxury.
 
play sound
22.12.2000
The Absurd
Vicious Circle
11/9/97
Großmarkt, Cologne
Josef Kirschgen - dr, Yoyo Röhm - b, Martin Ziegler - keyb, Michael Frank - g Thursday - rehearsal or rather rare reunion. Bass player Yoyo Röhm has been living in Gelsenkirchen for some years before moving to Berlin. Involved in various theatre projects since the early 90s, has produced CDs of his own Kozmik Zirkus ensemble and Onkel Fleisch-collaboration with Dieter Volmar and friends. Some of the musicians heard on Kozmik Zirkus' "11Elektrik Lulla-bies" ('95) and Onkel Fleisch's "Alle meine Enten" ('96) can also be heard on recordings by The Absurd. Yoyo Röhm has many musical tricks up his sleeve, he also doubles as recording engineer. He first played with The Absurd in 1985, remembers one gig with school orchestra as first musical collaboration with Michael Frank, they made up the double bass - section of the orchestra . This must have been in the late seventies. A chance encounter at a Zappa-gig in Düsseldorf in 1984 led to line-up No. 3 of The Absurd and countless others. Yoyo Röhm and Martin Ziegler met at Cologneuniversity, and drummer Fembo Fembach (cf. entry December 1st). Martin Ziegler and Fembo Fembach were welcomed to The Absurd shortly afterwards (1987). Their contributions to The Absurd have always been inspiring. This rehearsal version of "Vicious Circle" features another great Fender Rhodes soloby Martin Ziegler.
 
play sound
23.12.2000
The Absurd
Vicious Circle
26/11/93
Underground, Cologne
Josef Kirschgen - dr, Yoyo Röhm - b, Martin Ziegler - keyb, Michael Frank - g, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Hugh Tetley - voc, Joe Hartmuth - sax. Friday - gig as part of Six Pack-Festival (cf. entry December 12th), second band of the evening is Up In Arms, a hard core/hip hop-crossover band from Leipzig. Good band. Quite an energetic evening for The Absurd, too. First gig with Joe Hartmuth on sax. Together with Yoyo Röhm, Martin Ziegler, Thilo Busch (g) and Frank Meyer-Fembach (dr) he was part of the electrifying urban jazz band Gelb. Waiting for recordings of Gelb to appear and for his second gig with The Absurd will prove worthwhile. Singer Hugh Tetley moved to Spain in autumn 1997 - miss him. Hugh, where areyou ?
 
play sound
24.12.2000
The Absurd
Vicious Circle
18/12/2000
At home, Cologne
Josef Kirschgen - perc, Göttin Gala - perc, Vera Zielke - sleigh, Hans Salz - b, Michael Frank - g, Martin Ziegler - p, Gernot Bogumil - tr Evening turns out to be The Absurd's Christmas Party. Whoopee - good times. First ever unplugged experience for The Absurd. Not quite true: Hans Salz's acoustic bass guitar is plugged into small Vox amp. Neighbours are very tolerant - they don't complain. Young man living next door actually encourages further sessions at home. Thank you. P.S. Hope you have enjoyed The Absurd's Advent Calendar. Thank you for visiting our site - The Absurd will return ca. mid-January with more sights and sounds. Don't forget to send in your votes for the Vicious Circle Top Ten - simply e-mail the recording date of your favourite version. All your votes will be counted, but they must arrive until January 15th, 2001. 10 partici-pants carefully chosen by Chief Inspector M. Coincidence will receive a copy of "Late then never", The Absurd's first album. Finally I would like to thank The Wonderful Webbers again: Martin Ziegler, web-organ. Wow. Wietn Wito, web-design. Wow II. Vera Zielke, web-style. Wow III. All the graphics and photos in The Absurd's Advent Calendar are by Vera Zielke except photo of Doris Lechner by Martin Eichler/Michael Frank (see December 14th, 2000) and Count The Bodies-poster by Guido Erfen (see December 15th, 2000). All the music in The Absurd's Advent Calendar was composed by the musicians. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
 
play sound
01.12.2001
The Absurd
Vicious Circle
30/7/93
Marquee, Hamburg
Christof Kratz - dr, Yoyo Röhm - b, Martin Ziegler - keyb, Michael Frank - g, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Hugh Tetley - voc. This is the ending of a song called 'Clean Cut'. The song was written in 1992 as a reaction to the way the 1991 Gulf War was sold to the public: a new era of 'smart bombs', only 'clean cuts' to military bases, 'surgical precision', 'minimal collateral damage' etc. (see December 15th entry in last year's Advent Calendar of The Absurd). 'Clean Cut' hasn't been released on a record yet, but it's in the band's live-set again since May 2001.
 
play sound
02.12.2001
The Absurd
More Miles Per Hour
12/95 to 1/01
At home, Cologne
Michael Hausmann - prepared piano, Michael Frank - button of rhythm box, echo, Josef Kirschgen - electric drums, Steve Bohn - digital fairy dust 'More Miles Per Hour' is the title of the complete piece. Twiddling around with the rhythm box of a tiny keyboard (on loan from my girlfriend's daughter - thanx again) can be a lot of fun, especially when you put it through a small echo unit usually used by guitarrists and twiddle some more. The breakdown presented in today's 'Famous Last Chords' is one result of that twiddling session, the machine rhythms became the basis of a band version of 'More Miles...', in the summer of 1998 (if my memory serves me right) the version for prepared piano was begun at Michael Hausmann's home. Josef Kirschgen played on drum pads that miraculously triggered off some prepared piano sounds, the digital editing was also done at Steve Bohn's studio - home of the stars.
 
play sound
03.12.2001
The Absurd
Where to begin
12/4/98
Studio, Cologne
Viola Einsiedel - v, Michael Frank - g, voc Along with the mp3-button comes an excerpt from "Where to begin", complete song hopefully to be released as part of collection entitled "Sentimentals" - in the not too distant future. Violin parts were added at a later date in the winter of '98. Recording by Steve Bohn (see entry for December 2nd, 2001)
 
play sound
04.12.2001
The Absurd
I Love You
30/3/87
Blue Shell, Cologne
Michael Hausmann - dr, Yoyo Röhm - b, Michael Frank - g So far The Absurd have not smashed up their instruments on stage, but here - last chords of "I love you" - the guitarist manages to smash lamp used for billiard table by jumping too high. A close friend of the band can be heard enjoying this moment.
 
play sound
05.12.2001
The Absurd
Snicker Snars
1/88
Studio, Wuppertal
Frank Meyer-Fembach - dr, voc, Michael Hausmann - p, voc, Michael Frank - b,voc, Yoyo Röhm - g,voc, Diego Montes - b.cl, voc, Normisa Pereira da Silva - pic.fl, voc, Susanne Strässle - voc "Snicker Snars" - another excerpt from this tune can be heard on The Absurd's debut album "Late then never" (sic). It was released in 1993."Snicker Snars, das war's" - in other words: Snicker Snars, that's all.
 
play sound
06.12.2001
The Absurd
Whenever I want to feel high
20/12 /87
Studio, Cologne
Frank Meyer-Fembach - dr, Robert Baak - double b, Martin Ziegler - keyb, Michael Frank - g, voc, Kim Jovy - fl Final chords of a song called "Whenever I want to feel high", nothing illegal here of course: "Whenever I want to feel high I'll be thinking of you" is how it goes. One of three songs recorded by Reinhard Kobialka at his studio in the southern part of Cologne. May appear in one form or another as part of "Sentimentals"- collection.
 
play sound
06.12.2001
The Absurd
Welcome
5/10/2001
Forum, Grevenbroich
Hans Salz - dr, Gernot Bogumil - b, Martin Ziegler - p, Michael Frank - g, voc, Göttin Gala - voc The song "Welcome" started life before The Absurd got together, elements of it surfaced during a session with friends in the winter of 1981 or 1982. It's about someone who enters a deserted house, climbs a few stairs and then reaches the final floor "and there's just one door", as it says in the song. It's up to the audience to find out what's behind that door. The Absurd have played at the Forum in Grevenbroich before (last year's etry for December 16th, 2000) and receive another warm welcome. Thank you again.
 
play sound
07.12.2001
The Absurd
V.I.P. Whip
31/12/88
Rhenania, Cologne
Michael Hausmann - dr, Yoyo Röhm - b, Michael Frank - g, Nils Schumacher - voc, Excerpt from first gig of that line-up. Band played two sets, one right after midnight in the new year, the other one shortly before. This is the ending of the first set, and the ending of a song called "V.I.P. Whip". Guitarist, somewhat disappointed by subdued audience reaction, prefers to talk in English for some reason.
 
play sound
08.12.2001
The Absurd
Stars
29/2/92
Paris, New Moon
Chris Kratz - dr, Yoyo Röhm - b, Michael Frank - g, Nils Schumacher - harp,voc Actually this isn't The Absurd, is it ? It's Kozmik Zirkus, a project masterminded by Yoyo Röhm. During the last days of another line-up of The Absurd Yoyo Röhm secured a gig for the band in a club called "New Moon" in Paris, in November 1991 The Absurd ceased operations for a while. Yoyo Röhm stepped in with his new band called "Kozmik Zirkus". It turned up to be 3/4s of an earlier line-up of The Absurd (see entry for December 7th, 2001), Yoyo Röhm and Nils Schumacher had also been part of bands "White Jam" and "Bad Little Dynamos". Travelling to Paris, getting there, playing the gig and relaxing afterwards was something special. Sadly, the "New Moon", situated in the famous "Pigalle"-district of Paris, does no longer exist. The ending presented here is an excerpt from the song "Stars", it is still being played live by The Absurd. Recording supplied by courtesy of Yoyo Röhm's Kozmik Zirkus-Archive.
 
play sound
09.12.2001
The Absurd
Fire
9/89
Studio, Wuppertal
Michael Hausmann - dr, Yoyo Röhm - b, Martin Ziegler - p, Michael Frank - g, Florian Schneider - sax, Nils Schumacher - voc Another recording by legendary Dirk Fleck, the song is called "Fire" and ends with a nice classically-flavoured ritardando. Martin Ziegler played another great piano solo on that song, but that's somewhere in the middle, so you don't get that here.
 
play sound
10.12.2001
The Absurd
Robert
1/88
Studio, Wuppertal
Michael Hausmann - dr, Frank Meyer-Fembach - dr, Yoyo Röhm - b, Martin Ziegler - p, Michael Frank - g, Diego Montes - cl, Normisa Pereira da Silva - fl, Susanne Strässle - voc The complete version of this track can be heard on The Absurd's first CD "Late then never" (1993). It is called "Robert II", The Absurd's version of a 19th century cautionary tale for children: "Der fliegende Robert", taken from H.Hoffmann's "Struwelpeter". Against all orders Robert takes a walk during a heavy storm. He gets blown away up into the sky, never to be seen again. Together with the wonderful drawings this story has always had a special effect on me - at the same time disquieting and promising some exciting adventure up in the skies, out there, in space.
 
play sound
11.12.2001
The Absurd
Coitus Interruptus
6/87
Rehearsal room, Cologne
Michael Hausmann - dr, voc, Frank Meyer-Fembach - voc, Yoyo Röhm -b, voc, Martin Ziegler - voc, Michael Frank - g, voc, Diego Montes - voc, Normisa Pereira da Silva - voc, Susanne Strässle - voc A studio version of "Coitus Interruptus" can be heard on The Absurd's "Late then never". The ending of this rehearsal version puts the frenzy meter firmly into the red - a splendid time for all, despite a subtropical climate in this rehearsal room, a cosy basement cubicle so humid that at least one amp packed up because of heavy corrosion.
 
play sound
12.12.2001
The Absurd
Welcome
3/5/91
Rhenania, Cologne
Michael Hausmann - dr, Yoyo Röhm - b, Martin Ziegler - e.piano, Michael Frank - g, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Bodo Turowski - voc Another ending of "Welcome" (see St. Nicholas' Day bonus track, December 6th 2001),recorded at "Count the bodies" - event (see entry for December 15th, 2000 in the first Advent Calendar of The Absurd). The Absurd have always had a knack for endings.
 
play sound
13.12.2001
The Absurd
Welcome
20/9/91
Stadtgarten, Cologne
Kersten Ginsberg - dr, Yoyo Röhm - b, Martin Ziegler - p, Michael Frank - g, voc, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Florian Schneider - sax At the end of another version of "Welcome" the band is louder than the anonymous recording engineer expects, hence the slight distortion. This ecxerpt is also featured in the track "M'enfin", a collage of live-fragments recorded between 1985 and 1991. It can be heard on The Absurd's "Late then never". Several other "Famous Last Chords" heard in this Advent Calendar were also part of "M'enfin".
 
play sound
14.12.2001
The Absurd
I don't know
13/1/95
Studio, Cologne
Josef Kirschgen - dr, Yoyo Röhm - b, Martin Ziegler - p, Michael Frank - g, double b., Hugh Tetley - voc The title of the song says it all: "I don't know". It is a meditation on various moments of indecision. Planned for release on the second album of The Absurd: "Later than never", in other words - as yet unreleased.
 
play sound
15.12.2001
The Absurd
improvised
23/4/97
Großmarkt, Cologne
Josef Kirschgen - dr, Martin Ziegler - e.piano, Michael Frank - g Endings of tunes can be premeditated or spontaneous, or a mixture of both. This excerpt is an example of the spontaneous variety. A completeIy improvised chase through fusion-land ends in a dead stop. I can't remember if there was a-fragment-of-a-second exchange of looks just before or if it was somehow telepathic. Moments to treasure anyway
 
play sound
16.12.2001
The Absurd
Turn It Loose3
9/89
Studio, Wuppertal
Michael Hausmann - dr, Yoyo Röhm -b, Martin Ziegler - p, Michael Frank - g, Florian Schneider - sax, Nils Schumacher - voc Another unreleased song, "Turn it loose" is the name of the song and that's what The Absurd like to do. For those not familiar with German folksongs - Florian Schneider includes a snippet of "Kommt ein Vogel geflogen" in his improvisation at the end.
 
play sound
17.12.2001
The Absurd
One String Heart
13/1/95
Studio, Cologne
Josef Kirschgen - dr, Yoyo Röhm - b, Martin Ziegler - e.piano, Michael Frank - g, Hugh Tetley - voc Another track from the as yet unreleased album "Later than never". For recording details see entry for December 8th, 2000 in The Abusurd's Advent Calendar No. 1. These last chords are taken from a song called "One String Heart" aka "Lip Service".
 
play sound
18.12.2001
The Absurd
Welcome again
8/94
unknown location , Düren
Josef Kirschgen - dr, Yoyo Röhm - b, Martin Ziegler - e.piano, Michael Frank - g, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Hugh Tetley - voc "Welcome" has turned out to be a popular evergreen in The Absurd repertoire. The band performed it live for the first time probably on December 31st, 1988. Thirteen years later the way the song turns out on any given night can still surprise us.
 
play sound
19.12.2001
The Absurd
V.I.P. Whip
5/89
Underground, Cologne
Michael Hausmann - dr, Marcus Jovy - b, Michael Frank - g, Nils Schumacher - voc The scene of the crime: not too many people in a club listen with vague interest to a support band, after a few bum notes and other highlights the band pulls itself together to deliver a resounding "goodbye" to the cheering audience. This is the ending of a song called "V.I.P. Whip".
 
play sound
20.12.2001
The Absurd
Clean Cut
5/93
At home
Michael Frank - g, voc The starting point of this song was the final chord of a Joni Mitchell song. After knowing the song and loving especially this final chord I stumbled upon it while messing around with an obscure oping tuning. The rest of the chords came later, so did the lyrics. The song is called "Count me out", it's a meditation on the rollback in politics and in one's own soul. In 1992 hostility towards refugees was at an ugly high in Germany, several places were burnt down by right-wing fanatics, people died. 9 years later one is still waiting for the outcome of a court hearing concerning these crimes. The original chorus of "Count me out" was: "Count me out when they start to shout", pretty soon I thought that at the end of the song I should sing "Guess it's time for you and me to shout".
 
play sound
21.12.2001
The Absurd
untitled
31/12/88
Rhenania
Michael Hausmann - dr, Yoyo Röhm - b, Michael Frank - g, Nils Schumacher - voc First gig of that line-up (see entry for December 7th, 2001). Tragedy prevented trio White Jam (Dirk Wandiger, Nils Schumacher, Yoyo Röhm) from playing this gig, The Absurd substituted. In February 1989 the bands Gelb, The Absurd and a new White Jam play a memorial concert for Dirk Wandiger at the Rhenania.
 
play sound
22.12.2001
The Absurd
I Love You
6/93
Underground, Cologne
Chris Katz - dr, Yoyo Röhm -b, Martin Ziegler - keyb, Michael Frank - g, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Norbert Rodenkirchen - fl, Harald Sack Ziegler - fr. horn, Hugh Tetley - voc The final chords of "I love you" have always been dear to my heart (see entry for December 4th, 2001) - so here's another way of doing it, I distinctly remember the sense of wonder and excitement just before the very last chord
 
play sound
23.12.2001
The Absurd
Welcome
26/11/93
Underground, Cologne
Josef Kirschgen - dr, Yoyo Röhm - b, Martin Ziegler - keyb, Michael Frank - g, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Joe Hartmuth - sax, Hugh Tetley - voc Here's another extended ending of "Welcome" featuring Joe Hartmuth of Gelb-fame - enjoy. For details of gig see entry for December 23rd, 2001 in the first edition of The Absurd's Advent Calendar.
 
play sound
24.12.2001
The Absurd
Glad and Sorry
1/93
Studio, Cologne
Gernot Bogumil - tr. Michael Frank - g, voc The amazing Gernot Bogumil holds a note that never ends - the complete song ("Glad and sorry" by Ronnie Lane, recorded at Jürgen Küpper's studio) can be heard on The Absurd's "Late then never".
 
play sound
12.2002
The Absurd
Interview
21/11/88
Cologne
Bo Diddley WELCOME TO THE ABSURD'S THIRD ADVENT CALENDAR. AFTER 24 VERSIONS OF "VIVIOUS CIRCLE" (2000) AND "FAMOUS LAST CHORDS" (2001) THE ABSURD PRESENT 26 VERSIONS OF A TRADITIONAL RHYTHM FROM AFRICA AND LATIN AMERICA. THIS RHYTHM HAS BEEN PLAYED BY BANDS AS DIVERSE AS THE WHO, QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE, AND DAEVID ALLEN'S GONG. THE ABSURD HAVE ALSO PLAYED THIS RHYTHM AGAIN AND AGAIN, THE VERSIONS PRESENTED HERE WERE RECORDED BETWEEN 1989 AND 2002. SINCE 1955 BO DIDDLEY (ELLAS MCDANIEL) HAS POPULARIZED THIS RHYTHM WORLDWIDE. MANY OF HIS SONGS (E.G. "BO DIDDLEY", "MONA") ARE BASED ON IT AND IT HAS ALMOST BECOME A TRADEMARK IDENTIFIED SIMPLY AS "BO DIDDLEY BEAT". THE CALENDAR ENTRY FOR DECEMBER 1st, 2002 PRESENTS AN EXCERPT FROM AN INTERVIEW WITH BO DIDDLEY - HEAR HIM TALK ABOUT HIS FIRST HIT-SINGLE "BO DIDDLEY" AND THE ORIGINS OF THIS SPECIAL RHYTHM. BO DIDDLEY WILL CELEBRATE HIS 74th BIRTHDAY ON DECEMBER 30th, 2002. SO WITH LOVING RESPECT FOR THE MAN THE ABSURD PRESENT 26 VERSIONS OF "BO IN SPACE". A BIG, WARM THANK YOU TO VERA ZIELKE WHO CONCEIVED THE ORIGINAL STORY "BO IN SPACE" AND TURNED IT INTO WONDERFUL CARTOONS, TO MARTIN ZIEGLER ON WEB-ORGAN, TO GUIDO ERFEN, FILE-TRANSFER AND OF COURSE TO THE MUSICIANS WHO PLAYED ON THE 26 TRACKS. ENJOY! MICHAEL FRANK
 
play sound
01.12.2002
The Absurd
Bo In Space
01/01/89
RhenaniaCologne
Michael Hausmann - dr, YoYo Röhm - b, Michael Frank - g, Nils Schumacher - voc
 
play sound
02.12.2002
The Absurd
Bo In Space
26/11/93
Underground, Cologne
Josef Kirschgen - dr, YoYo Röhm - b, Martin Ziegler - keyb, Michael Frank - g, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Hugh Tetley - voc, Joe Hartmuth - sax
 
play sound
03.12.2002
The Absurd
Bo In Space
5/92
Bürgerhaus Stollwerk, Cologne
Hans Salz - dr, unknown - perc, YoYo Röhm - b, Michael Frank - g, Chris Scholl - g
 
play sound
04.12.2002
The Absurd
Bo In Space
5/3/91
Luxor, Cologne
Michael Hausmann - dr, YoYo Röhm - b, Martin Ziegler - keyb, Michael Frank - g, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Bodo Turowski - voc Tuesday - gig to promote Arno Steffen's second compilation album with rock etc. from Cologne. Bad Little Dynamos also performing that night - no details on occasional line-up parallels - too complicated. The Absurd play a dynamic set, too. Guitarist's Vox amp threatens to pack up at beginning of first number, it can be persuaded by slap on the top to sound great for the rest of the gig. Arno Steffen apparently pleased by The Absurd's set, but complains it wasn't loud enough. Drummer remembers seeing the audience being swept back by volume of first chords of The Absurd. First gig with Bodo Turowski, singer from Düren. There he has been in bands with a future drummer of The Absurd: Josef Kirschgen.
 
play sound
05.12.2002
The Absurd
Bo In Space
26/3/99
Forum, Grevenbroich
Hans Salz - dr, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Martin Ziegler - keyb, Michael Frank - g
 
play sound
06.12.2002
The Absurd
Bo In Space
4/6/93
Underground, Cologne
Christoph Kratz - dr, YoYo Röhm - b, Martin Ziegler - keyb, Michael Frank - g, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Norbert Rodenkirchen- fl, Andreas Wagner - fl, Harald Sack Ziegler - frh
 
play sound
06.12.2002
The Absurd
Bo In Space
17/10/02
Chez Chris, Düsseldorf
Josef Kirschgen - dr, Witn Vito - b, Michael Frank - g, Chris Scholl - g
 
play sound
07.12.2002
The Absurd
Bo In Space
25/3/99
Grossmarkt, Cologne
Hans Salz - dr, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Martin Ziegler - keyb, Michael Frank - g
 
play sound
08.12.2002
The Absurd
Bo In Space
May or June 1991
Rhenania, Cologne
Josef Kirschgen - dr, YoYo Röhm - b, Martin Ziegler - keyb, Michael Frank - g, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Bodo Turowski - voc Rehearsal - another short-lived line up, band plays three gigs in early summer and breaks up after No. 3, a rainy outdoors gig, on a muddy field near Saar-brücken. Gig No.2, at Cologne's Underground, much more enjoyable, not least because The Absurd are support act for Tony McPhee's Groundhogs. Tony McPhee fixes broken cable in guitarist's Vox AC30 - thanks again. Needless to say Groundhogs play great gig. The Absurd's set not captured on tape, so here's a rehearsal take of "Vicious Circle", one of the first recordings with Josef Kirschgen aboard The Absurd. Josef Kirschgen is active in diverse bands, playing anything between soul grooves and Bulgarian or Moroccan rhythms. He is the percussive motor of Cologne's Schääl Sick Brass Band, award winning world music-ensemble with three CDs already released and another one being recorded at the time of writing. The Absurd are lucky to have Josef Kirschgen as proverbial driving force.
 
play sound
09.12.2002
The Absurd
Bo In Space
27/9/98
Feez, Cologne
Josef Kirschgen - dr, Hans Salz - dr, Guido Hafner - b, Martin Ziegler - keyb, Bernd Hilgert - g, Michael Frank - g, Steve Bohn - pedal steel, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Viola Einsiedel - v, Angelika Schubert - voc Sunday - day of general election. Original idea for the gig is to have two bands playing along to and commenting on TV coverage of the election being shown on a huge video screen. TV sound to be turned off. Miscalculation of public interest. Our friends and colleagues from the band National Disaster boldly face something like indifference during their first set , after which public opinion and the people running the bar demand a lengthy interval. Social Democrats and Greens win the election, a cause for celebration. Seemingly. After the interval the general indifference towards the music has changed. Now there are three or four people at a table near the small stage. They do their best to disrupt Göttin Gala's solo performance, i.e. they are drunk and belt out football chants or something. They can't stop Göttin Gala. Göttin Gala can deliver thrash metal drums and vocals at the same time, she plays medieval music in all women-group Filia Irata. She feels equally at home in improvised musicbetween rock and avantigardy. Göttin Gala first performed together with Martin Ziegler and drummer Fembo Fembach as Göttin Gala und die Könige der Nacht, in and around Erlangen many years ago. Fembo Fembach also played drums with The Absurd in 1987 and 1988. Steve Bohn has played with The Absurdonce before (cf. entry December 8th), his incredible pedal steel playing is only one aspect of his musicality - you can count on his expertise whether you need blues-, jazz- or country-guitar in your band. In his home studio you can record hit-singles in German Schlager-style if you want to, or songsand collages in The Absurd-style. Not sure about the hit-singles there. On September 27th, 1998, The Absurd are a small big band. At some points the mood of the evening is decidedly unenjoyable - some interesting music gets played by all because and or in spite of it.
 
play sound
10.12.2002
The Absurd
Bo In Space
25/11/93
Josef's, Düren
Josef Kirschgen - dr, YoYo Röhm - b, Martin Ziegler - keyb, Michael Frank - g, Joe Hartmuth - sax, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Hugh Tetley - voc
 
play sound
11.12.2002
The Absurd
Bo In Space
10/01
Rehearsal Room, Cologne
Hans Salz - dr, Göttin Gala - perc, Michael Frank - g, Gernot Bogumil - tr
 
play sound
12.12.2002
The Absurd
Bo In Space
31/12/92
ABS, Cologne
Hans Salz - dr, Martin Eichler - b, Michael Frank - g, Doris Lechner - sax, Gernot Bogumil - tr
 
play sound
13.12.2002
The Absurd
Bo In Space
2/6/01
Rhenania, Cologne
Josef Kirschgen - dr, YoYo Röhm - b, Martin Ziegler - keyb, Michael Frank - g, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Bodo Turowski - voc
 
play sound
14.12.2002
The Absurd
Bo In Space
11/9/98
Grossmarkt, Cologne
Josef Kirschgen - dr, Guido Hafner - b, Bernd Hilgert - g, Michael Frank - g
 
play sound
15.12.2002
The Absurd
Bo In Space
18/12/93
Jugendzentrum Paasweg, Bergisch Gladbach
Josef Kirschgen - dr, YoYo Röhm - b, Michael Frank - g, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Hugh Tetley - voc
 
play sound
16.12.2002
The Absurd
Bo In Space
24/9/94
unknown hall, Düren
Josef Kirschgen - dr, YoYo Röhm - b, Martin Ziegler - keyb, Michael Frank - g, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Hugh Tetley - voc
 
play sound
17.12.2002
The Absurd
Bo In Space
25/9/98
Großmarkt, Cologne
Josef Kirschgen - dr, Guido Hafner - b, Bernd Hilgert - g, Steve Bohn - pedal steel, Michael Frank - g
 
play sound
18.12.2002
The Absurd
Bo In Space
12/6/93
unknown hall, Gelsenkirchen
Christoph Kratz - dr, YoYo Röhm - b, Martin Ziegler - keyb, Michael Frank - g, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Hugh Tetley - voc
 
play sound
19.12.2002
The Absurd
Bo In Space
3/5/91
Rhenania, Cologne
Michael Hausmann - dr, YoYo Röhm - b, Martin Ziegler - keyb, Michael Frank - g, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Bodo Turowski - voc
 
play sound
20.12.2002
The Absurd
Bo In Space
18/7/91
Rhenania, Cologne
Kersten Ginsberg - dr, Hans Salz - dr, YoYo Röhm - b, Michael Frank - g, Gernot Bogumil - tr
 
play sound
21.12.2002
Kozmik Zirkus
Bo In Space
29/2/92
New Moon, Paris
Christoph Kratz - dr, YoYo Röhm - b, Michael Frank - g, Nils Schumacher - voc
 
play sound
22.12.2002
The Absurd
Bo In Space
15/5/02
MTC, Cologne
Josef Kirschgen - dr, Steve Bohn - pedal steel, Martin Ziegler - keyb, Michael Frank - g, Gernot Bogumil - tr
 
play sound
23.12.2002
The Absurd
Bo In Space
20/9/91
Stadtgarten, Cologne
YoYo Röhm - b, Michael Frank - g, Martin Ziegler - keyb, Florian Schneider - sax, Gernot Bogumil - tr
 
play sound
24.12.2002
The Absurd
Bo In Space
22/10/93
Bel Air, Cologne
Christoph Kratz - dr, YoYo Röhm - b, Martin Ziegler - keyb, Michael Frank - g, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Hugh Tetley - voc, Günfer Colgecen - voc, Nilüfer Colgecen - voc
 
play sound
24.12.2002
The Absurd
Bo In Space
6+7/12/02
Studio "Rausch", Cologne
Josef Kirschgen - dr, Hans Salz - dr, Witn Vito - b, YoYo Röhm - b, Michael Hausmann - dr, Martin Ziegler - keyb, Michael Frank - g, Michael Peters - g, Gernot Bogumil - tr, Kim Jovy - reeds, Vera Zielke - voc, Göttin Gala - voc
 
play sound
01.12.2003
Matthias Ebbinghaus
untitled

Matthias Ebbinghaus
 
play sound
02.12.2003
Harald "Sack" Ziegler
abendsonne

Harald "Sack" Ziegler wie kam es zu dem titel abendsonne? absurd - absondern - abendsonde - abendsonne!
 
play sound
03.12.2003
Josef Krischgen
untitled

Josef Krischgen
 
play sound
04.12.2003
Schäng Pfui
Howi Powi

Guido Erfen "Kraut" ist nicht etwa Kraut-Rock, sondern es beschreibt einafach alles von Schallplatte was deutsch ist. "Kraut" ist eine Melange aus Karnevalsplatten, Schlagern, Kraut-Rock und Easy-Listening, die von Schäng Pfui (aka Guido Erfen) mit ollen Mono-Sämplern und Atari angerürt wurde. Der vorliegende Titel (1994) etwa vereinigt Howard Carpendale, die Rattles, Amon Düül, Sue Kramer und andere mehr. "Kraut" begann 1993 als karnevalistisches Projekt von Mätes B. und Schäng Pfui. Von der karnevalistischen Seite der beiden ist mehr auf der herrlichen Kollektion "Ajujatronik! Elf jecke Jahre Elektronik!" zu hören. Die Cassette "Kraut für Alle" erschien 1995 in einer Auflage von hundert Stück.
 
play sound
05.12.2003
ZDF
improvisation
03/1989
Studio, London
martin ziegler (p), fembo fembach (perc) Die musikalische Konsequenz aus einer intensiven Zeit (1986 - 1990). Langjähriges gemeinsames Leben und Arbeiten ermöglichte dieses Duo. An dieser Stelle einen zünftigen Gruß nach Grodno.
 
play sound
06.12.2003
Michael Peters
untitled

Michael Peters - g, Walter Brühn - b, Danny Kreuz - dr
 
play sound
07.12.2003
National Disaster
fuenfzehn sekunden

 
play sound
08.12.2003
Michael Hausmann
More Miles Per Hour Variations
1998
Michael Hausmann - p
 
play sound
09.12.2003
Gernot Bogumil
Whatever comes pt.3

Gernot Bogumil - tr, b, dr
 
play sound
10.12.2003
mitassda
untitled

Michael Frank - g, Tassilo Frank - b, Daniel Kreutz - dr
 
play sound
11.12.2003
GeeNerve
Carry Me From

Guido Erfen
 
play sound
01.12.2007
The Absurd
Positive Thinking
06/02/07
Cologne
Göttin Gala (dr), Norbert Zajac (voc), Martin Ziegler (acc), Gernot Bogumil (b), Michael Frank (g, voc)
 
play sound
02.12.2007
Yoyo Röhm
In a melancholy mood
2007
Berlin
Yoyo Röhm
 
play sound
02.12.2007
Yoyo Röhm
Thrill is gone (written by Darnell/Hawkins 1951)
1995
Gelsenkirchen
Yoyo Röhm
 
play sound
03.12.2007
Göttin Gala
Die Liebe
1992
Berlin
Göttin Gala (dr, voc)
 
play sound
04.12.2007
Michael Hausmann
untitled
27/09/07
Cologne
Michael Hausmann
 
play sound
05.12.2007
Michael Frank
Positive Thinking
2006
Cologne
Michael Frank (g, dr, voc).
 
play sound
06.12.2007
Matthias Ebbinghaus
Car Wash
2003
Cologne
Matthias Ebbinghaus sounds inside a car wash facility digitally modified and reassembled (2003), photo by Ulrich Fengel
 
play sound
07.12.2007
Michael Peters
cut-up radio #19
2003
Michael Peters All of this music was improvised live, using a radio as its only sound source. Using digital looping devices, the radio stream - short wave noise, talking, classical or pop music, whatever happened to come along - was cut up in real time and immediately rearranged into rhythmic patterns, clouds of sound particles, or phaseshifting repetitions.
 
play sound
08.12.2007
Martin Ziegler
untitled
19/12/06
at home, Cologne
Martin Ziegler - p
 
play sound
09.12.2007
Gernot Bogumil
Medley

Gernot Bogumil (tr, keyb, voc)
 
play sound
10.12.2007
Michael Frank
I Know What You've Been Doing #1
2005
Cologne
Michael Frank (g, dr, voc)
 
play sound
10.12.2007
The Absurd
I Know What You've Been Doing #2
06/02/07
Cologne
Göttin Gala (perc, voc), Norbert Zajac (voc), Martin Ziegler (acc), Gernot Bogumil (b), Michael Frank (g)
 
play sound
11.12.2007
The Absurd
We Fight Another War (For No Other Reason)
2007
Cologne
Göttin Gala (perc, voc), NorbertZajac (voc), Martin Ziegler (p), Chrsitain Schaal (b), Martin Zierold (tb), Michael Frank (g, voc), Michael Peters (g), Matthias Ebbinghaus (voc), Vera Zielke (voc)
 
play sound
12.12.2007
The Absurd
Beautiful Day
12/06
Blue Shell, Cologne
Max Höfler (voc, g) / Michael Frank (g)
 
play sound
13.12.2007
Vera P. Zielke
untitled
13/12/07
Wundertüte, Cologne
Vera P. Zielke
 
play sound
14.12.2007
Michael Frank
Großer Bruder (M. Eichler)
13/12/07
Wundertüte, Cologne
Michael Frank - gr, voc
 
play sound
15.12.2007
Martin Zierold
Home (T.S. Eliot / M.Zierold)
13/12/07
Wundertüte, Cologne
Martin Zierold - voc
 
play sound
16.12.2007
Göttin Gala
Du Hengst (Göttin Gala)
13/12/07
Wundertüte, Cologne
Göttin Gala - dr, voc
 
play sound
17.12.2007
Norbert Zaja
untitled
13/12/07
Wundertüte, Cologne
Norbert Zaja - voc
 
play sound
18.12.2007
Josef Kirschgen
untitled
13/12/07
Wundertüte, Cologne
Josef Kirschgen - dr
 
play sound
19.12.2007
Matthias Ebbinghaus
untitled
13/12/07
Wundertüte, Cologne
Matthias Ebbinghaus - voc
 
play sound
20.12.2007
Michael Peters
untitled
13/12/07
Wundertüte, Cologne
Michael Peters (g)
 
play sound
21.12.2007
Martin Ziegler
I Remember Clifford (Benny Golson)
13/12/07
Wundertüte, Cologne
Martin Ziegler - acc
 
play sound
22.12.2007
Matthias Ebbinghaus, Norbert Zaja
untitled
13/12/07
Wundertüte, Cologne
Matthias Ebbinghaus (voc), Norbert Zaja (voc)
 
play sound
23.12.2007
The Absurd
Other Lives (M. Frank)
13/12/07
Wundertüte, Cologne
Göttin Gala (dr), Christian Schaal (b), Martin Ziegler (p), Michael Peters (g), Michael Frank (g, voc)
 
play sound
24.12.2007
The Absurd
Welcome (M. Frank)
13/12/07
Wundertüte, Cologne
Göttin Gala (dr, voc), Christian Schaal (b), Martin Ziegler (p), Michael Peters (g), Michael Frank (g, voc), Vera P. Zielke (voc), Norbert Zajac (voc), Matthias Ebbinghaus (voc), Martin Zierold (trb) Thanks to Marcus Jovy for video, merry christmas and happy new new year
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