German Pop Rock: Die Anderen/Apocalypse - Kannibal Komix 1968 (2003 LongHair Music)

Kannibal Komix, also know as Die Anderen, was a band from northern Germany who's first album was released in Europe by Ariola Eurodisk in 1968 and in the USA in 1970.

The music, used for the soundtrack of a Beatles like film "The House In White", is a fun mixture of garage, pop, psychedelic and bubblegum all produced with the full pop orchestral treatment.
Several of the songs will remind you of early Bee Gees or the trippy 1968 hit "Pictures of Matchstick Men" by Status Quo.

If you can find a copy, this American release has a deluxe gate fold cover. The album has been reissued by Longhair music with, I think, the original European cover.(vinylhistory.com)

The roots of the band Die Anderen (The Others or The Differents), later to be known as Apocalypse, lie in a talent show, the so-called "Beat-Band-Ball", that took place in Kiel's Ostseehalle in 1966. This was where Jürgen Drews (lead guitar, vocals) met the members of the winning band Chimes of Freedom Bernd Scheffler (drums, vocals), Enrico Lombardi (bass, vocals) und Gerd Müller (guitar, vocals).

In his excellent book "STARPALAST und Skinny Minny" a documentary of the 60s and 70s Beat Music scene in the Kiel area author Klaus Härtel writes of the formation of this internationally famous band from northern Germany.

Jürgen Drews was born 02.04.1948 in Schleswig. When he was 14 he became a banjo player in a jazz band called Snirpels and discovered beat music through the cover band Monkeys. After the "Beat-Band-Ball" Drews successfully asked to join Chimes of Freedom as their lead guitarist. After a while their manager decided to change the band's sound and name. A German band should have a German name - this was not typical of the times. The name Die Anderen was chosen and contact with record company Ariola's in-house producer Giorgio Moroder followed. Moroder produced 2 albums and some singles for them. The band was notable for having four excellent harmonious vocalists, a keenness to play, originality coupled with a total commitment to making money. But they still had a long way to go and there were problems with differing attitudes about the essence and purpose of their music.

However, Die Anderen got the opportunity to play on "Show Chance 67", a ZDF national television show in the section "singing groups with instrumental backing". This raised the band's profile within their record company after which the company were prepared to fulfil all the band's wishes and gave them a blank cheque. Germany's top producers and arrangers were at their disposal together with the best available session musicians and the best studio - Pye Record Studio in London. It was in the Pye studio in July 1968 they started recording four singles, three of which were written by Müller and Lombardi.

With pride the four heroes returned home to Kiel from London, Drew reminisces today, and soon realised that it would be difficult to have a career if they remained as they were - different. They were heralded by creative but broke young filmmakers. They sang in a ZDF produced TV film "Zwischen Beat und Bach" (Between Beat and Bach) and in another ZDF programme they were the choir in the Wagner Opera "Meistersinger".

Their album "Kannibal Komix", released in 1968 on Ariola, was a milestone. The US film producer George Moorse, who was living in Munich at the time, got hold of a copy of the LP. Using the album as a soundtrack he produced the ghost film "Das Haus in Weiß" (The House in White). The film was as chaotic as the Beatles' "Magical Mystery Tour" and as such reflected the times.

The real kick to their career came in Hamburg's Star Club. A group of American managers travelled to Hamburg hoping to sign a German group. They had the choice of Hamburg band Wonderland with ex-Rattle Achim Reichel and a hitherto unknown musician and ex-US Army sergeant organist Les Humphries or "Die Anderen". The boys got their first US record deal. Collosus Records released the band's debut American record under the name "Apocalypse". The second album, a year later was also released in America. This album will shortly be released as a CD on Long Hair.

The band's US career was over before it could really begin. Colossus Records went bust, things were also not going according to plan. The two albums and five singles were released internationally and while there is no doubt the music was artistically valuable and excellently produced nobody wanted to buy it. On 28.12.1969 the band spilt after a final gig in their hometown Kiel. Jürgen Drews went to Rome and became a movie actor. He also recorded his first solo single before joining the Les Humphries Singers with whom he enjoyed success for 5 years. Following this he started his solo career with which he is still well received by the media.

Enrico Lombardi was born on 25.06.1945 in Piacenza near Milan and was introduced to music at an early age. His father was a music professor, his mother a singer and dancer. His mother's commitments in Germany brought Enrico to Kiel. 1966 he won a singing competition ahead of 399 other competitors. He played in several local bands until he met Bernd Scheffler and joined his band "Chimes of Freedom" later to become "Die Anderen / Apocalypse". Enrico currently works as a composer and producer in his own studio in Garstedt, north Germany. His work includes eleven singles and three LPs in addition to countless appearances solo and in bands.

Gerd Müller was born 04.08.1947 in Kiel. He played in many local bands until he met Enrico and later joined "Chimes of Freedom". As composer Gerd had a large stake in the band's sound. After the band split he released German versions of international hits such as T Rex's "Hot Love", Mungo Jerry's "In the Summertime" and ABBA's "Waterloo" as a solo artist. Gerd Müller is a freelance producer and lives in Nashville, USA.

Bernd Scheffler was born 06.05.1948 in Kiel. His musical awakening came from records by Bob Dylan, Donovan and the Byrds even calling his first band Dylan's Folk. EMI-Elektrola invited the band to Berlin for a test recording session but only Bernd had the courage to record a demo. The result was a single, musically categorised as "schlager" about which he is still annoyed. After Dylan's Folk he started Chimes of Freedom with Enrico and Gerd. This band marked the most creative phase of his musical career. Here he found an ambition for perfection combined with idealism, friendship and a joy in music, combination that he seemed to lose later on with Die Anderen. Disappointed and frustrated he was the first to leave the band. He has never sat at a drum kit or played music since. Bernd has no more ties with the music of the sixties.

Manfred Steinheuer, March 2003
Translation: Trevor Wilson  (longhairmusic.de)

Maybe the band had have could make it maybe they could not but they certainly had a bunch of good songs. Enjoy.(Frank)

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