Birth Control (band)

Birth Control
Origin Berlin, Germany
Genres Krautrock, hard rock, progressive rock
Years active 1966–1984, 1993–2014, 2016–present
Labels Ohr, Brain
Website Official website
Members
  • Peter Föller(vocals)
  • Martin Ettrich (guitar, talkbox)
  • Sascha Kühn (keyboards)
  • Hannes Vesper (bass)
  • Manni von Bohr (drums)
Past members See "Members"

Birth Control is a German rock band known for their progressive hard rock sound and provocative album covers (such as that of Two Eggs – Two Concerts which depicts a hen cooking eggs).

History

Birth Control formed in 1966 in Berlin from two other bands, the Earls and the Gents. The band was founded with a lineup consisting of Bernd Koschmidder (bass), Reinhold Sobotta (organ), Rolf Gurra (saxophone, vocals), Fritz Groger (vocals), Reiner Borchert (guitar), Hugo Egon Balder (drums), and Klaus Orso (guitar). Within five years of the band's formation all seven of the original members had departed, but the band continued under the leadership of long-standing members drummer (and later lead vocalist) Bernd Noske (who replaced Balder in late 1968) and guitarist Bruno Frenzel (who replaced Borchert in 1969).

Following the death of Frenzel in 1983, the group disbanded, but reunited in 1993 with only Noske remaining from the previous lineup. Other members of the reformed band included returning bassist/vocalist Horst Stachelhaus, as well as guitarist Rocco Zodiak and keyboardist Xaver Fischer.

Despite the death of mainstay Stachelhaus in 1999, the band continued under Noske's guidance, touring Germany and release new albums periodically following the turn of the century. In later years, former members Peter Föller (bass, vocals) and Zeus B. Held (keyboards) both returned to the fold as guest musicians at occasional concerts. The band came to an end on February 18, 2014 with the death of Noske.[1] The final lineup of the band consisted of Noske, bassist Hannes Vesper, keyboardist Sascha Kuhn, and guitarist Martin Ettrich.

From 2016 on the band coninued performing. The new lineup is: Peter Föller(vocals), Martin Ettrich (guitar, talkbox), Sascha Kühn (keyboards), Hannes Vesper (bass) and Manni von Bohr (drums). In the same year th new album "Here and now" has been released, with Bernd Noske on vocals and drums. Since 2018 it is also available as double vinyl.

Members

  • Bernd Koschmidder – bass, vocals (1968–1973)
  • Reinhold Sobotta – organ (1968–1972)
  • Rolf Gurra – saxophone, vocals (1968–1969)
  • Fritz Groger – vocals (1968–1969)
  • Reiner Borchert – guitar (1968–1969)
  • Hugo Egon Balder – drums (1968)
  • Klaus Orso – guitar (1968)
  • Gerd Alsheimer – guitar (1968)
  • Bernd Noske – drums, percussion, vocals (1968–1983, 1993–2014; died 2014)
  • Bruno Frenzel – guitar (1969–1983; died 1983)
  • Wolfgang Neuser – organ (1972–1973; died 2018)
  • Peter Föller – bass, vocals (1973–1977, 2016-present)
  • Zeus B. Held – organ (1973–1979)
  • Dirk Steffens – guitar (1973–1974)
  • Horst Stachelhaus – bass, vocals (1977–1980, 1993–1999; died 1999)
  • Manfred von Bohr – drums (1977–1980, 2016-present)
  • Wolfgang Horn – organ (1979–1981)
  • Jurgen Goldschmidt – bass, vocals (1980–1993)
  • Stefan Linke – guitar, vocals (1981–1983)
  • Ulrich Klein – keyboards, vocals (1981–1983)
  • Xaver Fischer – keyboards (1993–1999)
  • Rocco Zodiak – guitar (1993–1995)
  • Peter Engelhardt – guitar (1995–2011)
  • Hannes Vesper – bass, organ (1999–2000, 2002–present)
  • Sascha Kuhn – keyboards (1999–present)
  • Rainer Wind – bass (2000–2002)
  • Martin Ettrich – guitar, talk box (2011–present)

Discography

  • Birth Control (1970)
  • Operation (1971)
  • Believe in the Pill (Best of …) (1972)
  • Hoodoo Man (1972)
  • Knock Knock. Who’s There (1973)
  • Rebirth (1973)
  • Goldrock (1973)
  • Live (1974)
  • Plastic People (1975)
  • Backdoor Possibilities (1976)
  • Live (1977)
  • The Best Of (1977)
  • Increase (1977)
  • The Best Of (Vol. 2) (1978)
  • Titanic (1978)
  • Rock on Brain (1978)
  • Live 79 (1979)
  • Count on Dracula (1980)
  • Deal Done at Night (1981)
  • Bäng (1982)
  • Gamma Ray (Special Mix) (1989)
  • The Very Best Of (1990)
  • Condomium (1994)
  • Two Worlds (1995)
  • Jungle Life (1996)
  • Definitive Collection (1996)
  • Getting There (1998)
  • Crazy Nights (Studio Session) (1998)
  • Live Abortion (2000)
  • Live in Lachendorf (2000)
  • Alsatian (2003)
  • Live in Fulda (2004)
  • 35th Anniversary – Live at Rockpalast (2005)
  • We are Family (2009)
  • Here and Now (2016)

References

  1. ↑ "BIRTH CONTROL - the legend lives on | offizielle Homepage". Birth-control.de. 1946-08-17. Retrieved 2014-02-19.
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