Dance or Die (band)

Dance or Die
Also known as Do or Die North America
Origin Berlin, Germany
Genres Electronic, dark wave
Years active 1988–present
Labels Machinery, Polydor, Synthetic Symphony
Website MySpace
Members Andreas Goldacker
Gary Wagner
Falgalas
Chris L.
Past members Norri

Dance or Die is a German electronic band, formed in 1988 by Andreas Goldacker and Gary Wagner in Berlin. Falgalas (born Heiko Duus) joined the band in 1993, first for live touring, later as full member. Chris L. (born Christian Lorenz) joined in 1998, so far only for live performances. As of January 2018, three band members (Wagner, Falgalas and Chris L.) have teamed up to start a new band called Darkness on Demand, maintaining the DoD acronym and musical style.

History

Their first, eponymously titled, mini album was the initial release of Berlin-based label Machinery Records. Its title track became one of the most frequently played titles in Central and Northern Europe.[1] As summarized by Zillo, "in the 1990s [Dance or Die] formed the link between Gothic [rock] and Electro, and were a pioneer at that".[2] They continued their collaboration with Jor until the label's demise.[3]

In 1997 they signed with Polydor, but after one album (Dehumanizer) that partnership ended - clearly the dark electronic sound didn't fit in with Polydor's dance-label What's Up?!. On Dehumanizer the band was briefly joined by Norri as drummer.

2001 they released their album Schlafende Energie on Synthetic Symphony in Germany. It was licensed to Energy Rekords in Sweden and Soyuz Music in Russia.[4]

After ten years, in 2011, they released their album Nostradamnation on Out of Line in Europe and Metropolis Records in North America.[5]

In December 2014, Wagner released an album with a new project named "Ruhestätte Schwarz".[6]

Music

In 2015, Dance or Die were still described as a "well-known Berlin cult Electro [band]" by music magazine Sonic Seducer.[6] Their music combines cold techno sounds with a deep voice (vocalist Gary Wagner even sings as guest on other artist's records, as on "Take Some More" by And One) and cyber-themed lyrics about life in the machine age. The albums were thus appropriately named, 3001 for the future, Psychoburbia taking psycho and burb together, while Dehumanizer seems to stand for itself. (Though it may have been named after the album of Black Sabbath, whose song "Black Sabbath" Dance or Die did cover on Psychoburbia.) Schlafende Energie (literally: sleeping energy) is a term coined by German television series Raumpatrouille and means an energy reserve.

Trivia

Dance or Die are members of a media collective called Clan of Nihil.[7] For some American versions of their records, they were renamed Do or Die by their label Machinery.[8]

Discography

Albums

EPs & Singles

Compilations

References

  1. ↑ "Dance Or Die kehren zurück" [Dance Or Die Are Coming Back]. Klangwelt (in German). April 20, 2011. Archived from the original on April 23, 2011. Retrieved December 4, 2017. … jahrelang in Mittel- und Nordeuropa einer der beliebtesten Electro-Wave Tracks.
  2. ↑ "Dance Or Die bringen die Clubs mit Endzeitprophezeiungen zum Beben" [Dance Or Die Shake the Clubs With End-time Prophecies]. Zillo Musikmagazin (in German). 2011. Archived from the original on April 24, 2015. Retrieved April 24, 2015. … [die] Dunkel-Elektroniker Dance Or Die, die in den 90ern das Bindeglied zwischen Gothic und Electro bildeten und damit Vorreiter waren.
  3. ↑ "Search Results for "artist:"dance or die" AND label:machinery"". MusicBrainz. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Dance Or Die – Schlafendeenergie". Discogs. 2001. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Dance Or Die – Nostradamnation". Discogs. 2011. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
  6. 1 2 "Ruhestätte Schwarz: Dance Or Die-Sänger Wagner auf neuen Pfaden" [Resting Place Black: Dance Or Die Singer Wagner on New Paths]. Sonic Seducer (in German). January 12, 2015. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. … [die] wohlbekannten Berliner Kult-Electros Dance Or Die…
  7. ↑ "K.D.A. & Special Guest". Urbanite.net (in German). 2017. Archived from the original on December 4, 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2017. Genau wie Dance or Die, wo Norri Schlagzeuger war, gehört K.D.A. zum Clan of Nihil.
  8. ↑ "Do Or Die". Discogs. Archived from the original on 2013-12-29. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
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