Blackmail (Band)

Blackmail is a German indie band that was founded in 1994 in Koblenz. The current lineup consists of vocalist Mathias Reetz, guitarist Kurt Ebelhäuser, bassist Carlos Ebelhäuser and drummer Mario Matthias.

History

Although the band originally had prospects for a major record deal with Virgin Records, she signed her first recording contract with bluNoise Records. The self-titled debut album was recorded in 1996 but not published until the fall of 1997. The follow-up album Science Fiction, which had influences from 1980s pop music was recorded in the summer of 1998 and released in February of next year. This was followed by appearances at Rock am Ring and at the Bizarre Festival as well as the opening act of the Manic Street Preachers. With Do Robots Dream of Electric Sheep? appeared in following a remix album to science fiction, whose title to the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? alludes by Philip K. Dick. Finally, the group signed a record deal with Speicherstadt, a sub-label of Warner Music Group, where them artistic freedom was assured.

In summer 2000, shooting began for the third album Bliss, Please, which was published in February 2001. The first single Same Sane reached by band information heavy rotation on VIVA Two. The album was later performed by the German edition of Rolling Stone magazine ranked 421 of the 500 best albums of all time.

The end of 2001 Blackmail switched to the parent label WEA Records, as Speicherstadt should be closed. A year later, the EP The Light of the Son Is the Son of the Light, as a play of the same title song served to a John Sinclair radio drama appeared.

Mid-2002 began recording the next album Friend or Foe? , Which lasted until February 2003. Two years later, the album Visions of the editorial team at number 140 was chosen " 150 plates for eternity ."

The EP in 2003 following Foe celebrated in Japan a great success, so the band decided to go there on tour. After Blackmail had returned from Japan, they were offered to work on the soundtrack to the German movie ventricular fibrillation, which they did with Lee Buddah and director Hendrik Hölzemann.

The recordings for the album Aerial View began in April 2005, and the album was released on 13 January 2006. For the first time the band moved that normally self-produced their albums, with Andi Jung added an external producer.

On 28 March 2008 the album Tempo, Tempo, which was again produced by Kurt Ebelhäuser themselves in their own studio studio 45 appeared. About the exclusively during the following tour concerts available The Mad Luv EP followed by three previously unreleased songs, including with Mad World, a cover version of Tears for Fears and an alternative version of The Good Part, with the participation of gypsy jazz and flamenco guitarist Lulo Reinhardt.

Shortly before the end of the concert series Blackmail was on 11 December 2008 that the band has broken down by internal disputes of Aydo Abay. The remaining members wish to continue after a break under the same name, according to his own statement, the current tour, however, was canceled.

In February 2010, Mathias Reetz rose as the new singer in the band. Kurt Ebelhäuser had discovered him and convinced the remaining band members thereof, to commit him as the new front man. On April 29, 2011 the first album with Reetz, Anima Now! , Including the pre-release single Deborah. Another single from the album, Night School was disengaged.

The next Blackmail album II was released on 22 February 2013. The first single The Rush was released to the Berlin artist Jörg Steineck an animated video clip produced. Just two months earlier, the band released the song as a free download Impact on the internet.

In addition to Blackmail the members of the band are also involved in other groups such as KEN or Scumbucket.

Discography

• Blackmail ( bluNoise, 1997)
• Science Fiction ( bluNoise, 1999)
• Do Robots Dream of Electric Sheep? (Remix album, Nois -O- Lution, 2000)
• Bliss, Please ( Speicherstadt / Warner, 2001)
• The Light of the Son Is the Son of the Light ( EP, WEA, 2002)
• It Could Be Yours (EP, WEA, 2003)
• Friend or Foe? (WEA, 2003)
• Foe (EP, WEA, 2003)
• Ventricular fibrillation (OST ) ( with Lee Buddah, Rough Trade, 2005)
• The Ventricular (only available in Japan, Imperial Records, 2005)
• Aerial View ( City Slang / Rough Trade, 2006)
• Tempo Tempo ( City Slang / Universal, 2008)
• The Mad Luv EP (EP, available only on tour, 2008)
• Anima Now! (45 Records / Soulfood, 2011)
• II (45 Records / sub sheep / Alive, 2013)