Iskander biography
The band's prehistory began around 1973, when three youngsters (Peter Tassius on piano, Gabi Stolz on organ and Klaus Jürgen Knüppel on guitar)decide to make their own band. In 1974 the drummer Hajo Kann joined the band and they named themselves ISKANDER. The musical structure became more clear, and the bandmembers expanded their equipment: Stolz started playing flute, Tassius Fender Rhodes and Knüppel widened his approach with bass and ARP Synthesizer.
At this stage the band started doing their first live gigs.
In the beginning of 1977 the band became a quartet after Ulrich Mennenöh joined in in a role of a bass player, occasionally playing keyboards and guitars as well. The music is now mostly shaped of long improvisations on all instruments, as well as complex composed rhythms, harmonies and melodies.
In 1978 Peter Tassius withdraws from the band, being replaced by Michael Pichmann; while the musical direction got redefined again: elements of jazz, rock, classical, electronics; blending them into their own unique type of fusion. In the period 1978-1981 they were collaborating with Kassel ballet group and with the folk artist Roland Berens.
In 1981 Martin Firnis (guitar) replaced Gabi Stolz. The band did a "Boheme 2000" jazz-ballet project with this line-up (more precisely, music and libretto). In 1984 the singer Bernd Weißbach joined the quartet. The drummer Hajo started writing lyrics with philosophical or political depth.
The album "Mental Touch" appeared in 1987, described as masterpiece by some progrock critics. In 1988 Weißbach had left the band. The singing roles were managed by Klaus and Michael (and Hajo and Ulrich in the choir too) for the 1989 LP "Another Life". Bernd and Gabi particapated as guests. The songs became shorter, with more carefully crafted structure and more dense, but remaining in characteristical ISKANDER's style.
Rainer Weber joined the band in 1990, playing keyboards and percussion, and gradually taking a role of a singer. In 1990 onwards the band did a numerous tourings, stepping into poppier territories, and there are also plans for new musical projects.
Tracks:
All songs written and arranged by Iskander.
01. Winterhagen 1-4 - 00:00
02. Gleitflug - 18:12
03. Draussen 25:37
04. Eltneg Tnaig - 35:45
05. Dollarhut - 37:47
Personnel:
- Martin Firniss - electric & acoustic guitar
- Michael Pichmann - electric guitar, vocals
- Klaus-Jürgen Knüppel - keyboards, synthesizers, flute, acoustic guitar, vocals
- Ulrich Mennenöh - bass, synthesizers
- Hajo Kann - drums
