Music:
Member Since: 12/13/2006
Band Website: pinkcream69.com
Band Members: David Readman Vocals
www.davidreadman.comDennis Ward Basshttp://www.dennis-ward.comKosta Zafiriou Drums
UWE REITENAUER Guitar
Alfred Koffler Guitar
Influences:
The essential substance of a rock band begins to materialise only over a number of years. The frequently quoted ..test of time.. indicates whether a group is capable of regularly producing great albums over an extended period of time and surviving also the difficult phases. Pink Cream 69 from Karlsruhe have supplied plenty of evidence to this effect, presenting a striking contrast to today..s media landscape with its tons of talent-free one-hit wonders. Generally the product of castings held by resourceful business people, these acts are groomed for chart compatibility, supported by million-dollar PR campaigns, only to drop out of sight again soon afterwards. The lyrics on Pink Cream 69..s new album, Thunderdome, take a critical look at this practice which increasingly obscures the real characteristics of good music, documenting their own strengths in contrast: identity instead of image, skill instead of commercial considerations, hand-made rock music instead of rehearsed dance routines. In other words, pure PC 69 and real music instead of fakes! There..s a good reason why it has taken the four musicians, David Readman (vocals), Alfred Koffler (guitars), Dennis Ward (bass), and Kosta Zafiriou (drums), over two years to complete Thunderdome .. namely guitarist Alfred Koffler..s persistent hand condition. Diagnosed with Focal Dystonia, he contributed his share to the new album under aggravating circumstances. That he performed more brilliantly than ever, refining the new material with a whole range of gritty riffs, virtuoso solos and interesting sonic trimmings, deserves the unconditional respect of his audience. Moreover, Thunderdome documents that Pink Cream 69 have three brilliant songwriters in Readman, Ward, and Koffler, also being marked by their exceptionally good instrumentalists and easily living up to international standards with the sum of the four individual members. It..s no exaggeration to talk of the most mature and diverse PC 69 album to date. And best of all: Thunderdome in all this diversity remains a typical Pink Cream opus.Be it the anthemnic title track, haunting numbers like ..Gods Come Together.., ..That Was Yesterday.., or ..Carnaby Road.. .. the band..s unmistakable strengths never fail to impress their audience. Pink Cream succeeds in producing their familiar mix of gritty hooks, versatile arrangements and David Readman..s world-class voice. This recipe not only works on powerful rock songs but also on the intricate acoustic number ..Carved In Stone.. or the Knack cover ..My Sharona.., where the band stick close to the original while leaving their mark on the track. The expressive lyrics on ..Thunderdome.., ..As Deep As I Am.., and ..Another Wrong Makes Right.. highlight the dubious machinations of the pop industry that Pink Cream 69 stand up against with justified self-confidence in ..Here I Am.., leaving no doubt with ..Retro Lullaby.. that they..re continuing to do their own thing!Like its successful predecessors, Electrified (1998), Sonic Dynamite (2000), and Endangered (2001), Thunderdome was produced by bassist Dennis Ward at the House of Audio studios in Karlsdorf. So far so familiar, which also applies to the new edition of their successful German tour with Axxis in 2000, to be repeated in March 2004, followed by a foray into the rest of Europe. Pink Cream 69, coincidentally, are about to present themselves as a quintet: guitarist Uwe Reitenauer has been part of the band..s constant live line-up for a few months already to relieve the strain on Alfred Koffler. With Thunderdome, a new recording contract with SPV and their tried and tested qualities as a great live band, Pink Cream 69 has a number of aces up their sleeves for the concert season 2004.1987 The first Pink Cream 69 line-up consists of Alfred Koffler (guitar), Kosta Zafiriou (drums), Dennis Ward (bass) and Andi Deris (vocals).
1988 PC 69 wins the Metal Hammer talent competition at the Rockfabrik in Ludwigsburg and receives a number of offers from German major companies, signing with CBS (these days Sony Music).
1989 Their eponymous debut album causes a stir on the international music scene; Pink Cream 69 embarks on a tour with White Lion in October.
1990 The highlight of an eventful year is Pink Cream 69..s appearance at the New Music Seminar in New York, documenting the group..s international status.
1991 ONE SIZE FITS ALL comes out in Europe and Japan, followed by a headliner tour with Little Angels. Their 49/8 EP, consisting of live tracks and bonus material, provides the appropriate setting for their successful Asian tour.
1992 Pink Cream 69 play five sold-out shows in Japan, recording their SIZE IT UP! LIVE IN JAPAN video in the process. A three-month triumphal march through 14 countries as opening act for Europe follows.
1993 GAMES PEOPLE PLAY is their third regular studio release, supported by an extensive tour of Germany in November.
1994 Vocalist Andi Deris leaves to join Helloween. Pink Cream 69 enlist British-born David Readman to replace him and record their fourth release, CHANGE, in Los Angeles. The album is marked by a more contemporary and open style.
1995 Pink Cream 69 play a co-headlining tour with Thunderhead and move on to a new record company after six years with Sony Music.
1997 Their fifth studio album, FOOD FOR THOUGHT, arrives in spring, followed by another successful tour of Germany, during which the band..s first live album is recorded.
1998 Mit ELECTRIFIED veröffentlichen Pink Cream eines ihrer stärksten Werke, gefolgt von einer erfolgreichen Tour mit Bruce Dickinson und einem sensationellen Auftritt beim ´Bang Your Head`- Festival im Sommer 1999.
1999 ELECTRIFIED is one of Pink Cream..s strongest releases to date; summer 1999 sees a successful tour with Bruce Dickinson and a sensational appearance at the Bang Your Head festival. 1999 Following their active involvement in his solo album, the band tour Japan together with ex-Royal Hunt vocalist D.C. Cooper. PC 69 make a brief detour to South America and play cameo roles in a TV feature.
2000 Pink Cream..s seventh studio recording, SONIC DYNAMITE, sees the light of day in February, followed by a tour with Axxis during the first leg of their celebrated German tour. Autumn sees the continuation of the tour and the arrival of the MIXERY EP, consisting of rare studio and live versions, as well as a number of bootlegs.
2001 The band return with ENDANGERED, but are unable to perform live due to Alfred Koffler..s hand condition. Koffler..s offer to have the band tour with another guitarist is refused unanimously.
2003 Pink Cream 69 play as a quintet for the first time, reinforced by Uwe Reitenauer to relieve Alfred. His baptism of fire is the Bang Your Head festival, playing in front of thousands of fans.
2004 The new album, THUNDERDOME, is out, and the sequel to their co-headlining tour with Axxis has been scheduled for March.
2007 ready to rock again...
Sounds Like:
Record Label: signed
Type of Label: Major
