About Me
The Timeline1989 THE NOTWIST is formed and have, with the exception of one addition in 1997, had the same line-up to this very day: Markus Acher (Guitar, Vocals), Michael Acher (Bass), and Mecki Messerschmidt (Drums).1990 The first album 'Notwist' is released on SUBWAY/ROUGH TRADE.1990/1991 Various touring activities with CALHOUN CONQUER in Switzerland and Germany, as well as playing shows with JESUS LIZARD, BAD RELIGION, VERBAL ASSAULT, VICTIM'S FAMILY, and SPERMBIRDS.1992 June: The second album 'Nook' is released on BIG STORE/EFA. THE NOTWIST play six shows with FUGAZI. 7' single 'No Love' is released on KOLLAPS.1993 February: German tour with THERAPY. March/April: THE NOTWIST tour England, Holland, Austria, and Germany. Summer: THE NOTWIST appear at larger festivals, playing with bands such as ABWÄRTS, SPERMBIRDS, BAD RELIGION, BLUMFELD, and NEUROSIS. September: THE NOTWIST tour the Netherlands with the WIPERS, and also appear at the Metropolis Festival. At the end of the year, the EP/CD5 'Johnny and Mary' is released on RAFFMOND/COMMUNITY/IRS. On this 4-track release, THE NOTWIST and related bands cover Robert Palmer's classic hit. Further tracks by THE NOTWIST are released on various compilation CDs.1994 January: Markus composes the musical score for the movie 'Run' (3 short stories); VILLAGE OF SAVOONGA score the soundtrack to the short film 'Phillip Schatz' (1st Prize at the Medienzentrum München [Media Center, Munich] film-festival). A quick tour through five cities follows. February: A TV documentary by the Bayerischer Rundfunk covering the Landesjugend-jazzorchester [State Youth Jazz Orchestra] in which Michael has been a trumpet player since 1992. The coverage includes a feature on Michael, as well as concert footage of THE NOTWIST-aired in the fall of 1994. Michael and Markus score the music for the movie 'Das Gesetz des Archimedes' [The Law of Archimedes] (1st Prize at the short-film competition of North Rhine-Westphalia). April: For the 3-day film festival 'Flimmern und Rauschen' [Flicker and Hiss], Michael and Markus, along with VILLAGE OF SAVOONGA, compose a score for the silent movie-classic 'Nosferatu' (1920), which they also perform live, concurrent with the movie. YOUR CHOICE/SEMAPHORE releases a live album by THE NOTWIST. May: Recording of the Acher's father's Dixieland band NEW ORLEANS DIXIE STOMPERS (Michael and Markus). August: THE NOTWIST are headlining Visions magazine's numerous concerts. A new track, 'My Faults,' appears on Howl magazine's sampler. September: THE NOTWIST, along with SPERMBIRDS, play France and Holland.1995 January: Two live-recordings of 'Nook' are donated to a benefit- sampler named 'No Pasärang' of which proceeds are used to fund a new anti-fascist counter-press. March: Markus Acher scores the soundtrack for the short-movie 'Tschanz's Last Stand.' Markus' solo project RAYON is released on a double-7'. May: THE NOTWIST release their third album '12' (2x LP/CD) ON BIG STORE/COMMUNITY/INTERCORD. A four-month European tour follows.1996 January: THE NOTWIST tour the Netherlands for five days, including an appearance with TOCOTRONIC in Nijmegen. February: ZERO HOUR/MCA license '12' for the North American market. THE NOTWIST make their U.S. debut in New York City. September/October: THE NOTWIST play two shows at the Foundations Conference in Los Angeles, as well as additional gigs across the U.S., including Chicago, Boston, and at Tramps in NYC. During the tour, Critter (whose producing credits include Ministry) involves himself in remixing some of THE NOTWIST's tracks, at Chicago's famous Trax Studio.1997 Martin Gretschmann joins THE NOTWIST. March: Martin, a.k.a. CONSOLE, releases his first solo album 'pan or ama' on PAYOLA. March: THE NOTWIST begin recording new tracks for the next album at Uphon Studio, in Weilheim, Germany, with the engineering-duo GALORE (Mario Thaler and O.L.A.F. Opal). April: '12' is released in the USA (ZERO HOUR) and in Great Britain (CARGO). Michael's band, OGONJOK, swan-song 10' is released. May: 'Day 7' (12') is released by BIG STORE/ COMMUNITY/IRS. A 5-day tour follows. In Cologne an additional date has to be added due to massive demand. June: PAYOLA releases 's/t' the debut album from the TIED & TICKLED TRIO. T&TT is a collaboration of the Acher brothers, musicians from OGONJOK, the SLUM LORDS, and internationally renowned jazz-great Johannes Enders November: THE NOTWIST return to the U.S. for a three week tour, including Boston, Chicago, and two dates in New York. December: THE NOTWIST put the finishing touches on their new album.1998 March: The single 'Chemicals' is released on BIG STORE/COMMUNITY/VIRGIN. May: the new album 'Shrink' is released on BIG STORE/COMMUNITY/VIRGIN. August: New album 'Rocket in the Pocket' by CONSOLE is released. September: 'Shrink' is released in UK by Duophonic, the label of Stereolabs's Tim Gane. In US the album is released by Zero Hour an in France by Aliénor Reords. December: The Notwist go on tour with CORNELIUS in the USA.1999 The Notwist compose 6 tracks for the movie 'Absolute Giganten' from Sebastian Schipper (Xfilme). This movie won the 'Silver German Movie Award' in June 2000. A three-month european tour follows. The band support Stereolab in the UK. Console produces 3 radio-plays together with Andreas Ammer. Two of them are released on their own label 'Code'. Tied&Tickled Trio records their second album and tour through Germany. Lali Puna (Kaspar Brandner, Valerie Trebeljahr, Florian Zimmer, Markus Acher) record their first album and release it to international underground acclaim on Morr Music.2000 June: An early version of the song 'Off the rails' is placed in the successful German movie 'Crazy' by Hans-Christian Schmid The Notwist are well into the sessions for their next album, again with producer team Galore at the controls. September: Lali Puna release a collaboration with Bomb The Bass' brain Tim Simenon. November: Talks start with various labels about The Notwist's new album, which is far from finished. Interested parties include V2, Mute, City Slang, Matador, PIAS and Zomba.2001 April: The new album 'Neon Golden' is finally mastered at Abbey Road studios. A deal is inked with City Slang. May: Console plays a celebrated show at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, France. June: A new Lali Puna album, 'Scary World Theory' is recorded. August: A limited edition 12' vinyl only of 'Trashing Days' is released. The first new Notwist music since Shrink. October: Lali Puna's album is released. Console releases a CD: Live at the Centre Pompidou. November: 'Pilot', the first 'real' single from Neon Golden is released through City Slang via Labels. Lali Puna and Console tour Europe.2002 January : Neon Golden is finally released. The world is listening.
