Bix

Back in the 80s (Kiel 1981, Baltic Rebels 1981 - not a band, just a gang I used to hang around with..., Kiel Spykids 1983, Hamburg Swyngjacks 1988)
Growing up in North-German town Kiel I had the luck to pass a recordshop called "Tutti Frutti" everyday on my way to school around 1979/80. You could watch schoolboy BB spending his time (also some classes...)and money in this shop. But this was the time when you could buy "Two Tone" and later "Nervous"(UK) fresh (Rough Trade imports, try to imagine how exciting it was to ask for the new Madness or Specials), read about the bands in the musicpapers and see them rarely in the charts.
Haircuts were manifestos in those times and wearing a flattop or crop was an expression of a new style-conciousness. You can call it a selfish generation, but that..s the way our "good old times" were (have you ever seen people dancing in 80s Films ?), at least we produced a strengthened sense for visible and audible things...
After leaving school I moved to Hamburg in 1987, where I played bass in a psychobilly band called SWYNGJACKS. Lead singer and guitarist Sebastian Hartmann later build the LOONEY TUNES, one of the first and leading instrumental surf combos in Germany. Today he..s recording under the name of KAHUNA KAWENTZMANN.
In 1989 I joined BLUE CHATEAU, a ska formation also hailing from Hamburg. I played bass on a compilation track called "Nightmare" (released on "Skankin..Round The World Volume Four" on UNICORN RECORDS/UK). Most of the original members met again after a 14 year long pause in a new band named JONKANOO (click the picture for the link ).
Used to be a follower of the now legendary Mojo Club/Hamburg (also Tempelhof, Soul Kitchen and R & B) from the beginning 89 till 96. THE MONTESAS early Days 1998 - 2001
1998 I met singer and guitarist Marcel Bontempi and drummer Terry Inferno in Kassel and we together created THE MONTESAS. I remembered my childhood piano lessons and bought my first cheasy organ (I became famous for repairing them - all those FARFISAS, VERMONAS, HAMMONDS- during our concerts...special show effects, you know)After only one week in our rehearsal room we played our first gig and from then on we were on the road nearly every second weekend. We were playing the European club circuit, attracting large crowds of every tribe you can think of. After 3 years we released our first longplayer called HIPSVILLE TEEN PARTY (Click the link below for the Montesas page...). This Record became a big success for the band and the Labels LARSEN RECORDS/France and KAMIKAZE RECORDS/Germany.
In 1999 I met King "Blacksnake" Khan who was stranded in Kassel after a tour with the Canadian "Spaceshits". I became the first member of KING KHAN & THE SHRINES, but after their legendary first gig bass player Volker Zander (now with Calexico) and I left the band.
I continued rockin.. with THE MONTESAS (both bands were playing the same places at this time and I didn..t wanted to visit the same bars every second month, think that the staff didn..t regret my decision....)..
In 2003 the second longplayer called MIDNIGHT BEAT was released on KAMIKAZE RECORDS (Click the pic for the link...) . You can listen to some of my songwritings on the MIDNIGHT BEAT.
In 2005 I left THE MONTESAS due to family and health reasons.
In spring 2006 I joined the SKAPHONICS, a young Ska outfit from Kassel (everybody in this band is 10-20 years younger then me). We recorded some demosongs, made a video and played some gigs.
I share a rehearsal room with THE MONTESAS in Kassel and sometimes I join them as a stand-in.
Live at the Primitive Festival 2007, Rotterdam NL