Nitzer Ebb (pronounced night-zer or nit-zer—the band themselves pronounce it either way) is a music group formed in 1982 by Essex schoolfriends Douglas McCarthy (vocals, synthesizer), Vaughan (Bon) Harris on synthesizers and drums, and David Gooday. Image File history File links NitzerEbb. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Electronic body music (mainly known by its acronym EBM) is a music genre that combines elements of industrial music and electronic punk music. ... For other uses, see Rock music (disambiguation). ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Mute Records is a record label formed in 1978 by Daniel Miller primarily to release his own single, T.V.O.D./Warm Leatherette, under the moniker The Normal. ... Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as one third of UMGs Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group. ... Vaughan Bon Harris hails from Chelmsford, Essex, England and now resides in Los Angeles. ... Julian Beeston is an English musician, mainly noted for his time in the electronic groups Nitzer Ebb and Cubanate. ... David Lovering born 1961 was a drummer for the Pixies from 1986 through 1993. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... Essex is a county in the East of England. ... Vaughan Bon Harris hails from Chelmsford, Essex, England and now resides in Los Angeles. ...

Beginnings

The trio began with shows in small local venues, but their arresting stage presence, military image and energy garnered a growing base of followers and soon led to appearances in larger clubs and concert venues. Combining the energy of punk with the electronic pulse of DAF, they released their debut single "Isn't It Funny How Your Body Works" on 7 January, 1985 on their own label Power Of Voice Communications, and their music soon became a fixture on the club scene. A double 'A' side single, "Warsaw Ghetto"/"So Bright So Strong", followed in 1985 to similar critical and dancefloor acclaim. Two further releases, "Let Your Body Learn"/"Get Clean" and "Murderous" were released on Power Of Voice Communications before they signed to Mute Records. A collection of various CD singles In music, a single is a short recording of one or more separate tracks. ... Mute Records is a record label formed in 1978 by Daniel Miller primarily to release his own single, T.V.O.D./Warm Leatherette, under the moniker The Normal. ...

Late 1980s through to mid 1990s

In May 1987, they released their debut album on Mute Records, That Total Age, which spawned a hit with the pounding bass rhythms and barked vocals of "Join In the Chant" and "Let Your Body Learn". Both tracks found favour with the Euro club scene and the nascent Balearic Beat movement. Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... An album or record album is a collection of related audio or music tracks distributed to the public. ... Mute Records is a record label formed in 1978 by Daniel Miller primarily to release his own single, T.V.O.D./Warm Leatherette, under the moniker The Normal. ... That Total Age is the debut album of the British EBM group Nitzer Ebb. ... Bass (IPA: [], rhyming with face), when used as an adjective, describes tones of low frequency or range. ... Rhythm (Greek = flow, or in Modern Greek, style) is the variation of the length and accentuation of a series of sounds or other events. ...

Preceded by the classic club track 'Control I'm Here', their second album, Belief, was released in 1989 and was co-produced by Flood (Depeche Mode, U2),who went on to produce their next 3 albums and remix other tracks. The band was now down to a core duo of Harris and McCarthy, with Julian Beeston on drumming duty. Two further singles 'Hearts & Minds', and Shame were released in 1989 with extraordinary remixes from Daniel Miller and William Orbit. Belief is the second album of the British EBM group Nitzer Ebb. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... Picture of flooding in Amphoe Sena, Ayutthaya Province, Thailand. ... Depeche Mode are an electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex, England. ... U2 are a rock band from Dublin, Ireland. ... The Normal is the recording artist name used by English film editor Daniel Miller, who is best known as the founder of the record label Mute Records. ... William Orbit (sometimes written as William Ørbit, born on 15 December 1956 as William Mark Wainwright in Shoreditch, Hackney) is an English musician and record producer, perhaps best known to most for his work on Madonnas album Ray of Light, which received four Grammy Awards. ...

Three more albums, Showtime in 1990, Ebbhead in 1991, and Big Hit in 1995 achieved varying degrees of underground success and critical acclaim as the band moved away from 4/4 130bpm stomping dance tracks and explored other musical forms - jazz, rock, blues - whilst still sounding like Nitzer Ebb, or, as Douglas Mccarthy described their sound in 1991, "simplistic dance music". Nitzer Ebb had also found favour with labelmates and international pop heavyweights Depeche Mode, who invited them on their European tour in 1988, and in 1990, opening on the World Violation Tour in the US. Depeche Mode were frequently seen sporting Nitzer Ebb T-shirts around this period, most notably in their Enjoy the Silence video. Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... Depeche Mode are an electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex, England. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... Depeche Mode are an electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex, England. ... Enjoy the Silence is Depeche Modes twenty-fourth UK single, released on February 5, 1990, and the second single from the album Violator. ...

Exposure to large stadium crowds and the intensity of the whole rock and roll business provided a stimulus for the group to start to develop a more rock-oriented sound to their razor-sharp electronic dance music, and 1991's As Is EP (produced by Killing Joke's Jaz Coleman, Flood, Depeche Mode's Alan Wilder, and Barry Adamson) saw the band adopt a more traditional song writing approach, and paved the way for the aforementioned Ebbhead. This article is about the musical group. ... Jaz Coleman on the cover of the Killing Joke album Brighter than a Thousand Suns. ... Mark Ellis a. ... Depeche Mode are an electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex, England. ... Alan Wilder, circa 2000. ... Barry Adamson (June 1, 1958) is a British rock musician who has worked with Magazine, Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds, Pan Sonic, and has worked on film soundtracks for David Lynch. ...

Ebbhead was released in September 1991 and showcased a new confidence in the band's songwriting and production (ably assisted by Flood and Alan Wilder), while the single I Give to You was a sweeping orchestral introduction to the band's new grand ideas. Two further singles, Godhead, and Ascend, combined sampled guitar riffs, throbbing analogue synths, and anthemic chorus'. A hugely successful world tour from Autumn 1991 to Summer 1992 spanning the US, Europe and Russia hinted that the band could potentially break into the mainstream and become a bona fide 'crossover' act. Picture of flooding in Amphoe Sena, Ayutthaya Province, Thailand. ... Alan Wilder, circa 2000. ...

This wasn't to be. The momentum, progress and optimism built up around Ebbhead was slowly erdoded by the band's (very expensive) 3 years recording the follow up album,Big Hit (drummers were sacked, producers changed etc). During this period a schism between Harris and McCarthy began to develop, and the writing was on the wall.

In short, the band took far too long, and then failed to deliver the album required to elevate them to the level that was promised. And that was that.

The subsequent world tour saw a new live set-up with Harris on bass, Mccarthy on guitar, Jason Payne on drums, and John Napier on guitar and percussion. Whilst still an energetic and involving live act, the shows didn't seem to benefit from either 'real' instruments or more musicians on stage, and the arresting visual dynamics of past tours were compromised in favour of a 'traditional' set up.

The Nitzer Ebb machine ground to a halt towards the end of the Big Hit tour (final dates were advertised then cancelled). Although the group never officially split, Mccarthy and Harris both went their separate ways.

However, the door was effectively left open for Harris and McCarthy to reactivate the band in the future if their differences could be resolved.

Recent years

Having quietly split, the band's back catalogue began to appear in DJ sets and mix compilations, and their name would appear in interviews with house and techno producers, (which only served to highlight their enduring influence). In recognition of this development NovaMute released a remix series with three 12-inch singles between 2001 and 2004 - Shame/Join in the Chant, Control I'm Here/Let Your Body Learn, and Murderous/Control I'm Here. The remix of Let Your Body Learn was particularly fruitful as it was given a radical overhaul by French techno producer Terence Fixmer which led first to a friendship and then developed into a recording project between Fixmer and Douglas McCarthy, called simply Fixmer/McCarthy. Live performances (with just a mic and a Mac) around the world followed, which included new versions of Nitzer Ebb songs. This also led to an album released as Fixmer/McCarthy, entitled Between the Devil.... NovaMute Records is an electronic music record label formed in 1991. ... A remix is an alternative version of a song, different from the original version. ... 12 single for U2s Beautiful Day The 12-inch [30 cm] single gramophone record came into existence with the advent of disco music in the 1970s. ... For the comic book character previously known as Techno, see Fixer (comics). ... Fixmer/McCarthy is a collaboration between the French techno producer Terence Fixmer, and British EBM vocalist Douglas McCarthy (of Nitzer Ebb). ...

In late 2005, it was announced that McCarthy and Harris (now residing in the US, and producing/engineering for Marilyn Manson and Billy Corgan) had begun to talk about the possibility of a Nitzer Ebb reunion. 2006 saw Nitzer Ebb tour once more, enlisting the services of a female drummer, Kourtney Klein, and focusing on the more electronic phase of their career, with Mute Records finally releasing the 2 CDs set, Body of Work 1984-1997 in June 2006. A companion piece Body Rework, featuring remixes from cutting edge contemporary techno artists such as Motor, Black Strobe, the Hacker, Derrick May, and Robag Wrhume, further highlighted the interest and respect still shown for this groundbreaking, unique, and highly original electronic outfit. Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Marilyn Manson is a rock band based in Los Angeles, California. ... William Patrick Billy Corgan, Jr. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Mute Records is a record label formed in 1978 by Daniel Miller primarily to release his own single, T.V.O.D./Warm Leatherette, under the moniker The Normal. ... For the comic book character previously known as Techno, see Fixer (comics). ... Ivan Smagghe and Arnaud Rebotini. ... Derrick May, also known as Mayday and Rhythim is Rhythim, is an electronic musician from Detroit, Michigan U.S.. He was born in Detroit in 1963 and began to explore electronic music early in his life. ...

Capitalizing on the success of last year's world tour, Nitzer Ebb began work on new material in Los Angeles earlier this year. A retrospective documentary is set for release later this year.

Influences and legacy

Sonically, Nitzer Ebb evoked the sequenced teutonic basslines and barked commands of Virgin-era DAF in their early days, and took the energy of alternative punk rock of bands like Killing Joke and Bauhaus to create a new aesthetic. The word daf and similar can mean: The word daff is a colloquial short form of daffodil. ... This article is about the musical group. ... Typography by Herbert Bayer above the entrance to the workshop block of the Bauhaus, Dessau, 2005. ...

As they grew in confidence and ability, they began to develop the Nitzer Ebb 'sound' - a blend of unusual analogue trickery, minimal song structure, heavy drum beats and percussion, and Douglas Mccarthy's soulful vocals - either shouted, sung, or spoken. Their sound was captured perfectly in one of their publicity slogans from 1987 -"International Funk Aggression" - as despite being hard and heavy, their tracks were always very danceable.

Nitzer Ebb were seen as a 'totality', comprising music, art and culture, manifesting itself as 'Nitzer Ebb Produkt', which saw all adverts, flyers, record sleeves, letterheads, T-shirts, and other objects all sharing a collective identity that was heavily influenced by Russian Constructivist art, Italian Futurism, totalitarian imagery, and Expressionism. Long time collaborator Simon Grainger was an unofficial member of Nitzer Ebb and responsible for the austere look and feel of this visual aspect of the band, which aimed to provoke reaction, to critique, and even to poke fun at such stern stark powerful imagery. It also refelected perfectly the uncompromising style of the music. In education, constructivism is a learning theory which holds that knowledge is not transmitted unchanged from teacher to student, but instead that learning is an active process of learning. ... Futurism (or Futurist) may refer to: Futures studies, the philosophical or academic study of the medium to long-term future (also known as futurology). ... The Scream by Edvard Munch (1893) which inspired 20th century Expressionists Portrait of Eduard Kosmack by Egon Schiele Rehe im Walde by Franz Marc Elbe Bridge I by Rolf Nesch On White II by Wassily Kandinsky, 1923. ...

In the short term Nitzer Ebb had a clear influence on labelmates, Depeche Mode, with both bands sharing a producer in Flood and (by virtue of his studio role) Alan Wilder, which saw a cross pollination of ideas - a harder edge given to one band and a pop sensibility brought to the other. Compare the intros of Halo and Lightning Man for a demonstration of this.

Nitzer Ebb were also a huge influence on Detroit Techno, with Derrick May publicly acknowledging this fact before the band opened last year's Detroit annual electronic music festival. A diverse range of DJs and producers, from Richie Hawtin to Tiga have also acknowledged the influence that Nitzer Ebb have had on their careers. Indeeed, their tracks (usually in their original form) are still heard across the world's more discerning dancefloors, and have been consistently listed in a wide range of DJ's Top 10s throughout the past year in the dance music magazine, Mixmag. Detroit techno is an early style of techno music originating from Detroit, Michigan, USA in the mid-1980s. ... Derrick May, also known as Mayday and Rhythim is Rhythim, is an electronic musician from Detroit, Michigan U.S.. He was born in Detroit in 1963 and began to explore electronic music early in his life. ... Richie Hawtin (born Richard Hawtin, June 4, 1970, Banbury, Oxfordshire, England) is a Canadian electronic musician and internationally-touring DJ who was an influential part of Detroit technos second wave of artists in the early 1990s. ... Tiga can refer to two different things. ... Mixmag is the worlds biggest selling dance music and clubbing magazine Mixmag began in the mid 1980s following the best in the worlds dance music, from covering dance events to reviewing CDs and new acts. ...

Other Projects

In 1989, Nitzer Ebb collaborated with Die Krupps on an updating of their classic Wahre Arbeit Wahrer Lohn single on the Machineries of Joy EP.

Having worked with Alan Wilder on 1991's Ebbhead, Douglas Mccarthy returned the favour, appearing on Recoil's 1992 album Bloodline, on the electronic reworking of Faith Healer, the Alex Harvey classic. Mccarthy also apeared on Recoil's Unsound Methods album in 1997. Alan Wilder, circa 2000. ... Alex Harvey (February 5, 1935 - February 4, 1982) was a Scottish rock and roll recording artist. ...

Mccarthy appeared with Empirion at 1997's Tribal Gathering (a performance that was broadcast on BBC Radio 1) before embarking on a new career in video production. Since working with Terence Fixmer he has lent his unique vocals to collaborations with Motor, Kloq, Warren Suicide, Client, and Die Krupps on another reworking of Wahre Arbeit Wahrer Lohn. Tribal Gathering is a dance music festival that catered for different types of dance music cultures such as Techno, Rave, House and Drum & Bass. ... This page redirects from Radio 1. See Radio 1 (disambiguation). ...

Bon Harris began the Maven project in 2001 in Los Angeles, and has worked with Marylin Manson, Smashing Pumpkins, Avril Lavigne, Bush and Depeche Mode. Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ... Marilyn Manson is an alternative metal / alternative rock band based in Hollywood, California. ... The Smashing Pumpkins (circa 1995) left to right: James Iha, DArcy, Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin. ... Avril Ramona Lavigne Whibley[1] (born September 27, 1984) is a Canadian rock singer and musician. ... Depeche Mode are an electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex, England. ...

Discography

Albums

• That Total Age (1987)
• Belief (1989)
• Showtime (1990)
• Ebbhead (1991)
• Big Hit (1995)
• Body of Work - 1984 - 1997 (2006)
• Body Rework (2006)

That Total Age is the debut album of the British EBM group Nitzer Ebb. ... Belief is the second album of the British EBM group Nitzer Ebb. ... Showtime is the third album of the British EBM group Nitzer Ebb. ... Ebbhead is the fourth album of the British EBM group Nitzer Ebb. ... Big Hit is the fifth album from British EBM group Nitzer Ebb released on 30 November 1995. ...

EPs

• Isn't It Funny How Your Body Works (1984)
• As Is (1991)

Compilations

• So Bright So Strong (1988)

Demos

• Basic pain procedure (1983)

Singles

Billboards Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart is a weekly national survey of what songs are most popular in U.S. dance clubs. ... Modern Rock Tracks is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. ... Die Krupps is a German electropunk/progressive rock/EBM/crossover/heavy metal band, formed in 1980 by Jürgen Engler and Bernward Malaka in Düsseldorf. ...

Music videos

• Murderous (1987)
• Let Your Body Learn (1987)
• Control I'm Here (1988)
• Hearts and Minds (1989)
• Shame (1989)
• The Machineries Of Joy (1989)
• Lightning Man (1990)
• Fun To Be Had (1990)
• Family Man (1991)
• I Give To You (1991)
• Godhead (1992)
• Ascend (1992)
• Kick It (1995)

Tributes

• Muscle and Hate - Nilaihah Records, (2005)

External links

• official Nitzer Ebb Website
• Official Nitzer Ebb Myspace Page
• Mute's old Nitzer Ebb page
• Nitzer Ebb at MusicBrainz
• Nitzer Ebb at Discogs
• Superb collectors site
• New Album and 2006 Concert Dates
• "EBM back to NEP"-Party, Interviews and many more...

• Interview with David Gooday (in Swedish)