Beatsteaks and Kraftklub

While still in high school members Peter Baumann, Stefan Hircher, Alexander Rosswaag, and Bernd Kurtzke formed Beatsteaks, joined shortly after by singer and guitarist Arnim Teutoburg-Weiß. The group started making a name for themselves by playing a host of local shows, food festivals, and participating in talent shows. Having initially produced a demo tape entitled “Die Erste” (“The First”), Beatsteaks entered and won a local music competition, which resulted in the group opening for the Sex Pistols. Remarkably, the gig was only the Beatsteaks' 10th live performance, and dramatically increased the band’s national recognition.

Following a year of touring and recording, the Beatsteaks issued their debut album “48/49” in February 1997. Issued by XNO Records, the album was the band’s first release to have a national audience, and was supported by touring with the likes of Lagwagon, Bloodhound Gang, and Faith No More. After signing with Epitaph Records Beatstakes released their second full-length album “Launched” in 1999, the first album to feature lyrics entirely sung in English. The album marked the arrival of Thomas Götz on drums and Torsten Scholz on bass, and was supported by tours alongside Bad Religion, Die Ärzte, and Die Toten Hosen.

The studio album “Living Targets” appeared in 2002, led by the single “Let Me In” and “Summer”, and was succeeded by the EP “Wohnzimmer”. Thanks to recognition from the popular German band Die Ärzte, Beatsteaks’ subsequent album “Smack Smash” became their breakthrough. Aided by the single “I Don’t Care As Long As You Sing”, the album led to the group winning the 2004 MTV European Music Award for Best German Act, and increased the band’s touring capacity exponentially. Beatsteaks’ subsequent tour was recorded and released as the live album “Kanonen auf Spatzen” in 2008. Now with a large and devoted following Beatsteaks went on to release “Limbo Messiah” in 2007, “Boombox” in 2011, and the live release “Muffensausen” in 2013.

The band formed in 2009 while Felix Brummer (vocals), Karl Schumann (guitar, vocals), Steffen Israel (guitar), Till Brummer (bass) and Max Marschk (drums) were still in school in Chemnitz, Germany. In August 2009 the group released their first single, “Zu Jung,” and in February 2010 they released their first EP entitled “Adonis Maximus.” Later that year they were awarded the New Music Award from ARD Radio Station. All of the attention also made it’s way to various record labels, and in January 2011 they signed a deal with Universal Domestic Rock/ Vertigo Berlin.

In 2011 the band came in fifth place in the Bundesvision Song Contest with their song “Ich will nicht nach Berlin.” Immediately after they released the song, which reached number 45 on the German Media Control Charts. In January 2012 Kraftklub released their debut album “Mit K” and it went straight to number one. Later that year they played their first gig outside of their home country of Germany, in "La Puerta Grande" Bar in Bogotá, Spain. While touring the band have played with various bands including Beatsteaks, Fettes Brot and Casper, and the band have been known for performing with a trademark look of poloshirts, varsity jackets and suspenders. In 2014 the band released another album entitled “In Schwarz.”