Einsturzende Neubauten
Formed out of the Berlin Arts Conglomerate Geniale Dilletanten, Einsturzende Neubaten made their live debut in April 1980. The line-up comprised Blixa Bargeld, N.U. Unruh, Beate Bartel and Gudrun Gut. Alexander Van Borsig, an occasional contributor, joined in time for the band's first single, Fur Den Untergang. When Bartel and Gut departed to form Mania D and Matador they were replaced by F.M. (Mufti) and Einheit (ex-Abwarts). Einheit and Unruh formed the band's rhythmic backbone, experimenting with a variety of percussive effects, while Bargeld provided vocals and guitar. Their first official album (there were previously many tapes available) was KOLLAPS, a collage of sounds created by unusual rhythmic instruments ranging from steel girders to pipes and canisters. Their 1982 12-inch single Durstiges Tier involved contributions from the Birthday Party's Rowland S. Howard and Lydia Lunch, at which point Van Borsig had joined the band permanently as sound technician alongside new bass player Marc Chung (also ex-Abwarts). A British tour with the Birthday Party introduced them to Some Bizzare Records which released DIE ZEICHNUNGEN DAS PATIENTEN O.T. 1984's STRATEGIEN GEGEN ARCHITEKTUREN was compiled with Jim Thirwell ( Foetus), while the band performed live at the ICA in London. Joined by Genesis P. Orridge ( Psychic TV), Frank Tovey ( Fad Gadget) and Stevo (Some Bizzare), the gig ended violently and attracted heated debate in the press. Bargeld spent the rest of the year touring as bass player for Nick Cave, going on to record several studio albums as Bad Seed. In 1987 Einsturzende Neubaten performed the soundtrack for ANDI, a play at the Hamburg Schauspielhaus, and also released FUNF AUF DER NACH OBEN OFFENEN RICHTERSKALA. This was intended as a farewell album, but they, nevertheless, continued after its release. Bargeld's part-time career with the Bad Seeds continued, and in 1988 he featured alongside them in Wim Wenders’ film ANGELS ÜBER BERLIN. Von Borsig, ironically, was now contributing to the work of Crime And The City Solution, featuring Cave's old Birthday Party colleagues. The band reunited, however, in time for 1989's HAUS DER LUGE.