Epitaph | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Dortmund,West Germany |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1969–1982, 2000–present |
| Labels | |
| Members | Cliff Jackson Fritz Randow Harvey Janssen Michael Karch Heinz Glass |
| Past members | Norbert Lehmann Achim Wielert Jim McGillivray Bernd Kolbe Klaus Walz |
| Website | epitaph-band |
Epitaph is a Germanrock band, formed inDortmund in 1969. Playing initially whatAllMusic described as "post-psychprogressive rock, spiced with occasionaljazz accents and widespread twin-guitar harmonies",[1] in 1973 they started shifting towards more straightforwardhard rock stylings. After releasing six studio albums, they disbanded in 1982. In 2000, Epitaph reunited and several new releases followed.[1][2]
The band was formed (originally as Fagin's Epitaph) in late 1969 in Dortmund,[1] byYorkshire singer and guitarist Cliff Jackson, Scottish drummer James McGillivray, and German bassist Bernd Kolbe. After several appearances as a support band for such acts asBlack Sabbath,Rory Gallagher,Yes andArgent, they signed a record deal with Polydor, shortened their name and moved toHannover. Having enlisted the second guitarist Klaus Walz, the band travelled toWessex Studios in London to start recording the eponymous debut album which was finished in Windrose Studios,Hamburg,[3] and released in the autumn of 1971. After numerous gigs throughout Germany including a 1972 live appearance in the TV showBeat Club, the band recorded (in Audio Tonstudio,Berlin)[3] the sophomore,Stop, Look and Listen, again for Polydor. Both releases were described byAllmusic as "post-psychprogressive rock, spiced with occasionaljazz accents and widespread twin-guitar harmonies."[1][4]
In 1972, McGillivray left and was replaced by Achim Wielert whose style of playing accounted for the band taking a stronger rock direction,[4] showcased by the two 1973 singles, "Autumn '71" and "We Love You Alice". Still, the sales were disappointing and Polydor dropped the band.[1] Almost instantly Epitaph travelled to the USA and signed there to the newly formed independent Billingsgate record label whose boss Gary Pollack went on to produce the third (and their strongest, according to Allmusic)[5] album,Outside the Law.[1] The band (now with Norbert Lehmann, ex-Karthago, on drums) was ready to embark upon a US tour when Billingsgate went broke. Having lost all their money, Epitaph disbanded in January 1975, so as to avoid sharing their record company's debts.[2][3]
In 1976 they re-surfaced in Germany (with the line-up of Cliff Jackson, Bernd Kolbe, Klaus Walz and Jim McGillivray) and recorded a gig inCologne for the musical TV showRockpalast. Shortly before the recording, in January 1977, McGillivray left the band (he joinedEloy in 1980)[4] and was replaced by Fritz Randow (ex-Eloy). Later that year Walz and Kolbe departed, while guitarist Heinz Glass, bass guitarist Harvey Janssen and Michael Karch on keyboards, came in. This new line-up then joined the Hungarianprogressive rock bandOmega on the latter's 36-date European tour, which culminated in three major concerts inBudapest, before the audiences of over 30,000.[2]
Epitaph's fourth albumReturn to Reality was released by Brain Records in April 1979. A boogie rock record, marked byheavy metal influences, it was described as "mediocre"[3] and was poorly received.See You in Alaska followed, again for the Brain label and stylistically in the same vein. Later that year Epitaph toured Germany withUli Roth andAccept.[2] After Karch's departure the band continued without keyboards. In 1981Live came out, recorded inWertheim,Dallau and Triburg, in the course of theSee You in Alaska tour. Later that year Waltz and Kolbe returned, and Norbert Lehmann replaced Fritz Randow. This new line-up recordedDanger Man for the small Rockport record label. "Better than the Brain albums," it was still "unable to recapture the spirit of the past times," according to the reviewer Alex Gitlin.[3]
In 1982 Epitaph appeared at the Pfingst Festival inWürzburg andMunich, on the bill that featuredZZ Top,Saxon,Joan Jett and The Blackhearts,Extrabreit,Saga andSpliff.[1] In 1983 they disbanded, but briefly returned in 1986 to supportGrobschnitt at their 15th anniversary concert at the Stadthalle Hagen. This resulted in the birth of the band Kingdom (led by Kolbe and Jackson) which then changed its name toDomain, and released three studio albums. Randow joinedVictory, thenSinner and later Saxon.[4]
In 1999, guitarist Heinz Glass invited members of Epitaph to take part in a concert inKaiserslautern venue Kammgarn, celebrating the 25th anniversary of his professional career. This led (apparently at the instigation ofRudolf Schenker)[4] to Epitaph's reunion concert in January 2000 at the Lindenbrauerei inUnna. Featuring Cliff Jackson, Heinz Glass, Bernd Kolbe and Achim Wielert in the line-up, it was documented on DVD asLive at the Brewery and later released on CD asResurrection, by Hurricane Records. In 2007 the band (Jackson, Kolbe, Heinz Glass and Achim Poret) released their seventh studio albumRemember the Daze to be followed byDancing with Ghost (2009), both on in-akustik label.[2]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
