Hong Kong Syndikat (also Hongkong Syndikat) was a German synthpop music group of the eighties.

History

''Hong Kong Syndikat'' formed at the beginning of the Eighties after decorator and disc-jockey Bruno Grünberg, graphics designer Hartmut Möller and Gerd Plez, all from Bremen, hat met in

West Berlin West Berlin (german: Berlin (West) or , ) was a political enclave which comprised the western part of Berlin during the years of the Cold War. Although West Berlin was de jure not part of West Germany, lacked any sovereignty, and was under mi ...

. They were signed to a record contract, and in 1982 they released their debut album, ''Erster Streich''. The first single, ''Berlin Bleibt Doch Berlin'', contained quotes from then US President Ronald Reagan. This first album was still recorded mainly in German; subsequent releases would see them switch to English for commercial reasons. This move eventually was met with acclaim: by 1984 ''Hong Kong Syndikat'' had performed their first live concert in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...

; later the same year they recorded their second album, ''Olympia'', in

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

-- produced by

Rusty Egan Rusty Egan (born 19 September 1957 in London) is the former drummer for the British new wave band Rich Kids. They were founded by former Sex Pistol Glen Matlock (bass guitarist and backing vocals, occasional lead vocals), with Steve New ( ...

, a member of Visage. This album, like the others, had Curt Cress sit in on drums. Their short-lived success came in 1985 with their third album, ''Never Too Much'', from which three singles were released: ''Too Much'', ''Concrete & Clay'' and ''Girls I Love'', the first two of which became Top 30 pop singles in Germany. ''Hong Kong Syndikat'' were not able to repeat or expand on this: when the 4th album ''Des Teutons Pas Nippons'' (1987) turned out to become a commercial flop, the act disbanded in 1989. Gerd Plez would eventually re-appear as a songwriter for Austrian pop singer Falco.

Members

* Bruno Grünberg jr. (* 04/01/1956) (voice, synth) * Gerd Plez (* 10/04/1956) (voice, synth) * Hartmut Möller (* 05/09/1952) (guitar)

Discography

Singles/Maxi

* ''Sugarcane'' * ''Unusual'' * 1982 · ''Berlin Bleibt Doch Berlin'' (album ''Erster Streich'') * 1984 · ''Berlin'' (album ''Olympia'') * 1984 · ''Samba Olec'' (album ''Olympia'') * 1985 · '' Too Much'' (album ''Never Too Much'') * 1986 · ''That's Jungle / Loosin' Winnin (album ''Never Too Much'') * 1986 · ''Concrete & Clay'' (album ''Never Too Much'') * 1986 · ''Girls I Love'' (album ''Never Too Much'') * 1987 · ''No More Sorrow'' (album ''Des Teutons Pas Nippons'') * 1989 · ''Real Men Don't Eat Gummibears'' (album ''Des Teutons Pas Nippons'') * 1999 · ''Too Much '99'' (album ''Des Teutons Pas Nippons'')

Albums

* 1982 · '' Erster Streich'' * 1984 · '' Olympia'' * 1985 · '' Never Too Much'' * 1987 · '' Des Teutons Pas Nippons''

External links