Kraftklub Logo

Kraftklub are a German band from Chemnitz. Their music combines rock / indie and Sprechgesang with German lyrics and is generally considered to be a mixture of rap and indie.

History

Founding and early years (2009–2011)

The band members first met at school and founded the band at the end of 2009. At the Splash Festival 2009, rapper Bernd Bass (Felix Brummer) performed together with the rock band ''Neon Blocks'' for the first time. At the end of 2009, they founded the band Kraftklub and started recording their first studio album. On 13 February 2010, they released their first EP, titled ''Adonis Maximus'' at a record release party in the Chemnitz club Atomino.

In September 2010, the band won the ''New Music Award'', a music prize awarded by various ARD radio stations. As a result, several major labels became aware of them. As of January 2011, they are signed to Universal Domestic Rock/Vertigo Berlin.

Kraftklub have performed as the support act for bands including Beatsteaks, Fettes Brot, Casper, Die Toten Hosen, and Rammstein. On 5 August 2011, they released their first single, ''Zu Jung''.

Breakthrough with ''Mit K'' (2011–2013)

On 29 September 2011, the band represented Saxony in the Bundesvision Song Contest with their song ''Ich will nicht nach Berlin'', coming fifth with a total of 89 points. The single was released the next day where it reached number 45 on the German Media Control Charts. Their debut album ''Mit K'' was released on 20 January 2012 and shot straight to number one in Germany. In April 2012, ''Songs für Liam'', the next single from their album, was released. It debuted at number 40 and peaked at number 14 in the German Media Control Charts.

On 6 April 2012, K.I.Z and Kraftklub gave an unannounced concert on the roof of the Chemnitz commercial complex ''Terminal 3'' as part of the documentary film series ''Durch die Nacht mit...'' commissioned by Arte. The performance was announced only a few hours before via social networks, despite the ban on dancing on Good Friday, and as a result of the crowds of spectators the police closed off the Chemnitzer Brückenstraße.

Kraftklub refer to their hometown of Chemnitz as "Karl-Marx-Stadt" (this was the name the city was known as from 1953 to 1990) – one of their songs on ''Mit K'' is entitled ''Karl-Marx-Stadt'' – and they are known for their trademark poloshirts, varsity jackets and suspenders.

For Record Store Day 2012, Kraftklub released the song ''Songs for Liam'' in a version with Casper as vinyl single, which is limited to 700 pieces.

Its first concert outside of Germany was at 19 September 2012, in "La Puerta Grande" Bar in Bogotá, thanks to the "Kolumbien mit K" tour promoted by the Goethe Institut – Colombia, which took them by Bogotá, Medellín and Cali, each one with two concerts respectively, and one in Cartagena.

In 2013, Kraftklub was nominated (among others) together with the group Frei.Wild for the ''music award Echo'' in the category ''Rock/Alternative National''. On 6 March 2013, Kraftklub announced that they want to be removed from the list of nominees, as Kraftklub does not want to be named in the same line as FreiWild. After MIA. and Die Ärzte also withdrew their participation, Frei.Wild was removed from the list of nominees and Kraftklub received the "Kritikerpreis National".

The song ''Eure Mädchen'' can be heard on the soundtrack of the football video game '' FIFA 13''. It is the only German song in the game. Kraftklub has a guest appearance in the song "Ganz schön okay" on the album ''Hinterland'' by German rapper Casper.

''In Schwarz'' (2014–2016)

On 20 May 2014, the music video ''Hand in Hand'' (in a version with bassist Till Brummer on vocals) of an allegedly new band called ''In Schwarz'' appeared on YouTube. The video was uploaded by the music label '' Audiolith Records''. On 2 June 2014, ''In Schwarz'' appeared on the German television show ''Circus HalliGalli'' and revealed themselves as Kraftklub.

On 20 November 2015, the first live album ''Randale'' was released. Part of the DVD is a recording of the concert in the Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin from 6. March 2015. In January 2016 followed the ''Randale''-tour, in which the band gave concerts in several German cities.

''Keine Nacht für Niemand'' (2017–2022)

On 16 March 2017, the band they released the first single "Dein Lied" from the subsequently announced album ''Keine Nacht für Niemand'' during a ten-hour Facebook livestream, which was released on 2 June 2017. The title of the album is an allusion to the album ''Keine Macht für Niemand'' by the band Ton Steine Scherben.

''KARGO'' (2022–present)

On 1 April, the band announced their new album ''KARGO'' and released the single "Ein Song reicht". The album was released on 22 September 2022. The band will be starting their KARGO tour in November 2022 at a number of dates in Germany, one in Vienna, Austria, and one in Zurich, Switzerland.

Band members

File:2015 RiP Kraftklub - Felix Brummer by 2eight - 8SC3231.jpg, Felix Brummer (rap, vocals) in 2015
File:2017 RiP - Kraftklub - Karl Schumann - by 2eight - DSC8513.jpg, Karl Schumann (rhythm guitar, vocals) in 2017
File:2015 RiP Kraftklub - Till Brummer by 2eight - 8SC3240.jpg, Till Brummer (bass) in 2015
File:2015 RiP Kraftklub - Steffen Isreal by 2eight - 8SC3355.jpg, Steffen Israel (lead guitar, keys) in 2015
File:2015 RiP Kraftklub - Max Marschk by 2eight - 8SC3298.jpg, Max Marschk (drums) in 2015
Till and Felix are brothers and the sons of ''AG. Geige'' member Jan Kummer. Since there is no artistic connection to Kraftklub, the brothers use the surname Brummer instead.

Felix and Till are also the brothers of Nina and Lotta Kummer, who also perform under the band name Blond.

Kummer

Starting with the release of his first single ''9010'' on June 11th 2019, Felix launched his solo rap-career, performing simply under his last name ''Kummer''. He released several singles culminating in the release of his first and only album, Kiox, named after his father's East-German record shop, which topped German charts in October 2019. It also placed 19th and 36th in Austria and Switzerland, respectively. In 2021 Felix announced the end of his solo career and released his final single "Der Letzte Song (Alles wird gut)" (''The Last Song (everything will be good)'') featuring Fred Rabe of the band Giant Rooks. The single also hit the number one spot on the German charts in November 2021, placing 15th in Austria and 36th in Switzerland.

He went on tour twice under this name and his last two concerts as ''Kummer'' were performed in front of a sold-out audience at the Parkbühne Wuhlheide open-air venue in Berlin.

Discography

Albums

* 2012: ''Mit K''
* 2014: ''In Schwarz''
* 2015: ''Randale'' (live album)
* 2017: ''Keine Nacht für Niemand''
* 2022: ''KARGO''

EPs

* 2010: ''Adonis Maximus''
* 2012: ''Live im Astra Berlin''
* 2012: ''Songs für Liam''

Singles

* 2011: "Zu jung"
* 2011: "Ich will nicht nach Berlin"
* 2011: "Eure Mädchen"
* 2012: "Songs für Liam"
* 2012: "Kein Liebeslied"
* 2012: "Mein Leben"
* 2014: "Hand in Hand"
* 2014: "Unsere Fans"
* 2014: "Wie ich"
* 2014: "Schüsse in die Luft"
* 2015: "Blau"
* 2015: "Alles wegen dir"
* 2017: "Dein Lied"
* 2017: "Fenster"
* 2017: "Sklave"
* 2017: "Chemie Chemie Ya"
* 2017: "Am Ende"
* 2018: "Liebe zu Dritt"
* 2022: "Ein Song reicht"
* 2022: "Wittenberg ist nicht Paris"
* 2022: "Fahr mit mir (4x4)" feat. Tokio Hotel
* 2022: "Teil dieser Band"
* 2022: "Blaues Licht"

Song appearances

* "Eure Mädchen" from EA Sports' '' FIFA 13'' soundtrack (2012)

References

External links

Official website

{{Authority control
German rock music groups
Participants in the Bundesvision Song Contest