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Ska / Pop / Punk
The Busters
| Germany
Booking-Agent:
Oliver Arnold
+49 30 261032928
oa@f-cat.de
The Busters have successfully crossed the threshold of the 21st century. Who could have imagined something like that more than 21 years ago?
But first things first…
The Busters are founded in January 1987. Initially, only to spend a night filled with Ska music in Wiesloch’s local youth club. The band, made up of 13 young men who had just passed puberty and school, highly infected by the two-tone-era, was so surprised by the great impact of this first concert, which had caused a nationwide interest, that they spontaneously decided to stick together as a firm band in this constellation from now on. The set list of that concert consisted mainly of Ska classics and tunes of the Two Tone Era.
Within a couple of months The Busters were well known nationwide. One of the main reasons for this success was definitely the band’s offensive strategy. In the same year of the band’s foundation, The Busters arrange the first German Ska festival of the post two tone era. Special guests are Skaos and No Sports.
Still today this event marks the beginning of Germany’s second Ska revival. In no time, a little record label from Bremen turns its attention to the band. In the following years, the Weserlabel led by Fabsi soon become an important supporter and companion of the band. “No Respect”, the band’s first single release sells out immediately. And, shortly after that, in 1988, the band’s debut album “Ruder than Rude” is released. Still today, this album is considered to have reached cult status and not only within the Ska scene.
A Europe-wide distribution of the LP and the band’s participation on international samplers quickly enhance the band’s outstanding reputation. In 1989, the band goes on its first nationwide tour together with Two Tone legends Bad Manners. This tour marks another important step in the band’s history.
In the early summer of the same year a further great step is to follow: The Busters star as the headliner of the 2nd international Ska festival in London. On that festival the band is able to unite three generations of Ska history on one stage. Alongside Bad Manner’s frontman Fatty Buster Bloodvessel and the Godfather of Ska, Laurel Aitken, the undisputed peak of the festival is reached. Subsequently, in cooperation with Laurel Aitken the second studio album “Couch Potatoes” is recorded. A nationwide tour follows in 89/90 together with the Godfather of Ska.
The quick rise of the band’s success was to be continued outside of Europe.
The most remarkable and strangest tour may well be considered the next milestone in the history of the band. In March 1991, The Busters take on the east coast of the United States of America. Travelling in RVs the band succeeds in something many other German acts had not been able to achieve by then:
A successful club tour in the USA. Haunted by cold and by corporal afflictions ,by unimaginable distances and in addition chased by the police and the FBI, sold out concerts for the most part are able to make up for all fatigues endured. The adventures of this trip are held on the third long player. Following the tour, “Dead or Alive” is released.
From the beginning The Busters are known as a great live act. Replying to the fans’ request for a live album, “Cheap Thrills” follows, the band’s first live album and is released in 1992. Still influenced by the success of the ‘91 US Tour, the band decides to take on the west coast of the USA in September/October 1993. Due to study and jobs of some of the members the band is forced to tour in a smaller line-up and is not able to reach the same success as in the first US tour. In addition, the hype of the Ska revival seems to be fading away in the USA.. However, both trips remain unforgettable.
In the meantime, the band has musically matured and is full of new ideas. As a consequence, in 1994, the band’s most highly disputed album is released: “Sexy Money”. Benevolent critics praise the great variety of the album whereas many fans mourn the loss of the typical Busters-sound. This is a completely new experience for the young musicians!
The following Germany tour is the most successful tour ever and compensates for all the bands negative critics.
One particular event the following year boosts the band to a higher level. The Busters are stunned by the invitation of playing at one of the most renowned Jazz festivals of the world. The Montreux Jazz Festival organizes a Ska-night with The Busters featuring as headliners. On the 7th of July in 1995, a dream comes true for most of the band members.The concert, which takes place in the Miles Davis Hall is recorded and released as “Live in Montreux” the band’s second live recording.
This event, however, does not remain hidden away to the major companies in Germany and the next step subsequently follows. In 1996, The Busters end their long lasting and successful cooperation with Weserlabel and move on to Sony. From now on Jürgen Thürnau is the band’s new contact. The enormous presence in the media is new to the band and something never experienced till then. Jürgen Thürnau declares Ska a trend. The band appears in a number of German television shows, such as the Harald Schmidt show and does several interviews at VIVA and MTV. As a result, a broad variety of new listeners become aware of the band. „Stompede“- an album produced in fully professionalized circumstances - is released in 1996 and considered to be the band’s best studio album ever.
Although some fans accuse the band of selling out in terms of commercialized sell out, the commercial
success never really comes into effect. As the band’s protégé leaves Sony, a further cooperation with the media giant is no longer feasible. As a farewell present the band is allowed to produce a best-of album.
The eight The Busters album „Boost Best” is released in 1997. This release is followed
by an unforgettable birthday party including many musical guests and former band members.
The events of the preceding year call for a reorientation and the band decides to work with one of Germany’s largest independent labels SPV from Hannover.An own label is established – Dogsteady – and in 1998 the next longplayer „Make a Move“ is released. The Busters are no longer forced to stick to strict production guidelines and once again try out experimental tricks. The result is a complex album that once again causes some critics to raise a hue and a cry.
In the same year The Busters are hired as tour-support for German punk-rock legends Die Ärzte. This draws many new fans to the band. Among other things the horn section of The Busters accompanies the song „Männer sind Schweine“ on Die Ärzte’s live album. Besides this, Die Ärzte frontman Farin Urlaub and The Busters start working together.
1999 offers another reason for celebrating:
At the same time, „Welcome to Busterland“, the band’s tenth album, contains a little drop of bitterness as two founding members leave the band: Bass guitar player Mäx Grittner and front man Klaus Huber no longer wish to balance the act between being professional musicians and their regular jobs.
But…”The show must go on”…
In the summer of 2000 „Liebe macht blind“, composed and sung by Two-Tone-fan Farin Urlaub for The Busters, is released. For many fans this song symbolizes the hidden summer hit of the year.
After a long and strenuous search the new The Busters front man Richie is found toward the end of the year. The following release „360°” – a relaxed album - is his first test and marked by the band’s most successful tour ever.
Once again, changes in staff at SPV force the band to act.
Andreas Voith, long-time A&R at SPV leaves the company. SPV no longer wishes to cooperate with the band.
Meanwhile, The Buster’s supporters call more and more for a live album and the band is heading for its 15th anniversary. Needless to say that this event is put on cd.
More than 4000 fans celebrate a magnificent concert with the Busters and their guests in the band’s hometown Wiesloch. More than three hours of music are recorded and a selection is released on the 10th of January 2003 on the band’s new partner and record label Porkpie/Vielklang.
In the summer of 2002 Markus Sprengler is invited to leave the band.
From now on Richie is the only lead vocalist of the band.
German punk-rock legends Die Toten Hosen invite The Busters to join their tour for 2 exclusive concerts in Freiburg and Siegen in December. The band is greatly celebrated by the Toten Hosen audience.
2003 marks the band’s 12th studio release and in honour of Joe Strummer is named „Revolution Rock“.
For months the band rehearses song after song in its Heidelberg rehearsing studio. At the end of August, The Busters are given the great honour to take over the main stage of the Chiemsee Reggae Summer together with Reggae legends such as Sly & Robbie or Lee “Scratch” Perry.
Shortly later the band drives on to Vienna to quarter themselves together with producer DJ Hornyphone in his studio for one week. In Vienna’s 11th district the band’s smoothest album ever is produced in traditional Jamaican style. Revolution Rock is born. This album is the first The Buster’s album ever to be recorded with only one singer.
2004 is probably the band’s most spectacular year. First, the Buster’s horn section accompany Farin Urlaub’s very successful solo project for the second time. Later that year a further dream of the band comes true. ACE-K, frontman of Japanese Ska band Rollings, and his enormous effort draw The Busters to Japan for three exclusive concerts. The Busters are frenetically welcomed and all of the concerts are completely sold out.
In the same year the band founds its own record label, Ska Revolution Records; this marks a decisive step toward independence. Henceforward The Busters will release their own publications on their own label.
2005 the band is back to 12 members.
Long-time friend Ron Marsmann joins Richie as vocalist and perfectly rounds off the 12 man ensemble with his voice.In this year the band produces its next studio album „Evolution Pop”, Revolution Rock’s desired successor. With special support from producer Stefan Ullmann, co and guest producer Farin Urlaub, and Die Ärzte mixer Uwe Hoffmann the band produces a powerful album that once again clearly emphasizes the band’s superb musical quality. Coming soon...
