Nacht und Nebel (band)

Nacht Und Nebel
Patrick Nebel, 1985.
Background information
Origin	Belgium
Genres	New wave, synthpop, electropop
Years active	1982–1986
Labels	Antler Records Vogue Records Carrere Records Laguna

Nacht Und Nebel were a Belgian new wave band, founded by the late Patrick Marina Nebel (born Patrick Marina Schools, 23 November 1958, Merksem - died 15 March 1986, Ekeren) best known for their 1984 hit single "Beats of Love".

The name was chosen by the band as a pun on their leader's alias: Nacht und Nebel - German for 'Night and Fog' - was the directive designed by Adolf Hitler which resulted in the kidnapping and forced disappearance of most enemies of the Third Reich.

Nebel debuted as a solo artist with a 4-track single in 1981 before forming the band and releasing a single with them a year later. Their first album, Casablanca, followed right after, along with a series of gigs. Nebel, a very "exuberant figure," according to Roland Beelen, founder of Antler Records, would "[disguise] himself in a decadent nightlife outfit, sweating like hell and hurrying between the front of the stage and a percussion set".

The band's next album, Beats of Love, was released in 1983 and featured the eponymous track that was to become their biggest hit. The single sold 150,000 copies in Belgium and France and was covered by The Bollock Brothers on their 1989 album, Mythology.

They released a third album, Victoria 2000, in 1985, which featured the singles "Ready to Dance" and "Victoria 2000". Both singles made it to the local charts where they were not as successful as their Beats of Love. Both songs did prove to be a larger success in the clubs.

Nebel was greatly overweight and was treated in a Swiss sanatorium after the success of the first album. He was also addicted to alcohol and prescription drugs and suffered from heart disease. This combination proved fatal in 1986. After the death of their front man, Nacht Und Nebel ceased to exist, although there was one final album, Songs for Ever.