Propaganda (band)
| Propaganda | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Düsseldorf, Germany |
| Genres | Synthpop, new wave, electronic |
| Years active | 1982–1990 2005–present |
| Labels | ZTT, Virgin, Amontillado Music |
| Associated acts | Die Krupps, Simple Minds, Act |
| Members | Susanne Freytag Michael Mertens Ralf Dörper |
| Past members | Andreas Thein Claudia Brücken Derek Forbes Brian McGee Betsi Miller |
Propaganda are a German synthpop group, formed in 1982. They were one of the initial roster of acts signed to Trevor Horn's ZTT label, between 1984 and 1986, during which they released the critically acclaimed album A Secret Wish.
Propaganda was formed in Düsseldorf, West Germany, in 1982, by Ralf Dörper (a member of the German industrial band Die Krupps). As a trio, with artist Andreas Thein and vocalist Susanne Freytag, the group made initial recordings in Germany which were destined for future release in the UK, where Ralf Dörper's early experimental recordings had received critical acclaim by radio DJ John Peel and journalist Biba Kopf. With the inclusion of classically trained musician and composer Michael Mertens and singer Claudia Brücken (who had worked with Freytag in her previous band, The Topolinos) music journalist Paul Morley signed the band to Trevor Horn's newly formed ZTT Records label.
The group relocated to the United Kingdom and released the single "Dr. Mabuse", named after the fictional character made famous by filmmaker Fritz Lang. The single reached Top Thirty in the UK Singles Chart, and Top Ten in Germany. The group appeared on various TV shows in the UK, including Channel 4's The Tube. Here, as well as performing "Dr. Mabuse", the group also gave one of its few performances of a cover version of Throbbing Gristle's song "Discipline".
Before the year was out, Thein was asked to leave the band due to musical differences. With Mertens now filling the gap left by his departure, the band forged ahead with recording its follow-up single and debut album. However both of these were to be delayed as a result of the unexpectedly huge success of ZTT's most famous signing, Frankie Goes to Hollywood. As the label was still in its infancy, ZTT was forced to spend all its limited resources on promoting and marketing FgtH, and this also meant that Trevor Horn was not available to produce Propaganda's album. Stephen Lipson, one of Horn's established studio engineers, took his place along with Andy Richards playing keyboards, but the delay meant that Propaganda's second single, the more pop-oriented "Duel", didn't surface until April 1985. Perhaps the band's most recognisable release, it was also their highest-charting single in the UK, reaching number 21. The band made its single appearance on the flagship BBC music programme Top of the Pops in June of that year. The song was also used as the theme music for the World Rally Championship (WRC) in 2005, the alternate version "Jewel" having also been used as the theme music for the BBC's Top Gear RAC Rally Report programmes in the late 1980s.
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