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michels
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Biography |
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Percewood's Onagram, a band of German and American musicians was founded by singer, guitarist & songwriter Michels in a small, grey industrial city in North-Germany in 1969.- At that time nearly all German bands were just playing the English and American charts up and down, only copying their originals. Only a handful of German bands were just starting to experiment and trying to find their own styles - mainly electronical music, later described as "Kraut-Rock" (more an insult than a striking describtion or label), such as Amon Düül, Kraftwerk, Can, Tangerine Dream ... |
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Percewood's Onagram had already found its own, original style of music and it wasn't "Kraut-Rock" at all, they sounded more like an English or American band. P. O.'s music is a strange and unique combination of R&B, Beat, Psychedelic, Folk and (garage-, livingroom-, prewave-) Rock. Catchy, timeless songs, rough and beautiful at the same time with pretentious sometimes provoking critical - but again timeless lyrics. Presented by the band in perfect English and unusual phrasing and backed up by strong acoustic & electric guitars, piano, harmonica, drums and bass. (A combination and sound of instruments that many new groups of today go back to ...) |
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On their first LP, released 1969, Alexis Korner described Percewood's Onagram's music in his liner-notes as follows: |
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"That was a strange sound - fiercely nostalgic - it had the feel of the late 20's, it had the feel of Isherwood's 'Goodbye To Berlin'. But what made it strange for me was that it also had a bit of Dylan, a bit of Jagger, a bit of The Band and a lot of you!"
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The group released between 1969 and 1974 four albums on their own label and where the first in Germany to distribute and promote independently. During this time they appeared a few times on TV, were interviewed & presented by European radio stations and played concerts in and outside Germany. But - all in all Percewood's Onagram was totally underrated, undervalued in their time. |
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The band disbanded in late 1974 but remained since then a rumor, mysterious and legendary, often quoted in press-articles & dictionarys on German-Rock up to now as "one of the most original & potential German bands", "ahead of their time", "one of the few German supergroups", "a must for Jam- & Doors fans", "a cult-band" ... etc. |
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The records and mastertapes disappeared and were rediscovered only a few months ago & now re-released. The complete songs of all four original LP's as well as rare and previously unreleased recordings. They radiate a certain magic and are documents of very early German rock-music. |
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Since the split of Percewood's Onagram leader, singer, songwriter & guitarist Michels - one of the best young german songwriters - is persecuting a successful solo-career. He recorded meanwhile 2 albums in California / USA ("Full Moon California Sunset" 1976; "Crazy Enough" 1978) and three albums in Germany, sung in german. |
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