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Michels Biography |
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In May 1968 a very young German musician named Michels with the pseudonym "One Plus None" landed the amazing coup of a #2 BBC London chart smash with "Desert Walker", a song he produced himself, topped only by the Rolling Stones at #1. Alexis Korner, the extraordinary guy who discovered the Stones and "the father of white blues" then invited Michels to London and took him under his wing. |
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In the early 70's Michels, as singer and guitarist of the psychedelic rock band "Percewood's Onagram", caused a sensation as the first German indie band and produced four albums with lyrics and music all by Michels. After the band split up, Michels returned to London where he appeared at the legendary Marquee Club, among others. |
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Later he moved to San Francisco, where he, as the first German musician in California/USA, recorded two solo albums in collaboration with Neil Young producer & engineer John Nowland, both of which attained cult status. For the album "Full Moon California Sunset" Michels was awarded the "Deutschen Schallplattenpreis", the "German Record Prize", the predecessor of the Echo Award, in 1978. |
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In the mid-Eighties Michels released three excellent, trendsetting solo albums with German lyrics, produced in collaboration with the famous German artist Rio Reiser. Various singles followed and finally in 1990 the hit "Dancin' On The Edge Of Life". The song held a position in the German charts for weeks and in the Nineties several albums by Michels & Percewood's Onagram appeared as CD's. |
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In 2003 Warner Strategic Marketing/Warner Music Germany released the complete Michels/Percewood's Onagram album collection as digitally remastered CD's, with rare and previously unreleased bonus tracks. Furthermore two Best Of albums were released. In the same year the famous German punk/hiphop band "Fettes Brot" scored a chart hit with the Michels/Reiser track "Ich bin müde" ("I'm tired"). The prestigious national daily newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung praised it as one of the best songs of the year. |
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The very best, however, came in 2008 with the release of Michels' new studio album "Zu Hause" ("At Home"). 14 new songs of various genres with German lyrics were recorded with young musicians from the Hamburg Home Studio of Franz Plasa. The album reaped the praise not only of fans and the media, but even German's legendary very-first rock star Udo Lindenberg tipped his hat: "Smash record, a treat for your ears, lots of surprises - I tip my hat. Fantastic LP - world class. Power On!" The reputable music magazine "Musikexpress" claimed the release to be a surprise comeback for the exceptional musician Michels: "A dozen songs for eternity!" In August 2008 and June 2009 he peformed as Special Guest for the whole Neil Young Germany Tour. In 2009 and 2010 his many concert and television activities continue. German TV is recording and filming a complete concert in Bonn on March 17th 2010 for the legendary WDR “Rockpalast” – show “Crossroads”. Right now singer/songwriter Michels is at the studio recording his new songs. A new album is planned for 2012…Warner Music US released eight albums by Michels and his former band Percewood’s Onagram on October 25th 2011 in the USA, Canada & South America. |
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October 2011 |
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© Warner Music Group Germany |
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