Biography
With its original members, this early 1980’s cult band is back in business. Only a handful of German bands from any era have managed releases in the U.K., USA and most of Europe without actually landing a hit. Nervous Germans achieved this with bravado, signing to Vertigo in Germany, releasing albums and singles on Rondolet in Britain and Shatter Records in the States.
Their vinyl releases are still highly prized and priced ebay booty today. Nervous Germans played a string of legendary gigs in Germany, Holland, Belgium, Luxemburg, Switzerland, France and England.
At the invitation of BBC legend John Peel Nervous Germans were invited into BBC's Maida Vale Studio to record 4 tracks with producer Bob Sargeant and engineer Nick Gomm for a John Peel Session which was broadcast on 14th October 1980. A rare honour and as was heard at the time ... "not bad for a bunch of krauts".
Nervous Germans are first and foremost Australian singer Grant Stevens and German bassist and composer Micki Meuser. The band toured in varying line ups from 1979 until 1984 when it all came to an abrupt end following a festival performance that included Mitch Ryder and Aswad. Stevens and Meuser both now live in Berlin and have breathed life back into the old beast. They have found worthy partners in Gary Schmalzl on guitar and drummer Sabine Ahlbrecht who bring the right ingredients to make Nervous Germans an act to reckon with.
The 5 year history of Nervous Germans song material provides around half of the current repertoire, new songs make up the rest. One obvious conclusion on hearing the old mixed with the new is that Nervous Germans was a band ahead of its time and listening today, sounds very "now".
In summer 1984 Meuser & Stevens finally pulled the plug and Nervous Germans were no more ... until today ... the phoenix arises.
Discography
1981 - nervösen deutschen, album Vertigo
1982 - These boots are made for walking, single Rondelet
- Desolation zone, album Rondelet UK and Shatter USA
1983 - Summer of love, album Vertigo
Micki Meuser: bass, vocals
Aside from Nervous Germans Micki composes music for films with national and international success. Among the films that he created the music for are titles with Daniel Craig, Kirstin Dunst and Lynn Redgrave. Micki is also a well known music producer with acclaimed bands like Die Ärzte, Ideal, Ina Deter, Silly, Rodgau Monotones, Lemonbabies, Mitteregger and many more. He started off as a jazz musician with Charlie Mariano and Klaus Doldinger showing his skills playing bass.
Micki will use his affinity to film production and the possibility to provide films with music to feature Nervous Germans songs or instrumentals wherever possible.
www.micki-meuser.com
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Gary Schmalzl: guitar, vocals
Since 1984 resident in Berlin, Gary is the man to call when a studio guitarist or trumpet is needed. He joined Nervous Germans in 2012 and also plays with Sizer, Bela B y Los Helmstedt, Jingo de Lunch, Cora Frost, Ben Becker and, of course, his own band Speedmoik.
Grant Stevens: vocals, guitar, harp
In 1996 he recorded and wrote the lyrics to the German hit "Everlasting Friends" which was used as a TV & radio jingle for Holsten Pilsener in Europe. He has since written the lyrics to two successful musicals: "Die Schöne und das Biest" and "Robin Hood". In 2000 the unheilig album "Phosphor" was released containing the underground classic "Sage Ja!", all songs being co-written with Der Graf. In November 2012 the unheilig hit "Stark" was released with Grant again as co-author & composer. He contributed a song to the German ARD production "Contergan - Eine einzige Tablette" which won the Goldene Kamera 2008, ver.di Media prize 2008 und a Bambi prize 2007.
www.grantstevens.de
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Sabine Ahlbrecht: drums
Has been drumming in Berlin since 1987. With the bands Desert Hearts, N. Active P., Strom, Übermutter, Karras and currently All I've Got Sabine has proved her abilities in diverse music styles (eg. Hardcore, pop, rock, punk and metal). She also organizes the Berlin Allstarz Festival that’s been running annually since 1998.
She provides the rock solid back bone for Nervous Germans.
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