Agitation Free Last (CD)

Agitation Free was formed in 1967 through the merger of two Berlin rock bands. In April 1972, the band, consisting of Lutz Ulbrich, Michael Günther, Jörg Schwenke, Michael Hoenig, and Burghard Rausch, went on tour through Egypt, Lebanon, Cyprus, and Greece at the invitation of the Goethe Institute. The diverse impressions of this trip were reflected in their first album, “Malesch.” Extensive activities brought the band steadily increasing popularity throughout Europe. Agitation Free performed in the cultural program of the Olympic Games in Munich in the summer of 1972, toured France for two months in early 1973, performed at the “German Rock Super Concert” in Frankfurt in May, produced their second album “2nd,” and then went on tour through France and major German cities.
Both SFB and WDR broadcast portraits and live concerts. In 1974, signs of fatigue began to spread among the band, leading to their temporary breakup at the end of the year after a farewell concert. In retrospect, it became clear that the experimental circle Agitation Free was one of the most important bands of the “Berlin School” and, beyond that, a career springboard for several German musicians. Christopher Franke, for example, helped the band Tangerine Dream achieve worldwide recognition.
 Michael Hoenig worked with Klaus Schulze and Tangerine Dream before becoming known as a film composer in Hollywood after releasing a solo album (including the soundtrack for 9 1/2 Weeks). Axel Genrich moved to Guru Guru, and Burghard Rausch became a founding member of Bel Ami.
 Gustl Lütjens toured with Shirley Bassey and Nena and later found a large audience, especially in the USA, with his New Age band Living Mirrors. Lutz “Lüül” Ulbrich joined Ashra, worked with ex-Velvet Underground singer Nico, produced solo records in addition to theater music, and has been celebrating success with the 17 Hippies since the late 1990s.
tion Free was one of the leading representatives of German experimental rock music in the early 70s. From the end of 1967, the Berlin band developed long instrumental improvisations that were unusually free for the time.
They achieved cult status as early as 1972 with an independent mixture of improvised rock paired with electro, ethno, jazz and trance elements.

Extensive live activities made the band increasingly well-known throughout Europe. In the summer of 1972, the group appeared in the cultural program of the Olympic Games in Munich, toured France for two months at the beginning of 1973, performed at the "German Rock Super Concert" in Frankfurt in May, produced the second album "2nd" and then went on tour through France and major German cities.

In 1974, the band began to show signs of fatigue, which led to their temporary break-up at the end of the year after a farewell concert. Although a series of albums (with recordings from 1972 to 1974) were released after the group disbanded and the studio album "River Of Return" was released in 1999, it was almost 35 years before the original band reunited for concerts. In February 2007, Agitation Free gave a series of concerts in Tokyo's "Shibuya O'West" with the original line-up from 1974.

Looking back, it is clear that the experimental circle Agitation Free was one of the most important bands of the "Berlin School" and also a springboard for the careers of several German musicians. Christopher Franke, for example, helped the band Tangerine Dream achieve worldwide recognition. Michael Hoenig worked with Klaus Schulze and Tangerine Dream before he became known as a film composer after a solo album in Hollywood (including the film music for the blockbuster "9 1 / 2 Weeks" with Kim Basinger and Mickey Rourke). Axel Genrich moved to Guru Guru, Burghard Rausch became a founding member of Bel Ami. Gustl Lütjens toured with Shirley Bassey and Nena and later found a large audience with his new-age band Living Mirrors, especially in the USA. Lutz "Lüül" Ulbrich joined Ashra, worked with ex-Velvet Underground singer Nico, produced solo records alongside theater music and has been celebrating success with the 17 Hippies since the end of the 90s. This studio album "Momentum" was recorded by Michael Hoenig (keyb, syn, el. perc), Burghard Rausch (dr, el. per), Lutz Graf-Ulbrich ((git, acc. git, bj), Gustl Lütjens (git acc. git, vocals) and Daniel Cordes (b, syn).