Who was/is MTS ? - CDs, Vinyl LPs, DVD and more
MTS
In the GDR until 1959, MTS were called machine tractor stations in agriculture. When a song cabaret founded at the end of 1973 in East Berlin around the lyricist, singer and caricaturist Thomas Schmitt (born 1951 in Berlin) also called itself MTS, it was a gag. The group gave various explanations for the origin of its name, such as the initials of the names of the founding members (Melzer, Treichel, Schmitt) or prominent characteristics, namely courage, zest for action and beauty. This outlined the field on which the group moved from then on: satire, stupidity, limericks, parodies. The influence of Schobert & Black was unmistakable. The group began performing in the singing movement, and as early as July 1974 it was a regular guest at the quarterly matinee 'Hier um 11' at Berlin's Friedrichstadtpalast. 10 bad drivers became her first 'hit' (1975 on Amiga single).
MTS were very successful with their stupid games, but sometimes they were resented by responsible officials. As the saying goes: "At the entrance of every department store there is a hammer. "You can forget what you actually wanted to buy." The song "So was placiert" (So what placiert) was accompanied by the lines: "I had a nice place right next to the kitchen door / A picture of the Secretary General hung over me". For the record recording in 1981 the 'picture of the secretary general' had to be exchanged for the 'best table of last year'.
MTS worked freelance from 1975, often performed with Bettina Wegner and toured together with the rock groups Karat, 4 PS and Hansi Biebl Band. In 1977 the first LP of the group was released and in 1986 the live album 'Erste Komische Interessengemeinschaft' was released, together with the band Possenspiel. From 1982 to 1991 Thomas Schmitt was also active as a presenter, singer and draughtsman in the children's television series '1-2-3, Allerlei'.
At the beginning of the 1990s, MTS, like many East German artists, lost its audience because it was "busy getting to know the rest of the world, including the employment offices. In 1993, however, "in time for the 20th anniversary of the ensemble", it was back and the group continued. Under the motto 'Macabre, tactless but clean' she now also played new songs like 10 Minister or Kost the Ost. The artists today speak gratefully of their audience "which has now remained loyal to them over two currency conversions".
www.gruppe-mts.de
Extract from
Various - songwriter in Germany
Vol.3, For whom we sing (3-CD)
/various-songwriter-in-Germany-vol.3-for-who-who-we-sing-3-cd.html
Copyright © Bear Family Records®. Copying, also of extracts, or any other form of reproduction, including the adaptation into electronic data bases and copying onto any data mediums, in English or in any other language is permissible only and exclusively with the written consent of Bear Family Records® GmbH.