Search - Grobschnitt :: Illegal

The 1980 album Illegal again was a major caesura in Grobschnitt s history. Two important events had happened: On one hand it was decided to get on without bass player Popo Hunter, who had been a member since 1975 and the other was the ability to set up a professional recording studio on the farm Grobschnitt rented near Wuppertal, due to the considerable wealth Eroc had attained from the solo hit Wolkenreise . And on the farm there was the best technical equipment waiting for Grobschnitt to use after locking themselves in the barn to produce the next record completely on their own. The rehearsal discipline had been greatly increased. From now on Grobschnitt met daily at 11:00 A.M. to join rehearsals until late at night, which was the time to discuss, to argue and to allow the improvisational flow of their creativity. It was a dreamlike situation for any band: raising noise and fooling around without anybody setting limits. This laid back atmosphere leads through the whole record and it also enriched the Illegal Tour, taking the band all across Germany in Spring and Autumn of 1981.

It s not necessary to mention that the album got a very special but not unusual touch due to that way of working. The popularity of this record gives the proof up to this day it s the best selling Grobschnitt record, aside of Rockpommel s Land and Solar Music Live . And it goes without saying that Eroc whipped up the best sound out of these recordings with the new digital technique after 28 years.