Bachdenkel
Encyclopedia
Bachdenkel were an English
rock group which came to life in and around the King's Heath area of Birmingham
in the late 1960s, evolving out of a combo called "U No Who".
Their name was produced by computer - an innovative use of new technology in those days - and they were one of the seminal bands on the Birmingham scene during the late 1960s, which saw the development of psychedelic culture and electric rock music. They had close links with the Birmingham Arts Lab
, a venue for experimental artists of all types, and often performed with a full psychedelic light show.
Following a publicity campaign which included subverting a large department store's marketing logo and a photoshoot with a piano in a local fountain, they left the country. They subsequently found themselves in Paris
, long the refuge of revolutionary artists and artistic revolutionaries. After the events of May 1968, France was ready for new ideas and new music and English rock bands were much in vogue at the time.
Bachdenkel settled in France and over the next decade went on to produce two albums: the first of these, Lemmings, is generally regarded as their best. At times in their career, they shared the billing with Led Zeppelin
and Black Sabbath
amongst others and provided the music for a modern ballet.
Rolling Stone
magazine once called Bachdenkel "...Britain's greatest unknown group".
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
rock group which came to life in and around the King's Heath area of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
in the late 1960s, evolving out of a combo called "U No Who".
Their name was produced by computer - an innovative use of new technology in those days - and they were one of the seminal bands on the Birmingham scene during the late 1960s, which saw the development of psychedelic culture and electric rock music. They had close links with the Birmingham Arts Lab
Birmingham Arts Lab
The Birmingham Arts Laboratory or Arts Lab was an experimental arts centre and artist collective based in Birmingham, England from 1968 to 1982 – an "arts and performance space dedicated to radical research into art and creativity"...
, a venue for experimental artists of all types, and often performed with a full psychedelic light show.
Following a publicity campaign which included subverting a large department store's marketing logo and a photoshoot with a piano in a local fountain, they left the country. They subsequently found themselves in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, long the refuge of revolutionary artists and artistic revolutionaries. After the events of May 1968, France was ready for new ideas and new music and English rock bands were much in vogue at the time.
Bachdenkel settled in France and over the next decade went on to produce two albums: the first of these, Lemmings, is generally regarded as their best. At times in their career, they shared the billing with Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
and Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
amongst others and provided the music for a modern ballet.
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine once called Bachdenkel "...Britain's greatest unknown group".
Band line-up
- Colin Swinburne - Lead guitar, vocals
- Peter Kimberley - Bass guitar, vocals
- Brian Smith - Drums, vocals
- Karel Beer - 12 String guitar
Discography
- LemmingsLemmings (Bachdenkel album)Lemmings is the first studio album by British progressive rock group Bachdenkel. It was recorded over the summer of 1970 after the group relocated to France, but would not be released for nearly three years, in 1973, on Philips in France only...
(1973) - Stalingrad (1977)