Element of Crime
Encyclopedia
Element of Crime is a German
rock
band
that plays melancholic chanson-, pop- and rockmusic with guitar
, bass
, drums
and voice
/trumpet
.
” (2001) (“Berlin Blues”) and as the screenplay writer of the film adaptation of “Herr Lehmann”. Regener sings and plays guitar
, trumpet
, accordion
and piano
. The band's name was borrowed from the title of the movie “The Element of Crime
” by Lars von Trier
.
While various members of the band contributed music to the songs, Regener wrote most of the lyrics - in English for the first few albums and then in German.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
that plays melancholic chanson-, pop- and rockmusic with guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
and voice
Voice
Voice may refer to:* Human voice* Voice control or voice activation* Writer's voice* Voice acting* Voice vote* Voice message-In film:* Voice , a 2005 South Korean film* The Voice , a 2010 Turkish horror film directed by Ümit Ünal...
/trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
.
Band-History
The band was founded in 1985 by Sven Regener who later became known as the author of the books “Neue Vahr Süd” (2004), “Der kleine Bruder” (2008) and “Herr LehmannHerr Lehmann
Herr Lehmann is a German novel by Sven Regener, published in 2001, adapted for the screen in 2003. It has been translated into English by John Brownjohn under the title Berlin Blues....
” (2001) (“Berlin Blues”) and as the screenplay writer of the film adaptation of “Herr Lehmann”. Regener sings and plays guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
and piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
. The band's name was borrowed from the title of the movie “The Element of Crime
The Element of Crime
The Element of Crime is the first feature film directed by noted Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier. The film, released in 1984, is also the first in the director's Europa trilogy...
” by Lars von Trier
Lars von Trier
Lars von Trier is a Danish film director and screenwriter. He is closely associated with the Dogme 95 collective, although his own films have taken a variety of different approaches, and have frequently received strongly divided critical opinion....
.
While various members of the band contributed music to the songs, Regener wrote most of the lyrics - in English for the first few albums and then in German.
Albums
- Basically Sad (1986; Polydor)
- Try to Be Mensch (1987; Polydor)
- Freedom, Love & Happiness (1988; Polydor)
- The Ballad of Jimmy & Johnny (1989; Polydor)
- Live: Crime Pays (1990; Polydor)
- Damals hinterm Mond (1991; Polydor)
- Weißes Papier (1993; Polydor)
- Dicte-moi ta loi (limited international version of Weißes Papier, 2,000 pressings; 1993; Polydor
- An einem Sonntag im April (1994; Motor Music)
- Die schönen Rosen (1996; Motor Music)
- Psycho (1999; Motor Music)
- Romantik (2001; Motor Music)
- 1985-1990 (Best Of; 2002; Motor Music)
- 1991-1996 (Best Of; 2002; Motor Music)
- Mittelpunkt der Welt (2005; Universal)
- Robert Zimmermann wundert sich über die Liebe (Original soundtrack; 2008; Universal)
- Immer da wo du bist bin ich nie (2009; Universal; GERMedia Control ChartsThe official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie...
: #2, Gold) - Fremde Federn (2010; Universal; GERMedia Control ChartsThe official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie...
: #28)
Singles
- Something Was Wrong (1987; Polydor)
- Nervous and Blue (1987; Polydor)
- Long Long Summer (1988; Polydor)
- Murder in Your Eyes” (1988; Polydor)
- The Ballad of Jimmy and Johnny (Promo-Single; 1989; Polydor)
- Satellite Town (1990; Polydor)
- Surabaya Johnny (live) (1990; Polydor)
- Mach das Licht aus, wenn Du gehst (1991; Polydor)
- Damals hinterm Mond (1992; Polydor)
- Blaulicht und Zwielicht (1992/1993; Polydor)
- Immer unter Strom (1993; Polydor)
- Schwere See (1993; Polydor)
- Sperr mich ein (1993; Polydor)
- Mehr als sie erlaubt (1993; Motor Music)
- An einem Sonntag im April (1994; Motor Music)
- Mein dein Tag (1994; Motor Music)
- Die schönen Rosen (1996; Motor Music)
- Wenn der Morgen graut (1996; Motor Music)
- Element of Crime playing the fantastic Bee Gees classic “I started a joke” (1998; Motor Music)
- Jung und schön (Promo-Single; 1999; Motor Music)
- Du hast mir gesagt (1999; Motor Music)
- Michaela sagt (1999; Motor Music)
- Irgendwo im Nirgendwo (2000; Motor Music)
- Seit der Himmel (Promo-Single; 2001; Motor Music)
- Die Hoffnung, die du bringst (Promo-Single; 2001; Motor Music)
- Delmenhorst (2005; Universal)
- Straßenbahn des Todes (2006; Universal)
Sampler and soundtrack contributions
- “Heimweh” on the soundtrack of “Die fetten Jahre sind vorbei” (2004)
- “Leider nur ein Vakuum” on “Hut ab! Hommage an Udo LindenbergUdo LindenbergUdo Lindenberg is a German rock musician and composer.-Career:Lindenberg started his musical career as a drummer. In 1969 Lindenberg founded his first band Free Orbit and also appeared as a studio and guest musician . In 1970 he collaborated as a drummer with jazz-saxophonist Klaus Doldinger in...
” - “Auf der Espressomaschine” on “The Return of the Furious Swampriders”
- “Motorcycle Song” on “Furious Swampriders”
- “My Bonnie Is Over the Ocean” and “It's All Over Now, Baby Blue” on the soundtrack of “NVA” (2005)
- “Und du wartest” and “Wenn der Morgen graut” Sex II. Sibylle BergSibylle BergSibylle Berg is a writer.In the early 1980s she applied for permission to leave the East German state, a decision which eventually meant facing severe persecution by the authorities...
, Audio-CD, Reclam, Leipzig (1999), ISBN 3-379-00771-4
External links
- Official website (German)
- Portrait at “www.laut.de” (German)
- Interview with “Crazewire Deutschland” (German)