Herman Rarebell
Encyclopedia
Herman 'Ze German' Rarebell (born November 18, 1949 as Hermann Erbel) is a German
drummer
, best known for his time in the band Scorpions
from 1977 to 1995, playing on 8 studio albums. Rarebell's English was the best in the band at the time of his joining and he was an important composer in the history of the group, writing classic songs like "Another Piece of Meat", "Falling in Love" and the second single from Savage Amusement
"Passion Rules the Game". He wrote the lyrics for some of the most classic songs of the band like "Rock You Like a Hurricane", "Make It Real", "Dynamite", "Blackout", "Arizona", "Bad Boys Running Wild", "Don't Stop at the Top", "Tease Me Please Me" and other.
In 1982 he released his first solo album Nip in the Bud (which he re-recorded as Herman ze German & Friends with the help of some friends of his as guest, such as members of Dokken
, Great White
, Ratt
etc.) He remains the only member of the Scorpions to have released a solo project while still a full member of the band.
Later on, he co-created Monaco Records with Prince Albert of Monaco
.
He participated in the Drum Legends project with his friend Pete York
(ex Spencer Davis Group
) and Jazz drummer Charly Antolini
and released a live CD & DVD.
On August 3, 2006 he joined the Scorpions onstage at the Wacken Open Air
Festival, as a special guest along with Ulrich Roth
and Michael Schenker
.
Rarebell released I'm Back in June 2007 on Mausoleum Records
, with touring in the United States, Europe and Japan.
In 2009 Herman returned with his new band Herman Ze German to perform at Rocklahoma. HZG featured Herman with guitarist Duke Jackson of Strikforce, bassist Joe Council of PUSH
, and singer Timexx nasty of Drivin Rain and Beggars Jury. Herman Rarebell signed with Dark Star Records in 2010.
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...
drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
, best known for his time in the band Scorpions
Scorpions (band)
Scorpions are a heavy metal/hard rock band from Hannover, Germany, formed in 1965 by guitarist Rudolf Schenker, who is the band's only constant member. They are known for their 1980s rock anthem "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and many singles, such as "No One Like You", "Send Me an Angel", "Still...
from 1977 to 1995, playing on 8 studio albums. Rarebell's English was the best in the band at the time of his joining and he was an important composer in the history of the group, writing classic songs like "Another Piece of Meat", "Falling in Love" and the second single from Savage Amusement
Savage Amusement
Savage Amusement is the tenth studio album by the German heavy metal band Scorpions, released in 1988. It peaked at #5 in the USA where it became platinum on June 20, 1988. It was also the last Scorpions record to be produced by Dieter Dierks....
"Passion Rules the Game". He wrote the lyrics for some of the most classic songs of the band like "Rock You Like a Hurricane", "Make It Real", "Dynamite", "Blackout", "Arizona", "Bad Boys Running Wild", "Don't Stop at the Top", "Tease Me Please Me" and other.
In 1982 he released his first solo album Nip in the Bud (which he re-recorded as Herman ze German & Friends with the help of some friends of his as guest, such as members of Dokken
Dokken
Dokken is an American heavy metal and hard rock band formed in 1978. They split up in 1989 but reformed four years later. The group accumulated numerous charting singles and has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide...
, Great White
Great White
Great White is an American hard rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1978. The band gained popularity during the 1980s and early 1990s. The band released several albums in the late 1980s and gained airplay on MTV with music videos for songs like "Once Bitten, Twice Shy"...
, Ratt
Ratt
Ratt is an American heavy metal band that had significant commercial success in the 1980s. The band is best known for songs such as "Round and Round," "Wanted Man," "Lay It Down," "You're in Love", "Slip of the Lip", "Back For More", "Dance", "Body Talk", "I Want a Woman", and "Way Cool Jr." Ratt...
etc.) He remains the only member of the Scorpions to have released a solo project while still a full member of the band.
Later on, he co-created Monaco Records with Prince Albert of Monaco
Albert II, Prince of Monaco
Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco is the head of the House of Grimaldi and the ruler of the Principality of Monaco. He is the son of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and the American actress Grace Kelly...
.
He participated in the Drum Legends project with his friend Pete York
Pete York
Pete York is a rock drummer who has been performing since the 1960s.-Early life:...
(ex Spencer Davis Group
Spencer Davis Group
The Spencer Davis Group was a mid-1960s British beat group from Birmingham, England, formed by Spencer Davis with Steve Winwood and his brother Muff Winwood...
) and Jazz drummer Charly Antolini
Charly Antolini
Charly Antolini is a Swiss jazz drummer.Antolini started playing the traditional Swiss Basler drum and in 1956 went to Paris where he played with Sidney Bechet, Bill Coleman among others, and playing in the Oldtime Jazz Band "The Tremble Kids" with trumpeter Oscar Klein and clarinettist Werner...
and released a live CD & DVD.
On August 3, 2006 he joined the Scorpions onstage at the Wacken Open Air
Wacken Open Air
Wacken Open Air is a summer open air heavy metal music festival. It takes place annually in the small town of Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany...
Festival, as a special guest along with Ulrich Roth
Ulrich Roth
Ulrich Roth , more commonly known as Uli Jon Roth, is a Germanguitarist and one of the earliest contributors to the neo-classical metal genre. He is also the founder of Sky Academy and inventor of the Sky Guitar. He is the older brother of fellow guitarist and artist Zeno Roth.-Career:In the early...
and Michael Schenker
Michael Schenker
Michael Schenker is a German rock guitarist, best known for his tenure in UFO, in addition to his solo band. He first rose to fame as a founding member of the Scorpions, then achieved fame in the mid 1970s as the lead guitar player for UFO. Since leaving UFO in 1978, he has been leading the...
.
Rarebell released I'm Back in June 2007 on Mausoleum Records
Mausoleum Records
Mausoleum Records is a Belgian-based heavy metal label headed by Alfie Falckenbach, once considered by Billboard as "one of Europe's premier hard rock labels".-Recording artists:-External links:* * at Spirit of Metal...
, with touring in the United States, Europe and Japan.
In 2009 Herman returned with his new band Herman Ze German to perform at Rocklahoma. HZG featured Herman with guitarist Duke Jackson of Strikforce, bassist Joe Council of PUSH
Push
-Music:* Push , an album by Bros* Push , a Belgian disc jockey born Mike Dierickx* Push , an album by Gruntruck* "Push" , a song by Enrique Iglesias...
, and singer Timexx nasty of Drivin Rain and Beggars Jury. Herman Rarebell signed with Dark Star Records in 2010.
Discography
- 1981 - Nip in the Bud
- 1986 - Herman Ze German
- 1986 - Herman Ze German And Friends (Single) Wipe Out b/w Pancake
- 2005 - Drum Legends(Rarebell/York/Antolini)
- 2007 - I’m Back (released in Germany, not distributed in the US)
- 2008 - My Life as a Scorpion
- 2008- Herman's Collection (Best of solos)
- 2010- Herman Ze German + My life as a Scorpion Box set
- 2010- HZG- "Top of the Rock" (Single)
- 2010- Take It As It Comes (US version of "I’m Back")