Wonderland Burlesque's
Down The Rabbit Hole:
Propaganda
Down The Rabbit Hole merely places a spotlight on something slightly unusual that's caught my interest. With the help of Wikipedia, YouTube, and other sites, I gather information and learn something new.
Today, we take a look at the brief musical history of the UK's Eighth Wonder, featuring Patsy Kensit.
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From Wikipedia and other sources:
Propaganda is a German synth-pop band formed in Düsseldorf in 1982 by Ralf Dörper. As a trio, with artist Andreas Thein and vocalist Susanne Freytag, the group began recording in Germany. These tracks were destined for future release in the UK, where Ralf Dörper's early, pre-Propaganda experimental recordings had received critical acclaim by radio DJ John Peel and journalist Chris Bohn. With the inclusion of classically trained musician and composer, Michael Mertens and singer Claudia Brücken, music journalist Paul Morley signed the band to Trevor Horn's newly formed ZTT label in 1983.
The group relocated to the United Kingdom and released the single Dr. Mabuse, named after the fictional character made famous by filmmaker Fritz Lang. The single reached the Top 30 in the UK Singles Chart, and the Top 10 in Germany. To promote the single and themselves, the group appeared on various TV shows in the UK.
Before the year was out, Thein was asked to leave the band due to musical differences. With Mertens now filling the gap left by his departure, the band forged ahead with recording its follow-up single and debut album. However both of these were to be delayed as a result of the unexpectedly huge success of ZTT's Frankie Goes to Hollywood. As the label was still in its infancy, ZTT was forced to spend all its limited resources promoting and marketing Frankie Goes to Hollywood. This meant that Trevor Horn was not available to produce Propaganda's album. Stephen Lipson, one of Horn's established studio engineers, took his place. With the addition of Andy Richards playing keyboards and Lipson behind the board, Propaganda's second single, the more pop-oriented Duel, did not surface until April 1985. Perhaps the band's most recognizable release, it was also their highest-charting single in the UK, reaching #21. The band made its an appearance on Top of the Pops in June of that year.
The first week of July in 1985 finally saw the release of the band's debut album, A Secret Wish which was written by Mertens and Dörper. After receiving considerable critical acclaim and some commercial success, it climbed to #16 on the UK Albums Chart. The album was followed by another single, p:Machinery, that August. While it only reached #50 in the UK, it became a much a bigger hit in Italy, France, the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland. In addition, it was used as part of the soundtrack for an episode of the hit US TV show Miami Vice. The 12-inch version caused controversy (even within the group) as Paul Morley thought it a good idea to have the sleeve feature a quote by writer J. G. Ballard, praising the activities of the German extremist group Red Army Faction. Ariola, who distributed ZTT's releases in Germany, refused to carry the 12" as a result, so the quote was changed on the German release.
The year 1986 started positively with the single p:Machinery going #1 in Spain and entering the Top 10 in France, but ended in disaster. By late 1985, the band's management team had introduced them to the London-based music lawyer Brian Carr of Compton Carr, who had helped win the case between John Lydon (Sex Pistols/Public Image Ltd) and his management. Carr explained to the group members that under their current contracts with ZTT, they could go on making records for the rest of their lives and never make any money. Based on this information the band asked ZTT to renegotiate their contract, which the company declined.
In 1988, the band, now reduced to Ralf Dörper, Michael Mertens and Susanne Freytag, signed to Virgin, and began recording new material. The new line-up included American vocalist Betsi Miller, and members of their touring group, ex-Simple Minds bassist Derek Forbes and drummer Brian McGee (who had both actually joined the band following their split with ZTT in 1986). The result was a new album, released in 1990 called 1234, produced by former Tears for Fears' associates Ian Stanley and Chris Hughes. Dörper and Freytag's contributions to the album were quite limited with, Freytag only singing on the title track and Dörper contributing lyrics for three three tracks - Only One Word (which featured David Gilmour of Pink Floyd on guitar),Wound in My Heart, and Vicious Circle.
The first single from the album, Heaven Give Me Words, was co-written with 1980s synth-pop star Howard Jones and reached the UK Top 40. However, the album was not as successful, stalling at #46 in the UK. The second single, Only One Word, met a similar fate, stalling at #71 in the UK. This led to the group taking a hiatus.
In 1998, Mertens, Brücken, and Freytag reunited, signing an options deal with East West, and began working on new material. Several tracks were completed, including one produced by Tim Simenon and featuring Depeche Mode's Martin Gore on guitar. A video for one song, the prophetically-titled No Return, was produced in Morocco in December of 1998. Two minute clips of it, along with photos of the shoot, were released via the band's official website in early 2000. However, no album materialized and, in January 2002, Brücken announced, "The reunion was worth a try, but did not work out."
However a real reunion of the four original band members took place in November 2004, when Brücken, Dörper, Freytag and Mertens - but without Thein - performed Dr. Mabuse at a concert for the Prince's Trust which took place at Wembley Arena, celebrating 25 years of Trevor Horn's career as a successful producer.
Since that time, various configurations of former members have gotten together for special appearances and the occasional recording, including an album in 2024, featuring Dörper and Mertens.
Dr. Mabuse - Propaganda
Duel - Propaganda
p-Machinery - Propaganda
Heaven Give Me Words - Propaganda
Only Word - Propaganda
No Return - Propaganda
