INTRODUCTION TO THE CHRIS GARLAND ARCHIVE: BACKTRAX 1977 - 2008
HISTORY
1977: KRAFTWERK - TRANS EUROPE EXPRESS
1977: PRINCE FAR I - UNDER HEAVY MANNERS
1980: STARSHIP AFRICA - CREATION REBEL
1980: THE SLITS - ‘MAN NEXT DOOR’
1981: HUNGRY SO ANGRY / FURTHER THAN FUNK DREAM - MEDIUM MEDIUM
1982: MINISTRY - COLD LIFE / WORK FOR LOVE + EARLY 80S VIDEO 'THE REAL AL'!
1984/5: U-BAHNX - YOUNG HEARTS OF EUROPE/KISS OF DEATH/HOLD BACK THE TEARS
1987: THE TRASH GROOVE GIRLS
1987: WASCH! HOMO SUPERIOR / HOLY PLACES
1987 - 1988: M.E.L.T. RADIOACTIVITY / SEX O MATIC
1990: I.G.L.U. - JE T’AIME. BLACK OUT RECORDS / FORCE INC - FRANKFURT - ACHIM SZPANSKI
1996
At this point I received a phone call from an old friend of mine called PETER BLYTON, an Australian producer who had had huge success in the States with Platinum Album rock bands like THE CHOIRBOYS. Peter had relocated to Europe and had started a production company and studio complex near DÜSSELDORF with a German partner. The next thing I know I found myself signed to a production deal, this was very much against my better instincts, as at this point I was trying to stay away from the music industry, but Peter was very persuasive. It was at this point that I met the excellent and incredibly talented RALF KAPPMEIER, who along with my PSYCHEDELIC MANIFESTO PARTNER RENÉ STEUNS, is one of the nicest and most talented people I have ever met or worked with, a real gentleman in fact. Kappi was the studio engineer/producer, as well as being a director of the company.
1997: THE DISKOWALKÜREN
1998: SYSTEM DE LA MODE
1999: FEDERAL REPUBLIC
2000: ZONK / ZONKFACTORY
2001: THE VIRTUAL ORCHESTRA
2002: DUFT
2002 - 2003: THE BLUE VOID - ACID POP CANDY
2005: P-KOMMANDO
2006: MINISTRY VIDEO
2006: THE POETS OF NOW
2008: MANIFESTO
So this has been a musical history spread over thirty years, it has I must say been quite journey for me, revisiting both good and not so good memories. I have obviously been selective about what is featured here, some things I would like to have included are not featured as I know longer have the tracks/masters or indeed know where they are. However perhaps other things will turn up and can be included at a later date. Looking back on me, in those days, hmmmm! I'm not sure! Certainly a very different person (one hopes) to the one I am today! And probably more convinced about myself than I should have been! Anyway, I hope this 'history lesson' is interesting and entertaining, it certainly has been for me!