History

Former German punk rock

Punk rock

Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...

 great Marcus Wiebusch of ...But Alive

...But Alive

...But Alive was a German punk rock band, which was founded in 1992 in Hamburg. Most of their lyrics were very political. When they announced their breakup in 1999, because of musical and personal differences, they consisted of the following members:...

 and bass player Reimer Bustorff, who were both members of ska

Ska

Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...

 band Rantanplan, decided in 2001 to break away from punk's and ska's traditions of aggressive, political lyrics in favor of developing a more emotional, laid-back style. Together with Erik Langer (guitar), Frank Tirado-Rosales (percussion) and Marcus' brother Lars Wiebusch (keyboard), they formed Kettcar as a guitar pop group exploring the experiences of grown men in their lyrics.

When they failed in finding a label to publish their finished first album "Du und wieviel von deinen Freunden", Marcus Wiebusch and Bustorff banded together with Tomte

Tomte (band)

Tomte is an indie band from Hamburg in Germany. Their lyrics are almost completely in German and their sound could be described as guitar pop with some punk influences. The group may be considered to be a part of the “Hamburger Schule” on the basis of the band Tocotronic's influence on their work...

-singer Thees Uhlmann and formed the independent music label Grand Hotel van Cleef

Grand Hotel van Cleef

Grand Hotel van Cleef is an independent record label headquartered in Hamburg, Germany.- Label history:Grand Hotel van Cleef was founded in 2002 by Thees Uhlmann, Marcus Wiebusch and Reimer Bustorff...

 out of Wiebusch's own B.A.-Records and Uhlmann's label Hotel van Cleef. In early 2002 "Du und..." became the first record to be released by the new label. Its success, while still moderate, exceeded expectations by far and Kettcar became darlings of the German music press.

Today the label is successful in Germany, having signed a number of other independent artists and releasing LPs from such acts as Death Cab for Cutie

Death Cab for Cutie

Death Cab for Cutie is an American alternative rock band formed in Bellingham, Washington in 1997. The band consists of Ben Gibbard , Chris Walla , Nick Harmer and Jason McGerr ....

 in Germany, and takes up most of the band members' time. But they managed to record and release the even more successful second album "Von Spatzen und Tauben, Dächern und Händen". Their third album Sylt

Sylt

Sylt is an island in northern Germany, part of Nordfriesland district, Schleswig-Holstein, and well known for the distinctive shape of its shoreline. It belongs to the North Frisian Islands and is the largest island in North Frisia...

was released on April 18, 2008.

Albums

• Du und wieviel von deinen Freunden (2002) (You and how many of your friends)
  1. Volle Distanz (Full Distance)
  2. Ausgetrunken (Drunk Up)
  3. Money left to burn
  4. Wäre er echt (If he were real)
  5. Landungsbrücken raus (Landungsbrücken [an area of Hamburg's waterfront] Out)
  6. Balkon gegenüber (The Balcony Across)
  7. Jenseits der Bikinilinie (Beyond the Bikini-line)
  8. Lattenmessen (Dick waving contest)
  9. Im Taxi weinen (Crying inside a Taxicab)
  10. Hiersein (Being here)
  11. Ich danke der Academy (I thank the Academy)

• Von Spatzen und Tauben, Dächern und Händen (2005) (Of sparrows, pigeons, Roofs and hands)
  1. Deiche (Levies)
  2. Die Ausfahrt zum Haus deiner Eltern (The exit to your parents' house)
  3. 48 Stunden (48 hours)
  4. Einer (One)
  5. Tränengas im High-End-Leben (Teargas in High-End-Life)
  6. Balu
  7. Stockhausen, Bill Gates und ich (Stockhausen, Bill Gates and Me)
  8. Anders als gedacht (Different to what you thought)
  9. Die Wahrheit ist, man hat uns nichts getan (The truth is, no-one did anything to us)
  10. Handyfeuerzeug gratis dazu (Cellphone-Lighter thrown in)
  11. Nacht (Night)

• Sylt (2008)
  1. Graceland
  2. Nullsummenspiel (Zero-Sum-Game)
  3. Am Tisch (At the table)
  4. Kein Außen mehr (No outside anymore)
  5. Wir müssen das nicht tun (We don't have to do this)
  6. Fake For Real'
  7. Geringfügig, Befristet, Raus (Negligible, limited, out)
  8. Agnostik für Anfänger (Agnosticism for beginners)
  9. Verraten (Betrayal)
  10. Dunkel (Dark)
  11. Würde (Dignity)
  12. Wir werden nie enttäuscht werden (We'll never be disappointed)

EPs

• Solang die dicke Frau noch singt, ist die Oper nicht zu Ende (2002)
  1. Ausgetrunken
  2. Wäre er echt
  3. Hauptsache glauben
  4. Genauer betrachtet

Singles

• Deiche (May 2005)
  1. Deiche
  2. Strangeways (Rough Mix)
  3. Volle Distanz (Live in Bremen)
  4. Musik sollte immer ein schönes Hobby bleiben

• 48 Stunden (February 2005)
  1. 48 Stunden
  2. Die längste Zeit, die du verbringst
  3. Wieso eigentlich Indie-Charts, Digger?

• Landungsbrücken raus (2003)
  1. Landungsbrücken raus
  2. Hauptsache glauben
  3. Genauer betrachtet
  4. Landungsbrücken raus

External links

• Official Website
• Band owned record label