Die Happy

Die Happy, an alternative rock quartet, came together in Ulm, Germany, in 1993. Guitarist Thorsten Mewes, bassist Julian Rosenthal, and drummer Marcus Heinzmann held auditions for singers until they settled on Czech-born Marta Jandová. The band made its live debut in spring 1994 and spent the middle of that year tracking the EP Better Than Nothing. Early 1996 brought the self-released full-length Dirty Flowers. Holger Fiesel stepped in for Heinzmann on drums ahead of the 1997 EP Promotion sessions. An appearance at the 1998 Rockstiftung unsigned band contest drew the notice of Epic/Sony A&R executives, yet negotiations collapsed; Fiesel soon exited, opening the drum seat for Jürgen Stiehle. Julian Rosenthal resigned next, and after further auditions the remaining trio recruited bassist Ralph Rieker. This lineup signed with BMG Ariola in late 1999 and delivered the major-label debut Supersonic Speed in 2001. Beautiful Morning arrived the following year. In 2003 Die Happy relocated to Los Angeles to work with hitmaking producers The Matrix on the band’s third RCA release, The Weight of the Circumstances. For the 2005 follow-up Bitter to Better, virtual unknown Udo Rinklin served as producer, though multi-platinum schlockmeister Diane Warren wrote the ballad “I Am.” No Nuts No Glory entered the German Top 30 after its 2006 release.