Gabi Delgado

Vocalist and lyricist Gabi Delgado, born Gabi Delgado-Lopez, supplied the core creative force behind Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft, also known as DAF and D.A.F., an experimental venture uniting German and American musicians. Between 1979 and 1982 the ensemble issued six striking albums and, following its 1986 reunion, kept pushing into fresh sonic territories. The project took shape after Delgado encountered sequencer and drummer Robert Görl—who had previously fronted multiple punk outfits—in 1977. The pair decided to combine their efforts and, two years afterward, captured the debut release Produkt der Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft. Issued only in Germany, that collection contained twenty-two brief, untitled instrumental pieces. After moving to London the band played its inaugural show at the Marquee Club. They next signed to the independent Mute imprint and issued the single “Kebabtraume,” though lineup changes soon followed. As a duo they recorded their first Mute album, Die Kleinen und die Bösen. Even after moving to the major Virgin label for the 1981 third album Alles Ist Gut, Delgado and Görl remained disappointed by modest sales. They then delivered what they viewed as their last effort, Für Immer, in 1982 and parted ways, with Delgado pursuing work alongside Delkom. A short-lived reunion occurred in 1985, yet the partnership did not solidify until 1994, when Berlin DJ Wotan Wilke persuaded them to reconvene permanently and bassist Teo Schulte joined the fold. Since that return the group has appeared under the names DAF Dos and OPD Operation DAF.