Guano Apes

The German alt-rock quartet Guano Apes brings together vocalist Sandra Nasic, guitarist Henning Rümenapp, bassist Stefan Ude, and drummer Dennis Poschwatta. Prior to Nasic’s arrival, Ude, Rümenapp, and Poschwatta had already spent time performing as a unit; her inclusion allowed the band to claim first place at the 1996 “Local Heroes” event staged by VIVA, Germany’s music television outlet. Their blend of metal, pop, and rap edged past more than 1,000 entrants, after which the debut single “Open Your Eyes” reached the German Top Ten that same year and logged thirty weeks inside the Top 100. VIVA’s repeated airplay of the accompanying video led Guano Apes to a contract with Gun Records, which issued the full-length album Proud Like a God in 1997. Commissioned for the 1998 European Snowboarding Championship, the follow-up single “Lord of the Boards” achieved still greater success and elevated the album to platinum certification in Germany plus gold status across additional European markets. In 1999 RCA brought Proud Like a God to American audiences.