Potsch Potschka

Born in Germany in 1952, Bernhard "Potsch" Potschka grew up surrounded by the constant presence of refined classical music within his family home. While attending high school, he focused on classical piano and cello. Exposure to pirate radio broadcasts, which introduced him to pop, beat, and later rock, altered the course he had anticipated.

At roughly 16 he took up the electric guitar and joined the small local rock group Pozzokko. In 1973 he left his birthplace of Würzburg for Berlin and began working with his first professional outfit, Lok Kreuzberg. The German band continued for several years, yet political themes in their rock output led to heavy censorship and restricted airplay on radio and television.

After the group disbanded in 1977, three former members remained active and invited Nina Hagen to join their fusion/rock/pop project. The resulting quartet issued two albums, Nina Hagen Band and Unbehagen, before Hagen departed; these recordings earned the musicians widespread attention.

Reduced again to a trio, they adopted the name Spliff. A series of strong releases elevated Spliff among the leading European rock acts. Once that band concluded, Potschka formed Froon and later collaborated with Perxon.

He relocated to Spain in 1986, where he recorded with the flamenco ensemble SOS. He also established his own studio and deepened his involvement in production, handling albums for groups such as Critos De Guerra.

Choosing a solo path in 1994, Potschka devoted two years to his first album, The Journey. Released in 1996 by Earthtone Records, the debut draws from the range of styles he had previously explored and includes the tracks "Follow the Dream of Life" and "The Day Is Done."

Late in 1998 he issued a second album, Vamos, which features 14 tracks. One year afterward came the third release, Sahara.