Biography
Torfrock, a classic rock outfit hailing from northern Germany, came together toward the close of the 1970s. After suspending activities indefinitely in 1982, the group later reunited and built a strong following through live performances.
Klaus Büchner and Raymond Voß formed the band in 1976 with the goal of delivering classic rock in German, drawing on plainspoken northern humor and avoiding any lofty pretensions. The two singers and multi-instrumentalists took cues from American and British classic rock acts, incorporating German-language versions of “Hey Joe,” “Summertime Blues,” “Carol,” “The Wind Cries Mary,” and “Let's Work Together” into their early sets. Most of their output, however, consisted of original songs, accompanied by the development of their own lore, die Torfmoorholmer Legende.
Reinhard Heinrichs on percussion, Gunnar Kämmer on drums, and Thomas Rieckmann on bass completed the lineup soon after formation. This configuration produced the 1977 album Dat Matscht So Schön, which contained key tracks central to the Torfmoorholm mythology.
The band kept up a steady recording schedule with Rata-Ta-Zong in 1978, Torfrockball im Hühnerstall in 1979, Vierter Versuch in 1980, and Mein Gott, Sind Wir Begabt in 1982 before Büchner and Voß placed the project on hold to explore separate paths.
Büchner found success as half of the schlager duo Klaus & Klaus alongside Klaus Baumgart, beginning with the 1981 single “Da Steht ein Pferd auf'm Flur” and continuing through albums such as An der Nordseeküste (1982), Tierisch Menschlich (1985), Schwer Ist der Beruf (1986), Wir Feiern Wieder Feste (1987), and Die Herzensbotschaft (1990).
Voß, for his part, launched the rock band Eltern Haften für Ihre Kinder and released a self-titled album.
Torfrock regrouped in 1988; Rieckmann left the following year and was succeeded on bass by Uwe Meitzner. Their return yielded the 1990 album ...Alle an die Ruder!, which featured “Beinhart,” a number-one single in Germany and a Top 20 hit in Austria and Switzerland.
The resurgence continued with a tour captured on the live album Aufe Beinharte Tour (1991) and its accompanying video, plus the 1992 release Torfrock Oder Watt?, which offered remixes of 17 fan favorites.
Activity remained intermittent thereafter, with new studio albums appearing every couple of years, among them Goiler Tonträger (1994) and Rockerkuddl (1996). The band largely settled into cult status, resulting in fewer studio releases, greater focus on concerts, and compilations such as the three-CD Beinhart: Alle Hits (2000).
Another return arrived with Einigkeit und Blech und Freizeit (2001), the first new album in five years and a celebration of the band’s 25th anniversary. The ensuing tour was documented on the live album Die Beinharte Bagaluten-Wiehnacht (2002) and its video release. Torfrock continued to perform live from time to time, drawing crowds that reflected the group’s enduring cult appeal.
Klaus Büchner and Raymond Voß formed the band in 1976 with the goal of delivering classic rock in German, drawing on plainspoken northern humor and avoiding any lofty pretensions. The two singers and multi-instrumentalists took cues from American and British classic rock acts, incorporating German-language versions of “Hey Joe,” “Summertime Blues,” “Carol,” “The Wind Cries Mary,” and “Let's Work Together” into their early sets. Most of their output, however, consisted of original songs, accompanied by the development of their own lore, die Torfmoorholmer Legende.
Reinhard Heinrichs on percussion, Gunnar Kämmer on drums, and Thomas Rieckmann on bass completed the lineup soon after formation. This configuration produced the 1977 album Dat Matscht So Schön, which contained key tracks central to the Torfmoorholm mythology.
The band kept up a steady recording schedule with Rata-Ta-Zong in 1978, Torfrockball im Hühnerstall in 1979, Vierter Versuch in 1980, and Mein Gott, Sind Wir Begabt in 1982 before Büchner and Voß placed the project on hold to explore separate paths.
Büchner found success as half of the schlager duo Klaus & Klaus alongside Klaus Baumgart, beginning with the 1981 single “Da Steht ein Pferd auf'm Flur” and continuing through albums such as An der Nordseeküste (1982), Tierisch Menschlich (1985), Schwer Ist der Beruf (1986), Wir Feiern Wieder Feste (1987), and Die Herzensbotschaft (1990).
Voß, for his part, launched the rock band Eltern Haften für Ihre Kinder and released a self-titled album.
Torfrock regrouped in 1988; Rieckmann left the following year and was succeeded on bass by Uwe Meitzner. Their return yielded the 1990 album ...Alle an die Ruder!, which featured “Beinhart,” a number-one single in Germany and a Top 20 hit in Austria and Switzerland.
The resurgence continued with a tour captured on the live album Aufe Beinharte Tour (1991) and its accompanying video, plus the 1992 release Torfrock Oder Watt?, which offered remixes of 17 fan favorites.
Activity remained intermittent thereafter, with new studio albums appearing every couple of years, among them Goiler Tonträger (1994) and Rockerkuddl (1996). The band largely settled into cult status, resulting in fewer studio releases, greater focus on concerts, and compilations such as the three-CD Beinhart: Alle Hits (2000).
Another return arrived with Einigkeit und Blech und Freizeit (2001), the first new album in five years and a celebration of the band’s 25th anniversary. The ensuing tour was documented on the live album Die Beinharte Bagaluten-Wiehnacht (2002) and its video release. Torfrock continued to perform live from time to time, drawing crowds that reflected the group’s enduring cult appeal.
Albums
Nachtschweiss
2009
Einigkeit Und Blech Und Freizeit
2006
Beinhart
2006
Mein Gott, Sind Wir Begabt
1982
Vierter Versuch
1980
Torfrockball Im Hühnerstall
1979
Rata-ta-Zong
1978
...Dat Matscht so Schön
1977
Singles
