Rock In Peace, Lord Ulli!

The Lords were Germanys most popular band in the 60s. Maybe not the best, but for sure the best known one. The crown for best German 60s song probably goes to the Phantom Brothers 'Chicago', a song penned by Rattles singer Achim Reichel. But neither The Phantom Brothers nor the Rattles, nor any other German band in the 60s was as popular as the Lords were. Some say that the Rattles were Germany's best Beat band. Possible. Maybe they were better at what they were doing, closer to the English Beat and at the same time harder and more original, but I believe that the Lords at the end of the day had more success.

Founded 1959 in Berlin as the 'Skiffle-Lords' they changed their name to 'Lords' at new years eve 1962. In 1964 at the Star Club, Hamburg, they were voted best German 'Beat-Formation' and got the title of 'The German Beatles'. Between 1965 and 1969 twelve singles released by the band made it into the German charts. Between 1971 and '76 the band took a break(they split up), but since '76 they have been constantly touring, recording and appearing on TV. When I was growing up in the 70s and 80s I knew the band. I had seen them on TV and knew that they were a bunch of funny looking older men making boring music and their singer had the silly nickname 'Lord Ulli'. My whole opinion of them changed when I watched a re-run of 'Beat-Club' on German TV. 'Beat Club' was Germany's first TV show for teenagers, broadcasted between 1965 to 1972, and the bands would usually play live in the studio. A concept the station would sometimes use on the follow up show 'Musikladen', which lead to some legendary live TV performances, for example by Johnny Cash or the Ramones. That show I saw had the Lords performing a couple of songs live in the studio and I was blown away. I never liked Blues but the Lords version of John Lee Hooker's 'Boom Boom' was incredible I though.  Poor quality clip here Same goes for 'Greensleeves'. What a killer song! Move over Beatles! As usual the actual recordings of these songs are not as wild and rough, but it can't hurt to have them in your 60s collection.

10 years and 2 months ago Lord Ulli died. During a show in Postdam on the 9th of October, as part of their 40 Years Anniversary Tour, he collapsed on stage due to heart rhythm disturbances. He suffered a skull fracture with cerebral hemorrhage from the fall and died 4 days later in hospital. In an interview he once had said: 'When I die, I'd like to drop dead from stage'. The band is still active today.