Nitzer Ebb

Nitzer Ebb
Nitzer Ebb Concert in Los Angeles, October 2019. Left to Right: David Gooday, Simon Granger, Bon Harris and Douglas McCarthy
Background information
Origin	Chelmsford, Essex, England[1][2]
Genres	EBM, industrial dance, electronic, industrial rock (1990s)
Years active	1982–1995, 2006–present
Labels	Mute Records Geffen Records (US)
Members	Bon Harris Douglas McCarthy David Gooday Simon Granger
Past members	Jason Payne Duc Nhan Nguyen Julian Beeston

Nitzer Ebb (/ˈnaɪtsər ɛb, ˈnɪt-/) are an English EBM group formed in 1982 by Essex school friends Vaughan "Bon" Harris (programming, synthesizers, drums, vocals), Douglas McCarthy (vocals), and David Gooday (drums). The band were originally named La Comédie De La Mort but soon discarded that and chose the name Nitzer Ebb by cutting up words and letters and arranging them randomly to create something Germanic without using actual German words.^[3]

History

Initial releases (1983–1987)

The group released their demo Basic Pain Procedure in 1983,^[4] but it was two years until they met PWL producer Phil Harding, who produced their 1985 debut single "Isn't It Funny How Your Body Works?" and helped them set up their own label, Power Of Voice Communications. The band at the time was inspired by the post-punk scene and specifically acts like "Siouxsie and the Banshees, Killing Joke and Bauhaus who were having a big influence on us, in some ways stylistically but also in the energy that they gave".^[5]

They released three more singles on their own label, "Warsaw Ghetto" (1985), "Warsaw Ghetto Remixes" (1986) and "Let Your Body Learn" (1986), before signing to Mute Records in 1986. The singles "Murderous" (1986) and "Let Your Body Learn" (1987) followed, building their reputation in the Industrial Rock and EBM scenes,^[6] as well as making inroads into the developing Chicago House scene.^[7]

"Join In The Chant" (1987) became part of the Balearic beat scene that influenced the UK acid house scene.^[8][9]

International success, disbandment (1987–1995)

Their debut album That Total Age was released in 1987. Depeche Mode, longtime friends and label mates of the band, invited them to open for the European leg of their successful Music For The Masses Tour in 1987.^[10]

David Gooday left after the tour and they completed their next album Belief (1989) as a duo. Mark 'Flood' Ellis became their new producer. They recruited Julian Beeston to assist them on their own world tour, and he soon became a regular contributor both on and off stage.^[6]

In 1989, they teamed with German EBM pioneers Die Krupps to rerecord their 1981 single "Wahre Arbeit - Wahrer Lohn" as "The Machineries of Joy".^[11]

The third Nitzer Ebb album Showtime, released in 1990, revealed a less confrontational sound. The single "Fun to Be Had" (1990) featured a remix by George Clinton^[12] and was a hit on the US dance chart.

Their fourth album, Ebbhead (1991), showcased a more traditional songwriting style with an emphasis on melodic choruses was produced by Alan Wilder from Depeche Mode and Flood. They promoted the album with a global tour that took them from the southern U.S. to northern Siberia (in the Siberian city of Barnaul).^[6]

Their fifth album, Big Hit (1995), featured a greater use of 'real' instruments, especially guitars and drums. McCarthy and Harris recruited Jason Payne (percussion), to their main line-up and brought in John Napier (guitar, percussion) to assist with live performances.^[6]

Big Hit was the final release by the band for almost 15 years. McCarthy was a regular collaborator with Alan Wilder's Recoil project, and he records with French electronic producer Terence Fixmer as Fixmer/McCarthy. Bon Harris moved to Los Angeles, where he became a successful producer and recorded as 13mg and as a member of Maven.

Reunion (2006–present)

Nitzer Ebb Live in 2011

Nitzer Ebb began work on new material in Los Angeles in early 2007, with a retrospective documentary still in the pipeline. During 2007, Nitzer Ebb continued its trend of replacing drummers as Kourtney Klein left the band to be replaced by Jason Payne. A first track, "Once You Say", with Depeche Mode songwriter Martin L. Gore on backing vocals, was played in June 2007 by Dave Clarke in his White Noise show on VPRO's 3 Voor 12.^[13] This track, along with "Payroll", were debuted live as Nitzer Ebb played a handful of shows and festivals during 2007. These tracks were then featured on Nitzer Ebb's album, Industrial Complex.

McCarthy and Harris reunited up with Jason Payne and producer Flood^[14] to finish up the first new Nitzer Ebb record in over a decade. In the meantime, Fixmer/McCarthy released its second album in June 2008, Into the Night.

The band announced a US tour for fall–winter 2009 and were selected as the opening act of the January and February European and Russian dates of Depeche Mode's Tour of the Universe in 2010.^[15]

In 2019, the band announced a North American tour that included the original band members David Gooday and Simon Granger.^[16] In 2021, the band continued more tour dates including in Europe.^[17]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Harris and McCarthy got together to work on a side project called D-R-A-G.^[1]

In November 2021, McCarthy collapsed before a show in Palm Beach, Florida and had to go to the hospital. The band emphasized it was due to complications from a pre-existing illness and it had nothing to do with COVID-19. The band went on to perform with Harris on lead vocals.^[18]

Influences and legacy

The single "Murderous" has been sampled by other electronic music acts, such as Information Society (on "Now That I Have You") and Kode IV (on "Success"). Nitzer Ebb's early tracks also made inroads to techno culture, notably in Richie Hawtin's 1999 DJ mix, Decks, EFX & 909.^[19]

Band members

Members

• Bon Harris – programming, synthesizers, drums, vocals, bass (1982–present)
• Douglas McCarthy – vocals, guitars (1982–present)
• David Gooday – vocals, drums (1982–1987, 2019–present)
• Simon Granger – writing, arrangement and artwork (1983–1995, 2019–present)

Former members

• Duc Nhan Nguyen – drums (1987–1988)
• Julian Beeston – drums (1989–1992)
• Jason Payne – drums (1992–1995, 2007–2019)

Touring members

• David Lovering – drums (1994–1995)
• John Napier – guitars, percussion (1995)
• Kourtney Klein – drums (2006–2007)
• Rona Rougeheart – percussion (2024–present)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums and EPs

Year	Album details	Chart peak positions			Certifications (sales thresholds)
		UK	US	SWE
1983	Basic Pain Procedure Released: 1983 Labels: Self-released Formats: CS	—	—	—
1987	That Total Age Released: 11 May 1987 Labels: Mute, Geffen Formats: CD, LP, CS, digital download	—	—	—
1988	So Bright So Strong Released: 1988 Labels: Upfront, TELDEC Formats: CD, LP	—	—	—
1989	Belief Released: 9 January 1989 Labels: Mute, Geffen Formats: CD, LP, CS, digital download	—	—	30
1989	The Machineries of Joy (EP) Released: 26 June 1989 Labels: Mute, Geffen, BCM Records Formats: CD, LP	—	—	—
1990	Showtime Released: 28 September 1990 Labels: Mute, Geffen Formats: CD, LP, CS, digital download	—	—	—
1991	As Is (EP) Released: 10 June 1991 Labels: Mute, Geffen Formats: CD, LP, CS, digital download	—	—	—
1991	Ebbhead Released: 30 September 1991 Labels: Mute, Geffen Formats: CD, LP, CS, digital download	—	146	42
1995	Big Hit Released: 27 March 1995 Labels: Mute, Geffen Formats: CD, LP, CS, digital download	126	—	—
2006	Body of Work Released: 26 June 2006 Labels: Mute Formats: CD, LP, digital download	—	—	—
2006	Body Rework Released: 31 July 2006 Labels: Mute Records Limited, Novamute Formats: CD, 2xLP, digital download	—	—	—
2010	Industrial Complex Released: 22 January 2010 Labels: Major Records, Alfa Matrix Formats: CD, LP, digital download	—	—	35
2010	In Order Released: 22 January 2010 Labels: Mute Formats: digital download	—	—	—
2011	Join in the Rhythm of Machines (EP) Released: 20 April 2011 Labels: Major Records Formats: CD	—	—	—
"—" denotes albums that were released but did not chart, or albums not released in a particular territory.

Soundtracks

• Saw IV "Payroll (John O Mix)" (2007)
• Grand Theft Auto IV "Let Your Body Learn" (2008)
• NCIS "Promises" (2009)
• Saw VI "Never Known" (2009)
• Saw VII "Promises" (2010)
• Castle "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" (2010)
• Tony Hawk: Ride (video game) "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" (2010)
• The Following "Murderous" (2013)

Singles

Year	Song	UK Singles Chart[20]	US Dance	US Alt
1985	"Isn't It Funny How Your Body Works"	-	-	-
1985	"Warsaw Ghetto"	-	-	-
1985	"So Bright, So Strong"	-	-	-
1986	"Get Clean"	-	-	-
1986	"Murderous"	-	-	-
1987	"Let Your Body Learn"	-	-	-
1987	"Join In The Chant"	-	9	-
1988	"Control I'm Here"	100	14	25
1989	"Hearts And Minds"	-	16	-
1989	"Shame"	-	-	-
1989	"The Machineries Of Joy" (Die Krupps with Nitzer Ebb)	-	25	-
1990	"Lightning Man"	97	14	28
1990	"Fun To Be Had"	99	5	-
1990	"Getting Closer"	-	-	-
1991	"Family Man"	-	-	21
1991	"I Give To You"	-	-	27
1991	"Godhead"	56	-	-
1992	"Ascend"	52	-	-
1995	"Kick It"	75	-	-
1995	"I Thought"	-	-	-
1995	"Cherry Blossom"	-	-	-

B-sides and non-album tracks

Song	A-side	Year
"The Way You Live"	"Isn't It Funny How Your Body Works"	1985
"Crane"	"Isn't It Funny How Your Body Works"	1985
"Cold War"	"Isn't It Funny How Your Body Works"	1985
"So Bright, So Strong"	"Warsaw Ghetto"	1985
"Get Clean"	"Let Your Body Learn"	1986
"K.I.A."	"Control I'm Here"	1988
"Time Slips By"	"Hearts and Minds"	1989
"Backlash"	"Shame"	1989
"Who We Are"	"Lightning Man"	1990
"Out of Mind"	"Fun to Be Had"	1990
"Taken From Me (Servant Mix)"	"Fun to Be Had"	1990
"Lovesick"	'As Is' EP	1991
"Come Alive"	'As Is' EP	1991
"Higher"	'As Is' EP	1991
"Stray Cat Blues"	"I Give to You"	1991
"Skintight"	"Kick It"	1995
"Dead & Gone"	"Kick It"	1995
"Friend (Brittle Mix)"	"I Thought"	1995
"Beats Me"	"I Thought"	1995
"Payroll (John O Mix)"	'Saw IV' Soundtrack	2007
"Promises"	NCIS (The Official TV Series Soundtrack)	2009
"Never Known"	Saw VI Soundtrack	2009

Music videos

• Murderous (1987)
• Let Your Body Learn (1987)
• Control I'm Here (1988)
• Hearts and Minds (1989)
• Shame (1989)
• The Machineries of Joy (1989)
• Lightning Man (1990)
• Fun to Be Had (1990)
• Family Man (1991)
• I Give to You (1991)
• Godhead (1992)
• Ascend (1992)
• Kick It (1995)
• I Thought (1995)

Tributes

• Muscle and Hate - Nilaihah Records, (2005)

References

1. Fuoco-Karasinski, Christina (23 November 2021). "Nitzer Ebb wants fans to join in the chant". Pasadena Weekly. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
2. "www.nitzer-ebb.com ::: the official Nitzer Ebb Website – Archive: News 2009". www.nitzer-ebb.de. 12 August 2009. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
3. "Interview: Nitzer Ebb by Fact Magazine". Fact Magazine. 3 May 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
4. "Discography Demo Basic Pain Procedure". Nitzer-ebb.de. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
5. "Douglas McCarthy Interview". Documentaryevidence.co.uk. 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
   Rollmann, Hans (8 October 2018). "Nitzer Ebb: Three Decades of Pounding Beats and Smashing Stereotypes". Popmatters.com. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
6. "Biography". Nitzer-ebb.de. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
7. Arnold, Jacob (4 September 2013). "Medusa's: Chicago's missing link". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
8. "Various – Balearic Beats - Vol. 1 - The Album". Discogs.com. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
9. "Interview: Nitzer Ebb". Factmag.com. 3 June 2009. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
10. Paoletti, Ariana (24 September 2013). "The Ebb and Flow of Nitzer Ebb". Thump.vice.com. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
11. "Discography Mute Records Machineries Of Joy". Nitzer-ebb.de. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
12. "Nitzer Ebb – Fun To Be Had (George Clinton Remix)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
13. "Martin Gore (Depeche Mode) delivers backing vocals on new Nitzer Ebb track 'Once You Say". Side-line.com. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
14. "Flood joins Nitzer Ebb to complete first album in a decade". Side-line.com. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
15. "depeche mode dot com". Depechemode.com. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
16. "Nitzer Ebb announce North American tour, including Boston date". Vanyaland. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
17. "NITZEREBBPRODUKT". www.nitzer-ebb-produkt.com. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
18. "Nitzer Ebb: Frontmann Douglas McCarthy im Krankenhaus, Tour wird fortgesetzt". www.sonic-seducer.de. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
19. Comer, M. Tye (13 December 1999). "I'm Your Fan: Nitzer Ebb" (PDF). CMJ New Music Report. 60 (646). Great Neck, NY: College Media, Inc.: 23. ISSN 0890-0795. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
20. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 396. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

External links

• NITZEREBBPRODUKT - Official website