Stern-Combo Meißen

Stern Meißen
Stern Meißen
	Live in Großenhain on 19 June 2011
Background information
Also known as	Stern Combo Meissen (1964-1980, 1992-2020)
Origin	Meißen, East Germany
Genres	Progressive rock; Pop rock; Art rock
Years active	1964-1989, 1992, 1996-present
Labels	Amiga; BuschFunk
Associated acts	Viktoria Fischer; IC Falkenberg
Website	www.stern-combo-meissen.com
Members	Martin Schreier; Manuel Schmid; Sebastian Düwelt; Axel Schäfer; Frank Schirmer
Past members	Bernd Fiedler; Norbert Jäger; Reinhard Fissler; Thomas Kurzhals; Lothar Kramer; Michael Behm; Uwe Hassbecker; Peter Rasym; IC Falkenberg; Andreas Bicking; Robert Brenner ; Larry B.

Stern Meißen (formerly Stern Combo Meißen or Stern Combo Meissen) is a German rock band founded in 1964 in Meißen, East Germany.

History[]

The group was formed by Martin Schreier, Norbert Jäger and Bernd Fiedler in 1964 in Meißen, East Germany as "Stern-Combo Meißen". At the time the group toured around playing covers of Beatles, Rolling Stones and Kinks songs.^[1] In the early 70's, upon the arrival of Thomas Kurzhals (keyboardist) and Reinard Fissler (vocals), the classic lineup had formed and took off musically, thus becoming one of the up and coming rock groups in East Germany. In 1975, the group appeared in a scene of a movie called Hostess, performing alongside singer Nina Hagen.^[2]

Then upon the arrival of keyboardist Lothar Kramer that same year, the group released their self-titled first album in 1977 through AMIGA, the label through which they would release all of their studio albums from that period up to the late eighties. Around that time they were evolving as an art rock group, releasing two concept albums: One in 1978: Weißes Gold (White Gold) and the other one in 1980: Reise zum Mittelpunkt des Menschen (Journey to the Center of Mankind), the later which was released in the same year the group decided to shorten their name to "Stern Meißen".

Since the release of that album, the group then decided to go in a more pop direction, particularly with the arrival of famous East German singer IC Falkenberg who replaced Fissler in 1983. By then the only member that was left from the 70's lineup (plus the only founding member left in the band) was Schreier. The group then reached new popularity throughout East Germany due to their almost dramatic shift in musical direction, mainly due to Falkenberg's subsequent solo carrier during his tenure with the group. After releasing two more albums, the group then split in 1989. Afterwards the 1986-1989 lineup reunited for a one-off performance in 1992 in which former vocalist Fissler took part in. Then in 1996, the 1979 lineup (excluding Kramer) reunited, adding "Combo" back into their name, and gave performances up until the early 2000s. By then Fissler had been diagnosed with ALS and thus after releasing a solo album, had to leave the group in early 2005 and stop performing altogether.

Falkenberg then briefly rejoined the group for guest performances from 2004 up to early 2008, and then in mid-2008, Schreier reformed the group with only half of the remaining members from the early to mid 2000s lineup. Kurzals rejoined the group, as well as former drummer Frank Schirmer (who was in the 1986-1989 lineup). Singer Larry B. joined the group and in 2011, the group released their first album in 24 years: Lebensuhr (Life hour), with Fissler making a guest appearance in a song he wrote, recorded and produced himself.^[3] This was to be Fissler's final contribution to the group, as well as his final recording as he passed away from complications from ALS in 2016. Before the album's recording, founding member Norbert Jäger left the group. He passed away in 2017.

In mid-2012, Larry K left the group and late 1980s bassist Axel Schäfer (who was in the 1986-1989 lineup) rejoined. Larry K was replaced by singer and keyboardist Manuel Schmid. Keyboardist Sebastian Düwelt joined the group around the same time. Thomas Kurzhals remained with the group up until his death in January 2014. In 2018, the new lineup released the single "Nimm die Welt in die Hand" (Take the world in your hands). In 2019, the group had a series of performances with special guests: Former vocalist Viktoria Fischer (who was only in the group briefly in 1970 and had a subsequent successful solo carrier), and former keyboardist Andreas Bicking (who was in the group from 1984-1989). Upon the release of their latest album "Freiheit ist" (Freedom is), the group changed their name back to "Stern Meißen". Stern Meissen continue to be one of the biggest East German rock groups.