Endstufe still for sure the most dedicated, classic and loyal band from Germany. They still going forward with releases and gigs from '80's till present days and always on the right side. This year they released a brand new full album through their label ESE sound. The thing that makes this release more precious is the fact that together with one new song of 2019, theres 10 more old songs that composition comes from their early days but unreleased and never heard before! Songs from 1981 till 1983 you dont find even in their demos. Their new / last line up plays in this cd and make a good work givin us the spirit of first days of the band with a true quality. 'Atombombe', 'Bullen' and 'Scheiss A.S.L' are the difference between other, but whole cd is dymanite. You can support the band and buy their cd from their label and many other labels too. In the lay-out theres old photos and story of their first years writen by frontman Brandy that you can read a translation here:
So, we were at the end of 1981 and thought it would be really cool to start a band. We were Ralf, Lutz and I, Brandy. A few month earlier I got a guitar with an amplifier and just started playing without being able to. Lutz, however, could play the guitar and then took my things first. Ralf got a bass drum and snare from his brother, who was also a drummer in a punk band. Since I had always liked to sing anyway, that was my job in the new band. Lutz gave his mother her cellar in the apartment block on Hamelner Str. in Bremen-Findorff, for it. We went! First under the name H2O and then ZYKLON, we crashed on that the walls wobbled. Our first songs “Klaus-Dieter”, “Der Sandmann” and “Made in Hong Kong” were written in the basement, before we had to clear the basement again because the other residents couldn't take the noise anymore, haha. It happened that we were allowed to rehearse also in the classroom of our school at that time (school center Regensburger Str. In Bremen-Findorff). In the meantime I had bought a bass and amplifier with my confirmation money, Ralf left and Jens came on the drums. When the power in my amplifier went crazy, Jens came up with the idea that “ENDSTUFE”( english = power amplifier) would actually be a good bands name. So the ZYKLON became ENDSTUFE. I had also gone from punk to skinhead culture, having moved from great U.K. SUBS fan and become 4 SKINS fan. The next songs we made were "Atombombe", “Schule Nein Danke " Bullen " and then came what had to come: Our 1st live appearance. The caretaker of our school sang in a Greek folklore band and one day asked all of us seriously if we would like to play at a school festival where he is performing with his band. Of course we do, we were all up for fun. The concert took place in the school auditorium of the neighboring school (Nürnberger Str. Bremen-Findorff). There were probably 300 teachers and parents there and about 20-30 of our buddies. We started straight away with “Bullen” and the headmaster left the hall first. We continued with "Atombombe" and "Schule nein danke". Pogo of our buddies was tried to stop by the teachers, because they thought it was a fight. All in all, quite a mess, haha. The hall emptied more and more and after “Made in Hong Kong” the teachers ended the event. We were then allowed to bring a quiet ballad "Optimist" (unfortunately the text and everything else is no longer there) and the last remaining parents even gave some applause. All in all a funny, chaotic 1st gig, but that's how it should be. At least we were a topic of conversation with teachers and students for days. Shortly afterwards, Lutz also became a skinhead and my best friend Frank took over the bass, so I only did vocals. The skinhead scene in Bremen growing, especially because of our favorite weekend activity: football! Werder, Bremen, riot, boxing and Frank was certainly the master in the subject. Jens left the band and in 1983 we changed the practice room to our youth home in Bremen-Findorff. (Neukirchstrasse). Frank went to the drums and I played the bass again with the vocals. At the beginning of 1983 we had the idea to bring out an EP with the songs “Bullen”, “Arbeitslose” and “Schule Nein Danke”, but that failed because we, as poor students, did not have the necessary change. In the summer of 1983 there was a big bang with the punks, after which the chaos days in Hanover actually ended in the chaos between punks and skins. In Bremen, too, there were fights between punks and skins. Some punks then founded the A.S.L (Anti Skin League) and there were constant fights and brawls Street battles. Especially after Werder playing, in the Steintor, on the market square in the city center or punk concerts in the Schlachthof it was all about. We then made our "Scheiss A.S.L." song. At the end of 1983 Lutz left the band and we were left without guitarist. I then took over the guitar and couldn't do guitar and vocals very well at the same time (I wasn't good enough on guitar for that). The search for a stable guitarist was unsuccessful, so that we then inevitably looked around for a new singer, because I would continue to play the guitar easy.
In 1984 Holgi took over the vocals for me for the next 3 years and from then on the story of ENDSTUFE is well-known and following songs are recorded on tapes, records and CDs. If our debut LP had come out in 1983, it would probably not have sounded as good as the disc you are now holding in your hands, but it would have been the same songs. Christian and I first had to get all the songs back together, as there are hardly any old recordings of them. Fortunately, even after almost 40 years, the lyrics and melodies were still in my head. Christian then did a really great job and bring the old songs back to life. The song “Die Zeit War Reif” describes the mood of the early 80’s a bit and just went well with the other songs, even though it was only written a year ago. The time was right and we were ready.
Jens Brandy, summer 2020
