The Chris Braun Band, originally formed in Dortmund in 1970 as a rebranding of The Faces, showcased a dynamic blend of blues rock and progressive styles, drawing early comparisons to bands like Frumpy.
Led by Joachim Bernstein, the group initially gained recognition for their energetic live performances across dance schools and clubs throughout Germany. In 1970, vocalist Chris Braun joined the band, prompting a shift in their sound with the addition of Elmar Krohn on flute. The band’s achievements included a notable finish at the German Beat Festival in Recklinghausen.
Despite limited commercial success, their recordings, including the acclaimed album ‘Both Sides’ (1972) on BASF, received critical praise for its musical depth and Braun’s distinctive vocal style. Over the years, the band underwent several lineup changes and stylistic shifts, contributing to the evolving landscape of German rock music until their finally dissolution.
Some time after the debut album was released, the band broke up because the drummer joined German armed forces. They experimented with various musicians but didn’t find a promising lineup. Frustrated by this situation, Chris and Joachim decided to completely restructure. That’s when drummer Ralph Bloch, guitarist Bernd Adamkewitz, and pianist Klaus Melcher joined the Chris Braun Band. They were seasoned musicians with extensive experience in different music genres and were eager to pursue more sophisticated compositions and performances with the band.
This led to a completely new, musically challenging repertoire, which, however, faced its limitations during live performances. The Chris Braun Band existed from 1970 to 1977, after which all the musicians went their separate ways.
by Klemen Breznikar, June 17, 2024
Tracks
1. Nobody But You (Pauer, Bernd Adamkewitz, Chris Braun) - 4:28
2. Foreign Lady (Bernd Adamkewitz, Chris Braun) - 7:33
3. Times Growing Worse (Bernd Adamkewitz) - 3:19
4. While You Are Thinking (Bernd Adamkewitz, Chris Braun) - 2:06
5. The Narrator (Bernd Adamkewitz, Chris Braun) - 4:08
6. He's Got No Joker (Neukirch, Klaus Melchers, Chris Braun) - 3:37
7. Be Proud (Klaus Melchers, Chris Braun) - 9:32
Personnel
*Chris Braun - Lead Vocals
*Klaus Melchers - Keyboards
*Bernd Adamkewitz - Guitar, Saxophone
*Joachim Bernstein - Bass
*Elmar Krohn - Drums
With
*Jiggs Whigham - trombone (06)
*Peter Hast - Percussion
*Lind Fields - Vocals