Agitation Free was one of the leading exponents of German experimental rock music in the early 1970s.. Starting in 1967, the Berlin band had begun to develop long and, for its time, very free Instrumental improvisations. By 1972 they attained cult status with a congenial mixture of improvisational Rock paired with electro-, ethno-, jazz- and trance elements. They were experimenting in concerts with liquid projectors, slides, and their own experimental films, in ways analogous to underground bands in California and the UK.
Sonic sophistication led Agitation Free to collaborations in the avant-garde music scene with composers such as John Cage, Erhard Großkopf, Peter Michael Hamel und Ladislav Kupkovi?. The Electronic Beat Studio, that Agitation Free initiated with composer Thomas Kessler, evolved into a creative center for the Berlin groups Ash Ra Tempel, Tangerine Dream and others. Early in 1970, Agitation Free appeared in the “First German Progressive Pop Festival” at the Berliner Sportpalast.
In April 1972, the band toured Egypt, Lebanon, Cyprus and Greece at the invitation of the Goethe Institute. Manifold impressions from this trip found expression in the first album, “Malesch” (Vertigo), a fascinating soundweb of exotic original recordings from the Near East journey combined with cutting edge Krautrock – an irrefutable forerunner of today’s world music.
Constant touring brought the band steadily increasing recognition all over Europe. They appeared in the cultural program of the Munich summer Olympics in 1972, went on their first French tour for two months in early 1973, appeared in May at the “German Rock Super Concert” in Frankfurt and produced their next album, “2nd” in July 1973.
Continuous taping of rehearsals and group discussions induced german radio stations SFB and WDR to produce an experimental radio drama with the group, a highly unusual undertaking long before “Reality Shows” became widely popular. The relentless touring steered the five musical individualists in such different directions that the band broke up in 1974.
Although a number of posthumous albums, (featuring recordings made between 1972 and 1974 appeared following the band’s demise), and a studio album (“River of Return”) appeared in 1999, it was almost 35 years after disbanding that the original band came together once more to perform.
In February 2007, Agitation Free reunited to perform a series of concerts in Tokyo to mark the occasion of member Michael Hoenig’s addition to the “Progressive Rock” section of the Tokyo Tower Wax museum. Agitation Free guitarist Lutz Ulbrich had already been a wax-presence there for several years. As fate would have it, everything came together perfectly. Unknown to them, a multitrack recording was made of all three concerts that took place at the O’West venue in Tokyo’s Shibuya district, which eventually led to Hoenig compiling the best of the performances in the original musical sequence of the three concerts. The resulting new album, “SHIBUYA NIGHTS”, offers clear evidence that Agitation Free remains one of the best and most original groups among their illustrious German contemporaries.
The album’s ultimate triumph is that much of the music, first performed four decades ago, not only evokes the revolutionary innovative spirit of glorious days gone by, but, as played here makes for even more compelling listening in today’s homogenized musical environment.
The band promoted the album at celebrated concerts between 2012 an 2014 in London, Manchester, Paris, Berlin and at the renowned Burg Herzberg Festival.
After a 24-year break, they release their new studio album “Momentum”. The Krautrock legends pick up where their debut “Malesch” from 1972 left off. Joining the band are the four original members Lutz “Lüül” Graf-Ulbrich (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, banjo), Michael Hoenig (keyboards, synthesizer, electronic percussion), Gustl Lütjens (†2017, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals) and Burghard Rausch (drums, electronic percussion) as well as newcomer Daniel Cordes (bass, synthesizer). Also joining as guests: Peter Michael Hamel (santoor) and Benjamin Schwenen (lead guitar).
The pioneers of experimental German rock music take the listeners on an impressive journey. Otherworldly sounds, pulsating rhythms, grandiose guitar riffs, hypnotic sequencers and driving bass create an amazing, cinematic soundscape – almost like a time machine connecting past and future. “Momentum” is an exciting album from Agitation Free. It shows that they are still one of the most innovative bands in the German music scene.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Agitation Free, with musicians changing frequently in its early days, was one of the most influential bands in what became known as the “Berlin School”, and became a career springboard for many musicians.
Christopher Franke helped Tangerine Dream to gain worldwide recognition.
Lutz ‘Ludwig’ Kramer lived in Thailand after he left the band. He returned to Germany some years later and had recently produced two solo albums.
Axel Genrich went to Guru Guru.
Stephan Diez played with mit Al Jarreau, Bobby McFerrin, Mercedes Sosa and Joan Baez, joined the NDR Big Band and is professor for Jazzguitar in Hamburg.
Burghard Rausch became a founding member of Bel Ami, now is the drummer for the “Krautrock supergroup “Electric Family“, and has had a career as a music journalist/moderator for radio and TV.
Michael Günther († März 2014) became the technical coordinator of the Berlin Jazz Fest.
Gustl Lütjens († März 2017) went on to be a sought-after studio musician, toured with Shirley Bassey and Nena, and later found a large audience, primarily in the USA, with his new-age band Living Mirrors. He worked on the Album “Momentum” until the end.
Michael Hoenig performed with Klaus Schulze and Tangerine Dream before he released two solo albums and he gained woldwide attention with his Soloalbum “Departure from the Northern Wasteland”. He then became known in Hollywood as a film composer and as producer of contemporary classical music. He has worked with artists as diverse as Miles Davis, Phillip Glass, Morton Subotnick, Harold Budd and Jack Nitzsche.
Lutz “Lüül” Graf-Ulbrich joined Ashra, worked with Velvet Underground singer Nico, produced noted solo albums, music for theater, wrote an autobiography and has celebrated worldwide success since the late 1990s with the 17 Hippies.
Michael Hoenig performed briefly with Klaus Schulze and Tangerine Dream before achieving worldwide success with his solo album “Departure from the Northern Wasteland”. He then made a name for himself in Hollywood as a film composer and producer of contemporary classical music. He composed music for films such as Koyaanisqatsi, 9 1/2 Weeks and The Blob, as well as TV series such as Max Headroom, Dark Skies and The District, and worked with artists as diverse as Miles Davis, Phillip Glass, Morton Subotnick, Harold Budd and Jack Nitzsche.
Lutz “Lüül” Graf-Ulbrich joined Ashra, worked with Velvet Underground singer Nico, produced outstanding singer/songwriter solo records, composed theater music, wrote an autobiography and has enjoyed worldwide success with the 17 Hippies since the late nineties. His last solo album was awarded the German Record Critics’ Prize.
Daniel Cordes – aka Danda – joined the band after the death of bassist Michael Günther, having already worked with Lüül in the 17 Hippies for several years.
Axel Heilhecker – joined the band in January 2024 and replaces our longtime guitarist Gustl Lütjens. Axel has been at the heart of the German rock scene as a guitarist and producer since the 80s. He studied with jazz/ethno legend Don Cherry and, in addition to his own numerous releases, has recorded and performed with people as diverse as Eric Burdon, Steve Miller, James Belushi, Willy DeVille, Wolf Maahn and Harald Grosskopf.
Tim Sund – has been Agitation Free’s keyboardist since summer 2024, after Michael Hoenig decided to stop performing live. After rock music and synthesizers, Tim was drawn to jazz. This was followed by studies in Cologne and New York before he settled in Berlin at the end of the 90s. Since then, he has released over 20 albums, including with his fusion band The Mightiest Ever and the progressive rock band Green Desert Tree. He is also active under the name TIM SUND electrified.
