Germans give T.O. hospitality second try

Rumble On The Beach, the West German rockabilly band, must be a glutton for punishment.

The hard-luck quartet from Bremen made its Canadian debut a tlast September’s Independent musk festival, a grand fiasco that went from bad to worse to slightly better, before the band beat a bruised retreat to the Fatherland. The nightmare began when skinheads broke into the group’s Toronto hotel room and made off with $750 in cash, two leather jackets and the group’s passports. (After word of the incident was put out on the Doc Marten telegraph, the Jackets and passports were ‚Miraculously returned, but the Money’s gone forever.) ;lot only that, but the agent who brought the group to Canada had promised 15 to 20 shows across the country.

The band arrived to discover only five dates had been booked, all in and around Toronto. „It was not so wonderful,“ relates bassist Andy Merck, who has decided to give Canada another chance. The entire band — inpluding drummer Marc klittelacher, saxophonist Andreas Proff and guitarist Michael „ally“ Ohlhoff — arrived in Toronto earlier this week for an indefinite stay. „Besides the bad things that happened to us, we had so much fkn and had really good feelings about the people here,“ says Merck, a forgiving chap. „We met so many kind and interesting people that we had to come back.‘ . And, having learned from its previous mistakes, the group is already finding things much easier on Its second go-round. A cluster of good club dates — including a Monday-to-Wednesday stand at Sneaky Dee’s — has been arranged for the next few weeks and the band has also snagged an opening assignment with The Pursuit Of Happiness in Buffalo. „I think it’s going to be quite long,“ Merck says of the group’s extended visit „We’re not sure how long because at some point we have to get back to Germany and do our thing there, but we’ll stay for months.“ Gut!

Der Beitrag Presse – Rumble On The Beach Archiv – 1989 – Toronto Star – CDN erschien zuerst auf rumbleonthebeach.com.

RUMBLE ON THE BEACH
They’re back!

Remember „Spinal Tap“? You know, that satirical comedy about the fictious rock band. There was an element of reality to it, but deep down inside you didn’t believe that this could really happen. Well, meet Rumble on the Beach.
Yeah, the name is probably familiar. They are those „luckless Germans“ (Toronto Star) who showed up for the Independent Music Festival in September.
Their first gig in Canada was at the Horseshoe (September 29th) and they set Toronto on its ear. But that’s when it all started -that night a couple of skinheads robbed their hotel rooms, taking all their gig money, leather jackets and passports. Upon discovering this the next morning, they were also informed that a number of Western Canadian gigs had been cancelled – leaving them five gigs in three weeks. Welcome to Canada boys! Starting to sound familiar? You likely saw the interview on Much Music or read about it.
Well, you know most bands probably would have high-tailed it home on the next plane. But not these guys. And you know why? It’s their attitude – this never give up frame of mind which is what has probably kept them together for the past four years. This same attitude is reflected on both their albums („Rumble Rat“ and „Rumble“) on Vielklang Musikproduction. They call it „Silly Billy“. We call it fresh, danceable („Imagine my surprise when I found myself dancing like a pagan.“ – Excalibur, Glendon College). You just can’t really classify Rumble on the Beach’s sound. You have to hear it, and even better, witness their live show. They’re entertainers to the heart („… the band gave each tune real passion and energy … a tight band that rocks out with convincing power and a loaded punch.“ NOW Magazine).
Well, if you missed them last time, or if you’re dying for another „Rumble fix“ we’ve got great news for you. They’re coming back. Call them crazy, but they loved Canada and have decided to return in March for another tour. So look for them at a local club, and for their album in your local record store. But get ready, ‚coz it’s the „Return of Rumble“.

Der Beitrag Presse – Rumble On The Beach Archiv – 1989 – Press Info Canada erschien zuerst auf rumbleonthebeach.com.