Open Up Birth Control

• 1Gamma Ray 2.004:30
• 2The Last Word08:10
• 3Wrestling Mama04:48
• 4Open Sesame09:43
• 5I Don't Mind06:34
• 6Wannabe07:15
• 7Plans Get Lost07:01
• 8These Are the Days05:09
• Total Runtime53:10

Info for Open Up

A new studio album by the German progressive / hard rock legend on the band's own label LOOK AT ME!

In the 1970s, BIRTH CONTROL were without a doubt one of the most internationally successful progressive / hard rock bands of German provenance. Since their spectacular 1970 album debut on the cult label Ohr, the band has released more than thirty longplayers, including timeless classics like "Operation", "Hoodoo Man" (with the disco hit "Gamma Ray") and "Plastic People". The German prog rock band BIRTH CONTROL, which has been around for well over 50 years, is opening a new chapter in the band's history with the release of its 21st regular album OPEN UP, the first since the death of band mastermind, singer and drummer BERND NOSKE. BIRTH CONTROL, the formation that always had a completely independent sound, shows on this album the creativity and range of the current line-up and brings their wealth of ideas to the point in 54 minutes. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the release of the successful album HOODOO MAN, BIRTH CONTROL bring eight new studio tracks including a new arrangement of the 1972 "überhit" GAMMA RAY to the turntable. Furthermore, seven new songs from the compositional pen of their songwriter duo KÜHN/ ETTRICH, a brilliant mix of progressive/hard rock, blues and funk. The band was in top form, with guitarist MARTIN ETTRICH, keyboarder SASCHA KÜHN and drummer MANFRED VON BOHR delivering inspired and virtuoso solo performances.

Peter Föller, vocals, guitar
Martin 'Ludi' Ettrich, guitar, talkbox
Sascha Kühn, keyboards, organ
Hannes Vesper, bass
Manni von Bohr, drums

Birth Control
formed in 1966 in Berlin from two other bands, the Earls and the Gents. The band was founded with a lineup consisting of Bernd Koschmidder (bass), Reinhold Sobotta (organ), Rolf Gurra (saxophone, vocals), Fritz Groger (vocals), Reiner Borchert (guitar), Hugo Egon Balder (drums), and Klaus Orso (guitar). Within five years of the band's formation all seven of the original members had departed, but the band continued under the leadership of long-standing members drummer (and later lead vocalist) Bernd Noske (who replaced Balder in late 1968) and guitarist Bruno Frenzel (who replaced Borchert in 1969).

Following the death of Frenzel in 1983, the group disbanded, but reunited in 1993 with only Noske remaining from the previous lineup. Other members of the reformed band included returning bassist/vocalist Horst Stachelhaus, as well as guitarist Rocco Zodiak and keyboardist Xaver Fischer.

Despite the death of mainstay Stachelhaus in 1999, the band continued under Noske's guidance, touring Germany and release new albums periodically following the turn of the century. In later years, former members Peter Föller (bass, vocals) and Zeus B. Held (keyboards) both returned to the fold as guest musicians at occasional concerts. The band came to an end on February 18, 2014 with the death of Noske.[1] The final lineup of the band consisted of Noske, bassist Hannes Vesper, keyboardist Sascha Kuhn, and guitarist Martin Ettrich.

This album contains no booklet.