Years active 1988–present Past members Norri | Website MySpace Origin Berlin, Germany (1988) | |
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Also known as Do or Die North America Labels Machinery, Polydor, Synthetic Symphony Members Christian Lorenz, Falgalas, Andreas Goldacker, Harmann der Drescher, Gary Wagner, Gerald Wagner Genres Electronic dance music, Dark wave Albums Schlafende Energie, Everspring, 3001, Psychoburbia, Dehumanizer | ||
Dance or Die is a German electronic band, formed in 1988 by Andreas Goldacker and Gary Wagner in Berlin. Falgalas (born Heiko Duus) joined the band in 1993, first for live touring, later as full member. Chris L. (born Christian Lorenz) joined in 1998, so far only for live performances.
Contents
History
Their first, eponymously titled, mini album was the initial release of Berlin-based label Machinery Records. Its title track became one of the most frequently played titles in Northern Europe. As summarized by Zillo, "in the 1990s [Dance or Die] formed the link between Gothic [rock] and Electro, and were a pioneer at that". They continued their collaboration with Jor until the label's demise.
In 1997 they signed with Polydor, but after one album (Dehumanizer) that partnership ended - clearly the dark electronic sound didn't fit in with Polydor's dance-label What's Up?!. On Dehumanizer the band was briefly joined by Norri as drummer.
2001 they released their album Schlafende Energie on Synthetic Symphony.
After ten years, in 2011, they released their album Nostradamnation.
In December 2014, Wagner released an album with a new project named "Ruhestätte Schwarz".
Music
In 2015, Dance or Die were still described as a "well-known Berlin cult Electro [band]" by music magazine Sonic Seducer. Their music combines cold techno sounds with a deep voice (vocalist Gary Wagner even sings as guest on other artist's records, as on "Take Some More" by And One) and cyber-themed lyrics about life in the machine age. The albums were thus appropriately named, 3001 for the future, Psychoburbia taking psycho and burb together, while Dehumanizer seems to stand for itself. (Though it may have been named after the album of Black Sabbath, whose song "Black Sabbath" Dance or Die did cover on Psychoburbia.) Schlafende Energie (literally: sleeping energy) is a term coined by German television series Raumpatrouille and means an energy reserve.
Trivia
Dance or Die are members of a media collective called Clan of Nihil. For some American versions of their records, they were renamed Do or Die by their label Machinery.
Albums
EPs & Singles
Compilations
Songs
TeenagemakeupDehumanizer · 1998
NostradamnationNostradamnation · 2011
PsychoburbiaPsychoburbia · 1992