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 (c) Kai Uwe Franz
U.K. 5 v.l.: Hardy Kaiser (git), Ulf Krüger (dr), Reverend Ch. D.(keys), Dirk Ritz (bs), Gunther Andernach (wb)
UK 5
In 1961, Hamburg Scene veteran Ulf Krüger (drums, washboard, voc.) had founded the OWL CITY WASHBOARDMEN, Germany's only skiffle group to have an LP released at the time ("Das Skiffeln bringt gross’ Freud“, TELDEC). In the mid-sixties, he appeared at the Star-Club as drummer of a group known as WILLIAM THORNTON & THE CHICAGO SECT.
In 1969, Krüger, together with Uli Salm, Gottfried Böttger, Jerry Bahrs and Django Seelenmeyer, founded the band LEINEMANN, which was to record – among others -two albums with Lonnie Donegan. The band subsequently also did two tours with the latter.
In those "Hamburg Scene“ days, Ulf Krüger and Gunther Andernach (JAZZ LIPS) were the undisputed washboard champions. Gunther Andernach had already gained fame playing with the legendary GLORY SKIFFLE TRAMPS and the SKIFFLE TRAMPS, and would invariably wind up in the number one position ofeach of the numerous jazz polls in the seventies. Andernach and Krüger played a string of session at the ‘Onkel Pö’, but never together.
At the end of the seventies, Krüger became one of the singers on the first long player by the band ‘RUDOLF ROCK & DIE SCHOCKER’ founded by Uli Salm, but his main ambition lay in producing, composing and writing lyrics for artists such as TED HEROLD, JÜRGEN VON DER LIPPE, PETER MAFFAY and many more. Up until today, more than 800 sings penned byKrüger have been released, among them a string of hits such as ‘Ruf Teddybär 1 - 4’ , LONZO’s ‘Die Dinosaurier (werd’n immer trauriger)’, ‘Computerliebe’, and BLÜMCHEN'S ‘Piep Piep, Kleiner Satellit’, to name just a few.
While working as the producer of KING ROCKO SCHAMONI, Krüger became acquainted with and fascinated by the latter's "band": Hardy Kayser (guitar, banjo, voc) and Reverend Ch. D (piano, Hammond organ, voc), and since then, he has collaborated with them on various projects.
As members of the NEIL LANDON FIVE, Kayser, Krüger and Reverend Ch. D. appeared together on stage for the first time during the nineties.
Later,Dirk Ritz was added as bass player. Ritz, who also plays upright bass, guitar and tuba, had worked in Ulla Meineke's tour band as well as finding employment during recording sessions of TONY SHERIDAN, TED HEROLD and many others.
For a considerable period of time, he has belonged to the band at the Deutsches Schauspielhaus. When, in 2002, on the occasionof an extensive promotion campaign, the ensemble members would pose for photos with their "favorite Hamburger", Dirk Ritz chose Ulf Krüger.
Already at an early age, Reverend Ch. D. had been a member of various blues bands which appeared at"Onkel Pö", "Logo" and "Fabrik". He has toured Europe with Australian ROBERT FOSTER, and – as a member of NATIONALGALERIE and DIETER THOMAS KUHN Band – he had gone on tour and made recordings. While had had formerly been starring next to Rocko Schamoni in trash films such as ‘Rollo Aller 1 und 2’, he today composes theatrical music besides playing in studios and producing. The Reverend is not only at home among the ebony and ivory, but he also plays the guitar and bass.
Hardy Kayser, aka ‘The Guitar of the North’, is an extremely competent studio and live guitarist covering the spectrum from Chuck Berry to modern jazz. He has been part of the musicians roster of the Deutsches Schauspielhaus, he has played on records from TACO to BLÜMCHEN, and – with his subtle humor – which seems to be a trademark of ALL members of UK 5, he adds to the success of the zany duo KAHL & KAYSER, its other half being Ernst Kahl, the great painter, screen author and politically inspired comedian. During one of the UK 5's legendary appearances at the Hamburg Cotton Club, Hardy engaged in a serious guitar duel with guest-starring JEFF HEALEY, which will remain unforgettable to their audience.
(c) K&K / Butenschön
U.K. Skiffle Group u. Jeff Healey in the Cotton Club, Summer 2000, Hamburg
Today, Kayser has his triumphs as a member of the bands of Peter Gustav Wöhler, Ina Müller, and – not least – Annett Louisan.
When NEIL LANDON embarked on a late career as a musical star, the NEIL LANDON FIVE ended up without its singer. Rev. Ch. D., Ritz and Kayser immediately recruited Krüger as their new vocalist and it was decided to play a blend of predominantly skiffle and some beat music under the name of UK SKIFFLE GROUP.
Hamburg jazz legend Gunther Andernach was brought in as washboard player. He – after years of having been a member of ABI HÜBNER’s LOW DOWN WIZARDS and the JAZZ LIPS – tours and records with the JAZZ O’MANIACS and the BOTTOMLAND ORCHESTRA today.
The celebrated washboard solos byAndernach and Krüger are among the highlights of the band.
Says Ulf Krüger: "Gunther Andernach is the best living washboarder I have ever heard."
In the autumn of 2002, the UK SKIFFLE GROUP was renamed UK 5, due to the fact that skiffle had meanwhile been reduced to being just a segment of the multi-faceted repertoire with entertainment as its central mission.
In the summer of 2003, the UK 5 played at the summer party of ‘Genesis Publications Ltd’ in England in front of an enthusiastic audience, among them Ravi Shankar, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Joe Brown, Spencer Davis, as well as Olivia and Dhani Harrison. From time to time, the UK 5 will play in and around Hamburg.
You may digitally download the music from www.digitalpressure.com.
"Ulf Krüger is Skiffle in Germany!
To say that Ulf plays the washboard is the understatement of the year. When he takes to the stage everything comes to life and the audience is not aware of any limitation in his instrument. This is because he uses his washboard as a conduit between himself and the audience.
A true performer!"
Lonnie Donegan
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