Mekong Delta (band)

Mekong Delta
Origin	Berlin, Germany
Genres	Progressive metal, Thrash metal, Neo-classical metal
Years active	1985–present
Labels	Aaarrg
Associated acts	Rage Living Death Axxis
Members
Martin LeMar Ralph Hubert Erik Adam H. Grösch Benedikt Zimniak Alex Landenburg
Past members
Wolfgang Borgmann Jochen Schröder Frank Fricke Reiner Kelch Georg Syrmbos Peter "Peavy" Wagner Jörg Michael Uli Kusch Peter Haas Doug Lee Uwe Baltrusch Peter Lake Leo Szpigiel

Mekong Delta is a German progressive/thrash metal band, formed in 1985.

History

The band was founded by a group of German metal musicians with the goal to 'musically outshine' all then-current, independent releases. The line-up and the history of the group was to be "the best kept secret in the world". The project participants decide to keep everything about the band a secret, assuming German musicians would not be accepted internationally. The initial name "Zardoz" was rejected, followed by the acceptance of the name "Mekong Delta", named after a riverbed in Vietnam. The entire project was started by Ralf Hubert, sound-engineer for Warlock, Steeler and Living Death, and owner of the record label "Aaarrg".

The first demos are recorded with the following line-up:

• Jochen Schröder (ex-Rage) – guitar
• Peavy Wagner (Rage) – bass
• Jörg Michael (ex-Rage and Paganini) – drums
• Wolfgang Borgmann – vocals

Jochen Schröder did not fit in and was soon replaced by Living Death guitarists Reiner Kelch and Frank Fricke. When Wagner later left the project, Hubert overtook the bass guitar duties. Since the band was deliberately shrouded in mystery, all participants assumed artist names and the line-up of the debut album looked like this:

• Björn Eklund (real name Ralf Hubert) on Bass/Acoustic guitar
• Gordon Perkins (real name Jörg Michael) on Drums/Percussion
• Rolf Stein (real name Frank Fricke) on Guitar/Backing vocals
• Vincent St. Johns (real name Reiner Kelch) on Guitar/Backing vocals
• Keil (real name Wolfgang Borgmann) on Vocals/Stick

Debut album

The debut album "Mekong Delta" was released in 1987, produced by Ralf Hubert. Due to touring duties with his current band, Jörg Michael was replaced by Uli Kusch (using the name Patrick Duval) for the shortly thereafter following picture disc EP "The Gnome".

Mekong Delta returned to the studio around new year 1987-1988, and recorded the concept album "The Music of Erich Zann", with the same line-up, again produced by Hubert. Due to, or because of, the chosen obfuscated identities the band's big breakthrough does not happen.

Reiner Kelch was replaced by Uwe Baltrusch, who used the name Mark Kaye, and at the end of 1988 Mekong Delta releases the 12-inch EP "Toccata", and in the spring of 1989 "The Principle of Doubt" is released. Fricke then leaves the band to focus on other musical styles, and the group decided not to replace him, as Baltrusch was able to play all guitar parts himself.

During this period the band composed "Rondo for Rockgroup", ultimately released as "Dances of Death". While recording the album, Wolfgang Borgmann left the band because he couldn't identify himself with the material of this album. He was replaced by the American Doug Lee, former singer of Siren. This line-up finished recording the album "Dances of Death (and Other Walking Shadows)". The album included an arrangement of Modest Mussorgsky's tone poem Night on Bald Mountain. After recording this album, Jörg Michael left the band and was replaced by Swiss drummer Peter Haas.

Live performances

Around this time the self-imposed mystery surrounding the project was fading and in October 1991 they started touring parts of Europe, including the Netherlands and Germany. The CD "Live at an Exhibition" was recorded on the 13th of October in Germany. Guitarist Georg Syrmbos was hired to be able to perform the songs live.

"Kaleidoscope", released in 1992, contains a cover version of "Dance on a Volcano" originally by prog-rock band "Genesis". The 1993 collection "Classics" contains nearly all classical pieces Hubert arranged for the band. The only classical track missing on this album is "Sabre Dance", which can be found on the previous "Kaleidoscope" album.

In 1994 Mekong Delta released "Visions Fugitives". The compositions are somewhat similar to "The Principle of Doubt" and "Dances of Death". The album also contains a classically oriented, six part track.

After a two year break the band released "Pictures at an Exhibition" in 1997. The album contained the title piece by classical composer Modest Mussorgski, arranged for the band. The tracks was included twice; the first 16 tracks are played by the band, while the last 16 tracks include the band and orchestra. Because the album is completely instrumental, Doug is not mentioned on the album. Shortly thereafter a CD-ROM was released including information about Mekong Delta, Modest Mussorgski and various fan-related info.

Hiatus and regrouping

In 1997 and 1998 the first six studio albums were remixed by Erik Adam H Grösch and Hubert and re-released. Some albums were sonically improved, others were hardly changed. After this the band went on a long hiatus. Rumors started circulating^{[citation needed]} that Hubert had fled to Greece or Turkey, or even that he had died. At the end of 2005 Hubert was brought in contact with guitarist Peter Lake from Swedish metal formation Theory In Practice and the project re-started. At first Peter Haas agreed to return as drummer of the project, but he later resigned. Erstwhile member Uli Kusch stepped in as drummer. A singer was being sought and enough material seemed to be ready for a new album. Former Crows and Wolf Spider singer Leo Szpigiel was added to the line-up. This line-up recorded the album "Lurking Fear", which was released on August 31, 2007. Due to the busy time schedule of the members, planning tour dates became virtually impossible. Halfway 2008 Ralf decided to look for members who were able to tour with the band. Very soon (thanks to Uli Kusch) Alexander Landenburg was recruited as the new drummer. Martin LeMar followed soon after to take care of the vocals. Benedict and Erik were added as guitarists to complete the band. In 2009 plans were made to record a new studio album with the line-up that came to be and in June 2010 "Wanderer on the edge of time" was released into the world. Also a video clip was made of the song "King with broken crown".

Line-up

• Martin LeMar - Vocals (2008–present)
• Ralph Hubert - Bass (1985–present)
• Erik Adam H. Grösch - Guitars (2008–present)
• Benedikt Zimniak - Guitars (2008–present)
• Alex Landenburg - Drums

Past members

Vocals

• Wolfgang Borgmann - (1987–1990)
• Doug Lee - (1990–1994)
• Leo Szpigiel - (2007–2008)

Guitars

• Jochen Schröder - (-1987)
• Frank Fricke - (1987–1989)
• Reiner Kelch - (1987–1988)
• Uwe Baltrusch - (1989–1996)
• Georg Syrmbos - (1991)
• Peter Lake - (2006–2007)

Drums

• Uli Kusch - (1988)(2007)
• Jörg Michael - (1987–1990)
• Peter Haas -(1991–2006)

Bass

• Peter "Peavy" Wagner - (1985–1987)

Discography

Studio albums

• Mekong Delta (1987)
• The Music of Erich Zann (1988)
• The Principle of Doubt (1989)
• Dances of Death (and Other Walking Shadows) (1990)
• Kaleidoscope (1992)
• Visions Fugitives (1994)
• Pictures at an Exhibition (1997)
• Lurking Fear (2007)
• Wanderer on the Edge of Time (2010)

EPs and singles

• The Gnome (1988)
• Toccata (1989)

Live albums

• Live at an Exhibition (1991)
• Live in Frankfurt 1991 (DVD) (2007)

Compilations

• Classics (1993)
• The Principle of Doubt (Ambitions) (2005)