Die Krupps

Biography

Die Krupps (German pronunciation: [diː ˈkʁʊps]) ("The Krupps") is a German industrial metal/EBM band, formed in 1980 by Jürgen Engler, Ralf Dörper, and Bernward Malaka in Düsseldorf.
The band has had a diverse range of musical influences over time, including the percussive industrial Stahlwerksynfonie (1981) then to a more synth-pop styled Volle Kraft voraus! (1982) and Entering the Arena (1985), with the latter album featuring their first English-language material. The band later established itself as an industrial metal band, releasing four albums predominantly in this genre, from 1992 to 1997 with each labelled 1 to 4. The band has released additional albums since 1997, including the predominantly electro-industrial Als wären wir für immer×Als wären wir für immer3 December 2010 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Beyond4:582The Chameleon Man4:403Die Macht3:564Dr. Mabuse4:345Als wären wir für immer5:216Beyond (Unheilig remix)5:247The Chameleon Man (Vigilante remix)3:548Dr. Mabuse (Memphis remix)6:21 (2010) and The Machinists of Joy (2013), before revisiting the metal sound they had pursued in the 90s with V – Metal Machine Music.

Early years (1980–1985)

The band's name translates as "The Krupps" and comes from the Krupp dynasty, one of Germany's main industrial families before and during World War II. In some interviews, the band stated that Visconti's 1969 film The Damned, a depiction of the fictitious German industrial dynasty of the Essenbecks, was the main inspiration. The initial sound on the band's first album Stahlwerksynfonie×Stahlwerksynfonie1981 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAStahlwerksinfonie A13:42BStahlwerksinfonie B14:38, showed a mix of industry factory noises with metallic percussion and real instruments. Later on the Wahre Arbeit, wahrer Lohn EP and the Volle Kraft voraus!×Volle Kraft voraus!1 January 1982 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1Volle Kraft voraus3:46A2Goldfinger3:23A3Für einen Augenblick4:15A4Tod und Teufel2:46A5Das Ende der Träume3:35B1Neue Helden3:10B2Wahre Arbeit - Wahrer Lohn5:25B3...denn du lebst nur einmal3:30B4Zwei Herzen, ein Rhythmus3:35B5Lärm macht Spaß3:46 album in 1982 the band's sound moved toward a less experimental sound but rather a more synthesizer based sound while still keeping the metallic percussion. With the release of Entering the Arena the band almost virtually abandoned the metallic percussion and went for a more 1980s new wave sound. In the mid 1980s, Jürgen Engler went to work on his record label Atom-H, signing bands who played mainly thrash metal and hardcore punk. This influence would play a key part in the musical change in the 1990s.

Growing popularity and metal releases (1989–1997)

In 1989, Ralf Dörper initiated a collaboration with Nitzer Ebb on an old Die Krupps track (i.e. "Machineries of Joy", a newer version of their early-1980s track "Wahre Arbeit, wahrer Lohn") which he produced together with Jürgen Engler. The chart success of the record (Billboard charts) led to the reactivation of Die Krupps fronted by Engler and Dörper. Die Krupps were key in the Europe wide progression of electronic body music, culminating with the collaboration in 1989 with British band Nitzer Ebb.
In 1992, they began to utilize guitars and more sounds derived from heavy metal music, with the release of their album I and the EP Tribute to Metallica, which consisted of covers of Metallica songs. Combining electronic and metal elements was a pioneering move that led to a number of other bands using the electronic/metal combo as a template in keeping with a deeper industrial sound. The band continued in this vein through the 1990s, releasing II – The Final Option (with the album cover influenced by Deep Purple's Machine Head) in 1993. A more experimental and pensive III – Odyssey of the Mind followed in 1995.
After the release of the heavier groove metal-influenced album Paradise Now×Paradise Now14 April 1997 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Moving Beyond4:252The Gods of Void4:273Paradise Now5:004Black Beauty White Heat5:045Reconstruction4:276Behind1:357Taste of Taboo5:358Rise Up3:399Fire3:1310Full Circle4:0111Vortex4:251230 Seconds4:0413(A New) Society Treaty5:28 in 1997 (unofficially known as IV), the band disbanded. Jürgen Engler founded the project DKay.com in 1997 after the break-up of Die Krupps and released two albums, Decaydenz (2000) and Deeper into the Heart of Dysfunction (2002).

Reunion and later years (2005–present)

Die Krupps celebrated their 25th anniversary with appearances in some major European festivals as well as solo appearances in 2005 and 2006. In fall 2007, two greatest-hits albums were released to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Die Krupps: Too Much History×Too Much History26 October 2007 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 22 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11The Machineries of Joy6:152Für einen Augenblick4:573Volle Kraft voraus2:414Goldfinger2:535Gladiators5:166Der Amboss6:017Germaniac6:358High Tech/Low Life3:109Alive6:35105 Millionen4:46Disc 21Metal Machine Music5:122The Dawning of Doom3:503Crossfire4:444Fatherland4:495Bloodsuckers4:186To the Hilt4:367Isolation4:088Scent4:339Odyssey of the Mind5:1310Black Beauty White Heat4:4811Ich bin ein Ausländer4:0712The Great Divide4:56 – The Electro Years Vol. 1 and Too Much History – The Metal Years Vol. 2, both in digipak format. Both albums were combined as the 2-disc Too Much History. A collection of completely re-recorded old classics including four then-new songs on their greatest hit album Too Much History (2007). "The Great Divide", "5 Millionen" with two cover songs "Ich bin ein Ausländer" by Pop Will Eat Itself and "Der Amboss" by Visage (which was originally released two years before as a B-side to the re-release of Wahre Arbeit, wahrer Lohn).

The influential back-catalogue of Die Krupps has been remastered and expanded. So far four of their previous albums; Stahlwerksynfonie×Stahlwerksynfonie1981 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAStahlwerksinfonie A13:42BStahlwerksinfonie B14:38, Volle Kraft voraus, I and Final Option have been re-released. Volle Kraft Null Acht was released in 2009, which is a remix album of Volle Kraft voraus!×Volle Kraft voraus!1 January 1982 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1Volle Kraft voraus3:46A2Goldfinger3:23A3Für einen Augenblick4:15A4Tod und Teufel2:46A5Das Ende der Träume3:35B1Neue Helden3:10B2Wahre Arbeit - Wahrer Lohn5:25B3...denn du lebst nur einmal3:30B4Zwei Herzen, ein Rhythmus3:35B5Lärm macht Spaß3:46
In 2010, Die Krupps released an EP entitled "Als wären wir für immer×Als wären wir für immer3 December 2010 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Beyond4:582The Chameleon Man4:403Die Macht3:564Dr. Mabuse4:345Als wären wir für immer5:216Beyond (Unheilig remix)5:247The Chameleon Man (Vigilante remix)3:548Dr. Mabuse (Memphis remix)6:21", which comprises two original electronic based tracks, two original metal based tracks, and a cover of Propaganda's 1980s hit "Dr Mabuse". At that time the first true new material since 1997. To celebrate thirty years of "True Work, True Pay" Die Krupps announced a joint European tour with Nitzer Ebb in 2011.

In 2013, the band released their first full new album since 1997, an industrial/EBM record called The Machinists of Joy×The Machinists of Joy25 October 2013 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Ein Blick zurück im Zorn4:112Schmutzfabrik4:203Risikofaktor3:354Robo Sapien5:145The Machinist of Joy4:426Essenbeck4:097Im falschen Land3:378Part of the Machine4:349Eiskalter Engel4:3510Nocebo4:1311Im Schatten der Ringe6:35, and in 2015, they released the heavy metal influenced album V – Metal Machine Music×Metal Machine Music25 June 1992 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1Metal Machine Music (The Aggressor)5:432Metal Machine Music (The Machinist)5:403Metal Machine Music (The Trasher)5:314Metal Machine Music (The Theme)6:055Metal Machine Music (The Technician)5:276Metal Machine Music (The Welder)5:317Metal Machine Music (The Doppelgänger)5:36. In 2016, the band recorded Stahlwerkrequiem, a sequel/recording of the band's first album, Stahlwerksynfonie. Later that year saw the release of Live im Schatten der Ringe, a live album originally recorded in 2014. In 2019, the band released the album Vision 2020 Vision×Vision 2020 Vision15 November 2019 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 23 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Vision 2020 Vision4:242Welcome to the Blackout3:593Trigger Warning3:484Wolfen (Her Pack)4:225Extinction Time4:166The Carpet Crawlers5:277Fires5:118Obacht4:339DestiNation Doomsday4:0910Allies3:5811F.U.3:4512Active Shooter Situation4:1813Human4:35Disc 21Intro / The Damned2The Dawning of Doom3Isolation4Battle Extreme5Alive in a Glass Cage6To the Hilt7Metal Machine Music8Nazis auf Speed9Fatherland10Bloodsuckers. Additionally in 2019, Jürgen Engler formed Die Klute, an industrial metal supergroup featuring Dino Cazares (Fear Factory) and Claus Larsen (Leæther Strip). The band released an album in 2019, titled Planet Fear on Bandcamp. The album features Dino Cazares and Claus Larsen.
In 2023, Die Krupps' main guitarist of 18 years, Marcel Zürcher, left the band for three years, until his return in June 2026. Nils Finkeisen then played both guitar duties for a short time, until he left in 2024.

Legacy

Critics worldwide hail Die Krupps alongside Kraftwerk and Einstürzende Neubauten as pioneers of electronic and industrial music, bands like Front 242 and Nitzer Ebb called them their inspiration, and their musical ideas found their way into the sound of a wide spectrum of music, from Depeche Mode to the innovative pioneers of Detroit techno. They are also seen as one of the pioneers of fusing heavy metal music with electronic music.
Ralf Dörper who was part of the initial line-up which created the acclaimed early recordings Stahlwerksynfonie and Wahre Arbeit, wahrer Lohn in 1981, left the band in 1982 to found the band Propaganda. Propaganda became one of the few German bands which were internationally successful in the 1980s.

Members

Jürgen Engler – vocals, guitars, keyboards, programming, Stahlophon (metallic percussion) (1980–1985, 1989–1997, 2005–present)
Ralf Dörper – keyboards, programming (1980–1982, 1985, 1989–1997, 2005–present)
Paul Keller – drums (2018–present)
Dylan Smith – guitar (2024–present)
Marcel Zürcher – guitar, keyboards (2005–2023, 2026–present)

Former members

Nils Finkeisen – guitar, guitar technician (2015–2024)
Bradley Bills – live drums (2013–2014)
Rüdiger Esch – bass (1989–1997, 2005–2011)
Christoph "Nook" Michelfeit – drums, electronic percussion
Bernward Malaka – bass (1980–1982)
Hendrik Thiesbrummel – live drums (2016–2018)
Frank Köllges – drums
Eva Gossling – saxophone (1981)
Tina Schnekenburger – syncussion, bass
Walter Jäger – drums
Christopher Lietz – programming, samples (1995–1997)
Lee Altus – guitar (1992–1997)
Darren Minter – drums (1993)
George Lewis – drums (1997)
Oliver Röhl – drums
Achim Färber – drums
Volker Borchert – drums (1992, 2015–2016)

Albums

Stahlwerksynfonie (1981)
Volle Kraft voraus! (1982)
Entering the Arena (1985)
I (1992)
II – The Final Option (1993)
III – Odyssey of the Mind (1995)
Paradise Now (1997)
The Machinists of Joy (2013)
V – Metal Machine Music (2015)
Vision 2020 Vision (2019)
Songs from the Dark Side of Heaven (2021)

Singles and EPs

Wahre Arbeit, wahrer Lohn (1981)
Goldfinger (1982)
Risk (1985)
Machineries of Joy (1989)
Germaniac (1990)
Metal Machine Music (1992)
The Power (1992)
A Tribute to Metallica (1992)
Fatherland (1993)
To the Hilt (1994)
Crossfire (1994)
Bloodsuckers (1994)
Isolation (1995)
Scent (1995)
Remix Wars Strike 2: Die Krupps vs. Front Line Assembly (1996)
Fire (1997)
Rise Up (1997)
Black Beauty White Heat (1997)
Wahre Arbeit, wahrer Lohn / Der Amboss (2005)
Volle Kraft Null Acht (2009)
Als wären wir für immer (2010)
Industrie-Mädchen (2012)
Risikofaktor (2013)
"Nazis on Speed" (2013)
"Robo Sapien×Robo Sapien31 October 2014 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Robo Sapien5:122The Red Line5:063Robo Sapien (Mono Inc. remix)3:534Robo Sapien (Vigilante remix)3:30" (2014)
"Battle Extreme" / "Fly Martyrs Fly" (2015)
"Kaltes Herz×Kaltes Herz23 October 2015 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Kaltes Herz4:442Branded3:48" (2015)
"Alive in a Glass Cage×Alive in a Glass Cage29 July 2016 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Alive in a Glass Cage4:042Alive in a Glass Cage (Metalized mix)4:023Nazis auf Speed (live @ K17 Berlin)5:454Dead in a Glass Cage (Chant remix)5:23" (2016) – feat. Caliban
"F*ck You" (2018)
"Vision 2020 Vision×Vision 2020 Vision15 November 2019 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 23 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Vision 2020 Vision4:242Welcome to the Blackout3:593Trigger Warning3:484Wolfen (Her Pack)4:225Extinction Time4:166The Carpet Crawlers5:277Fires5:118Obacht4:339DestiNation Doomsday4:0910Allies3:5811F.U.3:4512Active Shooter Situation4:1813Human4:35Disc 21Intro / The Damned2The Dawning of Doom3Isolation4Battle Extreme5Alive in a Glass Cage6To the Hilt7Metal Machine Music8Nazis auf Speed9Fatherland10Bloodsuckers" (2019)
"Welcome to the Blackout×Welcome to the Blackout11 October 2019 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Welcome to the Blackout3:59" (2019)
"The Number One Song in Heaven×The Number One Song in Heaven1 October 2020 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1The Number One Song in Heaven3:51" (2021)
"No More Heroes×No More Heroes5 August 2020 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1No More Heroes3:32" (2021)
"To Hell With Poverty×To hell with poverty21 April 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1To Hell with Poverty4:53" (2021)
"Collapsing New People×Collapsing New People1 October 2020 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Collapsing New People4:28" (2021)
"New York×New York6 December 2019 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1New York6:00" (2021)
"Temple of Love×Temple of Love20 June 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Temple of Love3:34" (2023)
"Beautiful People" (2024)
"Will nicht - MUSS!" (2025)

Anthologies

Metall Maschinen Musik 91-81 Past Forward (1991)
The Final Remixes (1994)
Rings of Steel (1995)
Metalmorphosis of Die Krupps (1997)
Foundation (1997)
Too Much History. The Electro Years (Vol. 1) (2007)
Too Much History. The Metal Years (Vol. 2) (2007)
Too Much History. Limited edition double CD set (2007)

Compilations appearances and tributes (Partial)

Extended Electronics (2006)
This Is Industrial Hits of the '90s (2007)
Advanced Electronics Vol. 8 (2010)
The Dark Box – The Ultimate Goth, Wave & Industrial Collection 1980–2011 (2011)
Russian Industrial Tribute to Die Krupps (2013)
Elektrozorn Vol. 1 (2014)

Live

Live im Schatten der Ringe (2016)
"Front Line Assembly Vs. Die Krupps – The Machinists Reunited Tour EP" (2022)