Kraftklub

Biography

Kraftklub are a German band from Chemnitz. Their music mixes indie rock and rap.

Founding and early years (2009–2011)

The band members first met at school and founded the band at the end of 2009. At the Splash Festival 2009, rapper Bernd Bass (Felix Brummer) performed together with the rock band Neon Blocks for the first time. At the end of 2009, they founded the band Kraftklub and started recording their first studio album. On 13 February 2010, they released their first EP, titled Adonis Maximus×Adonis Maximus13 February 2010 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Intro0:142Fotos v. mir (uh, ah)2:503Zu jung3:164Scheissindiedisko3:225Randale4:186Liebe3:347Ich hau rein2:508Schlagerstars3:41 at a record release party in the Chemnitz club Atomino.
In September 2010, the band won the New Music Award, a music prize awarded by various ARD radio stations. As a result, several major labels became aware of them. As of January 2011, they are signed to Universal Domestic Rock/Vertigo Berlin.
Kraftklub have performed as the support act for bands including Beatsteaks, Fettes Brot, Casper, Die Toten Hosen, and Rammstein. On 5 August 2011, they released their first single, Zu Jung.

Breakthrough with Mit K (2011–2013)

On 29 September 2011, the band represented Saxony in the Bundesvision Song Contest with their song Ich will nicht nach Berlin, coming fifth with a total of 89 points. The single was released the next day where it reached number 45 on the German Media Control Charts. Their debut album Mit K×Mit K1 January 2012 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 13 tracks1Eure Mädchen2:542Ritalin/Medikinet3:223Ich will nicht nach Berlin3:224Liebe3:115Melancholie2:596Karl-Marx-Stadt3:137Songs für Liam3:148Kein Liebeslied4:189Lieblingsband (Oh Yeah)2:5910Mein Leben3:5311Scheissindiedisko3:1512Zu jung3:0513Wieder Winter4:05 was released on 20 January 2012 and shot straight to number one in Germany. In April 2012, Songs für Liam, the next single from their album, was released. It debuted at number 40 and peaked at number 14 in the German Media Control Charts.
On 6 April 2012, K.I.Z and Kraftklub gave an unannounced concert on the roof of the Chemnitz commercial complex Terminal 3 as part of the documentary film series Durch die Nacht mit ... commissioned by Arte. The performance was announced only a few hours before via social networks, despite the ban on dancing on Good Friday, and as a result of the crowds of spectators the police closed off the Chemnitzer Brückenstraße.
Kraftklub refer to their hometown of Chemnitz as "Karl-Marx-Stadt" (this was the name the city was known as from 1953 to 1990) – one of their songs on Mit K is entitled Karl-Marx-Stadt – and they are known for their trademark poloshirts, varsity jackets and suspenders.
For Record Store Day 2012, Kraftklub released the song Songs for Liam in a version with Casper as vinyl single, which is limited to 700 pieces.
Its first concert outside of Germany was at 19 September 2012, in "La Puerta Grande" Bar in Bogotá, thanks to the "Kolumbien mit K" tour promoted by the Goethe Institut – Colombia, which took them by Bogotá, Medellín and Cali, each one with two concerts respectively, and one in Cartagena.
In 2013, Kraftklub was nominated (among others) together with the group Frei.Wild for the music award Echo in the category Rock/Alternative National. On 6 March 2013, Kraftklub announced that they want to be removed from the list of nominees, as Kraftklub does not want to be named in the same line as FreiWild. After MIA. and Die Ärzte also withdrew their participation, Frei.Wild was removed from the list of nominees and Kraftklub received the "Kritikerpreis National".
The song Eure Mädchen can be heard on the soundtrack of the football video game FIFA 13. It is the only German song in the game. Kraftklub has a guest appearance in the song "Ganz schön okay" on the album Hinterland by German rapper Casper.

In Schwarz (2014–2016)

On 20 May 2014, the music video Hand in Hand (in a version with bassist Till Brummer on vocals) of an allegedly new band called In Schwarz appeared on YouTube. The video was uploaded by the music label Audiolith Records. On 2 June 2014, In Schwarz appeared on the German television show Circus HalliGalli and revealed themselves as Kraftklub. On August 7, Kraftklub presented their second single, Unsere Fans, on MDR Sputnik.
The album In Schwarz×In Schwarz12 September 2014 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Unsere Fans3:502Alles wegen Dir3:293Wie ich4:074Zwei Dosen Sprite3:475Schüsse in die Luft4:096Für immer3:017Mein Rad3:308Vorm Proberaum (Skit)2:289Blau3:5410Hand in Hand2:5311Meine Stadt ist zu laut4:1512Schöner Tag4:0113Deine Gang4:0314Weit weg3:4815Gestern Nacht4:0116Irgendeine Nummer3:52 was released on September 12, 2014. It entered the German charts at number one, and spent 18 weeks in the top 50.
In 2015, Felix Brummer and Steffen Israel began hosting "Radio Mit K" broadcast on RBB Fritz. The show later became a podcast, and continued until November 2025 when the final episode was released.
On 20 November 2015, the first live album Randale×Randale20 November 2015 · Album · LiveSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 44 tracks · 3 discsDisc 11Für immer2Eure Mädchen3Ich will nicht nach Berlin4Juppe für's Gehirn5Mein Leben6Wegen Dir7Unsere Fans8Meine Stadt ist zu laut9Hand in Hand10Irgendeine Nummer11Wie ich12Mit K Medley13Deine Gang14Blau15Schüsse in die Luft16Karl-Marx-Stadt17Songs für Liam18Randale19Scheißindiedisko20Songs für Liam/Wenn Du mich küsst21Mein Rad22Zwei Dosen SpriteDisc 21Für immer3:492Eure Mädchen3:193Wegen Dir4:184Mein Leben4:275Ich will nicht nach Berlin4:346Juppe für's Gehirn4:547Unsere Fans5:248Meine Stadt ist zu laut4:569Hand in Hand3:5110Irgendeine Nummer3:5611Wie ich4:3912Medley8:24Disc 31Deine Gang (Intro)1:482Deine Gang4:083Blau4:284Schüsse in die Luft5:075Karl-Marx-Stadt5:056Randale5:377Scheißindiedisko5:038Songs für Liam4:079Mein Rad3:3210Zwei Dosen Sprite3:55 was released. Part of the DVD is a recording of the concert in the Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin from 6. March 2015. In January 2016 followed the Randale-tour, in which the band gave concerts in several German cities. The same year, they won the Best Narrative category with the music video Wie Ich during the Berlin Music Video Awards

Keine Nacht für Niemand (2017–2022)

On 16 March 2017, the band released the first single "Dein Lied" from the album Keine Nacht für Niemand×Keine Nacht für Niemand2 June 2017 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks1Band mit dem K3:462Leben ruinieren3:533Chemie Chemie Ya4:074Am Ende3:415Fenster4:326Fan von Dir4:517Hausverbot (Chrom & Schwarz)3:498Dein Lied3:569Sklave4:1310Venus3:0711Hallo Nacht4:1612Liebe zu Dritt4:47 during a ten-hour Facebook livestream. The album was released on 2 June 2017. The title of the album is an allusion to the album Keine Macht für Niemand by the band Ton Steine Scherben.

KARGO (2022–2025)

On 1 April, the band announced their new album KARGO×KARGO22 September 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Teil dieser Band3:352Ein Song reicht3:243Wittenberg ist nicht Paris3:104Fahr mit mir (4x4)4:055Blaues Licht2:596Kein Gott, kein Staat, nur Du3:047Angst3:128Vierter September3:119So schön3:0810Der Zeit bist du egal3:2011In meinem Kopf2:58 and released the single "Ein Song reicht×Ein Song reicht31 March 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Ein Song reicht3:24". The album was released on 22 September 2022. The band started their KARGO tour in November 2022 at a number of dates in Germany, one in Vienna, Austria, and one in Zurich, Switzerland.
During 2023, besides playing festivals, the band also played open air shows which took place in Cologne, twice in Berlin, Wiesbaden and Dresden. The latter was Kraftklub's biggest Headline Show to date, playing in front of over 40.000 people.

Sterben in Karl-Marx-Stadt (2025–present)

On May 28, 2025, in front of the Schauspielhaus in Chemnitz the band performed a surprise gig where they announced their new album Sterben in Karl-Marx-Stadt×Sterben in Karl-Marx-Stadt27 November 2025 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks1Unsterblich sein (*)3:032Marlboro Mann2:563All die schönen Worte3:254Wenn ich tot bin, fang ich wieder an2:565Fallen in Liebe2:216Schief in jedem Chor3:067So rechts2:488Halts Maul und spiel2:109Zeit aus dem Fenster3:3910Kippenautomat2:2611Ein letztes Mal2:4712Unsterblich sein (†)3:05, performing lead single Schief in jedem Chor×Schief in jedem Chor5 June 2025 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Schief in jedem Chor3:07. The band later confirmed a tour, to complement the album, around Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The album officially released on 28 November. The album debuted at number 1 in the German and Austrian charts.

Band members

Till and Felix are brothers and the sons of AG. Geige member Jan Kummer. Since there is no artistic connection to Kraftklub, the brothers use the surname Brummer instead.
Felix and Till are also the brothers of Nina and Lotta Kummer, who also perform under the band name Blond.

Kummer

Starting with the release of his first single 9010 on June 11, 2019, Felix launched his solo rap-career, performing simply under his last name Kummer. He released several singles culminating in the release of his first and only album, Kiox, named after his father's East-German record shop, which topped German charts in October 2019. It also placed 19th and 36th in Austria and Switzerland, respectively. In 2021 Felix announced the end of his solo career and released a final single "Der letzte Song (Alles wird gut)" (The Last Song (everything will be good)) featuring Fred Rabe of the band Giant Rooks. The single also hit the number one spot on the German charts in November 2021, placing 15th in Austria and 36th in Switzerland.
It is noteworthy, that his performing and last name Kummer, at the same time, is a German word meaning sorrow or grief, reflecting in some way the overall sentiment of the album, which also is the motive of the first song of the album "Nicht die Musik" (Not the music [you're looking for]) as well as the theme of the aforementioned non-album single "Der letzte Song (Alles wird gut)". Concurrently, underlined by his resolute rapping tone, he comes across as confident with having a fighting spirit, which gives most of his tracks also a positive and hopeful undertone, indicated as well in the chorus of, along with its alternative title in brackets itself, "Alles wird gut" (everything will be good).
He went on tour twice (KIOX Tour & Bye, Bye Kummer) under this name through Germany while also visiting cities in fellow German speaking countries Vienna, Austria and Zurich, Switzerland. His last two concerts as Kummer he performed in front of a sold-out audience at the Parkbühne Wuhlheide open-air venue in Berlin.
Additionally, on Kraftklub's KARGO tour (2022–present) at most of their concerts Felix performed his song "Bei dir" (With you) with the rest of the band, often while they were in the midst of the crowd for a couple of songs.

Albums

2012: Mit K
2014: In Schwarz
2015: Randale (live album)
2017: Keine Nacht für Niemand
2022: KARGO
2025: Sterben in Karl-Marx-Stadt

EPs

2010: Adonis Maximus
2012: Live im Astra Berlin
2012: Songs für Liam

Singles

2011: "Zu jung×Zu jung5 November 2011 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Zu jung3:06"
2011: "Ich will nicht nach Berlin×Ich will nicht nach Berlin21 September 2011 · SingleSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks1Ich will nicht nach Berlin3:222Scheissindiedisko3:11"
2011: "Eure Mädchen×Eure Mädchen27 December 2011 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Eure Mädchen2:55"
2012: "Songs für Liam×Songs für Liam9 March 2012 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Songs für Liam3:152Juppe2:363Songs für Liam (Skeletron vs. Kraftklub Remix)3:494Songs für Liam (Wass Bass Remix)3:375Randale (Live @ Astra Berlin)5:15"
2012: "Kein Liebeslied×Kein Liebeslied1 January 2012 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks1Kein Liebeslied4:192Kein Liebeslied (TiKay One Remix)3:50"
2012: "Mein Leben"
2014: "Hand in Hand×Hand in Hand22 June 2014 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Hand in Hand2:52"
2014: "Unsere Fans×Unsere Fans12 September 2014 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Unsere Fans3:49"
2014: "Wie ich"
2014: "Schüsse in die Luft"
2015: "Blau"
2015: "Alles wegen dir"
2017: "Dein Lied"
2017: "Fenster"
2017: "Sklave"
2017: "Chemie Chemie Ya"
2017: "Am Ende"
2018: "Liebe zu Dritt"
2022: "Ein Song reicht×Ein Song reicht31 March 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Ein Song reicht3:24"
2022: "Wittenberg ist nicht Paris×Wittenberg ist nicht Paris19 May 2022 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Wittenberg ist nicht Paris3:10"
2022: "Fahr mit mir (4x4)" feat. Tokio Hotel
2022: "Teil dieser Band×Teil dieser Band25 August 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Teil dieser Band3:35"
2022: "Blaues Licht×Blaues Licht20 September 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track1Blaues Licht2:59"
2025: “Schief in jedem Chor×Schief in jedem Chor5 June 2025 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Schief in jedem Chor3:07”
2025: "Wenn ich tot bin, fang ich wieder an×Wenn ich tot bin, fang ich wieder an7 August 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Wenn ich tot bin, fang ich wieder an2:572Schief in jedem Chor3:07"
2025: "Unsterblich sein (*)×Unsterblich sein (*)25 September 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Unsterblich sein (*)3:032Wenn ich tot bin, fang ich wieder an2:563Schief in jedem Chor3:06" feat. Domiziana
2025: "Marlboro Mann×Marlboro Mann6 November 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Marlboro Mann2:562Unsterblich sein (†) feat. Domiziana3:053Unsterblich sein (*) feat. Domiziana3:034Wenn ich tot bin, fang ich wieder an2:565Schief in jedem Chor3:06"

Song appearances

"Eure Mädchen×Eure Mädchen27 December 2011 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Eure Mädchen2:55" from EA Sports' FIFA 13 soundtrack (2012)