20 Years in Sin Sin Imminent release on People Like You.
Mad Sin were born in 1987 out the hard rockin,’ street fighting, hard drinking, seedy gutter of the Psychobilly/Rockabilly/Punk underworld that festered in a Berlin still entombed by the Eastern Bloc. Not even the Iron Curtain could stop the spread of the sickness that spewed from the first incarnation of the band, Koefte, Stein and Holly when they blasted headlong into the thriving European Psychobilly scene with their first full length album ‘Chills and Thrills’.
One fact sets Mad Sin apart from most of the glut of other bands thrashing the genre that’s a mouldering bile-spewing corpse of punk and rockabilly, the simple fact that they are the real deal. The rumours and fantasies that follow many Psychobilly bands worth their beer rider remain just that, rumours and fantasies. The sinister thing about Mad Sin which leaves a delicious but uncomfortable feeling when witnessing a deranged lead sinner Koefte De Ville on stage is that it’s not an act, I’m not just talking about the real blood drawn from the self inflicted microphone induced forehead injuries, no, if only it were as innocent as that, stories of grave-robbing? I can vouch for after having spent a sleepless 1993 night too close for comfort to a couple of human leg bones in his Berlin flat. Time spent languishing in prison? True, admitted in interviews. Do they party hard? Silly question. But it’s ok, none of those rather unhealthy activities would normally be a prelude to a story of longevity, but as we are talking about Mad Sin the proof is in this release, if ever there was an aptly named album it’s this one. ‘Indestructible - 20 Years In Sin Sin’ is a celebration of the lifetime of musical depravity that has epitomised the career of the band.
This collection spans the years since their inception back in those squat dwelling days of two decades ago. Mad Sin have come a long way since when beer soaked toilet venues were the only places that would risk booking them and when busking in the street was often a more profitable and preferable alternative. Several classic independent record label releases and an unlikely albeit brief signing to Polydor followed before the band found their spiritual home at People Like You. Mad Sin are just as at home high on the bill at prestigious festivals and rubbing shoulders with, but never being intimidated by, some mainstream luminaries as they are headlining their own club shows. The original trio have grown over the years into a polished six piece, their wildest hell-raising days may be behind them but only because they strive to put on live gigs that are performed with the intention of completely blowing the audience away rather than just entertaining them. It would be wrong to assume that things don’t still get a wild, crazy and occasionally dangerous when Mad Sin let off steam after a gig, the difference is it’s never ‘before’ these days. The most recent addition to the band is Mad Pete 1 who was one-time guitarist with The Nekromantix but has fitted into the Mad Sin sound like a corpse in a coffin. As well as old favourites and rare B-Sides the new album boasts six brand new studio tracks, five which emanate from the poison pen of Koefte De Ville as well as barnstorming live performance recorded on their triumphant tour of America last year which climaxed at this Hollywood show and was recorded by Moses Schneider producer of The Beatsteaks for prosperity.
This year promises to be the biggest ever for the band as they tour this new release the world over to satisfy the ever growing demand of fans clamouring to witness Mad Sin in the flesh where they are in their element. Travel plans include another tour of America, an already glorious performance in St Petersburg, Russia, which was streamed live on the internet and first time tours of Australia and South Africa. Bad taste never sounded so good and no band does it better than the angle grinding, flame blowing, original wild men of German Psychobilly, Mad Sin.
written by Simon Nott
Simon Nott is an internationally published freelance music journalist based in the UK. He has written for magazines in Australia, Norway, Japan and Germany as well as being a regular contributor for the UK’s Big Cheese Magazine. He also features in the recently published book ‘Deathrow – The Chronicles of Psychobilly’ and was also interviewed on the ‘Psychobilly - Behind The Music’ DVD He has also written sleeve notes for several record labels including Cherry Red, Cesar and Red Five and continues to do so. www.simonnott.co.uk
