Today 4 year ago, we received the sad news of the death of Rüdiger Frank ((° 17. Juni 1967, Ludwigsburg; † 12. Juli 2019, Markgröningen, Germany), singer of German gothic rock band The Tors Of Dartmoor. Rüdiger Frank left Printed At Bismarck's Death in 1989 with keyboard player Heiko Muter (who died in 2001) to form a new gothic rock band: The Tors Of Dartmoor, named after an English rock formation in a mystical landscape.

I got to know The Tors Of Dartmoor in 1991, shortly after the release of their grand debut "The Obvious Darkness". I remember very well taking this CD in the store, intrigued as I was by the band's name as wel as the cover-artwork with a photo of a ruin. The seller told me that this was the latest gothic sensation from Germany. Sold! I absolutely loved this album with classics such as "Waterking" and "Meet Moshe Dayan" (a song they wrote still with Printed At Bismarck's Death). Since then The Tors Of Dartmoor has been number 3 in the list of my favorite gothic rock bands, after The Sisters Of Mercy and Fields Of The Nephilim and just before Love Like Blood.

I was delighted when The Tors Of Dartmoor came to play in my hometown of Antwerp in 1992 at the Phantom Festival in the Limelight (the poster also included The Lance Of Allotment, Dive and Die Krupps). I will never forget the performance of The Tors Of Dartmoor and I still remember perfectly how it began. A tall guitarist and bass player came on stage and started to play the first song. When, after a few minutes, everyone started to wonder where the singer was, a small jerk suddenly came out of the backstage door, a kind of troll king who controlled the entire performance. What a voice and what a presence! Rüdiger Frank suffered from dwarf growth and never grew taller than 1.34 meters. But as small as he was in stature, as big was his act and his stage presence!

And this not only with his gothic rock bands, because in Germany Rüdiger Frank was also a well-known and celebrated actor. He played numerous roles there, including that of God in the piece "Mefistofele" and of Riff Raff in the musical "Rocky Horror Show". In later years he was known for his double role in the world's first steampunk opera "Klein Zaches, genannt Zinnober" and until very recently as Herod in the rock opera "Jesus Christ Superstar".

After the unparalleled debut "The Obvious Darkness" (1991) the albums "House Of Sounds" (1993, tip: "Welcome To The House"), "Third Second" (1996, tip: "Gypsy") and“ Chapter VI ”(2004) which still had a bunch of strong songs but which, as an album, unfortunately could not match the level of their debut.

Recently Rüdiger Frank was also active in the Romeo Is Bleeding formation, which made music inspired by Tom Waits. Unfortunately he could not finish a long-planned solo album. Rüdiger Frank had had health problems for a long time and was only 52 years old. I will cherish my copy of "The Obvious Darkness", signed by the four band members at the Phantom Festival in 1992, forever. [Henk Vereecken / Dark Entries]

Memorial-Site on Facebook

DISCOGS

"Computer Love" (or "Computerliebe" in German) was released in July 1981 as a single of the studio album Computer World, which was released that same year. The song, released on a double A-sided single along with "The Model", went on to become number one in the UK Singles Chart and reached the 13th position in the U.S.Hot Dance Club Play Billboard.

Besides the shorter original 7” single version, the original 12” version of "Computer Love" is a different version than the one originally found on the 1981 Computer World album.

The song was re-arranged and re-recorded for the band's 1991 studio album The Mix.

The melody of "Computer Love" was used in 2005 by Coldplay for their single "Talk". Apparently, Coldplay singer Chris Martin asked Kraftwerk for approval prior to its release.

Computer Love (Lyrics)

Another lonely night, lonely night
Stare at the TV screen, the TV screen
I don't know what to do, what to do
I need a rendezvous, rendezvous
I call this number, call this number
For a data date, data date
I don't know what to do, what to do
I need a rendezvous, rendezvous

Computer love
Computer love
Computer love
Computer love

Songwriters: Karl Bartos / Ralf Hütter / Emil Schult

Computer Love (1981 - 12")

A. Computer Love 7:20
B. The Model 3:37

Computer Love (1981 - 7")

A. Computer Love 3:45
B. The Model 3:37

DISCOGS

This month it’s 31 years ago (July 1992) Ministry released the first single, N.W.O. (New World Order) taken from their fifth studio album ΚΕΦΑΛΗΞΘ better known as Psalm 69. The single is considered Ministry's biggest hit, topping out on the Billboard Modern Rock chart at no. 11. The song was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 1993.
The song is widely regarded as a protest against then-President George H. W. Bush. The song features audio samples of his voice, with him repeating "A new world order" over and over again at the end of the song. At this point of the song in the music video, Bush is portrayed by an actor with an enormous papier-mâché head, grabbing his crotch and waving his arms. Samples from Apocalypse Now are included in this track: Dennis Hopper's character exclaiming "It's alright!" as the patrol boat is approaching the colonel's fort, as well as the siren that was used during the scene. There is also a loop of the guitar solo coming from a transistor radio in the grenade launcher's bunker.
Next to the album version and the over eight minute long Extended Dance Mix of the title track, there's also the non-album bonus track Fucked writen by Paul Barker and Howard Beno.The cover artwork was designed by Paul Elledge.

N.W.O
Track listing

1. N.W.O. (Album Edit)
2. Fucked
3. N.W.O. (Extended Dance mix)

Lyrics

All the locals hide their tears of regret
Open fire 'cause I love you to death
Sky high, with a heartache of stone
You'll never see me 'cause I'm always alone

How to love without a trace of dissent
I'll buy the torture 'cause you pay for the rent
Tied high with a broken command
You're all alone to the promised land

I'm in love with this malicious intent
You've been taken but you don't know it yet
What you will know must never live to be found
'Cause it's the subject of the eyes of the clown

writen by: Al Jourgensen / Paul G. Barker

After releasing their very first release/12" I'm Faling/ Cold Life on Wax Trax! Records in 1981, Ministry was picked up by Arista and a number of singles were issued to promote the upcoming debut album With Sympathy. One of those singles is 'I Wanted To Tell Her', and it was released as the second and preliminary single. The song features guest vocals from American singer Shay Jones. "I Wanted to Tell Her" became one of the most popular songs from With Sympathy, charting on both the US Dance and New Zealand charts.
It was released 40 years ago, in July 1983 as both 7" and 12"

7" Vinyl (US)
"I Wanted to Tell Her" (edit) – 3:55
"A Walk In the Park" – 4:58

7" Vinyl (US promo)
"I Wanted to Tell Her" (edit) – 3:55
"I Wanted to Tell Her" (mono) – 3:55

12" Maxi-single (US)
"I Wanted to Tell Her" (remix) – 6:57
"I Wanted to Tell Her" (dub) – 4:45
"Effigy" – 3:51
"Revenge" – 3:48

7" Vinyl (UK)
"I Wanted to Tell Her" (remix edit) – 3:57
"I Wanted to Tell Her" (Tongue-Tied remix) – 4:45

12" Vinyl (EU)
"I Wanted to Tell Her" (remix) – 6:57
"I Wanted to Tell Her" (Tongue-Tied remix) – 4:45

12" Maxi-single (EU)
"I Wanted to Tell Her" (remix) – 6:57
"I Wanted to Tell Her" (Tongue-Tied remix) – 4:45
"A Walk In the Park" – 4:58

Although not listed as such on the sleeves, all 12" versions (as well as the UK 7") use an alternate performance of the song that differs from the one on With Sympathy. The Tongue-Tied Mix and Dub version are the same.

I Wanted To Tell Her - Lyrics

I wanted to tell her but I stuck to my lies
I wanted to tell her till I looked in her eyes
I wanted to tell her but I stuck to my lies
I wanted to tell her till I looked in her eyes
I wanted to tell her
I needed to tell her
Just like the wind you blew away your happy lover's touch
You bring the blues into my heart just like a rush
I cannot bear the way my heart has helped to keep you close
Of you my babe I cannot get enough you touch me baby
I loved you to the lines of lies you told when I asked her name
I knew the perfume in your hair just wasn't mine
Did you ever think to notice me when you wasn't home?
I noticed every time
I wanted to tell her but I stuck to my lies
I wanted to tell her till I looked in her eyes
I wanted to tell her but I stuck to my lies
I wanted to tell her till I looked in her eyes
Thought you noticed every time but you didn't notice a thing
I'd have to cover up my calls when the telephone would ring
I'm tired of you and the things you do and all the things you say
No more babysitting for neurotic girls today
I'm thinking that the pain I'm going through just to keep you babe
Is something that I should bear
Did you ever stop to notice me when you had nothing?
And I never cared?
Just like the wind you blew away your happy lover's touch
You bring the blues into my life just like a rush
I cannot bear the way my heart has helped to keep you close
Of you my babe I cannot get enough
You touch me baby, don't be mean to me!
I wanted to tell her but I stuck to my lies
I wanted to tell her till I looked in her eyes
I wanted to tell her but I stuck to my lies
I wanted to tell her till I looked in her eyes
I wanted to tell her but I stuck to my lies
I wanted to tell her till I looked in her eyes
I wanted to tell her
I needed to tell her

Songwriters: Al Jourgensen / Shay Jones

On this day, 42 years ago Frank Tovey released the album Incontinent as second Fad Gadget album. Incontinent sounds less “industrial” as his debut album Fireside Favorites relying less on drum machines and sampled (industrial) sounds. Most songs are inspired by Frank Tovey’s impression during his first US tour in 1980.

"Blind Eyes”, with lines such as "Send a few pounds to a charity / Now we're feeling so much better" and a chorus intoning "Hear no, see no, speak no evil" is clearly about people trying to easy their consciousness and ignore global problems.

While "Swallow It" is about the feed of news and propaganda our society, our leaders and media are feeding us day after day.

"Saturday Night Special" is inspired by America's 'Second Amendment', one of the ten amendments to the Constitution comprising the Bill of Rights, states: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed... "

The title tracks "Incontinent" and "Manual Dexterity", both instrumental, respectively featured Mute Records founder Daniel Miller and Robert Gotobed of the band Wire.

"King of the Flies" was released as a flexi-single on 2 October 1981. "Saturday Night Special" backed with "Swallow It Live" was issued on 5 January 1982. A rerecorded version of "King of the Flies" backed with "Plain Clothes" was released on 6 April 1982. None of these singles made it into the mainstream charts.

The album was recorded and mixed during Summer '81 at Blackwing Studios, All Hallows Church, London and features Frank Tovey

The album's artwork featured a picture of Tovey made up as the puppet Punch and was taken by Anthon Corbijn.

Fad Gadget ‎– Incontinent (STUMM6)

Blind Eyes 4:56

Swallow It 5:35

Saturday Night Special 6:29

Incontinent 3:24

Manual Dexterity 3:31

Innocent Bystander 6:28

King Of The Flies 4:22

Diminished Responsibility 5:55

Plain Clothes 4:40

DISCOGS