On 29 March 1982 Kraftwerk perfomed 'Das Model' ('The Model') live on German television station ZDF.
The single was already released in Germany as 7” in 1978.
On 6 February 1982, the single ‘The Model’ reached the Top 1 of the UK Singles Chart.
Still, in Germany, Das Model, never climbed higher than the 7th position in the German Single charts. After one week it descended again, still remaining about 20 weeks in the charts
Even-though the band initially added the English sung version as only a B-side on their new single ‘Computer Love’ in 1981, DJ’s and the radio audience seemed to prefer this B-side instead of the A-side. After Capitol Records/EMI noticed the commercial potential they re-released the single almost immediately, this time ‘The Model’ as A-side. Apparently this was decided by Capitol Records/EMI much against the band’s own will. Nevertheless this smart strategy by EMI resulted in ‘The Model’ becoming the number one in the UK single charts on 6 February 1982. The single managed to hang in the UK top 75 for a total of 21 weeks.
Unable to deny the succes another 7” was released by the band, and its label Kling Klang / EMI Electrola, bearing both versions ‘The Model’ and ‘Das Model’.
Das Model/The Model was written by Karl Bartos and Ralf Hütter and with artist Emil Schult collaborating on the lyrics and was the preliminary single for their upcoming and legendary album Die Mensch-Maschine or The Man-Machine.
The Model
She's a model and she's looking good
I'd like to take her home that's understood
She plays hard to get, she smiles from time to time
It only takes a camera to change her mind
She's going out tonight but drinking just champagne
And she has been checking nearly all the men
She's playing her game and you can hear them say
She is looking good, for beauty we will pay
She's posing for consumer products now and then
For every camera she gives the best she can
I saw her on the cover of a magazine
Now, she's a big success, I want to meet her again
Das Model
Sie ist ein Model und sie sieht gut aus
Ich nähm sie heut gerne mit zu mir nach Haus
Sie wirkt so kühl, an sie kommt niemand ran
Doch vor der Kamera da zeigt sie was sie kann
Sie trinkt in Nachtclubs immer Sekt (Korrekt!)
Und hat hier alle Männer abgecheckt`
Im Scheinwerferlicht ihr junges Lächeln strahlt
Sie sieht gut aus und Schönheit wird bezahlt
Sie stellt sich zur Schau für das Konsumprodukt
Und wird von Millionen Augen angeguckt
Ihr neues Titelbild ist einfach fabelhaft
Ich muß sie wieder seh'n, ich weiß sie hat's geschafft
Songwriters: Emil Schult / Ralf Huetter / Karl Bartos
Note: Youtube video might be unavailable due blocking by EMI for German audience.
On this day, 21 years ago, Nine Inch Nails released 'The Hands That Feeds' single
On 28 March 2005 Nine Inch Nails released ‘The Hand That Feeds’ as the lead single from their fourth studio album, With Teeth (2005). It is the highest charting song by Nine Inch Nails on all charts except for U.S. Modern Rock Tracks, where it stayed at number one for five weeks, because the single that followed, "Only", stayed at number one for two more weeks (non-consecutively).
It is, to date, Nine Inch Nails' only single to hit the top 10 of the UK Singles Chart, as well as their highest-charting single on the U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, peaking at number two.
NIN was due to play this song at the 2005 MTV Movie Awards, but dropped out due to conflicts between Trent Reznor and MTV concerning the band's plan to incorporate an image of George W. Bush into the performance. An announcement made by Trent Reznor on the NIN website on 26 May stated:
"Nine Inch Nails will not be performing at the MTV Movie Awards as previously announced. We were set to perform 'The Hand That Feeds' with an unmolested, straightforward image of George W. Bush as the backdrop. Apparently, the image of our president is as offensive to MTV as it is to me. See you on tour this fall when we return to play in America."
The following day, MTV stated:
"While we respect Nine Inch Nails' point of view, we were uncomfortable with their performance being built around a partisan political statement. When we discussed our discomfort with the band, their choice was to unfortunately pull out of the Movie Awards."
The song was nominated for Best Hard Rock Performance for the 48th Annual Grammy Awards in 2006.
The Hand That Feeds (Lyrics)
You're keeping in step
In the line
Got your chin held high and you feel just fine
'cause you do
What you're told
But inside your heart it is black and it's hollow and it's cold
Just how deep do you believe?
Will you bite the hand that feeds?
Will you chew until it bleeds?
Can you get up off your knees?
Are you brave enough to see?
Do you wanna change it?
What if this whole crusade's a charade
And behind it all there's a price to be paid
For the blood on which we dine
Justified in the name of the holy and the divine
Just how deep do you believe?
Will you bite the hand that feeds?
Will you chew until it bleeds?
Can you get up off your knees?
Are you brave enough to see?
Do you wanna change it?
So naive
I keep holding on to what I wanna believe
I can see
But I keep holding on and on and on and on
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
On this day, 34 years ago, Skinny Puppy Released 'Last Rights'. A Landmark of Industrial Dissonance...
This day 24 March 1992, 34 years ago, saw the release of Last Rights, an album that not only further solidified Skinny Puppy’s place at the forefront of industrial music but also marked a critical moment of transition for the band. Over three decades later, the record remains a sonic and emotional monolith, an experience as harrowing as it is transcendent. In remembering Last Rights, we revisit its nightmarish soundscapes, its historical significance, and its lasting impact on the industrial genre and beyond.
At the time of its release, Last Rights was a culmination of tension—both within the band and in the creative process. Skinny Puppy, known for their unflinching exploration of horror, dystopia, and addiction, created an album that reflected the chaos surrounding them. Vocalist Nivek Ogre’s struggles with addiction and inner turmoil were imprinted deeply into the fabric of the music, while cEvin Key’s masterful sonic manipulation and Dwayne Goettel’s eerie, layered synth work created a terrifying, immersive experience. The album was recorded during a time of great distress for the band, and that turbulence seeps into every note.
Musically, Last Rights was one of the most sonically challenging and ambitious works in Skinny Puppy’s catalog. From the opening notes of “Love in Vein” to the shattering climax of “Download,” the album is a relentless journey through distortion, broken rhythms, and tortured vocals. Tracks like “Killing Game” introduced haunting melodies amid the destruction, proving that beauty and brutality could coexist within the same breath. The infamous closing track, “Download,” was a nightmarish descent into chaos, a collage of manipulated voices, erratic beats, and decaying soundscapes that left the listener in an altered state.
Beyond its sonic innovation, Last Rights was prophetic in many ways. The album’s themes—alienation, addiction, technological paranoia—have only grown more relevant with time. It was also a precursor to the growing influence of electronic manipulation in industrial and electronic music. The experimental techniques used in its production, such as heavy sample layering and extreme sound processing, laid the groundwork for countless artists in the electronic and experimental music scenes. In retrospect, one can hear echoes of Last Rights in the works of artists from Nine Inch Nails to modern-day noise and glitch musicians.
Despite its brilliance, Last Rights was also a swan song for Skinny Puppy in their original form. The tensions that built during its creation ultimately led to the band’s dissolution, and they would not release another album together until The Process in 1996. Dwayne Goettel’s tragic passing in 1995 made Last Rights the last fully realized album of the original era, further solidifying its place as a haunting and poignant moment in the band’s history.
Today, 34 years after its release, Last Rights remains a darkly shining beacon in the industrial landscape. It stands as a testament to Skinny Puppy’s willingness to push sonic boundaries, confront the darkest aspects of human existence, and create something truly unforgettable. Whether a longtime fan or a newcomer to its oppressive yet mesmerizing world, revisiting Last Rights is an experience that remains as powerful as ever—an eternal echo from the depths of industrial’s most daring minds.
47 years of Staircase Mystery - Siouxsie And The Banshees release their second single!
Today 47 ago Siouxsie And The Banshees released ‘The Staircase (Mystery)’, it was the band's second single and was released as a stand-alone single on 23 March 1979 (Polydor Records). It also became the band’s second top 40 entry, peaking at number 24 on the UK Singles Chart.
B-side features a cover-version of the 1973 T. Rex song ‘20th Century Boy’.
The song was later added to the singles compilation album Once Upon a Time: The Singles. Also the remastered 2005 version of their debut album The Scream, contained this single as bonus material.
The acknowledged British music Melody Maker hailed the single upon its release and wrote: "The Banshees have been able to come up with a couple of slices of excellent music for their singles. 'The Staircase' hasn't anywhere near the commercial potential or immediacy of 'Hong Kong Garden', but nevertheless it's a great song. A sinister almost mesmerizing tune, dominated by Siouxsie's unorthodox vocals – it grows and matures with each play.
The Staircase (Mystery) (Tracklist)
A. The Staircase (Mystery) 3:06
B. 20th Century Boy 1:57
DISCOGS
Siouxsie and the Banshees (1979 line-up)
Siouxsie Sioux – vocals
Steven Severin – bass guitar
John McKay – guitar
Kenny Morris – drums
The Staircase (Mystery) (Lyrics)
Stare case lying face up
Stare cat on a mat
Looking down
Slide down the banister
Take the escalator
Slide down the banister
Or try the elevator
I was standing on the landing
Now I'm standing in the hall
Looking up
Won't someone assist me
Solve this mystery
Somebody assist me
Arrange the symmetry
Muffled footsteps on the carpet
Spiral steps start spinning
Around me
Which floor which ceiling
You're off balance
Which floor which ceiling
It's all upside down
Stare case lying face up
Stare cat on a mat
Looking down...
Songwriters: Sioux / John Gareth Mckay / Kenneth Ian Morris / Steven Severin
On this day 6 years ago, March 22, 2020, the world lost Gabi Delgado, an influential musician, lyricist, and pioneer of electronic music. As the frontman of Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft (DAF), Delgado played a crucial role in shaping the sound and aesthetic of electronic body music (EBM), industrial, and synth-punk, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire generations of artists.
Born Gabriel Delgado-López on April 18, 1958, in Córdoba, Spain, he moved to Germany as a child, where he became immersed in the punk and electronic music scenes of the late 1970s. It was in Düsseldorf that he met Robert Görl, with whom he would form DAF. Together, they created a raw, minimalist sound that fused Kraftwerk-inspired electronics with provocative, commanding vocals and relentless rhythms. Their music became the foundation of EBM, influencing acts like Nitzer Ebb, Front 242, and countless others.
DAF’s breakthrough came with albums like Alles ist gut (1981), Gold und Liebe (1981), and Für immer (1982), which introduced anthems such as Der Mussolini and Alle gegen alle. Delgado’s aggressive, yet often playful lyrics, delivered with his signature intensity, cemented his reputation as one of the most charismatic frontmen in alternative electronic music.
After DAF’s initial split, Delgado pursued solo projects and collaborations, experimenting with house, techno, and other electronic genres. His 1986 solo album Mistress showcased his ability to adapt and evolve beyond DAF’s signature style. Later, he continued working with Görl on DAF reunions, proving that their impact had not waned with time.
Beyond music, Delgado was an uncompromising artist, a provocateur who pushed boundaries and defied conventions. His influence on electronic music remains undeniable, and his legacy endures in the beats and rhythms of today’s underground electronic and industrial scenes.
As we remember Gabi Delgado on this day, we celebrate his fearless artistry and the lasting imprint he left on music. His voice, vision, and energy will forever echo through the speakers of those who continue to be moved by his work.
