Post Description

ooit eens in mij begin periode ook al eens gedaan kleine 1000 dagen terug nu nog een keer op herhaling  DREAMER jij hebt ze al.

1981-92 Success years and the end of an era
After a turbulent transition period with the departure of two of the band members, (Dieter Lütscher and Wolfgang Hafner), as well as a new management and rehearsal facilities, the five remaining  musicians pursued an almost professional career: the first LP was planned, new songs originated (with vocals again). Following the signing of  a recording contract with EMI Switzerland (which at that time was quite a sensation for an unknown band from the depths of the country), Irrwisch found themselves in the “Rainbow Studio” in Munich where the renowned Swiss guitarist and producer, Armand “Mäne” Volker, recorded and produced the seven Irrwisch songs.
 

In 1981 “In Search Of” was released and became a big success. For Swiss proportions, the sale of 12,000 copies of a first recording those days was considerable. After a concert tour through Switzerland, the band met again for rehearsals and to create some new songs as the recording contract required a second LP. And so, in May 1982, the band travelled to Munich again in order to practise the songs with “Mäne”.
 

In 1982 “Living in a Fool’s Paradise” came on the market and actually reached the Hit Parade.
 
15,000 LPs were sold. For this achievement, Irrwisch received a special prize from the government of Solothurn. Again the band went on tour, not only through Switzerland but also to neighbouring countries (with new tour-keyboarder Fredy Gruber). The highlights of 82/83 were supporting acts with Roger Chapman / Uriah Heep / Eloy  and taking part in Open Airs in St. Gallen / Leysin / Gampel / Brienz.
 

After a further difficult transitional period (it would fill a book!) the band members pulled themselves together in 1987. Fredy Gruber, who in the meantime had become a permanent member of the band, took over the management. A few concerts were arranged, just for fun. However, it turned out to be one of the biggest concert tours with the largest attendance ever – and the two CDs “Countdown” (88) and “The Fish Came to the Surface” (89) became best sellers with positions in the charts (10). The climax of these successful years was the Hallenstadion concert in Zürich in Jan. 1988 as warm-up band for “Marillion”, and the Music Scene / Camel-Tour 1989, with Andi Hürzeler (Sax) as guest musician.
                                                     
                               
 In 1990, the “Live” Album was released as a bonus which included selections taken from concerts on the last tour. Under this pressure of success the next recording was planned. Of course nobody wanted to do anything wrong and spoil the attained Swiss bonus internationally. The most expensive Irrwisch production up to this time was produced by a German recording company (1991 in the Munich “Pilot” studio by Curt Cress). “Forbidden Fruits” was actually a technically notable production which became a financial flop, and resulted in the band dissolving in 1992, ending a musical era of many years.


irrwisch - forbidden fruits

irrwisch - countdown (1988)

irrwisch - time to tell

irrwisch (swi) - living in a fool's paradise (1982)

irrwisch 1980 - in search of

irrwisch 2009 - wizard for a day

irrwisch  - the fish came to the surface