Formed in 1982 by schoolfriends Douglas McCarthy [vocals], Bon Harris [drums, percussion] and the now-departed David Gooday, Nitzer Ebb [pronounced night-zer ebb] set out to terrorize the UK dance scene with industrial power rhythms and disturbing, fierce lyrical themes. Fourth member Simon Granger, also from Chelmsford, Essex, still provides the concepts for the design, artwork and imagery of a band whose growing international success makes them one of hard-beat's leading exponents.
Beginning with shows in their local area, Nitzer Ebb's mix of energetic anger and militaristic imagery soon saw them appearing in dance clubs and concert halls around the UK. In 1984, attention-grabbing London dates saw them introduced to PWL producer Phil Harding. Together they formed their own label - Power Of Voice Communications - and in 1985 released their debut single "Isn't It Funny How Your Body Works?".
Three more singles followed, each establishing the group further in club circles - particularly in Europe. By November 1986 Nitzer Ebb had signed to Mute and another single, "Murderous", revealed an even more brutal subversion of dance beats. Second Mute single "Let Your Body Learn" began to make waves in the clubs of New York and the follow-up - the extraordinary "Join In The Chant" - became an unlikely hit on the acid/balearic scene in 1987. Debut album "That Total Age" summed up their career thus far in May of that year.
By the release of second album "Belief" in January 1989, Harding and Gooday were gone, as was the militaristic imagery which had led to a misunderstanding of their political stance in some quarters. Veteran producer Flood, of U2, Depeche Mode and Erasure fame helped the two-piece create a more subtle sound - a progression continued through 199O's "Showtime" and 1991's "Ebbhead" - which achieved considerable success in Europe and the States.
