The Phantom Brothers - Germany's Wildest Beat Group (White Trash Soul R&B Series No.20)

 

The Phantom Brothers were formed in 1959 by sailors Horst Krüger (lead guitar and vocals) and Rudi Krüger (drums), who also belonged to a rocker gang, and Olgerd Woköck (guitar and vocals), a wholesaler. They performed as the Phantoms in Rendsburg. The trio, who took their name from the French band, Les Fentomes, made their first live appearance in 1960. They renamed themselves to the Phantom Brothers when Wolfgang Woköck, Olgerd's brother who played lead guitar with the instrumental group the Tornados, joined the band as bassist.

On 1 December 1963, they came third in a Star Club competition - yes, the one that the young savage Beatles played in and Jerry Lee Lewis recorded the best ever live LP - and were signed by Manfred Weissleder, owner of the famous now St. Pauli rock'n'roll venue before he sent them all over Europe to perform, with guest appearances including the Iron Door Club in Liverpool. Mike Stax (The Tell Tale Hearts/The Crawdaddys/Ugly Things magazine) referred to them as "Germany's Wildest Beat Group" hence the title of my compilation. All of their singles feature outstanding R&B performances with edgy, aggressive guitars and pounding drums, this is why the German youngsters nicknamed them their country's answer to the Rolling Stones. 

Dieter Horns of another Star Club garage beat band, the German Bonds said: "The Phantom Brothers were the absolute punkiest and hardest thing to see at the time. The Pretty Things later were perhaps similar. The Phantom Brothers were from the boonies. But they performed it so mercilessly, we could all just take our hats off." Their early 1966 and first single, “Chicago” b/w “It Ain't Necessarily So" remains a 60s punk monster which forced Tim Warren to include it in the famous Trans World Punk Rave Up compilation in 1987. Crude!