Lift (band)

Lift are a German rock band formed in Dresden in 1973 and remains active at the present day.

Lift
Background information
Origin	Dresden, East Germany
Genres	Art rock, jazz rock
Years active	1973–present
Labels	Amiga

History

The group was founded in 1973^[1] following the dissolution of the group Dresden Sextett. Their first concert was given on January 28, 1973. The group underwent a series of lineup changes in its early years; of the group's early members, only Werther Lohse, who joined the group in 1974, is still a member. Their first album was released in 1977; shortly after this, members Henry Pacholski and Gerhard Zachar were killed in a traffic accident while touring in Poland.^[2] Two further LPs were issued in 1979 and 1981, after which time the group fell from fame. Their 1987 album is now something of a rarity.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall they toured the newly reunited Germany, playing often with the groups Electra and Stern-Combo Meißen. They continued to tour and record into the 2000s.

Members

Founding members

• Gerhard Zachar - bass (died 1978)^[2]
• Konrad Burkert - drums
• Jürgen Heinrich - guitar
• Till Patzer - alto saxophone, transverse flute^[3]
• Manfred Nytsch - trombone
• Wolfgang Scheffler - keyboards^[4]
• Karl-Matthias Pflugbeil - trumpet
• Bernd Schlund - vocals
• Christiane Ufholz - vocals

Current members

• Werther Lohse - vocals, percussion (since 1974)^[4]
• Bodo Kommnick - guitar, vocals
• Yvonne Fechner - violin, vocals
• Peter Michailow - drums
• Jens Brüssow - bass

Former members

• Stephan Trepte - vocals (1973–75)
• Franz Bartzsch - keyboards, vocals (1973–74)
• Michael Heubach - keyboards (1974–1985)^[3]
• Henry Pacholski - vocals (1975–78; died 1978)^[2]
• Hans Wintoch - violin, keyboards, vocals (1984)

Discography

LPs

• 1976: Lift (Amiga)
• 1979: Meeresfahrt (Amiga)^[5]
• 1981: Spiegelbild (Amiga)
• 1987: Nach Hause (Amiga)

CDs

• 1992: Rock aus Deutschland Ost 6 - Wasser und Wein
• 1994: Spiegelbild / Nach Hause
• 1995: Best of Lift
• 1995: Meine Schulden
• 1996: Die schönsten Balladen
• 1998/2003: LIFT classics
• 1999: Nach Süden
• 1999: Sachsendreier live (with electra and Stern-Combo Meißen)
• 2000: Lift
• 2000: Meeresfahrt
• 2000: Lift Unplugged
• 2003: Classics & unplugged
• 2005: Tagesreise – Best (1976–2003)
• 2007: Sachsendreier live – die Zweite (with electra and Stern-Combo Meißen)
• 2008: Hits & Raritäten (Buschfunk)

DVD

• 2005: Sachsendreier Live (with electra and Stern-Combo Meißen)