Percewood's Onagram

Percewood's Onagram, a band of German and American musicians was founded by singer, guitarist & songwriter Michels in a small, grey industrial city in North-Germany in 1969.- At that time nearly all German bands were just playing the English and American charts up and down, only copying their originals. Only a handful of German bands were just starting to experiment and trying to find their own styles - mainly electronical music, later described as "Kraut-Rock" (more an insult than a striking describtion or label), such as Amon D??l, Kraftwerk, Can, Tangerine Dream ...

Percewood's Onagram had already found its own, original style of music and it wasn't "Kraut-Rock" at all, they sounded more like an English or American band. P. O.'s music is a strange and unique combination of R&B, Beat, Psychedelic, Folk and (garage-, livingroom-, prewave-) Rock. Catchy, timeless songs, rough and beautiful at the same time with pretentious sometimes provoking critical - but again timeless lyrics. Presented by the band in perfect English and unusual phrasing and backed up by strong acoustic & electric guitars, piano, harmonica, drums and bass. (A combination and sound of instruments that many new groups of today go back to ...)

On their first LP, released 1969, Alexis Korner described Percewood's Onagram's music in his liner-notes as follows:

"That was a strange sound - fiercely nostalgic - it had the feel of the late 20's, it had the feel of Isherwood's 'Goodbye To Berlin'. But what made it strange for me was that it also had a bit of Dylan, a bit of Jagger, a bit of The Band and a lot of you!"

The group released between 1969 and 1974 four albums on their own label and where the first in Germany to distribute and promote independently. During this time they appeared a few times on TV, were interviewed & presented by European radio stations and played concerts in and outside Germany. But - all in all Percewood's Onagram was totally underrated, undervalued in their time.

The band disbanded in late 1974 but remained since then a rumor, mysterious and legendary, often quoted in press-articles & dictionarys on German-Rock up to now as "one of the most original & potential German bands", "ahead of their time", "one of the few German supergroups", "a must for Jam- & Doors fans", "a cult-band" ... etc.

The records and mastertapes disappeared and were rediscovered only a few months ago & now re-released. The complete songs of all four original LP's as well as rare and previously unreleased recordings. They radiate a certain magic and are documents of very early German rock-music.

Since the split of Percewood's Onagram leader, singer, songwriter & guitarist Michels - one of the best young german songwriters - is persecuting a successful solo-career. He recorded meanwhile 2 albums in California / USA ("Full Moon California Sunset" 1976; "Crazy Enough" 1978) and three albums in Germany, sung in german.