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June 1998 "IT’S NOT THAT EASY … …to write about a band who’s just celebrated their fifth anniversary, nevertheless, I’ll try and bring them a little bit closer to popstar life. But first let me introduce myself: I am Rockin’ Goldie, living in Wülfrath near Düsseldorf, and I had the pleasure of participating in all important stages of BLACK RAVEN’s band history – that’s why they asked me to write this article. All started in 1992 during Panhandle-Rebs-Record Hops in “Roberrtz Bur”, a shop in Neuss. Zlatko (“Barnie”) and Julian (“Lucien”) had been dreaming of delighting the rest of the world with their angel-like voices. Times were hard those days in Germany, since there were only a few Ted style fans, there were no Teddy Boy bands at all, and the German-“British” bands appeared with German songs on stage … Our friends decided to bring this to an end, but final action was only taken, when “Peter Punk” entered their life. Equipped with singer and band experience (band “PETER’S PARTY”), Peter Kuschewski ("Kuschi") organized a band meeting. And there was no lack of musicians with band experience among his friends: Andy Tudja (“Big Fat Bastard”) had already been drumming with the HONKY TONK REBELS, Torsten Leyhausen (“Ötzfötz”) played with BIG STRIKE and Julian (“John Travolta”) was swinging his guitar with the WASHBOARD BOYS, and Zlatko (“Slottie”) was a singer with the GREASERS. They all knew each other before and it did not take long to focus their aim: Teddy Boy Rock’n Roll. Our brave boys disappeared into the rehearsal room. Soon after Peter had left the band, they continued as a quartet and a name had been found: BLACK RAVEN, which was the name of a Teddy Boy pub in London in the Seventies – a good reason for adapting it. Rehearsals
followed after rehearsals. Then their first “great” appearance
and first (small) step to popstar heaven: on March 11, 1993 they played
in the schoolyard of that institution which once tried to prepare Torsten
("The Turk") and Julian ("Afro-Serb") for their
future life. With 14 songs (most of them Zlatko’s and Julian’s
own compositions) and cover versions, such as “Sea of Heartbreak”
our black birds gave their very best (a video of that historical event
is still existing).
On 15 January,
1994 they had their first gig before R’n’R audience. The
“Waters” in Düsseldorf was packed! Thomas (for many
years a BLACK RAVEN roady) and Pter (“Peter Punk”) sold
the tickets. I still remember, that Thomas had lost a tooth the night
before: while strolling through Düsseldorf’s downtown with
Torsten ("Torschti Perkele"), he happened to come too close
to another’s fist … The next highlight in our brave pop stars’ life was their gig together with WILD ANGELS in May 1994, one of the most successful English Revival Bands. Further appearances in Berlin and many other German cities followed. Andy ("Child-Eater") always likes to remember their first Berlin gig: BLACK RAVEN played in a rotten cellar, and he had to balance on a drum chair which stood on a loose wooden board, covering a 15m deep hole. Zlatko ("Navigator") feared that his little brother, due to his considerate weight, might have disappeared any moment – which luckily did not happen. On 11 June, 1994 our band had a successful appearance in the South of this country: 20 people stayed away from the nearby taking place PANHANDLE ALKS concert, to see and listen to BLACK RAVEN in Munderkingen – but the party somehow was not ravishing. The organizer of this smashing party tried to raise our black raven’s black mood and generously donated 3 beers to each of them; useless to say that so much alcohol is desasterous… Another important
event - without any doubt – was their participation in the Teddy-Boy-Weekender
in Great Yarmouth, England, in April 1995: a total flop…
Great Yarmouth, however, should prove to be no rose garden for BLACK RAVEN: The organizer had placed them as Top Act on Saturday night, last band, starting a 1 a.m., which meant: stay sober - and this on a Saturday and on a Weekender!!! And since our band was to play in England for the first time, they were nervous like hell… Julian’s ("Chameleon") guitar lost a string, and since this seemed to delight the audience, he repeated this gag two songs later, encouraging Torsten (“Burger King Man”) and Zlatko (“Captain Porno”) to present an impressing, everlasting guitar and bass solo; and when our lead guitar caught up again, he and Zlatko (“Nick Knatterton”) came up with a brand new version of “I Fought the Law” that seemed to lack any rules of harmony … |
There was no time for encores, although the public was frantic (for
what reason ever …), which still can be seen on a video taken
that night. I occasionally present it on birthday parties and other
festive occasions, and it’s always a great success…
After this appearance an interview for the English magazine Southern & Rocking” was published, with amazing good critics for BLACK RAVEN.
The following Sunday had
been reserved for photo shooting. Sunglasses Ron had the idea to gather
all Teds from the Weekender for the next BLACK RAVEN record –
and after some chaos at the beginning, they all formed up neatly in
the end (myself on the very right…). Ginger lived together with Tony Vincent (C.S.A.) and his wife, until Tony died. Tony had discovered and promoted Ginger’s talent for playing the guitar and singing, they also appeared together on stage. Since BLACK RAVEN and Ginger got on very well from the start, German tours were organized, where Andy (“Uncle Fester”) and Julian (“Bibo”) acted as backing band. This was followed by BLACK RAVEN’s new record production: “THE FALCON & THE RAVEN”, where Ginger was accompanied by the complete BLACK RAVEN band. BLACK RAVEN’s tour with Mick Nash (“ROCKIN’ DEVIS”) is considered an absolute highlight in their career. It was Mick Nash’s first tour in Germany, and he was accompanied by “Pauly” (Bass), former singer of CADILLAC and the CADILLAC BROTHERS, and “THE ANIMAL” (drums), former drummer of the CADILLAC BROTHERS. Mick loved the Brandenburger Tor and the Russian fur caps offered there. He bought one and would not take it off for the rest of the tour. Only Zlatko (“Yoda”) had the honour of wearing it during their Osnabrück gig.
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Rockin’
Goldie, 1988 |
| Goldie - other nicknames: "Tattoo-Original" - "Rockin´
Goldie" - "Helgo" - "Jungfrau" - "Faxe"
- "Teddy Bergers Kumpel" - "Es" - "Helgolitischer
Wampenhund" - "Der Blob" - "Es Lebt"
- "Goldie Brothers (Jensjens & Goldie), Fehlgeburten
aus Gingers Samenspende" |
The new Black Raven 2002:
Andy, Julian & Torsten