Jane | Artist
Jane was a German progressive rock Krautrock band formed 1970 in Hanover, Germany by Peter Panka (drums, percussion, vocals), Klaus Hess (guitar, vocals, Moog), Werner Nadolny (keyboards, electronics), and Charly Maucher (bass, vocals). They played a melodious synthesis of symphonic hard rock, that has occasionally been compared to Pink Floyd. Their first LP Together was released on the Hamburg-based label Brain Records in 1972. Singing in broken English, with a heavy expressive bluesy sound backed by blistering Les Paul solos and slabs of Hammond organ backdrops and Peter Panka's hypnotic drum beats, the debut album characterized Jane's music for the following 40 years. Together was warmly received by the German music press including Sounds magazine, who declared Panka its vocalist of the year for 1971. Keyboardist Werner Nadolny left the band in 1973 but returned in 1976 for Jane's expansive symphonic progrock masterpiece Fire, Water, Earth & Air. Featuring layers of Hammonds, Moogs, Mellotrons and synths, it was unquestionably Jane at their creative zenith and the Jane album that opened them to a mainstream prog rock audience. The band eventually split in 1983 but, after collaborating on the musical production on the German rock Opera "Warlock" with other former members of Jane, Peter Panka reformed Jane as a touring band under the moniker Lady Jane in 1984. Unfortunately a coherent unit failed to materialize and only one pop-oriented album Beautiful Lady was released in 1986 with no real connection to past glories. Jane released a total of 12 studio albums, plus some excellent live albums. Standouts include Together, Here We Are, III, Fire Water Earth & Air, and Live at Home. Along with other bands such as Amon Duul II, Grobschnitt and Guru Guru, Jane continues to carry the torch of early 70's Krautrock, continuing in that spirit to this day in three different guises led by original members.
Artist Website: wikipedia/Jane_(German_band)
Featured Albums: Jane
Related Artists: Peter Panka's Jane, Mother Jane
Video Clips: Get This Power, Expectation, Make Me Feel Better
