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ASP (band)

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This article is about the German rock band. For the Japanese idol group, see ASP (Japanese group).
ASP
ASP at Rockharz Open Air 2016
ASP at Rockharz Open Air 2016
Background information
OriginFrankfurt, Germany
Genres
Years active1999–present
LabelsTrisol
MembersAsp (Alexander Frank Spreng)
Lias (Tobias Engel)
Lutz Demmler
Sören Jordan
Stefan Günther
Past membersMatze (Matthias Ambré)
Tossi (Andreas Gross)
Max (Marcus Testory)
Holger Hartgen
Pit Hammann
Himmi (Oliver Himmighoffen)
Websiteaspswelten.de

ASP is a German gothic rock band from Frankfurt, formed in 1999. The name is identical to the pseudonym of the band's leader Asp (Alexander Spreng), and is pronounced as one word (like the snake).

History

[edit]

ASP were formed in 1999[1] by Alexander Frank Spreng (a.k.a. "Asp") and Matthias Ambré (a.k.a. "Matze"), producing their first 3-track demo CD later that year. The following year saw a record deal with Trisol, who released the band's debut album Hast du mich vermisst? ("Have you missed me [very much]?"), as well as the band's first live performance, at the 'Gothicworld' festival having added Andreas Gross (a.k.a. "Tossi") on bass, Oliver Himmighoffen (a.k.a. "Himmi") on drums and a choir section to the line-up.[1]

The following three years saw the release of two further albums Duett and Weltunter, which, along with the debut, formed the album series Der Schwarze Schmetterling ("The Black Butterfly"). ASP also became a popular live act over these years, regularly appearing at high-profile festivals.[1]

The band suffered some difficulty in 2004 with the bankruptcy of distributor EFA,[1] though their albums were reissued later that year, along with the Interim Works Compendium, a 2CD collection of ASP rarities as well as selected tracks from their three albums to date. Another string of live dates took them through to the release of Aus der Tiefe in May 2005, the fourth part of the Der Schwarze Schmetterling series. The fifth part Requiembryo followed in 2007.[1]

The year 2008 saw the release of three new albums. First, a best of-album Horror Vacui was released in February. This was followed by a tour in Europe. At the end of August the band released Zaubererbruder – Der Krabat-Liederzyklus, an album based on the Sorbian Krabat legend (see, e.g., Krabat by Otfried Preußler). The live recording Akoasma is available since December 2008. They have also remixed Emilie Autumn's "Liar", plus provided vocals for the mix. It is known as the "Manic Depressive Mix" and is featured on Autumn's Liar/Dead Is The New Alive EP.

The band released their first DVD in August 2009, entitled Von Zaubererbrüdern.

In 2011, after almost 11 years of cooperation, the paths of the two founders of the band diverged – songwriter and singer Alexander "Asp" Spreng and producer and guitarist Matthias Ambré. ASP as a band continued with new partners, and the musicians Andreas Gross and Oliver Himmighoffen were retained for live performances. The reasons for separation are given officially as personal and professional differences.

One year later Oliver Himmighoffen also left the band. In his place Stefan Günther, who is a friend of Sören Jordan, joined the band.

Members

[edit]
Frontman Alexander "Asp" Spreng at Rockharz Open Air 2016

Current members

  • Asp (Alexander Frank Spreng) – vocals (1999–present)
  • Lias (Tobias Engel) – bass (2021–present)
  • Lutz Demmler – bass, guitar, mandolin, keyboard (2011–present)
  • Sören Jordan – guitar (2011–present)
  • Stefan Günther – drums (2012–present)

Former members

  • Tossi (Andreas Gross) – bass (2000–2021)
  • Matze (Matthias Ambré) – guitar, bass guitar, programming (1999–2011)
  • Max (Marcus Testory) – choir (2001–2004)
  • Holger Hartgen – choir (2000–2004)
  • Pit Hammann – choir (2000–2001)
  • Himmi (Oliver Himmighoffen) – drums (2000–2012)

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
Year Title Peak positions
GER
[3] 		AUT
[4]
2000 Hast du mich vermisst? (Der Schwarze Schmetterling I) – –
2001 :Duett (Der Schwarze Schmetterling II) – –
2003 Weltunter (Der Schwarze Schmetterling III) – –
2005 Aus der Tiefe (Der Schwarze Schmetterling IV) 50 –
2007 Requiembryo (Der Schwarze Schmetterling V) 38 –
2008 Zaubererbruder – Der Krabat-Liederzyklus 13 –
2011 Fremd (Fremder-Zyklus 1) 9 47
2013 Maskenhaft (Fremder-Zyklus 2) 2 57
2015 Verfallen (Folge 1: Astoria) 7 –
2016 Verfallen (Folge 2: Fassaden) 17 –
2017 Zutiefst (Fremder-Zyklus 3) 12 –
2019 Kosmonautilus (Fremder-Zyklus 4) 20 –
2021 Endlich! (Fremder-Zyklus 5) – –
2023 Horrors – –

Live albums

[edit]
Year Title Peak positions
GER[3]
2008 Akoasma: Horror Vacui live 97
2009 Von Zaubererbrüdern –

Compilations

[edit]
Year Title Peak positions
GER[3]
2004 Interim Works Compendium (Best of) –
2004 DJ Revelation 03 (Compiled By ASP) This is a compilation of artists such as Janus, Umbra et Imago, Qntal and others. The only ASP track is the first one. –
2008 Horror Vacui 42
2011 Der komplette Schwarze Schmetterling – Zyklus {I bis V} –
2014 Per aspera ad aspera 81

EPs

[edit]
Year Title
2002 Die Zusammenkunft (Duett-Remixes); re-released in 2009
2005 Hunger (only available on the Hunger tour 2005)
2006 Humility (with Chamber)
2006 Hässlich (fan remixes of the ASP song)
2007 Nie Mehr! (10 track EP beginning a new series of releases entitled "Die verschollenen Archive" [The Lost Archives])
2012 GeistErfahrer

Singles

[edit]
Year Title Peak positions
GER[5]
1999 "ASP" (Promo-CD) –
2003 "Weltunter (Komm zu mir)" –
2003 "Stille der Nacht (Ein Weihnachtsmärchen)" –
2004 "Where do the gods go" (Promo-CD) –
2004 "Ich will brennen" –
2005 "Schwarzes Blut" (Promo-CD) –
2006 "Werben" –
2006 "Ich bin ein wahrer Satan" 29
2006 "Isobel Goudie" (Limited to less than 1,999 copies) –
2006 "Varieté Obscur" –
2007 "Duett (Das Minnelied der Incubi)" (limited to 544 copies) –
2009 "Wer sonst?"/"Im Märchenland" (Limited to 3,000 copies) 56
2011 "Wechselbalg" 46
2012 "Eisige Wirklichkeit"
2017 "20.000 Meilen"
2017 "Zutiefst …"
2019 "Geh und heb dein Grab aus, mein Freund"
2019 "Osternacht"
2019 "Tintakel"
2019 "Kosmonautilus"
2019 "Morgengrauen irgendwo"
2019 "Abyssus 2 (Musik)"
2021 "Raise Some Hell Now!"
2021 "Spät"
2021 "Ziel"
2022 "Die letzte Zuflucht"
2023 "Ich, der Teufel und du"

Music videos

[edit]

DVD

[edit]
  • 2009: Von Zaubererbrüdern – Live & Unplugged
  • 2012: Live auf dem Summer Breeze
  • 2019: Zaubererbruder – Der Krabat-Liederzyklus – Live & für immer

Box sets

[edit]
  • 2007: The Once in a Lifetime Recollection (feat. Chamber live; Limited to 1,999 copies)
  • 2011: Der Komplette Schwarze Schmetterling-Zyklus (10-CD box set containing all the songs within the Schwarzer Schmetterling cycle)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Ankeny, Jason. "ASP Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  2. ^ Mineur, Matthias (2009). "ASP – Akoasma – Horror Vacul [sic!] live". Metal Hammer (in German). No. 1.
  3. ^ a b c "Discographie ASP". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  4. ^ "ASP in den österreichischen Charts". austriancharts.at (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  5. ^ "ASP Single-Chartverfolgung". musicline.de (in German). PHONONET GmbH. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
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