Xmal Deutschland

Sounding like howling witches burning at the stake, the ghoulish shrieks of X-mal Deutschland’s 1982 debut single “Incubus Succubus” immediately won the approval of goth rock connoisseurs. The German band wasn’t able to maintain its black-clad sound, selling out to pop before the inevitable breakup. X-mal Deutschland was formed in Hamburg, Germany, in 1980 by Anja Huwe (vocals), Manuela Rickers (guitar), Rita Simon (bass), Fiona Sangster (keyboards), and Caro May (drums). Originally an all-girl lineup, X-mal Deutschland added a male when Simon was replaced by bassist Wolfgang Ellerbrock. After the release of Incubus Succubus, May was replaced by Manuela Zwingmann, who was in turn replaced by Peter Bellendir to form the band’s longest-standing lineup. The next few years proved to be successful for the band. After the release of their album Viva in 1987, Rickers, Sangster, and Bellendir left the group. Huwe and Ellerbrock released their final album, Devils, in 1989 with Frank Z. Abwärts (guitar), Henry Staroste (keyboards), and Curt Cress (drums), but the group eventually disbanded in 1990 after a few live performances.