With Understanding Comes Appreciation
Through the trials and tribulations that life has to offer, a vast wealth of inspiration and karmic balance surge; it was the case for the members of Amon Düül II, who were collecting the honey of triumph while having a series of setbacks. One of the most terrifying events was at the Keks Club in Cologne, Germany in 1971, when a fire not only destroyed all of their musical gear, but snuffed out four youths in attendance, and then soon thereafter their new equipment was ripped off, which lacking any insurance and not totally paid, ended up bankrupting the band as royalties for their previous two records were garnished to pay off creditors. As can be expected, such incidents create extreme tensions with members of a fledgling band, simply trying to make their way in the cult recesses of the music scene, and as a result, bassist Dave Anderson was the first to bail and immediately hooked up with Hawkwind, while founding member Chris Karrer (violin, guitars) would take off to join Embryo. Meanwhile Renate Knaup who never really left the band, only contributed when she felt like it, and pretty much sitting this one out with the exception of the one teeny weeny track “Riding On A Cloud,” which she clearly was and found that more interesting. Likewise Falk Rogner stuck around on a part-time basis and as a result organ playing duties are shared. So after all said and done, the line-up, musicians and their roles, who are credited on this album this time as Amon Düül II were: