Bonfire is a German heavy metal group from Ingolstadt, Germany, that began in 1980 under the name Cacumen and became Bonfire in 1985. Bonfire has a unique history to them as currently there are two bands who have held the name. The original group started out as Cacumen, became Bonfire and currently performing as Charade. The second group began as Lessmann/Ziller and then purchased the rights to the Bonfire name, which they have used ever since.
In 1972, in the West German town of Ingolstadt a teenaged guitarist, Hans Ziller, put together a rock band called Cacumen with his brother Karl, whom also played guitar, then gathered a bunch of friends to complete the band. The name of the group was from a school test Hans had taken and it translates from Latin meaning “the top of a mountain”. For the next six years, the band played at local small venues, but had a fan base in their hometown. In 1978, the group consisted of Hans and Karl on guitars, Horst Maier on guitar (in 1983, Horst’s last name would become Maier-Thorn), Hans Hauptmann on bass and Hans Forstner on drums. When the band was seeking a replacement singer at that time, Claus Lessmann, a fellow student of Hans', was hired.
Claus previously was in the bands Ginger and Sunset and was known for his harmonic vocals and he fit in perfectly with Cacumen. With this line-up, the band had a chance to start branching themselves out to venues outside Ingolstadt. A single record was recorded called Riding Away, which featured the song Wintertale on the flip side in 1979. The group used this opportunity to begin touring at clubs, schools and even in parking lots. The fan base grew and Cacumen was finally signed to an independent label. By then though, Karl had departed the group. The self titled Cacumen album was released in 1981 and featured a new version of Riding Away.
By some circumstances Cacumen get in contact with Hanns Schmidt-Theissen, who owned a small music studio (Hanns had played with the group on the Riding Away single). Since money was poor and Hanns a good guy, they recorded the album Bad Widow at his studio in Rodgau / Germany in 1982. Hanns tried to help these guys to get a contract, but this wasn't successful at this time.
The fans of the band were growing, as were performance dates. In 1983, Robert Prskalowicz replaced Hans Hauptmann on bass and this group became the well-known Cacumen band, but when they signed with BMG, the group had a total make-over. Robert and Hans Forstner were no longer with the group as in May 1985, the band had Joerg Deisigner, previously from Rascal and Dynasty, to play bass while Dominik Huelshorst from Darxon became the new drummer. Next, the group updated their image, donning the standard look of an 80s hard rock group. Finally, the company requested a name change as they found Cacumen was too hard for the average Joe to pronounce as well as was not a very marketable name. After a brain storming session in 1986, the new name selected was Bonfire.
Their world-wide debut album was released that June as Don’t Touch the Light. During recording of the follow-up album, Dominik was fired in November for not getting along with the rest of the band and Bonfire released their Gold seller album, Fireworks, as a quartet, the drums being recorded by Ken Mary from Fifth Angel. Two versions of this album exist, the world-wide version and the North American version (cover features the four members as well as the represented 'You Make Me Feel' song from the first album).
Between the second and third albums, Bonfire went through many changes. Although Ken made live appearances with the group, a new drummer needed to be hired, which occurred in November 1987 when Edgar Patrik from Sinner, Samson and Tyran Pace joined. In June 1988, during the Fireworks Tour, Horst discovered that the constant pain he was experiencing in his hands was the development of a crippling disease and he could no longer play guitar. Taking his spot was Angel Schleifer, formerly of Doc Savage, Red Alert, Sinner, Mad Max, Pretty Maids and Helter Skelter. The tour went on and once it was completed, the band settled down to collaborate for a new album. It was then that Hans had problems with the record company and especially with that band's management. Against the band's better decisions, he was fired from the group in 1989 and Bonfire carried on as a quartet. It should be noted that Bonfire's first two albums were the only ones that were released commercially in North America.
Despite the business decision, Claus and Hans maintained a great friendship. When Hans formed his own group, Claus was asked to write songs as well as perform vocals. Cruel fate would intervene and the record company wouldn’t allow him to do so, leaving Hans to find a replacement singer for his new band, EZ Livin'.
The decision to remove Hans from Bonfire was beginning to show on Claus though in Bonfire. After many attempts to break through in the North American scene and what he deemed was a failure for the four album, Claus left the band in September 1992. His announcement was not a shock to the rest of the band, but it did leave them with the dilemma of who would take his place. One vocalist that had the group’s attention was Michael Bormann, whom was singing for Letter X and had his own group on the side called Jaded Heart, plus he was previously in High Voltage and the J.R. Blackmore Group. Even though he was willing to sing with Bonfire, he was committed to his two other projects so the group continued looking. The unsuccessful attempt to find a full-time vocalist lead to Michael becoming the new frontman of Bonfire in March 1993. Although he did leave Letter X, he maintained his band Jaded Heart.
Despite the new singer, Bonfire was in a rut now. Their record company refused to release any new material that did not have Claus singing and the grunge years in music had started. The band kind of knew that the end was in site so a live album that featured concert recordings from the Point Blank Tour was released and had Claus on vocals. The album Michael had sung on was shelved and Bonfire broke up in June 1994.
Meanwhile, Claus had reunited with Hans after he left Bonfire and together they became Lessmann/Ziller in 1992 (Hans broke up EZ Livin' for this project). In 1993 they released an EP, Glaub Dran, that was all in German. This was followed by a few single releases of songs that were not on the initial recording. The duo's following was starting to grow once more and then it hit them, they needed to be Bonfire again. In 1995, they decided to start legal proceedings to get the rights to the Bonfire name as well as the music from 1986 to 1992. Being successful in that venture, Lessmann/Ziller was renamed to Bonfire and the second coming began with the reissue to Glaub Dran with other songs in English in 1996. In 1997 they hired Chris Lausmann on guitar and keyboards, whom played with Affair and Frontline; Uwe Kohler on bass, formally from Black Tears, Paradise Leaf, Big Apple, Lipstikk, Blitzkrieg and British Steel; and finally Jurgen Wiehler on drums whom played with Backdoor Affair, Heaven Sent, Chain Reaction, Loud & Proud, EZ Livin’, Parish Garden, Wet Paint and 88 Crash.
Also in 1997, Michael and Angel got back together and wanted to release the shelved Bonfire album they had recorded previously in 1993. Joerg was not interested in being involved and Edgar had other commitments so the reunion was a duo and due to the legal decision Michael and Angel decided to call themselves Charade. The shelved album was then released in 1998 in Japan, becoming a highly sought after CD. The duo continue to work together.
Since 1996, Bonfire has released at least one album a year and their fan base has grown, surpassing their 1980s popularity. In 2002, Chris left the group, but that did not stop the band. In 2004 after successfully gaining the rights to more material, the band released a 5 part CD series called The Early Days. Part 1, 2 and 3 were the reissuing of the Cacumen albums, part 4 was the EZ Livin' album and part 5 was the Lessmann/Ziller album, every one of them featuring bonus material.
In 2006, Bonfire celebrates their 20th anniversary and now Chris Limburg from Vice, Wet Paint and Lustfinger has taken the reigns as the band's co-guitarist. In 2008, The Rauber was released, a rock opera. A special DVD of the opera performance as well as a regular concert is to be made available and the band redid the classic song, You Make Me Feel with a music video to go with the song, their first new music video since the song "Under Blue Skies" in 2001.
Current members
Claus Lessmann - lead vocals, backing vocals, acoustic guitars, bass, rhythm guitars (1978–1992, 1992-present)
Hans Ziller - lead guitar, rhythm guitar, talkbox, acoustic guitar, backing vocals, sitar, slide guitar (1972–1989, 1992-present)
Chris Limburg - guitars (2006–present)
Uwe Köhler - bass, backing vocals (1997–present)
Jürgen Wiehler - drums, percussion, backing vocals (1997–present)
Charade
Michael Bormann - lead vocals, acoustic guitar (1997- present)
Angel Schleifer - lead guitar, keyboards, programming (1997 - present)
Former Members of Bonfire/Cacumen
Karl Ziller - guitars (1972-1980)
Hanns Schmidt-Theißen - keyboards (circa 1977-1980)
Hans Hauptmann - bass (circa 1972-1982)
Hans Forstner - drums (circa 1972-1986)
Robert Prskalowicz - bass (1982-1986)
Dominik Huelshorst - drums (1986)
Horst Maier-Thorn - lead guitars, rhythm guitars, backing vocals (circa 1972-1988)
Michael Bormann - lead vocals, acoustic guitar (1993-1994)
Angel Schleifer - lead guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals (1988-1994)
Joerg Deisinger - bass, backing vocals, mouth drums (1986-1994)
Edgar Patrik - drums, percussion, backing vocals (1987-1994)
Chris Lausmann - rhythm guitar, lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (1997-2002)
In 1972, in the West German town of Ingolstadt a teenaged guitarist, Hans Ziller, put together a rock band called Cacumen with his brother Karl, whom also played guitar, then gathered a bunch of friends to complete the band. The name of the group was from a school test Hans had taken and it translates from Latin meaning “the top of a mountain”. For the next six years, the band played at local small venues, but had a fan base in their hometown. In 1978, the group consisted of Hans and Karl on guitars, Horst Maier on guitar (in 1983, Horst’s last name would become Maier-Thorn), Hans Hauptmann on bass and Hans Forstner on drums. When the band was seeking a replacement singer at that time, Claus Lessmann, a fellow student of Hans', was hired.
Claus previously was in the bands Ginger and Sunset and was known for his harmonic vocals and he fit in perfectly with Cacumen. With this line-up, the band had a chance to start branching themselves out to venues outside Ingolstadt. A single record was recorded called Riding Away, which featured the song Wintertale on the flip side in 1979. The group used this opportunity to begin touring at clubs, schools and even in parking lots. The fan base grew and Cacumen was finally signed to an independent label. By then though, Karl had departed the group. The self titled Cacumen album was released in 1981 and featured a new version of Riding Away.
By some circumstances Cacumen get in contact with Hanns Schmidt-Theissen, who owned a small music studio (Hanns had played with the group on the Riding Away single). Since money was poor and Hanns a good guy, they recorded the album Bad Widow at his studio in Rodgau / Germany in 1982. Hanns tried to help these guys to get a contract, but this wasn't successful at this time.
The fans of the band were growing, as were performance dates. In 1983, Robert Prskalowicz replaced Hans Hauptmann on bass and this group became the well-known Cacumen band, but when they signed with BMG, the group had a total make-over. Robert and Hans Forstner were no longer with the group as in May 1985, the band had Joerg Deisigner, previously from Rascal and Dynasty, to play bass while Dominik Huelshorst from Darxon became the new drummer. Next, the group updated their image, donning the standard look of an 80s hard rock group. Finally, the company requested a name change as they found Cacumen was too hard for the average Joe to pronounce as well as was not a very marketable name. After a brain storming session in 1986, the new name selected was Bonfire.
Their world-wide debut album was released that June as Don’t Touch the Light. During recording of the follow-up album, Dominik was fired in November for not getting along with the rest of the band and Bonfire released their Gold seller album, Fireworks, as a quartet, the drums being recorded by Ken Mary from Fifth Angel. Two versions of this album exist, the world-wide version and the North American version (cover features the four members as well as the represented 'You Make Me Feel' song from the first album).
Between the second and third albums, Bonfire went through many changes. Although Ken made live appearances with the group, a new drummer needed to be hired, which occurred in November 1987 when Edgar Patrik from Sinner, Samson and Tyran Pace joined. In June 1988, during the Fireworks Tour, Horst discovered that the constant pain he was experiencing in his hands was the development of a crippling disease and he could no longer play guitar. Taking his spot was Angel Schleifer, formerly of Doc Savage, Red Alert, Sinner, Mad Max, Pretty Maids and Helter Skelter. The tour went on and once it was completed, the band settled down to collaborate for a new album. It was then that Hans had problems with the record company and especially with that band's management. Against the band's better decisions, he was fired from the group in 1989 and Bonfire carried on as a quartet. It should be noted that Bonfire's first two albums were the only ones that were released commercially in North America.
Despite the business decision, Claus and Hans maintained a great friendship. When Hans formed his own group, Claus was asked to write songs as well as perform vocals. Cruel fate would intervene and the record company wouldn’t allow him to do so, leaving Hans to find a replacement singer for his new band, EZ Livin'.
The decision to remove Hans from Bonfire was beginning to show on Claus though in Bonfire. After many attempts to break through in the North American scene and what he deemed was a failure for the four album, Claus left the band in September 1992. His announcement was not a shock to the rest of the band, but it did leave them with the dilemma of who would take his place. One vocalist that had the group’s attention was Michael Bormann, whom was singing for Letter X and had his own group on the side called Jaded Heart, plus he was previously in High Voltage and the J.R. Blackmore Group. Even though he was willing to sing with Bonfire, he was committed to his two other projects so the group continued looking. The unsuccessful attempt to find a full-time vocalist lead to Michael becoming the new frontman of Bonfire in March 1993. Although he did leave Letter X, he maintained his band Jaded Heart.
Despite the new singer, Bonfire was in a rut now. Their record company refused to release any new material that did not have Claus singing and the grunge years in music had started. The band kind of knew that the end was in site so a live album that featured concert recordings from the Point Blank Tour was released and had Claus on vocals. The album Michael had sung on was shelved and Bonfire broke up in June 1994.
Meanwhile, Claus had reunited with Hans after he left Bonfire and together they became Lessmann/Ziller in 1992 (Hans broke up EZ Livin' for this project). In 1993 they released an EP, Glaub Dran, that was all in German. This was followed by a few single releases of songs that were not on the initial recording. The duo's following was starting to grow once more and then it hit them, they needed to be Bonfire again. In 1995, they decided to start legal proceedings to get the rights to the Bonfire name as well as the music from 1986 to 1992. Being successful in that venture, Lessmann/Ziller was renamed to Bonfire and the second coming began with the reissue to Glaub Dran with other songs in English in 1996. In 1997 they hired Chris Lausmann on guitar and keyboards, whom played with Affair and Frontline; Uwe Kohler on bass, formally from Black Tears, Paradise Leaf, Big Apple, Lipstikk, Blitzkrieg and British Steel; and finally Jurgen Wiehler on drums whom played with Backdoor Affair, Heaven Sent, Chain Reaction, Loud & Proud, EZ Livin’, Parish Garden, Wet Paint and 88 Crash.
Also in 1997, Michael and Angel got back together and wanted to release the shelved Bonfire album they had recorded previously in 1993. Joerg was not interested in being involved and Edgar had other commitments so the reunion was a duo and due to the legal decision Michael and Angel decided to call themselves Charade. The shelved album was then released in 1998 in Japan, becoming a highly sought after CD. The duo continue to work together.
Since 1996, Bonfire has released at least one album a year and their fan base has grown, surpassing their 1980s popularity. In 2002, Chris left the group, but that did not stop the band. In 2004 after successfully gaining the rights to more material, the band released a 5 part CD series called The Early Days. Part 1, 2 and 3 were the reissuing of the Cacumen albums, part 4 was the EZ Livin' album and part 5 was the Lessmann/Ziller album, every one of them featuring bonus material.
In 2006, Bonfire celebrates their 20th anniversary and now Chris Limburg from Vice, Wet Paint and Lustfinger has taken the reigns as the band's co-guitarist. In 2008, The Rauber was released, a rock opera. A special DVD of the opera performance as well as a regular concert is to be made available and the band redid the classic song, You Make Me Feel with a music video to go with the song, their first new music video since the song "Under Blue Skies" in 2001.
Current members
Claus Lessmann - lead vocals, backing vocals, acoustic guitars, bass, rhythm guitars (1978–1992, 1992-present)
Hans Ziller - lead guitar, rhythm guitar, talkbox, acoustic guitar, backing vocals, sitar, slide guitar (1972–1989, 1992-present)
Chris Limburg - guitars (2006–present)
Uwe Köhler - bass, backing vocals (1997–present)
Jürgen Wiehler - drums, percussion, backing vocals (1997–present)
Charade
Michael Bormann - lead vocals, acoustic guitar (1997- present)
Angel Schleifer - lead guitar, keyboards, programming (1997 - present)
Former Members of Bonfire/Cacumen
Karl Ziller - guitars (1972-1980)
Hanns Schmidt-Theißen - keyboards (circa 1977-1980)
Hans Hauptmann - bass (circa 1972-1982)
Hans Forstner - drums (circa 1972-1986)
Robert Prskalowicz - bass (1982-1986)
Dominik Huelshorst - drums (1986)
Horst Maier-Thorn - lead guitars, rhythm guitars, backing vocals (circa 1972-1988)
Michael Bormann - lead vocals, acoustic guitar (1993-1994)
Angel Schleifer - lead guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals (1988-1994)
Joerg Deisinger - bass, backing vocals, mouth drums (1986-1994)
Edgar Patrik - drums, percussion, backing vocals (1987-1994)
Chris Lausmann - rhythm guitar, lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (1997-2002)
Discography
Cacumen
1979: Riding Away single
1981: Cacumen
1983: Bad Widow
1985: Longing for You EP
Bonfire (1986 - present)
Full albums
1986: Don't Touch The Light
1987: Fireworks
1989: Point Blank
1991: Knock Out
1996: Feels Like Comin' Home
1996: Freudenfeuer (German version of Feels Like Comin' Home)
1998: Rebel Soul
1999: Fuel To The Flames
2001: Strike Ten
2003: Free
2006: Double X
2008: The Räuber
Compilations and lives
1993: Live...The Best
1997: Hot & Slow
2000: Who's Foolin' Who (greatest hits)
2001: 29 Golden Bullets
2002: Live Over Europe
2004: The Early Days Parts 1 - 5
2005: One Acoustic Night
2007: Double Vision
Official Website: http://www.bonfireband.com/
Listen to Bonfire Music!
Watch Bonfire Video!
Sleeping All Alone
Sweet Obsession
Starin' Eyes
Champion
Sweet Obsession (Live)
Sword and Stone
Hard on Me
Who's Foolin Who
Cacumen
1979: Riding Away single
1981: Cacumen
1983: Bad Widow
1985: Longing for You EP
Bonfire (1986 - present)
Full albums
1986: Don't Touch The Light
1987: Fireworks
1989: Point Blank
1991: Knock Out
1996: Feels Like Comin' Home
1996: Freudenfeuer (German version of Feels Like Comin' Home)
1998: Rebel Soul
1999: Fuel To The Flames
2001: Strike Ten
2003: Free
2006: Double X
2008: The Räuber
Compilations and lives
1993: Live...The Best
1997: Hot & Slow
2000: Who's Foolin' Who (greatest hits)
2001: 29 Golden Bullets
2002: Live Over Europe
2004: The Early Days Parts 1 - 5
2005: One Acoustic Night
2007: Double Vision
Official Website: http://www.bonfireband.com/
Listen to Bonfire Music!
Watch Bonfire Video!
Sleeping All Alone
Sweet Obsession
Starin' Eyes
Champion
Sweet Obsession (Live)
Sword and Stone
Hard on Me
Who's Foolin Who
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