SET - Eisen [1975 Hard Rock Heavy Prog GDR Germany ]

Get this brand-new episode of TDATS at: https://aftersabbath.blogspot.com/2023/06/tdats-149-ddr-gdr-rock-part-2.html
Here's another short rocker, with great guitars and a powerful prog sound, especially in the vocal delivery. SET was founded in 1972 as an amateur band in Leipzig by Lutz Heinrich (g, voc), Helmut Schulze (bass), T. Riehl (keys), Hendrik Kralle (sax, fl) and Jürgen Schachmann (dr). The blacksmith Lutz Heinrich from Gröditz was discovered by "Cäsar" (Renft) and brought to Leipzig, where he quickly got to know the other founding members of SET. When band boss Helmut Schulze had to go into the army at the end of 1972, Bernd Seifert and Hansi Kölling joined in his place. At the beginning of 1973 there were more changes, until the group consisted of Hans Kölling (voc, g, sax), Lutz Heinrich (g, voc), Bernd Seifert (bass), Herbert Schmidt (key, org) and Bernd Haucke. While songs were covered at first, SET started writing their own songs in 1974. Shortly thereafter, the band was able to make its first radio recordings, "Lied für Freunde" and "Eisen" (included here) were created. The latter song ended up on Amiga's "Hallo 1 / 75" compilation, making it SET's first record release.

SET had their breakthrough at the "Rhythmus '75" festival with the song "Huscha", composed by Lutz Heinrich and texted by Gerhard Fabian. Shortly thereafter, their title "Ich sah ein Mädchen" became a success, which prompted Amiga to release both songs as a single in the same year. Then there was a change in personnel, Herbert Schmidt left the band and Thomas Hoffmann replaced him.

Two more singles were released: "Laß' das, denn ich haß' das" (1977) and "Seit ich Dich kenn" (1978). In 1978 the band became a professional and switched to the professional camp. A year later there were again personnel changes. Thomas Bürkholz, the founder and namesake of the previously-covered Bürkholz Formation, came to SET as a percussionist.

Shortly thereafter, Bernd Haucke, Lutz Heinrich and Bernd Seifert left the band. While Thomas Bürkholz took over the drums position, Lutz Künzel (Tobias Künzel's brother) and Frank Czerny filled the other vacant positions. There were no more releases and things became increasingly quiet around the band. From the mid-1980s, SET did very few live shows and in 1989 they disbanded.

Lutz Heinrich and Bernd Haucke now play with the Leipzig blues rock band Eisenheinrich. Lutz Künzel founded the group Ätännschen in 1994 and later the group The Flaming Rocks together with his daughter Laura. More can be read at https://www.deutsche-mugge.de/portraits/3727-set.html