To be no part of it. "Kein Bestandteil sein". The history of the Einstuerzende Neubauten has always been a history of radical experiments, their resolution and new beginnings. The original members of the band, Blixa Bargeld, Alex Hacke, N.U. Unruh together with guest musicians who, like satellites of unpredictable orbit were circling the core of the band, have stayed together longer than any other German band of this standing.
Today EN are worldwide the first and only band, who use the internet both successfully and productively to connect with their fans and organize their activities. Based on their old principle of the affirmation of artistic independence, and at the same time disregard of convention, the EN set up their official website www.neubauten.org, with the aim of becoming a unique center of musical activity.
The concept is simple: A supporter buys the next album before it has even been recorded. With the accumulated money the band has time to work without pressure and doesn't have to subject itself to discussions about direction and branding with a record company, which would only restrict them artistically. Instead, the band allows the worldwide supporters a unique glimpse on EN's internal working processes: by webcam the supporters could view the recording sessions of the first "supporter album" (2002) and also were encouraged by the band, by online chat with the members, to comment on the work process and even to influence it.
Taking it one step further, the band offered instead of virtual involvement, actual and real involvement. A choir consisting of supporters sang during the "Grundstueck" concerts in November 2004, which were put on only for the supporters (in amongst other venues, Berlin's Palast der Republik), resulting in the most intimate concert-performances to date. "Grundstueck" (2005) has so far been released as an Album and DVD - and is only available through www.neubauten.org.
"Silence is Sexy" (2000) signalled the most creative period for EN since the foundation of the band in the early 80ies. With "Berlin Babylon" (2001), the "Supporter Album"(2002) and "Perpetuum Mobile" (2003) as well as "Grundstueck" (2005) and the Musterhaus albums EN released six of the most important albums in a very short time. Plus a dvd of a public concert on Nov 4 2004 in the Palast der Republik in Berlin is now available: Eventually EN began to extensively document and market their concert activities in order to set a quality standard against the flood of often poor quality bootleg recordings.
As with no other band in Europe, EN uses the results of sonic experiments to build and develop its identity. Where once the noise, the music, was a gesture of alertness similar to an alarm clock, the minefields over which EN walk today are of a different nature. The ability to reinvent themselves and their music and with it to always have control over their own destiny - that is the EN's great triumph.