Son Goku (band)


Son Goku was a German rock band. The music was a mix of hardcore punk, alternative, reggae and electronic sounds. The band was named after the Son Goku character in the Dragon Ball series. Son Goku's first and only album, Crashkurs, was released in 2002 and reached a peak position of 15 on the Media Control Charts. Son Goku has since disbanded due to "dissension" amongst the members.

History

Origins

Son Goku was a side project of Thomas D, of Die Fantastischen Vier fame. The band originated from the M.A.R.S., a commune of artists and musicians founded by Thomas D in 1998. Thomas D named the band after Son Goku, the protagonist of the Dragon Ball series, as the character embodied the band's philosophy; Thomas D stated he was "fascinated by Goku's naïveté and cheerfulness, yet, at the same time, a great warrior saving the world".

Music

Son Goku was formed with the "desire for a new form of expression and a fresh sound", resulting in a mix of hardcore punk, alternative, reggae and electronic sounds. Established band members and access to their own recording studio at the M.A.R.S. commune allowed for experimentation with the genres.
Son Goku's only single, Alle für Jeden, was released on 17 June 2002, followed by the album Crashkurs on 29 July 2002. Son Goku disbanded on or before January 1, 2003, due to "dissension" amongst the members.

Band members

Thomas D

Thomas D is best known as a member of the German hip hop band Die Fantastischen Vier. Thomas D had also undertaken previous solo projects. Son Goku was the first in which he did not rap. Thomas D founded Son Goku with Bertil Mark and provided vocals and lyrics for the band.

Komi Togbonou

Komi Togbonou had played in the band Gajanaut and provided vocals and played digeridoo for Nina Hagen, Die Fantastischen Vier und Thomas D in both studio and concert settings. Togbonou provided vocals and lyrics for Son Goku.

Bertil Mark

Bertil Mark was born in 1976 and had his first performance experience in a youth theater production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Mark had worked with other German bands including, among others, 5 Sterne Deluxe and Fettes Brot. Since 1999, Mark had been producing for his own studio, Haus Erika Productions, and for the M.A.R.S. commune. Mark was Son Goku’s drummer and producer.

Axel Hilgenstöhler

was the guitarist of "Thumb" for 7 years and was involved in production and songwriting for Clueso, MC Lenny, Ferris MC, Tyree Cooper, Tyrone Rickets, Virginia Nasiamento and Africa Islam. Hilgenstöhler had also toured with bands such as Henry Rollins, The Prodigy, Foo Fighters and Bad Religion. Hilgenstöhler was a guitarist and producer for Son Goku

Jochen Hornung

Since 1999, Jochen Hornung has been a guitarist in several hardcore bands, most notably "Beat Down". Hornung has also been a columnist for Zap Magazine, a concert presenter and run his own record label. Hornung met Thomas D through his work with Die Fantastischen Vier.

Paul J Greco

Born in 1966, Paul Greco toured worldwide as part of Chumbawamba from 1992 to 1999. Since 2000, Greco had been doing studio work in Germany with Clueso, Arj Snoek and Klaus Cornfield. Greco was the bassist for Son Goku.

Discography

Crashkurs

Crashkurs is Son Goku's first and only studio album. The album took six months to prepare and, of the approximately 16 to 18 songs written, 14 were chosen. The album peaked at number 15 on the Media Control Charts and 35 on Austrian charts.
TrackLengthGerman TitleEnglish Translation
1.4:43An AlleTo all
2.3:38CrashkursCrash course
3.3:52Gebet DankGive thanks
4.2:40Alle Für JedenEveryone for all
5.3:47OMOM
6.4:03Hier Sind Wir Sind HierHere are we are here
7.3:51Tut Mir LeidSorry
8.4:31Ist Das Dein Leben?Is this your life?
9.4:34Wessen SchicksalWhose fate
10.3:51Sofort AufhörenStop immediately
11.4:05LeichtEasy
12.3:35Läutet Alle GlockenSound all bells
13.2:57Wann Willst Du Leben Wenn Nicht Jetzt?When do you want to live, if not now?
14.7:53SpaceSpace

Alle für Jeden

Alle Für Jeden is Son Goku's first and only single. The single peaked at number 86 on the Media Control Charts.
TrackLengthGerman TitleEnglish Translation
1.2:41Alle für jeden Everyone for all
2.3:50Party für jeden Party for all
3.4:23Alle für jeden Everyone for all
4.2:40Alle für jeden Everyone for all