Founded in 1985 in Fulda by Mario Kurätzki and Norman Meiritz – who had been making music together since their youth – the boys started out as a school band and later formed the “Smalltown Band” with Alfred Hahner and Norman’s twin brother Frank, which later became “Killarney” and finally “Church of Elder” in 1988.
They played wherever they could. Clubs, discotheques, parties, youth competitions, everywhere. Early success was quick to follow because, unlike most other bands in the region, they played only their own songs… and their very own sound began to crystallize.
After many great gigs all over Germany and tons of demo tapes sent out, and following many disheartening experiences with – heaven-promising – record companies, the band finally split up in 1995 when a deal with a major company fell through.
Norman continued as a solo artist while the others pursued their personal careers.
25 years later – Norman had worked for many years as a musician, sound engineer, and music producer – he noticed some old Church of Elder demo tapes while searching for recordings of another band he had produced.
He thought… ‘oh, these tapes really need to be digitized to save them’…
When he did, he compiled a ‘best of’ album and sent it as a Christmas present to his former bandmates.
After that, they decided to jam together again. The reunion felt as if they had never been apart, and instead of playing the old stuff, they immediately started developing new songs…
The result is reflected in their current album …