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DAF

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

DAF, in full Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft, was a German band from Düsseldorf, formed in 1978. Singer Gabi Delgado-López and drummer Robert Görl met at the punk club Ratinger Hof. In the first years more musicians played with them, on guitar, bass and electronics. The first album, from 1979, consisted of improvised instrumental pieces. The band then moved to London, where Daniel Miller signed them to his label Mute.

Music and breakthrough

From 1981 DAF consisted of only Delgado and Görl. At Virgin, with the producer Conny Plank, they made three albums: Alles ist gut, Gold und Liebe and Für immer. The sound was stark and hard. Görl played simple, tight drum patterns, and an analogue synthesizer, driven by a sequencer, kept repeating a single line that was both melody and bass line. Over it, Delgado sang or shouted short German phrases. Der Mussolini became a hit, and DAF became a pop group in Germany and was praised by critics in England. During the recording of Für immer the duo broke up.

Influence

The band belonged to the Neue Deutsche Welle, but its influence reached much further. The members themselves called their music electronic body music, and DAF is regarded as one of the first electronic body music bands. House and techno also drew on their approach. The radio DJ John Peel even called them the grandfathers of techno. Reunions followed later. Delgado-López died in 2020.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Der Mussolini by DAF. Notice the single synthesizer line that runs through the whole song and is bass and melody at once, the tight drums underneath, and Gabi Delgado's short, shouted phrases.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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Categories: Artists