The history of the albums: SHAKRA - the first album

by Thom Blunier

«We were ready to conquer the world!»

After a long search we finally had the right band together and were ready to conquer the world! On drums Roger Tanner, on lead guitar Thom Blunier, on rhythm guitar Thomas Muster, on bass Roger Badertscher and vocals Pete Wiedmer. We wrote songs and recorded them as best we could. You have to know that back then the recordings were still made on tape - computers and interfaces were dreams of the future. Everything was done by hand and the tape didn't forgive any mistakes. We couldn't afford a studio, so we tried to make the best of what was available. That's how we came up with our first demo tape, which we used to go in search of a record deal. We were ready to conquer the world.

«It could only come out well!»

The most nerve-wracking part is always the waiting. Especially when you've put all your heart and soul and passion into something that will now be judged by complete strangers and you can't even be there to interpret from possible body language how the result will be received. But we were no different than thousands of other bands around the world who had the dream of the big stage and hoped for just a foot in the door to the music business. It was clear that the fewest were granted it, but that's also what they say about lottery millionaires - and there are obviously some. There was always a kind of fear of being rejected or disappointed, but that was part of the game - nothing ventured, nothing gained and we stood by our work 100%, which also reassured us - it could only come good!

«Harry Enzian, from the German record company Point Music, liked our demo so much that he wanted to release it directly like this»

Mankind sent a golden record out into space with the Voyager space probe in 1977 and is still waiting for an answer from an alien civilization. Fortunately, things went a bit faster for us, because Harry Enzian, from the German record company Point Music, liked our demo so much that he wanted to release it directly as it was. But then we found that there was still some sound to get out of it and recorded everything again with a 16-track tape machine, which we had rented for this purpose.

«The signs were set for victory!»

Thus was born our first album and the first milestone for the young band SHAKRA. The album was well received and was praised in the highest tones in the trade press, both at home and abroad. The first step for a long lasting career was made.

The characters were to win and so we made our way to reap the laurels on the stage – a few weeks later, we sat down already in the night of the liner and toured through Germany with Wishbone Ash and Guitar Slingers.

Great time it was!

Cast

Vocals: Pete Wiedmer, Lead Guitar: Thom Blunier, Rhythm Guitar: Thomas Muster, Bass: Roger Badertscher, Drums: Roger Tanner

Produced by Thom Blunier