News May 2013
A lot of amazing stuff happened in the last three months,
so more than actual news here is why I am very happy:
The Strobez finished writing the next album, it will be a
concept album, probably called „The story of spaceman Jack“
and we played parts of it live in Madrid at the beginning
of April. It was really cool! More to come on that soon, I
hope.
Other than that Welcome to the pleasuredome had an awesome
show at the Marktplatz in Reutlingen, click
here. I finally got to work with
my brother Matze again after all these years. He is
amazing!
And coming up? I will spend most of this years summer on
various boats, playing for boat people. Not very exciting
as such, but alot of work and I am happy to do it.
Peace - Michael
News November December 20120
No idea where all the rest of my posts went. I mean from
the duration between May and now. If you see them tell em
to come back!
I am writing, as allways, I am gigging, as allways. And I
want to buy a Les Paul now!!
Also I am in a very silly mood, and since no one ever reads
this blog, I can confidentally tell you that I have a red
chicken on my head and it doesnt feel completely
uncomfortable. Just a little. Just enough.
My friends, love you long time - Peace and enough chickens
- Michael
News May 2012
I just got back from a month of sun. First a nice vacation
and then 3 weeks on the maiden voyage of MS Columbus2. A
unique and fun experience with my best friends. What a way
to live;) Being back in NL is just great, picking up my
local gigs and hangouts, can´t wait to see yáll down the
road somewhere. If there is actually one single person who
reads this, plkease let me know.
Peace - Michael
News March/April 2012
As spring is approcaching swiftly here in the Netherlands I
got back to writing some more, wondering if I should do a
full out singer songwriter album like in the old days? Just
vocals and guitar, no overdubs...? Why not. I have 10 songs
ready, gonna write some more and then let´s see. Since this
is not gonna attract any massive attention I am in no rush.
Nice.
Recording and writing with Ingrid is slowly but surely
going ahead, we are now in the stage of checking out
different keys for songs and getting them in our blood
playing live etc.
I personally have picked up the mandolin again as I feel it
might be a great Banjo substitute playing Dixie on the
cruise but without having to take a Banjo...
I of course still do all my local gigs, please do come by
and say hello - Peace - Michael
News January 2012
Happy new year all. After another run in the circus in the
Ahoy I am once again back home. The circus was really nice
this year. The acts were good, and nice people. Music was
as always but the group was great;) I am feeling very happy
currently, it´s good! As what 2012 brings, I don´t really
care all that much, I just hope that I can have a couple of
drinks with my mates and play some nice music. Or play crap
music but with my friends. Whichever way. Hope to see y´all
on one of my stadys in NL - Peace - Michael
News August/september 2011
Well well, I have been on a cruiseboat for the first time
of my life, and it won´t be the last one. Of course with
the Ingrid Schwarz Ensemble. It was great. Really. Other
than that I am just pretty happy to be back home and play
my local gigs again. I also had the pleasure to play a
couple of shows as a sub at a musical show here in NL, it´s
called Soldaat van Oranje. Great show!!
My friend San2 has recently released a CD, I like it a lot
check it out, very soulful music: www.san2.de
Cheers - Peace - Michael
News April 2011
The news are that ISB is picking up speed again in May,
lots of private parties. Love it. And I am just about to
head of to play in egypt for the first time, nice, can´t
wait.
Apart from that I haven´t really got much to say. I wish I
could though;)
Till then , PEACE - Michael
News January/February 2011
Now, it took me a while to update this, but here we go!
The last six weeks have been pretty mad, playing sooo much,
it´s amazing. On top of that I moved house an finalized
some other loose ends in my private life. Busy.
Now that I am in my new house I must say now that its done,
I already feel the chill out coming to me. And after
roughly 400 gigs I actuall will go on vacation in the last
week of Jan. Yay!
I dont know what 2011 brings, but I guess a lot good stuff.
;)
Peace - Michael
News November 2010
As the weather is getting worse and rainy and cold, I get
more busy all the time. It´s amazing. I started to play
with a band from Amsterdam playing energetic original indie
rock songs, The Crowns. Like all people I work with on a
regular basis these guys are really lovely people.
Check it out.
Apart from that I am definetely staying in NL for a couple
of more years at least and now I try to make everything
more to my liking, my main focus is currently, apart from
playing of course, looking for a new flat that might house
my studio as well as storage etc.
My friends from Germany are still like me busy as hell and
the Ingrid Schwarz Band continues to kick ass, like we have
over the summer. Love it.
Check out the pics from the summer of 2010.
Love, Peace - Michael
News September 2010
After a great Tour with Ingrid and the Band I got back
„home“ to NL. It´s great to be with my kid again. And to
cook and so forth. It was great on the road, we met great
people and really had lots of fun.
I will pick up my things here again during the week while
doing the odd trip back to Germany and Switzerland to play
with the ISB.
Also The Strobez are back in NL, its gonna be a blast.
Please see the tourdates.
Peace
News August 2010
Hello all, sorry I skipped the July edition, but I just had
no time to write my little thing here.
Ingrid and the band started to go mad with gigs over the
summer, fantastic really, we just played the last weeks of
July almost solid.
There are a lot of public gigs coming up in august and
september, we play in several cities in Germany, open air
for the BPA (Bundes Presseamt - a good German word) for the
memory of 20 years of reunited Germany or so. We are not
sure - but its a cool gig.
Also Phil and I finished our first productio together, its
not public, but it was fun!
And of course I am still doing my bits n pieces in The
Netherlands, so please come down and say hello and have a
drink with us.
Peace - Michael
News June 2010
Man I seem to be playing again so much that I cant really
do much else, which is good I guess. I always like that.
Besides that I am trying to be as good a dad as I possibly
can. So nothing new really:-) Ingrid and the band are
playing loots, so all that hard work is finally paying off
and the Mondays at the Waterhole seem to go ok, I would
wish for more horn players to show up and less drunk ladies
to be honest, but anything is good.
Drop in and talk to us - Peace - Michael
News April 2010
I have had a very turbulent march, my private life has
changed quite a lot, I have moved house and turned 30. Also
there is a new steady gig in Amsterdam, you can hear me
with Jeroen and Daniel every monday at the Waterhole close
to Leidseplein, starting at 10pm. I will also do my regular
gigs at Paddys in Rotterdam and apart from that april is
the quiet month it always has been. I enjoy that, this
gives time for other things like cooking and writing.
Hope to see ya soon - Peace
News February
The Big news this month is that my wife Maike just released
her CD "Dichtbij Broadway". Musical theatre classics
recorded with orchestra and all, sung in Dutch and
featuring special guests. Great CD, I am very proud of
her. Click here.
Also The Strobez started writing again. Yeeha. It´s great
fun, we already finished six songs, well roughly
finished:-). The next session will be in April, so we hope.
I love it.
As always: Please stop by and have a drink when you see me
play, see ya soon!
Peace - Michael
News January 2010
Happy New year to y´all! I spend my new years eve playing
with my best friends in Stuttgart after a three week run of
a circus show with the same band in Rotterdam. We had a great time.
Please see the pics. 2009 was amazingly busy for me, I
played over 250 gigs and all thanks to you.
I will continue to play my local gigs in NL in January,
only interrupted by a little two week tour of the French
alps, playing for my old fried Jim. Looking forward to that
as well.
Besides all that I am really looking forward to continuing
writing new material, which will be my main focus for 2010.
Please listen two my new material of 2009
here. If you wish to buy it click
here.
Peace - Michael
older news...
News December 09
December brings Circus time, this means a loooot of work.
So before the big chaos I´d like to share with you that
although I have been very very busy in 09, this was
probably the year with the most gigs in the 11 years in
this job,I have managed to record two of the songs that I
have written this year, and since I dont plan to release an
album in the near future. You can listen to them
here. And if you wish
buy them, click here.
The first one is called Rockstars, a pop tune really. It
was inspired by yet another boring casting show, and I just
wondered where all the Rockstars have gone?
This song was produced by Benjamin Steiner, with my old
buddy Martin Bürger on bass, Tim Schäffer on drums. It was
recorded, mixed and mastered by Christoph Bollinger, I have
played guitar on it and sang, of course.
The second song is "Walk through fire", yet another pop
song, this time a lovesong for my wife. I have recorded and
mixed this one as well as played all the instruments on it.
It was mastered by Benjamin Steiner.
Enjoy - Michael
News November
Sorry for not posting my usual blah in October, I´ve just
been to occupied with playing and playing and playing
and...
As you can see above I now play every sunday in the Bourbon
too, with Jeroen and Daniel - we are the Core. It´s cool
and we learn a lot.
We will also back up a great singer from Germany - San2,
don´t miss this guy if you get the chance to see him.
In the dark and cold time of the year I am lucky to still
be able to work a lot, and also to finally catch up on all
my paperwork that mounts on my desk from the summer.
Hope to see ya at one of the gigs - Michael
News September 2009
After a very busy summer I am happy to calm down a bit more
now. Our son is now going to the kindergarten for two days
a week, we´re so proud. That also gives a little more time
to practice and write, and of course relax. Which is great.
Still as always a lot of things happen and happend, the
most spectacular one being my van breaking down on the A5
in Germany km 719. It went WHAMM. It is of the essence for
you to see the pics.
The least spectacular one was waiting for a taxi in 3°C in
the middle of the black forrest after a gig. We tried to
get a fire goin, but it was hopeless.
Drop in, say hi, PEACE - Michael
News July/August
2009
Check out the pics
of The Strobez 2009.
I have written and recorded a new song, it´s called
Rockstars and it turned out so good that I am now seriously
trying to sell it. More soon.
My family and I now live in Den Haag, I don´t know the
place well yet, but I have a little studio there, lovin it.
Besides I spent a lot of time in south Germany in July,
lovin that too, catchin up with all the old friends and
with all my family. Great, so much beer though...:-)
I´ll be plaing my usual gigs in august,come by for a drink
and say hello if you can.
-Peace, Michael
News June 2009
Hi there, so much happened man. I´ve been on a great family
vacation in Greece, then drove back and forth from Nl to
South Germany, met lots of friends and played my ass off
all over the place.
And to finish this rather busy month off my cousin Benni
produced one of my songs in a fantastic studio in
Stuttgart, you will be able to hear it here soon.
In June I play quite a few of my local gigs with my local
buddies, but some serious driving around Europe is coming
up. I also got back into heavy songwriting, both with The
Strobez and just for me. I love it.
See you soon at one of the gigs, let´s have a drink.
-Peace, Michael
News May II 2009
-Thanks to everyone who came out to The Strobez gigs in
Rdam and Adam during Queensday, it was a very special
experience for us!
We´ll back in the middle of May as you can see above.
-I´ll be on holiday until the 11th of May. uuuuuhh yeah!
Then the gigs kick back off. I´m doin a Monday´s late night
at the Paddys and finally The Strobez play my hometown Club
again, the Hirsch - we can´t wait. Don´t miss this when
you´re somewhere in the south of Germany, it´s gonna be a
riot!
-I´ll have the pleasure to play with more Amsterdam based
musicians in May, I´m really happy about that.
-See ya, thanks for checking in.
News May 2009
Please chek out Jake Walker, I had the pleasure to play
with him a couple of times last month and he just is a
great guitarist and singer. I also updated the links list
since I´ve met so many nice guys and colleagues last month,
it´s just great.
I am still playing lots despite the crisis, so thanks for
coming to our gigs and makin it happen!!
The Strobez are now on Facebook too, click here.
I am sure there´ll be more gigs comin in, so check back for
more.
I have added a few pics of the Tuesday night gig here in
Amsterdam that I am happy to be part of.
Here.
Say yeah!!
News March 2009
I just came back from our two week run in the French Alps,
it was great - we met so many old friends, I went skiing,
it felt almost like a holiday. It´s great to be back though
and be with my family, as it always is.
I will be playing my ususal local gigs around Holland, so
come in and say hi, I´m looking forward to seeing you
again.
I posted a few pics from the Alps, click
here.
For all the gearheadz amongst you I started to update my
gear and put pics of it. It´s quite a lot of work, so I
will slowly finish it over the next few weeks:-)
News February 2009
Heyhey, Michael will be hosting the blues-seesion in
Amsterdam´s favourite Bourbon Street Blues
Club,
substituting Lamar Chase who is on tour. This will go
down on the 3rd and 10th of Feb, dont miss out!
Strobez bassist Phil Rehm is now the live bass player for
Cassandra Steen, a major act hitting Germany this spring,
we are very proud of Phil!!
There are plenty of new little Strobez Clips online,
click here.
Michael started to write some new stuff, you will be able
to hear it on myspace soon..
News January 2009
Happy new year to all and everyone. I have just finished to
play my fourth Christmas Circus Season and am happy to be
back with my family. Check out the pics.
2008 has been a fantastic year both personally and
professionally and I hope 2009 will be the same.
I still didnt quit smoking though - sorry.
I finally managed to put a few Wasen pics...sorry for
taking so long.
See you soon.
Rock on - PEACE
News October 2008
Yeah, The Wasen is over. It was the best Wasen ever, we had
tons of fun and a great time. It went over all too quickly.
There will be pics soon, in a week or so.
Focus is now back on The Strobez, we plan to get together
for writing and pre producing our next album - finally. We
are really excited.
There are some new Pics from Groningen, where Marko an I
played with Lou the Lion, check em out...
Happy to be back home with wife and kid, its great!
Rock on - PEACE
Older News
News August 2008
-Hello there,
I have just finished moving house to a quieter area of the
world where I can park my car in front of my house and my
son has his own room; I even have an office area going on,
it´s wonderful. That has kept me fairly busy and of course
our little boy Luca, with whom I just love to hang out
with.
-Christian, one of my dear friends based in Vienna has just
set up his own modelling agency, so if you ever need to
book models click here.
-The legend Paul T has formed a new band in London, check
them out, they are crazy...
-We are also putting some new Strobez tours for the autumn
together, I will keep you posted.
-And of course the Wasen is in sight, we started to arrange
new songs, rock classics and hip new stuff, we are all
looking forward to that.
News June 2008
-June is The Strobez month, we play lots and loud. And all
over Europe, so make sure you drop in sometime to see what
condition our condition is in!!
-Michael is back from Bozen, Italy. Read about his discoveries...
-Hair of the dog are currently recording an unplugged album
featuring their favourite songs, the release date will
probably be mid-July.
PEACE
News May 2008
-The Strobez Season has begun and we already had a
fantastic weekend in Holland and Belgium. Thanks to
everyone for coming out, especially Den Overkant in Menen
Belgium, YOU ROCK!
We´ll continue the neverending Europe tour in Zurich, going
to Michael´s hometown Metzingen back to Holland and
Denmark.
-Check out the new Pics.
-Michael is still living in Bozen, Italy and is gradually
getting bored there, but the family will head home at the
end of May.
-Hopefully see you soon at one of our gigs,
Rocknroll and PEACE
News April 08
Maike´s and Michael´s son Luca was born on the 25th of
February. He was 52 cm tall and weighed 4KGs. He is much
taller and heavier now. The family is currently staying in
Bozano Italy where Michael´s wife is working until June.
Michael will start touring again in April, as you can see
above.
The writing of the next Strobez album is in full progress
and 14 songs have been written so far, no end in sight.
Come and see us play some time and spread the word,
PEACE
News February 2008
Michael is currently having a little break from touring due
to the expectancy of the birth of his first child. Maike
and Michael are very excited, it can happen any day now,
stay tuned we will keep you posted!!
Finally a clip from last years Mega 80s show "welcome to
the pleasuredome" has been released on youtube,
don´t miss it..
Some new tourdates of the Strobez´spring BENEGE tour are
set up, come and see one of our shows.
Also Michael had to buy a new car with Dutch numberplates,
but that´s probably not very interesting to the most of
you.
Besides all that Michael is currently writing a lot of
songs for the upcoming Strobez album, it´s great fun!!
PEACE!!
News January 08
-Michael just finished paying in the Christmas Circus with
Ingrid Schwarz and her band, playing to over 70000 people
in Maastricht and Rotterdam in the day, and playing club
gigs in the nighttime wth The Strobez.
The circus was a fanastic experience with lots of fun, many
new friends and lots fo elecric guitar solos...
-Currently Michael is playing in the French alps with his
long time friend and colleague Jim Garrett.
-There will be pics of the circus soon, so stay tuned,
Rock on and PEACE, Happy new year.
News December 07
-Michael started to play new strings on his acoustic,
they´re great, check em out here.
-The guestbook is finally back online, drop Michael
a message here.
-New pics from two recent Strobez gigs and yet another beer
tent gig with Ingrid and her band.
-The Strobez started to work on their new album writing new
material and rehearsing. The new album is said to be much
more political than previous releases and is bound to be on
the market in the second half of 2008.
-One reason never
to fly with easy jet again
-Check out the new tourdates and hopefully see ya soon at
one of the shows.
Rock on, Peace.
News October/November 2007
-Michael is currently recovering from the Wasen, which was
as expected great fun. Check out the
pics. There are
more to come soon until then be happy with these..
-Be sure to come to one of our gigs in the Netherlands if
you can, especially Halloween in Rotterdam promises to be a
great night.
-The Guestbook is currently out of order, a new one will be
back during the next week or so.
-Peace and spread the word.
News August/September 2007
The Wasen Madness is starting soon and Michael
is preparing for it. This means bring your practice time
up a lot to build up stamina, fitness training, no
alcohol etc. Boring...:-)
But we are kind of looking forward to it because the
Strobez are the rythmn section and thats allways fun, even
though the gig lasts for 11 hours...
Note: Due to cancelations in the Netherlands we have moved
the Strobez gigs on 29th and 30st of June to the South of
Germany to entertain our friends and fans there instead.
News July 2007
Yeah!! A lot is happening or at least it seems so. Michael
is very busy sending out information trying to get the band
booked for the autumn and winter,
it seems we found some partners that are willing to help
which is great. New publicity material has been printed and
so on. YEAH!
Apart from that Michael has a new car which he is very fond
of because it has a gas tank!! Travel for less. Good
concept.
Check out new pics, especially the ones with drunk people
from Ikast.
Cheers!
News June 2007
-The new Strobez homepage has been updated and
relaunched, check it out.
-A Strobez MySpace site has been launched, become our
friend or listen to some songs, or both.
-A unplugged video of I wonder has been added
here.
-Spread the word, peace.
News May 2007
-The Welcome to the pleasuredome premiere on May the 11th
went really good and we had a cracking concert night,
thanks to the tireless work of the shows producer Dodo.
Check here for pics and reviews.
-Al the untouchable has been back on tour with Michael, the
dreamteam still sounds like a dreamteam.
-Feel free to leave a message in the guestbook.
News April 07
-Check out new pics from last weekends gigs in
Vlaardingen
and Rotterdam.
-For all the German fans based in the deep west: Come and
see us play our first gig in Aachen at the Wild Rover on
Sunday the 22nd of April, the concert will start around
20h, and tickets can be ordererd at the Wild Rover.
-Spread the word, Peace.
-Vote for the Michael Strobel Band
at German Radio bandcontest.
News March 07
-Vote for the Michael Strobel Band
at German Radio bandcontest.
-Marko, Phil and Michael have decided that their new band
name for cover gigs from now on will be "The Strobez". We
could need your help with this, so vote if you find that a good bandname or
not.
Since we expect the result to be positive we already
started to work on promotion material and webpage and so
on:-)
-A lot of people have asked us to put a guestbook on the
webpage, here it is. We hope all these people will drope us
line, check it out.
-The film clips should be working now and there are a
few sound clips from the Think album to listen
to.
-Because Michael plays all over Europe we have decided to
put up a mailing list to inform the growing fan community
every now and then about what is going on and where the
next tour is taking place. Feel free to subscribe. Also we
put the links page back up, check out what Michael´s
friends and colleagues are up to and go and see them play.
-Michael´s wife Maike will release her Maxi CD "grow into
light" at the beginning of April, check it out, it
features The Strobez as her backing band.
News February II
Someone has filmed little bits of a recent gig and sent to
us, check it out. Soundquality is bad, but still
funny...
News February 07
After having finished playing in St. Moritz, Michael is
currently very busy finding loads of work for the trio, so
if you are an agent and want to add a new band to your
roster, please contact us.
Also Michael is currently recording Maikes Maxi release for her Germany tour this
upcoming spring along with Marko and Phil. Nik is
engineering this one as well, never change a winning
team:-)
There will be a surprise for southern German music lovers
when the new STARPATROL show hits the road next spring.
As usual, a few new photos and tourdates have been added,
check them out.
