Son Goku (band)

History

Origins

Son Goku was a side project of Thomas D of Die Fantastischen Vier. The band originated from the M.A.R.S. (Moderne Anstalt Rigoroser Spakker, or Modern Institute of Adamant Spakkers), 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 animated series, as the character embodied the band's philosophy; he 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 1 January 2003, due to 'dissension' amongst the members.

Band members

Thomas D

Thomas D is best known as a member of the German hip hop group Die Fantastischen Vier. He 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

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

Italic Title	no
Name	Crashkurs
Type	studio
Cover
Released	29 July 2002
Genre	Rock
Length	58:00
Label	Four Music

''Crashkurs'' {{Anchor|Crashkurs}}

Crashkurs (Crash course) 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 (official German music charts) and 35 on Austrian charts.

"Alle für jeden" {{Anchor|Alle für jeden}}

"Alle für jeden" (Everyone for all) is Son Goku's first and only single. The single peaked at number 86 on the Media Control Charts.

See also

• German hip hop
• Music of Germany

References

• Diary, Songoku.net, 26 January 2008, German
• Biografie, Laut.de, 14 January 2008, German
• Crashkurs, ThomasD.net, 20 January 2008, German, dead, 2 February 2008
• Son Goku, FantaVier.net, 14 January 2008, German, Leider war das Bandgefüge nicht von Dauer und so haben sich Son Goku, laut Thomas' Aussage wegen Uneinigkeiten, bereits wieder getrennt., 3 February 2008
• Thomas D. und Bertil Mark im Interview, Munichx.de, 14 January 2008, German, so fasziniert, aufgrund seiner Naivität und Frohsinns und gleichzeitig wurde er zum großen Kämpfer und rettet die Welt.
• dead, 23 January 2013, Son Goku, Four Music Productions GmbH, 13 January 2008, German, Am Anfang war der Wunsch nach einer neuen Ausdrucksform und einem frischen Sound.
• Son Goku - Crashkurs, Discogs, Discogs, 14 January 2008
• Rockend Welten retten: "Son Goku" – Thomas D., Neff, Karen, Universal: Die Zeitung Der Studierenden Der Uni Paderborn, 26 January 2008, German, 11 June 2007, dead
• Son Goku - Crashkurs (Album), SwissCharts.com, 20 January 2008
• Alle für Jeden, ThomasD.net, 20 January 2008, German, dead, 2 February 2008