Biografie
(German version here) | 1960 — 2010
| 1960 | Rattles are being founded by Herbert Hildebrandt and Achim Reichel |
| 1962 | Rattles win competition of “Best Beat Band “in the famous Beatle’s Star Club in Hamburg |
| 1963 | Rattles receive 1 pound per day salary, including food and accomodation during their first tour through England together with The Rolling Stones, everly Brothers and Little Richard. Due to the great success, The Ratlles are invited to the legendary “Cavern Club”, the most popular location after The Beatles in the club’s history 4 TV broadcasts in the Manchester TV channell. Originally, a longer trip through England was planned in order to enter the British charts. After all guitars were stolen out of their transporter, the trip came to an immediate end and they travelled back to Hamburg. |
| 1964 | The longest tour of The Rattles through Germany “Hitparade 64”, together with Manuela and Drafi Deutscher. The Rattles are constantly listed in the charts in Germany 3-month long tour through England |
| 1966 | Tour through Germany together with The Beatles Movie “Hurra die Rattles kommen” filmed with Germany’s beat band No. 1 – the Rattles |
| 1969 | Herbert Hildebrandt writes the world hit “The Witch” |
| 1970 | “The Witch” achieves second place in British charts, followed by a three weeks tour. In Germany this song achievs no. 4 of the charts and is sold in 23 other countries |
| 1971 | “Golden record” – one million records of “The Witch” have been sold |
| 1972 | Tour through Europe including Netherlands, Belgium, France and Italy |
| 1986 | Reuinification of all former founders of The Rattles by Dicky Tarrach to make new recordings and to enter a new era of The Rattles |
| 1988 | The Rattles are back with the new chart hit “Hot Wheels”, also written by Herbert Hildebrandt and followed by 21 TV broadcasts and a successful tour through Germany. The single as well as the album are represented in the German charts of Media Control for 20 weeks |
| 1989 | The comeback of the year 1989. The Witch again is listed in the Top 75 |
| 1990 | Manne Kraski, solo guitarist and singer enters the band. All new songs are produced by Dicky Tarrach and Herbert Hildebrandt from now on. |
| 1991 | Loreley Festival (30.000 visitors) The Rattles perform in front of a total of 800.000 people on different concerts and are being celebrated as “the cult band” throughout Germany |
| 1992 | Successful live performance in front of all important media in Germany at the famous “Medientreff” in Dieter Thomas Heck’s castle |
| 1993 | New record contract with production of “New Wonderland” 20 TV shows, f.ex. German “Musik liegt in der Luft!”, “ZDF Hitparaden Special”, “Tommi’s Oldie Night”, ... The new song “Drove all night” is being played in the radio around 140 times per week |
| 1994 | World class singer Eggert Johanssen joins The Rattles |
| 1995 | Frank Seidel – keyboards and singing, joins the band
Several great open aor festivals in formerly Eastern Germany Four concerts in front of 30.000 people during the highly celebrated event “Bremer 6-Tage- Rennen” Winner of the “Oldie Parade” of the North German TV channel – before The Beatles |
| 1996 | The Rattles write the music of the German Musical “Pico” Same year about 100 concerts and first tour through England after 30 years |
| 1997 | First “Live on tour” record of The Rattles – Premier of the Star Club of the musical Pico, together with the so called CD record and TV broadcast in the “ZDF Sommergarten” |
| 1998 | Germany’s important music magazine “Oldie-Markt” elects the song “Still waters run deep” to CD of the month German TV performance in “Elmi’s witziger TV show” |
| 2000 | The Rattles are being elected to the millenium band in Hamburg by the Berlin newspaper “Berliner Morgenpost” Reproduction of “The Witch” |
2001 | Premiere of the Musical “The Kiss” and the related record “Kiss” New recordings in Mallorca |
| 2002 | various TV shows, “Sommergarten”, “Peter Kraus Show” |
| 2003 | ADAC concert in front of 83.000 visitors on the “Schlossplatz” in Stuttgart, “Legends of Pop Tour SWR 1”, “Leute Heute Radio” and “TV Stuttgart” |
| 2004 | German TV ARD “Immer wieder sonntags”, various TV shows record release “Masterpiece” |
| 2005 | “Legends of Pop Tour with German radio station SWR 1, first DVD release of The Rattles, 40th anniversary Beatclub, German TV show “Carmen Nebel” |
| 2006 | January: Planning of the new Rattles release “Say yeah” woh´gether with Aviator records
Supershow at the German event “6 days in Bremen” 5 shows legends of pop for German radio station SWR 1 in Baden Württemberg Concert at the public viewing event during the World Championship in Karlsruhe August start of new recordings “say yeah” Charity event in Hamburg for 400 people in need Christmas show Landhaus Walter After 18 years back at the annual event at th CCH Hambur |
| 2007 | The old Rattles are back with all former band members
first concert in Hamburg first concert with Top front mixer Norbert Dembski (Udo Lindenberg) Start of the biography of “The Rattles” Presentation of record “say yeah” “Say yeah” tour through Germany New Management located in Reutlingen, Germany Long-term cooperation with Rainer Fritz from Susanna Marketing |
| 2008 | German TV show “ “Kult am Sonntag” Further development of the book “The Rattles” Concert – “Rock against cancer” Presentation of the book “The Rattles on the Frankfurt book fair with live concert |
2009 | Start of record production “Rattles 50” Performance 2x chart show with Oliver Geissen in German TV show Concert at city event in Kassel in front of 5000 people with singer Max Mutzke (please see youtube videos) German Touring Competition DTM – performance in front of 100.000 people Live at German TV station WDR Köln Cooperation with German charity organization SOS Kinderdörfer |
| 2010 | New Record deal with EDEL Records, Germany Presentation of record “Rattles 50” Premier at German TV show “SWR on tour” “Rattles 50 tour” – anniversary tour through Germany |
| 2011 |
Rattles 50 tour is continued with 60 shows in Germany and Austria Live concert broadcasted by Hamburg NDR television Publication of Rattles live CD |
| 2012 | release of new studio cd "Need 2 C You" participation in numerous TV shows, 65 concerts Record of new single CD together with Ireen Sheer new studio CD "Need 2 c you" |
| 2013 | Porsche Music Night Stuttgart 16.000 visitors during 2 days. German "BILD" newspaper comments "rock band Rattles rock the arena" Participation in various large events, christmas Show in Hamburg Oldie Night Grugahalle Essen |