• The core of Deutsch-Amerikanische Freundschaft (DAF) are Gabi Delgado-Lopez and Robert Gorl. They met in Dusseldorf during the punk movement in 1977, Gabi singing in local punk bands and Robert finishing his formal musical training (at the Leopold Mozart Konservatorium in Germany and the Musikhochschule-Graz in Austria). Along with Wolfgang Spellmans, Ludwig Hass and Michael Kemner they released their first album in Germany called Product der DAF on Warning Records, it was a riot of synth and tape powered heavy metal. They moved to London where they made their England debut at the Marque club with The Fall. Shortly after they signed to Mute records. An early Sounds review summed up their early music: "If DAF has an onstage duel with Throbbing Gristle, there would be no-one left alive on stage to announce the winner."

  After releasing their first Mute single, Kebabtraume, Conny Plank asked to produce them, by this time they had been reduced to a duo. After releasing their first Mute album, Die Kleinen Und Die Bosen, and second single, Tanz Mit Dir, they embarked on a tour that encompassed Austria (as guests of the Austrian Government playing as part of Culture Week in Vienna) and Germany, with some London dated mixed in the middle.

  A change of record label, to Virgin, saw the release of their second album, Alles Ist Gut, and a single, Der Mussolini/Der Rauber Under Der Prinz, which charted in England. The pair have also released solo work over the years, Robert Gorl has released one album on Mute (Night Full of Tension), and two singles, Mit Dir and Darling Don't Leave Me with Annie Lennox.

  Robert Gorl played drums on the first Eurythmics album - In the Garden.

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  NME 27 March 1982

  D.A.F Final Sessions

  D.A.F., the German duo of Robert Gorl and Gabi Delgado-Lopez, have decided that their next album - to be recordd at Conny Plank's studio in April and May, fo rlate summer rlease by Virgin - will be the last under te name of D.A.F. But it won't mark the end of their partnership - they simply feel that the D.A.F. concept of vocals sung over a drum and synthesizer backing has reached it's logical conclusion, and they will go on to develop more ideas.

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  From the original line-up Chris Haas formed a Berlin-based band called Liaisons Dangereuses who released one single on Mute called Los Ninos Del Parque.

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  "DAF was the kind of band that had a very severe, minimalistic concept in music. We were a two piece that only sung in German. We restricted ourselves by using electronis, acoustic drums and vocals. It was concentrated power, the more minimal the better. Eventually, after three albums, we realised that we had reached our limits. The question was, 'Are we going to continue and maybe repeat the whole thing again, or should we stop and do something completely new?' DAF was a band that never wanted to look back. I'm still good friends with Robert, but when you work with someone for five years you get into a routine of exchanging ideas. Suddenly you discover that you're saying the same things you said two albums previously. For me it's a very normal thing. I wish alot of bands would break up after two or three albums."

  Gabi Delgado 1983

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  Discography

  This is an abbreviated discography which only covers the basic releases by the band. A more complete listing (including catalogue numbers and band information) on which most of this version was based, has been done by Anders Wahlbom in Sweden.

  Singles

  • Kebabtraume / Gewalt - Mute 5 - 1980
  • Der Rauber und der Prinz / Tanz mit mir - Mute 11 - 1980
  • Der Mussolini / El Que - Virgin 0271 - 1981

    12" Der Mussolini / Der Rauber Under Der Prinz - Virgin VS 418-12

  • Als waer's das letzte Mal / Der Mussolini - Virgin 103 168 - 1981
  • Der Raeuber und der Prinz / Rote Lippen - Virgin 103 374 - 1981
  • Goldenes Spielzeug / El Que - 1981

    12" Goldenes Spielzeug / El Que

  • Liebe auf den ersten Blick / Sex unter Wasser - 1981
  • Sex Unter Wasser / Knochen auf Knochen - 1981
  • Kebab-Traeume / Ein bisschen Krieg - 1981
  • Verlieb dich in mich / Geheimnis - 1982

    12" Verlieb dich in mich / Ein bisschen Krieg

  • Absolute Body Control / 1st Step to Heaven (inst.) - 1985
  • Brothers (Mix by DAF) / Brothers (Robert's Mix) - 1985

    12" Brothers (Robert Gabi's Mix) / Brothers (Mike Hedges Mix)

  • Brothers (Mix Gabi) / Brothers (Mix Robert) - 1986

    Brothers (Mix Gabi) / Brothers (Mix Robert)

  • 12" Voulez Vous Choucher Avec Moi Ce Soir sin & sex mix - 1986
  • 12" Pure Joy (We Do It All) / Party (Blonde Hair Dark Brown Hair) - 1986
  • The Gun (radio edit) / Program It (instrumental) - 1987

    12" The Gun / Program It (instrumental)

    12" The Gun (Bang! Bang! Club Mix) / Program It (instrumental) / The Gun (Bang! Single Mix)

  • 12" Der Mussolini (Remix '87) / Der Rauber und der Prinz - 1987
  • 12" Liebe auf den ersten Blick (1988 Remix by Joseph Watt) / Liebe auf den ersten Blick (Original Version) / Goldenes Spielzeug - 1987
  • Verschwende deine Jugend (Official Version) / El Que (Latin Mix) / Verschwende deine Jugend (Dub Mix) - 1989
  

   

  

  

  Albums

  • Produkt der Deutsch-Amerikanische Freundschaft - 1979
  • Die Kleinen Und Die Bosen - 1980 -Osten Wahrt am LangstenEssen Dann SchlafenCo Co PinoKinderfunkNacht ArbeitIch Gebe dir ein Stuck von MirDe PanneGewaltGib's MirAuf WiedersehenDas ist LiebeWas ist eine WelleAnzufassen und AnzufassenVolkstanzDie Lustigen StiefelDie Kleinen und Die BosenDie Fesche LolaEl BasilonY La Gracia
  • Alles Ist Gut - 1981 -Sato-SatoDer MussoliniRote LippenMein Herz Macht BumDer Rauber und der PrinzIch und die WirklichkeitAls War's das Letze MalVerlier Nicht den KopfAlle gegen AlleAlles Ist Gut
  • Gold Und Leibe - 1981Liebe auf den ersten BlickEl QueSex unter WasserWas ziehst du an heute nachtGoldenes SpielzeugIch willMuskelAbsolute KörperkontrolleVerschwende deine JugendGreif nach den Sternen
  • Fur Immer - 1982Im Dschungel der LiebeEin bißchen KriegDie Götter sind weißVerlieb dich in michGeheimnis KebabträumePrinzessinDie LippeVerehert euren HaarschnittWer schön sein will, muß leiden
  • 1st Step To Heaven - 1986Voulez Vous Coucher Avec Moi - Part IPure JoyBlond Hair Dark Brown HairSex UpAbsolute BodycontrolVoulez Vous Coucher Avec Moi - Part IICrazy Crazy - Opium-MixBrother/Brother - 1st Step to Heaven Mix
  • DAF (Compilation) - 1988Verschwende deine JugendDer Mussolini (Remix)Mein Herz macht bumEl QueIch und die WirklichkeitDie Götter sind weißDer Räuber und der PrinzLiebe auf den ersten Blick ('88 Remix)Im Dschungel der LiebePrinzessinGreif nach den SternenKebabträumeDie LippeAls wär's das letzte MalDer MussoliniLiebe auf den ersten Blick
  • DAF Hitz Blitz - 1989 -1. *THE GUN "Powder Keg Mix" (8:22)2. VOULEZ VOUS COUCHER AVEC MOI Part 2 (5:28)3. PURE JOY (4:47)4. BROTHERS (3:37)5. ABSOLUTE BODYCONTROL (5:18)6. SEX UP (3:15)7. VOULEZ VOUS COUCHER AVEC MOI Part 1 (2:25)8. 1st STEP TO HEAVEN MEDLEY (8:07)9. OPIUM MIX (2:10)10. CRAZY CRAZY (3:08)11. BLOND HAIR DARK BROWN HAIR (3:10)12. 1st STEP TO HEAVEN MIX (5:46)13. *THE GUN "Bang Bang Mix" (8:23)

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  Gold Und Liebe - Reviewed in The Face

  Still a pared-down, hyper-efficient duo of instrumentalists Robet Gorl and singer Gabi, DAF have built up a huge following among German speaking audiences but - and this must have something to do with their principled refusal to sing in other than their native language - they have yet failed to reproduce their substantial German success in this country.
  This is unfortunate, as they make some of the hardest and often the best synthetic dance music to be heard and their minimalist songs take the absolute essences of certain musical structures to powerful extremes - take the basic rock'n'roll phrase which in the structure of "Greif Nach Den Sternen" (Grab The Stars) on this new album and listen to the way Gorl and producer Connie Plank have propelled and warped it.
  Plank's role ought not to be underestimated; like it or not, there is a dimension of technical skill in making this soet of music work. Plank is able to make Gorl's simple synth rhythms really jump - and jump out of your speakers or headphones - in a way that very much depends on his unique experience in creating sounds in the studio.
  Listen to the opening bass synthesiser on Ultravox's song "I Remember (Death In The Afternoon)", on "Rage In Eden" if you're in any doubt.
  It's much more fashionable, of course, to talk about DAF and sex, though without the translation of their Iyrics which was provided with their last Virgin album, most English speaking listeners are left a little in the dark. Live, it's a different matter, as there is no ignoring Gabi's potently sensual stage manner and the duo's tightly-focussed personal slyle.
  Perhaps this is where the problem lies; without their presence or an understanding of their lyrics. DAF's music remains too austere. Lust and passion do pound their way through songs like "Muscle" and "Absolute Bodycontrol", but without the words, it remains a very one-dimensional impression and the subtleties of dividing the album into "dark" and "light'' sides are lost. The corrupted kindergarten innocence of songs like "Golden Toys" is something one would like to appreciate in more depth.
  If they are satisfied with merely making impressions - in all sorts of senses - here, then it'll have to do. But I suspect they're holding back a much wider exposure of their music's modernist passion. And that is a waste.

  GAVIN HUNT

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Re-issues of Die Kleinen Und Die Bosen, Alles Ist Gut, Gold Und Leibe and Fur Immer

"Perceived in the early 80's as having an element of danger in their look, sound and content,
DAF were banned from certain clubs for their political and sexual ambiguity."

"Songs like "Der Mussolini" and "Sex Unter Wasser" quickly became underground
club hits and their sound paved the way for the electronic body music of
Front 242, Die Krupps, Nitzer Ebb and more.
Their influence can still be heard in electronic music today."

Anyway, I hope they don't consider Bochum as a bad place to play in now. That would really be a shame!