So, Why An Cat Dubh?
Thanks for asking.
To be honest, we can't really answer that any more. The fog of memory has rather taken over. "The Screaming Teabags" was already taken back then. A shame, really. Sounds pretty cool, and it always gives you a certain image: the black cat crossing from left to right brings bad luck, from right to left... well, you know the rest.
Most of the time we're on stage, and with Anand you never quite know where he's coming from or where he's going.
As long as the distortion is cranked up and the hair is flying, that's all that matters.
While digging through the old material for the website, I came across a few pictures of some rather handsome young men gathered around Marcus. Bass players are ageless. Take a look at the picture – Marcus still looks exactly like that today. Some people have all the luck.
Well, words fail us.
The band was founded in 1992 (yes, some of you weren't even born then). The founding members were Marcus, Matthias and Daniel. Then Olaf joined on drums – and Anand was born. He joined us shortly after puberty.
His first gig at the Ludwigshall in Dieburg was certainly memorable. During the soundcheck, Anand was practising his infamous backflip stage dive. Sounds much better than saying... the idiot fell backwards off the stage and broke something. Anand never actually played at the Ludwigshall.
Mario joined the band as our adopted sound man. Our sixth band member: not actually on stage, but absolutely essential to the sound of the cats. Super Mario.
The cats have played countless gigs all over the place. We've even ventured abroad to neighbouring countries. Once we played in a place not far from the Polish border, at a bikers' club. Memorable. And great fun, too.
When the president asked whether we'd play an encore, naturally we obliged. Of course.
So many stories to tell.
The cats are a tough bunch. In all their 35 years, we've never failed to get an audience going. Having fun on stage, baby!
Highland Games, medieval markets, festivals, garden concerts, private parties, Hessentag celebrations and town festivals. The cats have even played at Frankfurt's famous Römer, during the Frankfurt Book Fair. The presenter was Klaus Bednarz. Ah, those were the days. Sharing a backstage with him!
Even after all these years, we still get excited every time we step onto a stage. We want to win over the audience, get everyone singing along and make them dance.
Rock with seriously hard-hitting guitar solos, ballads that tug at your heartstrings and traditional tunes with Irish and Scottish roots.
A band for every occasion and every kind of audience. Individual, approachable and genuinely friendly.
Daniel Zimbrich
Vocals / Bodhrán
Matthias Väthröder
Keyboards / Acoustic Guitar / Accordion / Flutes / Deger Pipe / Vocals
Anand Kumar
Guitars / Mandolin / Vocals
Olaf Würtele
Drums / Acoustic Guitar / Vocals
Marcus Albert
Bass / Clarinet
Super Mario
Sound Mixing
An Cat Dubh
That's us. Five musicians and one singer, one passion.
Folk da House!