Barry Grosskopf

Harald Grosskopf was the first drummer and percussionist in the world of electronic music to perform with sequencers. First with Manuel Goettsching's cult space rock band Ashra in the seventies, also drumming for the speed symphonic band Wallenstein and also on Klaus Schulze's classic analog synth albums. He then released seven solo albums. Published on legendary Sky records, "Synthesist" (1980) and "Oceanheart" (1985) figure at the top. In the 90s he started the project Sunya Beat with Axel Heilhecker. He also collaborated with Steve Baltes (computer, keys) for numerous works (N-Tribe …)

Already an obscure record when it was initially released in 1980, Harald Grosskopf's Synthesist has become something of a cult item, the kind of album that inspires devotion in aficionados of early electronica and German music. Grosskopf himself has kept steadily busy as a solo musician and session drummer since the late '60s, being associated with early lineups of the Scorpions and Wallenstein and working with Lilli Berlin and Cosmic Jokers, among many others. But despite his long underground career, his debut solo Synthesist may ultimately stand as his defining work and as a key representation of the path of electronic music.

Harald Grosskopf is a legendary drummer who was among the first (if not the first) to play drum together with sequencers. He was a regular guest on albums by Klaus Schulze in the second half of the seventies. After he’d joined Ashra, the band headed more into a rock direction, never forgetting their electronic roots. Steve Baltes became a member of Ashra in the nineties. His electronics gave the pioneers a modern approach. Axel Manrico Heilhecker is considered on of Germany’s leading guitarists. They already work together as Sunya Beat (Harald and Axel) and N-Tribe (Harald and Steve).
"Four Times Three" (4x3) is released under their own names. The four tracks on "Four Times Three" all have traces of the great classic Ashra albums…

For the 40th anniversary this classic of german electronic music is released with new interpretations by Steve Baltes, Thorsten Quaeschning, Paul Frick, Keidler, Pyrolator, Love-Songs, Stefan Lewin, Camera and Tellavision. Synthesist is the first solo album by Ashra drummer Harald Grosskopf. It is one of the classics of German electronic music, comprising eight instrumentals composed in the tradition of the so-called Berliner Schule / Berlin School (Klaus Schulze, Tangerine Dream). Originally released 1980 on Sky Records.

A superb combination at this live event, held 1991 in Cologne. The two musicians joined their forces to create an outstanding work of Berlin School / rhythm and drum music. 3 long pieces show a good expresion of the evening. Overall, a synth album with plenty of live atmosphere, an attractive and unusual emphasis on live drums, and involving variations from abstract to highly integrated sounds.

Many great British records have carried the name of Barry Blue and not all of them as the artist. He put his Seventies pop-star experience to work by writing for and producing many multi-platinum acts in succeeding decades, and still does today which includes The Saturdays, The Wanted and Pixie Lott…