Lily

Like many groups, Frankfurt, Germany’s Lily was one of those one-LP wonders. They were not too different than many other European rock groups in the early ’70s that blended jazz and rock, though their sound was more harsh and unconventional than most of their contemporaries. In 1968, guitarist Manfred Schmid and bassist Wilfried Kirchmeier, who had played in the beat band the Mods since 1965, decided to form a political band and were soon joined by saxophonist Hans-Werner Steinberg and vocalist Helmut Burghardt, previously with a soul group, and percussionist Manfred Schlagmuller. The new group remained nameless for a couple years. By 1969, Burghardt departed, and after the band toyed with and then rejected a completely instrumental outlook, Kirchmeier took over vocals. By 1970, they finally came up with a name, Monsun, and by December they had their first gig. By the next year they became a fixture in the Frankfurt music scene, and in the spring of 1972 they recorded a demo tape. Most of their material started with strange lyrics and musical ideas from Schmid, which would be arranged by Kirchmeier, and then embellished in the rehearsal room by the others. Steinberg went to India for six months in the middle of 1972, and was replaced by Klaus Lehmann on guitar, and though intended only as a temporary replacement, Lehmann remained and Monsun became a quintet. With the demo tape and a couple dates at Frankfurt’s famous Zoom Club, the band came to the attention of Peter Hauke, producer for the Bellaphon label, and he eagerly signed the band. In January of 1973, Monsun had three days in the Dierks Studios to record and mix the six tracks of the LP. Bellaphon also insisted that the group change their name, deciding to market them as a glam rock band. Thus, the band became Lily and their album cover sported a photo of the group in women’s clothing and makeup. The LP, V.C.U. (We See You) was released in the spring of 1973, and the group was criticized for the glam rock marketing, while Bellaphon didn’t do much to support the album’s sales. Later that year, Schmid began to get more erratic and difficult to work with, and though they were reluctant to get rid of him, they finally booted him out after he destroyed Schlagmuller’s drum kit. He never played in a band again, and his mental illness only worsened until he died mysteriously in a wooded Frankfurt park several years later. Guitarist and keyboardist Björn Scherer-Mohr became Schmid’s replacement. Lily recorded another demo in the spring of 1974, with a far more mainstream sound combined with comedy elements. Bellaphon dropped the band, and over the next couple years, their music becomes more and more of a joke as they become less and less successful with gigs. The group finally played its last show in April of 1976 and then called it quits. ~ Rolf Semprebon