KMFDM

KMFDM (originally Kein Mehrheit Für Die Mitleid, loosely translated by the band as  "no pity for the majority”) is a multinational industrial band from Hamburg,  Germany, led by Sascha Konietzko, who founded the band in 1984 as a performance  art project in Paris, France. 

The band's earliest albums were recorded in Germany before they moved to the  United States, where they found much greater success with seminal record label  Wax Trax! out of Chicago. Throughout the 90’s KMFDM constantly evolved with a  revolving door line-up, becoming a household name in the US music scene. Their  1995 hit “Juke Joint Jezebel catapulted KMFDM into the Billboard charts and got  them onto many movie soundtracks, notably Bad Boys and Mortal Kombat. Bands  such as Rammstein or Korn had their humble beginnings opening up on KMFDM’s  tours.KMFDM took a brief hiatus in early 1999 after having recorded their 10th  album for Wax Trax Records which had run afoul in the hands of TVT Records.  

Konietzko resurrected KMFDM in 2002 on Metropolis Records with a partially new  line-up that included among others American singer Lucia Cifarelli from the band  DRILL, and Tim Skold who later on joined Marilyn Manson. 

Releasing studio albums and touring frequently throughout the 2000’s Konietzko  and Cifarelli moved back to Germany in 2008. 

Dozens of musicians have worked with the group across its 22 studio albums and  countless singles, with sales totaling in excess of two million records worldwide.  

Critics consider KMFDM one of the first bands to bring industrial music to  mainstream audiences, though Konietzko refers to the band's music as "The Ultra Heavy Beat". The band incorporates heavy metal guitar riffs, electronic music, and  both male and female vocals in its music, which encompasses a variety of styles  including industrial rock , electronic body music and even reggae and dub. The  band is fiercely political, with many of its lyrics taking stands against violence, war,  and oppression. KMFDM is known to tour after every major release, and band  members have a reputation for their accessibility to and interaction with fans, both  online and at concerts. 

KMFDM’s latest album LET’S GO ! will be released on March 2, 2024 followed by a  month-long US Tour. 

KMFDM’s current incarnation consists of from top left clockwise: 

Lucia Cifarelli 

Andy Selway 

Andee Blacksugar 

Sascha Konietzko

Back in 1988, at the age of 11, I first heard Rigor Mortis by A Split Second. Little did I know at the time that a song I heard in my youth on a local Texas college radio station would change my perspective on music forever.

Electronic music then became a driving force in my life. From the raves and clubs I religiously attended in my late teenage years to the parties I promoted and organized in my early 20's, the love of music and the need to share that love with anyone that would listen led to my inevitable career as a DJ.

I started out in late 2002 as an 80's DJ playing and collecting 80's vinyl. I opened up at raves and played at house parties or anywhere that I could have the opportunity to move a crowd. By 2003 I was asked to perform at Philadelphia's infamous Gothic/Industrial fetish event SHOCK THERAPY.

Ever diligent to expand my horizons, I began collecting a variety of electronic styles (ebm, darkwave, terror ebm, synthpop, etc.) Patiently I taught myself the art of beat matching and mixing these forms of music into my sets and by 2005 I was offered a residency at SHOCK THERAPY. Attaining a good reputation and the freedom to express myself creatively I began organizing events fusing EDM commonly played at raves with Gothic/Industrial music. The FULL MOON GATHERING and C.H.U.D. events of late 2005 are still fondly remembered by many as a huge success in bringing people from many musical tastes and backgrounds together in harmony.

Opening new ears to the Gothic/Industrial sound caught the attention of a number of promoters. To my credit and honor I performed at DRACULA'S BALL, the largest Gothic/Industrial event in Philadelphia and usually play weekly at Philly's longest running Gothic/Industrial/80's alternative night NOCTURNE. I am featured in NYC frequently at the SMACK! and BYTE parties, and went on to play the BLACK SUN FESTIVAL II in New Haven Connecticut.

These are merely the highlights. The biggest highlight i have achieved and acomplished is playing at the WAVE GOTIK TREFFEN event in Leipzig Germany with 20,000+ people attending! This is the world's largest Gothic/Industrial event. As a Dj I love what I do and I am completely self promoted. I'm living my dreams of opening minds and bringing the music I love to the masses!