Biography
BLOOZE
From BloozeRock to BlooGrunge
Is it Rock? Is it Blues-Rock? Doesn't matter. It's music.
Music so honest that it won't fit in any pigeon holes. Wild and untamed. Music that doesn't give a damn about patterns and standards. Songs that don't fit in far off the mainstream.
Honest, pure, and raw. This is "BLOOZE".
Why "BLOOZE" we often get asked... The term BLOOZE aims to describe the relationship between the Blues and its free and "modern" interpretation. For us, Blues is an emotion rather than a predictable pattern and chord progressions. We have made the mix of emotion and precision our trademark. You can feel that these musicians have gone through a lot. Life's not been a bed of roses. These are people with stories to tell and who tell them like it's their last chance...
The texts contain criticism but also just enough self-mockery to not come across as condescending.
The band was founded by Kurt Zeltner and René Kälin in the winter of 2011/2012. It soon expanded to five harmonizing musicians who play as one. Max Müller, Schnüzel Föllmi, and Simon Klopfenstein completed the quintet. Following exciting years and brilliant gigs, the band decided to take a short break this summer to finally record the long-awaited album.
"The BOXER" is due for release this fall. A CD with 10 top songs full of surprises...
BLOOZE: For all of you who don't need to pigeon-hole good music to enjoy it...
Kurt Zeltner
Even if he didn't invent the Blues, the Blues has caught up with him time and time again. At the end of the 1990's, he packed in his job to dedicate his life to music. More than 100 gigs and several car breakdowns in the mountains later (he simply had no money left for gas after paying the band...) and after losing several friends, including his drummer, to stupidity, drugs, and alcohol, he turned his back on the music business.
Now, years later, the Blues is once again knocking at his door. This time, to call him back on stage. The Blues needs story-tellers like Kurt.
The ideas are ready to be heard by an audience...
Max Müller
Well, what can you say... the former Zurich resident in the group was awarded "Bern Band of the Year" in the past. We wanted to call him "Daddy", but he preferred "MAX"... Max works those pedals with an unbelievable precision. His double bass drum patterns are almost legendary... Max is a hugely versatile drummer with a great feel for the individual nuances of each song. It feels like he's singing the songs on his drums.
At the end of the 1990's, he was also heading straight for a professional music career when external events forced him to take a musical back seat. Some years have gone by, and now he's back at full force, works his drums once again with the usual intensity and has found his brothers in arms with BLOOZE...
René Kälin
He founded the current band together with Kurt Zeltner. As a stalwart of the local music scene around Lake Sihl, he knew the right people and opportunities. He is the quiet one and positive spirit of the band. His groovy guitar riffs are crucial to each composition. He started out as a bass player, and maybe this is why his rhythm guitar comes across with so much grit... René is also a professional sound engineer and often uses his sharp technical hearing to our advantage...
Schnüzel Föllmi
Despite his youth, Christian "Schnüzel" (nobody knows why) Föllmi has already been in numerous bands, for some of which he still plays today. Together, Max and Schnüzel create an unbelievably tight and groovy beat. The chord structures flow. The bass lines are always melodious and Schnüzel proves time and time again that he also has formidable singing skills... oh, by the way, you may have guessed already... he started out as a guitarist...
Simon Klopfenstein
"SIR" Simon Klopfenstein, originally from Bern, also ended up living in Zurich at some point. This is where he found his wife and true love... this band. Whereas self-critical and reserved in the practice room, he develops unbelievable potential live! His leads guitar riffs feel and live each melody. He whips himself into a frenzied solo with a contorted face. The perfect performance. His fills and syncopations complete the picture.
Definitely one of the best guitarists around these parts...