Mammut's Story according to Tilo Herrmann

                                                                  Now here is the story of Mammut as far as I know it.
                                First I would like to say that all details on the dates aren't exact . It has been a very long time ago.

It was the 1.April 1969  when my friend Dietrich Danksin (guitar) and I (bass) met Rainer Hoffmann (piano, organ) and Volker Hirt (drums). Together
we formed the band, "Those". Together with several bands from Villingen,  Aki Kienzler recorded the LP "Under party Ground" into the MPS Studios,
Villingen. Unfortunately, I don't have any copy of this disk. The Bands were: "The Rope Sect", "The Be Nice", "Those" and "The First Decision" (I joined
this Band later for a while). "Those" had two titles: KING BILL and STARSHIP ORION. The second was the title melody of a German SF television series
on wich Eva Karl joined the Band to help with the background Vocals. "Rope Sect" had the extraordinary DÄ DU DÄ. Peter and Klaus Schnur were in "The
Rope Sect". By the way, Rope is the english word for "Schnur" and thats were the name Rope Sect is from. "Those" dissolved about one year later and was
reborn in 1970/71 with Eva Karl (vocals), Gunter Seier (drums), Rainer Hoffmann (keyboards, guitar, vocals) and Tilo Herrmann (bass, vocals). Definitly
we played together with "Rope Sect"  on a kind of multimedia event  with music, lyrics and an exhibition of paintings. In The Summer of 71 Klaus Schnur
called Rainer Hoffmann to work with him on a new LP that has been initialized by Aki Kienzler again. Rainer asked me to join and with Gunther Seier on
Drums and Peter Schnur the brother of Klaus the Band was complete. The nickname of Peter is "Mammut", so you know where the Band's name is from.:-)

After this everyone finished school or his army time ends and most were scattered into different towns to study. We had a farewell concert with Rope Sect
and Those together on Stage and a concert played 1972 as Those played at a high school party in Villingen again:

                                     RAINER HOFFMAN, keyboard                     TILO HERRMANN, bass , vocals and recorder (Flute)
                                     GUNTHER SEIER, drums                                WOLF BAUMANN, guitar

Klaus Schnur and I lived for some times in Ludwigsburg and Rainer Hoffmann studied in Stuttgart so that we still fairly often played in sessions together. We
had a big party later with old friends in the Jazz Club in Villingen too, were Those played with Klaus Schnur as special guest and a female singer.
                                                                                                     TODAY:

                                       Klaus Schnur  lives in Villingen for a longer time again, he gives guitars lesson and has a blues band.

                       Peter Schnur  lives in Schwenningen (now united with Villingen called Villingen-Schwenningen) he plays in two Bands.

                                                Gunther Saier  lives in Villingen and with an old classmate plays in a Jazzquartett.

                   Rainer Hoffmann works for the southwest broadcast in Stuttgart and he s making no longer any music but is envolved in film.

I live in Backnang as a teacher at the local music school for the youth and have played in many different bands since then. Be sure we had much fun and it
was an intersting time with new music, a little revolution and a new way of living.

                                                                                               Tilo Herrmann
                                                                              (01.01.2005)

                     "Cosmic Dreams at Play - A guide to German Progressive and Electronic Rock" by Dag Erik Asbjornsen

This group made one of the most legendary German private pressings. It is now incredibly rare. The album is a thematically linked "Mammut Opus", with the
word "Mammut" included in all the track titles ....Good production as well, considering it was a private release, so I can recommend this album to you with
great enthusiasm!

                                  "The Crack In The Cosmic Egg-Encyclopedia of Krautrock" by Steven and Alan Freeman

Born out of the jazz scene in Villingen (near Stuttgart, Southwest Germany) from musicians formerly of the bands The Rope Set and Those. Mammut were an
obscure underground band, whose sole album was the result of no-holds-barred late night jam sessions at the MPS studios. Although the band themselves
quoted Deep Purple's IN ROCK as a major influence, their spirit was purely Krautrock. Their sole album is a legendary rarity, and rightly so.

The LP reissued on CD: 1) in 1993 and 2000 by Ohrwaschl Fuzzy's Records (no. OW 013) 2)  in 2003 by Expertize Record (no.EXCD-9918-FF) with two
bonus tracks (Da Du Da by The Rope Sect and  King Bill by Those; the both songs you can find on CD called "Exploiting Plastic Inevitable.Lesson 2:
Globular Lightning") that were orginally released on LP "Under Party Ground", 1971 (Mouse Trick Track Music-TTM 5021). Both CDs are reprinting in
orginal cover. The Album reissued on vinyl  in 1996 by  Little Wing of Refugees (no. LW 1048) in limited edition (only 500 copies) with new cover.

Who is Tilo Herrmann? Born 23.6.51 in Villingen in Schwarzwald (the Black Forest). At the age of approx. 7 years, recorder lessons and  guitar lessons
afterwards. Joined the recorder circle of the protestant church. At the age of 14 cello lessons to join the school orchestra. When he learned about beat music,
guitar became more inmortant than cello. At the age of 17 he joined a school band as bass player, as the guitars were already occupied. So he changed to
doublebass for the school orchestra and soon became a member of the jazz combo of his highschool and they participatedat a couple of school concerts in
the area of pop, spirituals and  jazz. Member of numorous local bands.  Prior to starting his studies at the padagogical highschool, recording of the long play
record "Mammut" in the MPS studios in Villingen. Studies for musical education for young people and  recorder at the accademy for "musical youth
education" in Trossingen. Since 1979 teacher at the "Youth Music School" in Backnang for musical education for young people, recorder, guitar (all styles)
and  e-guitar (preferably blues & rock).  He plays with group called 4 Each Other (left in august 2005). Some times ago I wrote to T.Herrmann. In January
2005,  I received e-mail with informations and photos from him (the text and photos  above).

                                                                             What did we know about Mammut to this time, in 2005 ?

_________________________________________________________________

I wish to express my sincere appreciation for help:

Peter and Klaus Schnur - for friendly permission
Jochen Laschinsky - for help in German text
Arzachel - for "two bonus tracks"

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If you'd like to read an interview with K.Shnur,
please click on the link below

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