Wolfmother

Stoner rock and self-help - the return of Wolfmother

A sweaty club somewhere in Sydney in the early 2000s. Three guys with long hair, roaring guitars and drums that sound like John Bonham himself rising from the dead - this is the birth of Wolfmother, a band that unabashedly dares to follow the great role models: Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple. Classic rock with a psychedelic twist, heavy as lava and yet played as effortlessly as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

What began in 2003 with a self-titled debut EP quickly developed into an international phenomenon. The first album - also called "Wolfmother" - was created in Los Angeles with producer legend Dave Sardy, who otherwise worked for Marilyn Manson or Oasis. It reached number 3 in the Australian charts, went five times platinum and catapulted the band onto stages around the world. The song "Woman" even won a Grammy in 2006 - the holy grail of the rock biz. "Love Train" became the soundtrack to an Apple commercial, "Joker & the Thief" appeared in films, series and commercials as if the song itself wanted to be a rock star.

However, the highs were not without turbulence. Line-up changes, creative differences, a temporary break-up. Singer and guitarist Andrew Stockdale was at times the only remaining original member. And then came 2020. Pandemic. Lockdown. No concerts. No fans. No noise. Just Stockdale - alone with his thoughts, a laptop, a few instruments and a lot of time.

It was in this silence that "Rock Out" was created, an album that sounds as if a Marshall amp is setting existentialism to music. Songs like "Humble" and "Feelin Love" are simultaneously raw, playful and full of impact. It's a homemade rock record, recorded with a 19-year-old up-and-coming producer in his living room, interrupted by the school pick-up service. A balancing act between home studio and global career. DIY with a Grammy past. And in the end? A soundtrack for the imaginary stadium tour of 1982, which never took place - but absolutely should have.

Now the time has come again: Wolfmother are returning to the stage. They can be seen live in Germany in August - five concerts, five opportunities to let a riff rip through your chest. If you want to know what the sound of the past, madness and living room rebellion sounds like, you shouldn't miss these shows. Rock is alive and well - and Wolfmother are the proof.