[2026] Recommended German bands: Popular bands from abroad

DevotionBetween

Between – Devotion (1973)

While early German rock often featured violent music—psychedelic, avant-garde, and improvisational—Between stood out with a sense of refinement suggesting classically trained musicians.

This is a track from their second album, which strongly reflects Middle Eastern colors.

Hoodoo ManBirth Control

Birth Control – Hoodoo Man 1972

Early German rock initially produced distinctive avant-garde and psychedelic music, but gradually began to give rise to renowned hard rock bands.

Birth Control was a band active from the early 1970s, and in their early days they created music reminiscent of ELP.

PlasCluster

Cluster “Plas”

In Germany, there’s a band called Kluster and another called Cluster, and both are renowned groups in German synthesizer music.

Cluster—the one with a C—began with an experimental style that turned the modulation of electronic sounds directly into music.

Mr. VainCulture Beat

Mr. Vain

Germany’s pride in dance music and dance bands is Culture Beat.

In this genre, when it comes to artists, the U.S.

has a near monopoly in Japan—and probably worldwide as well.

If more bands like this scored global hits, the music scene would get a lot more interesting.

LichtliedEden

Eden – Lichtlied

Eden is also one of the great German symphonic rock groups.

Female vocals layer over dramatic music, shaping a model of modern symphonic rock that extends beyond Germany.

This is a track released in 1980.

Abdul MalekEmbryo

Abdul Malek

Embryo was born as a further offshoot from Amon Düül II.

While Amon Düül lived communally like the American band the Grateful Dead, Embryo wandered around the world and gradually took on an increasingly ethnic character.

Stone InGuru Guru

Guru Guru – Stone In (1970)

Like Amon Düül, Guru Guru developed a rock sound with strong psychedelic colors.

However, unlike Amon Düül, their music was not as heavily conceptual; a slightly irreverent, tongue-in-cheek stance was also evident—that was a hallmark of Guru Guru.