Helmut Köllen
Encyclopedia
Helmut Köllen was a German
bass player and musician for the band Triumvirat
.
, Germany
."Helmut...played part-time in various Cologne bands." - H. Bathelt. → In the seventies, he became the bassist
and vocalist for the progressive rock
band Triumvirat
, after replacing Hans Pape, the band's previous bass player, who left the group before the completion of one of their most successful albums, Illusions on a Double Dimple
.After the release of that album in 1974, Triumvirat with Helmut Köllen then embarked on a tour around the United States
supporting Fleetwood Mac
. In 1975, Köllen got back to the studio along with his fellow musicians to record the concept album Spartacus
, and soon after the album, a tour in the United States. During that year, Triumvirat also did a tour of Europe supporting Grand
Funk Railroad. At the end of 1975, Mr. Kollen left Triumvirat to pursue a solo career, once his own musical inclinations began to drift away from that of the rest of the band.
In 1976, the German group "Jail" released their only album You Can Help Me, which featured Helmut Köllen as a guest musician on some of the songs (vocals and guitar), including the band's single
Julie. Köllen briefly returned to Triumvirat, but nothing really came out from that reunion.
' songs that he liked the most. The album featured Helmut Köllen on vocals and guitar (bass, acoustic and electric), and also fellow Triumvirat musician and cousin Jurgen Fritz,"Helmut was Jurgen's cousin." - H. Bathelt. who played keyboards, and helped to engineer and produce the album along with then famous German engineer and record producer Conny Plank
at "Conny's Studio", Wolperath, West Germany
. Other musicians included Dieter Petereit of Passport
on bass guitar,Passport is a German jazz ensemble led by saxophonist Klaus Doldinger
Mathias Holtmann playing drums, and, among various backing vocalists like Brigitte Witt and The Horn and String Section, Köllen's sister Elke Köllen.Today Elke Schlimbach, born Köllen, is an accomplished singer, librettist, and actress Helmut Köllen continued to record music until his death on 3 May 1977.
, stated that the video from that performance no longer exists.
poisoning
while listening to some of the studio tracks in his car's cassette player while running the engine in his garage. A little while after his death, German group Birth Control
wrote and recorded a song as a tribute to Helmut Kollen entitled We All Thought We Knew You, which was featured on their 1977 album Increase."Birth Control's Guestbook" - March 2nd, 2010 His debut solo album You Won't See Me was issued posthumously by Harvest
in Germany in October 1977."The Musicians - Helmut Kollen." It is dedicated to Kollen's parents..
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
bass player and musician for the band Triumvirat
Triumvirat
Triumvirat was a German progressive rock trio that formed in 1969 in Cologne, Germany. The founding members were: keyboardist/composer Hans-Jürgen Fritz , drummer/lyricist Hans Bathelt, and bassist Werner Frangenberg....
.
Early years
Early in his musical career, Helmut Köllen gained experience in various local bands in CologneCologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
."Helmut...played part-time in various Cologne bands." - H. Bathelt. → In the seventies, he became the bassist
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and vocalist for the progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band Triumvirat
Triumvirat
Triumvirat was a German progressive rock trio that formed in 1969 in Cologne, Germany. The founding members were: keyboardist/composer Hans-Jürgen Fritz , drummer/lyricist Hans Bathelt, and bassist Werner Frangenberg....
, after replacing Hans Pape, the band's previous bass player, who left the group before the completion of one of their most successful albums, Illusions on a Double Dimple
Illusions on a Double Dimple
Illusions on a Double Dimple is an album by the German progrock group Triumvirat. It was a breakthrough for the band, that started to open shows in a U.S tour for Fleetwood Mac playing it entirely, and made the band more popular in some countries...
.After the release of that album in 1974, Triumvirat with Helmut Köllen then embarked on a tour around the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
supporting Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
. In 1975, Köllen got back to the studio along with his fellow musicians to record the concept album Spartacus
Spartacus (Triumvirat album)
Spartacus is an album by the German group Triumvirat. Spartacus is a concept album based on the Roman gladiator who led the 3rd slave uprising in 73–71 BC. The lyrics were written by Hans Bathelt, with contributions by Jürgen Fritz. It was originally released in 1975 on the EMI label, and...
, and soon after the album, a tour in the United States. During that year, Triumvirat also did a tour of Europe supporting Grand
Funk Railroad. At the end of 1975, Mr. Kollen left Triumvirat to pursue a solo career, once his own musical inclinations began to drift away from that of the rest of the band.
In 1976, the German group "Jail" released their only album You Can Help Me, which featured Helmut Köllen as a guest musician on some of the songs (vocals and guitar), including the band's single
Julie. Köllen briefly returned to Triumvirat, but nothing really came out from that reunion.
Solo album
In late 1976, Köllen began recording what would be his only solo album You Won't See Me, named after one of The BeatlesThe Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' songs that he liked the most. The album featured Helmut Köllen on vocals and guitar (bass, acoustic and electric), and also fellow Triumvirat musician and cousin Jurgen Fritz,"Helmut was Jurgen's cousin." - H. Bathelt. who played keyboards, and helped to engineer and produce the album along with then famous German engineer and record producer Conny Plank
Conny Plank
Konrad "Conny" Plank was a German record producer and musician. He was born in Hütschenhausen. His creativity as a sound engineer and producer helped to shape some of the most important and innovative recordings of postwar European popular music, covering a wide range of genres including...
at "Conny's Studio", Wolperath, West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
. Other musicians included Dieter Petereit of Passport
Passport (band)
Passport is a German jazz ensemble led by saxophonist Klaus Doldinger.Passport was initiated in 1971 as a jazz fusion experimental group, similar to American groups such as Weather Report. The ensemble's first recording was issued in 1971, and through the 1970s had a constantly revolving...
on bass guitar,Passport is a German jazz ensemble led by saxophonist Klaus Doldinger
Klaus Doldinger
Klaus Doldinger is a German saxophonist, especially well-known for jazz and as a composer of film music. He was the recipient of 1997's Bavarian Film Awards .-Life and work:...
Mathias Holtmann playing drums, and, among various backing vocalists like Brigitte Witt and The Horn and String Section, Köllen's sister Elke Köllen.Today Elke Schlimbach, born Köllen, is an accomplished singer, librettist, and actress Helmut Köllen continued to record music until his death on 3 May 1977.
Television
In January of 1975, Helmut Kollen appeared with Triumvirat on "In Concert", a television show broadcast by ABC, playing music from the Illusions On A Double Dimple album. The host of the show, Don E. BrankerDon E. Branker
-Early life:Branker grew up in Fresno. His father and uncle owned and operated Branker Brothers Cattle Co., one of the larger ranching operations in the San Joaquin Valley, until the 1960s when land buyouts by the oil companies cut down on the amount of grazing acreage.The family moved to Los...
, stated that the video from that performance no longer exists.
Other important interests
Köllen was also an experienced auto mechanic and race driver,"He was a mechanic." - H. Bathelt. and had plans to continue in this area in the future as well. "Helmut...would have returned to motor racing, which is what he did before he joined Triumvirat." → Jürgen FritzJürgen Fritz
Jürgen Fritz is a German musician. He was the keyboard player in progressive rock band Triumvirat.- Albums :* 1972 – Mediterranean Tales by Triumvirat* 1974 – Illusions On A Double Dimple by Triumvirat...
Death
On 3 May 1977, at the age of 27, Helmut Kollen died from carbon monoxideCarbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide , also called carbonous oxide, is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is slightly lighter than air. It is highly toxic to humans and animals in higher quantities, although it is also produced in normal animal metabolism in low quantities, and is thought to have some normal...
poisoning
Poisoning
Poisoning may refer to:* Biological toxicity, see toxin and poison.* Catalyst poisoning.* Nuclear poison.* Poisoning, a classification in Cantonese food.* Route poisoning, a computer network concept.* Secondary poisoning...
while listening to some of the studio tracks in his car's cassette player while running the engine in his garage. A little while after his death, German group Birth Control
Birth Control (band)
Birth Control is a German rock band known for their progressive hard rock sound and provocative album covers.Birth Control formed in the middle of 1968 in Berlin from two other bands, the Earls and the Gents...
wrote and recorded a song as a tribute to Helmut Kollen entitled We All Thought We Knew You, which was featured on their 1977 album Increase."Birth Control's Guestbook" - March 2nd, 2010 His debut solo album You Won't See Me was issued posthumously by Harvest
Harvest
Harvest is the process of gathering mature crops from the fields. Reaping is the cutting of grain or pulse for harvest, typically using a scythe, sickle, or reaper...
in Germany in October 1977."The Musicians - Helmut Kollen." It is dedicated to Kollen's parents..
Discography
| Studio Albums | Year | Chart Position |
|---|---|---|
| Illusions on a Double Dimple Illusions on a Double Dimple Illusions on a Double Dimple is an album by the German progrock group Triumvirat. It was a breakthrough for the band, that started to open shows in a U.S tour for Fleetwood Mac playing it entirely, and made the band more popular in some countries... | 1974 | U.S. #55 |
| Spartacus Spartacus (Triumvirat album) Spartacus is an album by the German group Triumvirat. Spartacus is a concept album based on the Roman gladiator who led the 3rd slave uprising in 73–71 BC. The lyrics were written by Hans Bathelt, with contributions by Jürgen Fritz. It was originally released in 1975 on the EMI label, and... | 1975 | U.S. #27 |
| You Can Help Me - Jail album | 1976 | NA |
| You Won't See Me | 1977 | NA | Triumvirat Singles | Year | Chart Position |
| Dancer's Delight & Timothy (7", Single) | 1973 | NA |
| Dimplicity & Million Dollars (7" Single) *2 versions | 1974 | NA |
| The Capitol Of Power B-side (7" Single) Live, LA, USA | August 1975 | NA | Unauthorized "Bootleg" Recordings | Year | Chart Position |
| Triumvirat Live Tour 1974-1975 (songs from shows in the U.S.) | 1974-75 | NA |
| Triumvirat-Illusions On A Double Dimple Live-Palace Theatre, Providence, RI, USA | October 1974 | NA |
| Triumvirat-Illusions On A Double Dimple Live - St. Bernard Cultural Center, Chalmette, LA, USA | November 1974 | NA |