Martin Gerschwitz's formula for success is a fine blend of luck, a whole lot of struggle, and a strong belief that some day he'll be at the top. That day is just around the corner for Martin Gerschwitz, the classically trained German born keyboard master.
At the age of 16 he already played with big german orchestras, of course all classical music! Then in 1968, his older brother (who is a very successful Cello - player) gave him a record to listen to ("Five Bridges Suite" by The NICE, Keith Emersons first band),
and Martin discovered Rock’n’Roll. Within 3 weeks, he put his first band together ("THE AVENGERS").
At the age of 16 he already played with big german orchestras, of course all classical music! Then in 1968, his older brother (who is a very successful Cello - player) gave him a record to listen to ("Five Bridges Suite" by The NICE, Keith Emersons first band),
After several years playing on the german scene with german bands, backing up famous german singers and being among other things the keyboard player for PERCY SLEDGE ("When a man loves a woman") for a whole european tour, he finally in 1978 formed his own american-style Rockband "BREAKPOINT" (they recorded one album in 1981 called "First Serving") which toured very successfully all over the american Military Circuit in Europe. But that wasn't enough for Martin, he wanted to make it worldwide - so he gave up everything he had, sold his equipment very cheap, paid off his debts and went on his way to the USA!
So here he was - in 1985 - in the United States - without money, a band or equipment.
For the first 2 months Martin worked for a messenger service to make some money to buy equipment again, and it didn't take long for him to put his aforementioned formula to work. After one audition TIM BOGERT (ex-Vanilla Fudge bass player) asked him to join his band, and by the end of the year Martin Gerschwitz added LOVERBOY and EDDIE VAN HALEN to the list of musicians which he's shared center stage with.
Over the next 10 years Martin performed at well over 2,500 live events worldwide, from solo appearances with orchestras in Germany to European Rockfestivals, from the Russian Rhythm and Blues Festival to the Singapore Blues Festival, from a concert tour of the Persian Gulf countries to the Iceland Rock Festival, Martin Gerschwitz toured the U.S. and the world with such acts as LITA FORD, MEAT LOAF, VANILLA FUDGE, WALTER TROUT BAND, just to name a few. He also recorded many CD's as a result of these tours.
In 1996 he started his own project utilizing the classical knowledge he had, first with an (also classically trained) flute player who he recorded 3 beautiful Flute and Piano CD's with DAN LEFLER. “DAN LEFLER & MARTIN GERSCHWITZ “ Volume 1-3 all available through Martin’s website. Then finally in 1998 he decided to do it all by himself, he basically went back to his roots.
As a result of that, Martin put out 2 more CD's, "Lazy Afternoon" (1999) and "Nobody knows me" (2000) - wonderful, relaxing all keyboard pieces of music with the exception of 2 vocal songs (one of them features Martin’s good friend Tricia Freeman on "Summertime", the other one Martin on "Nobody knows me better than I do") - both are available through this website (look above) - a must have for every music fan!
In March of 1999, Martin got approached to join "Eric Burdon & The New Animals" as their permanent keyboard/violin player. As of May 1999, Martin has been touring with them all over the world (Europe, North America, Hongkong, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, etc.), actually - the band was touring constantly all over the world with more than 100 shows per year!
In the middle of all this touring the band (with Martin) made time to record 3 Live CD's, "Eric Burdon & The New Animals - Bootleg 2000" which was recorded at "Stephen Talkhouse" in Amagansett, NY - in 2002 "Eric Burdon & The New Animals - Live in Seattle" which was recorded at the "Experience Music Project" in Seattle, WA - and in December of 2004 “Athens Traffic Live” which was recorded in - you guessed it - Athens/Greece!
In the summer of 2003 Martin recorded yet another CD, this time of his own band (“Martin Gerschwitz & friends”, which amongst others featured his band mates of “The Animals” as well), he then toured Europe several times with a mostly german line-up, and finally shot a concert DVD of his band in Frankfurt/Germany in November of 2004 (“Martin Gerschwitz & friends - Live”)! Once again - everything aforementioned (CD’s/DVD’s) is available through Martin’s website!
After the incredibly strange and weird break-up of "Eric Burdon & The Animals" in November of 2005, Martin was pretty much immediately asked to join "Iron Butterfly" (who is one of his favourite bands of his childhood - who doesn't remember and love "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida"?), and he happily accepted the offer - he'll be the keyboardplayer and he'll take over a couple of lead vocal parts as well - and maybe at some point the violin will be part of the show again, too.....???
So here he was - in 1985 - in the United States - without money, a band or equipment.
For the first 2 months Martin worked for a messenger service to make some money to buy equipment again, and it didn't take long for him to put his aforementioned formula to work. After one audition TIM BOGERT (ex-Vanilla Fudge bass player) asked him to join his band, and by the end of the year Martin Gerschwitz added LOVERBOY and EDDIE VAN HALEN to the list of musicians which he's shared center stage with.
Over the next 10 years Martin performed at well over 2,500 live events worldwide, from solo appearances with orchestras in Germany to European Rockfestivals, from the Russian Rhythm and Blues Festival to the Singapore Blues Festival, from a concert tour of the Persian Gulf countries to the Iceland Rock Festival, Martin Gerschwitz toured the U.S. and the world with such acts as LITA FORD, MEAT LOAF, VANILLA FUDGE, WALTER TROUT BAND, just to name a few. He also recorded many CD's as a result of these tours.
In 1996 he started his own project utilizing the classical knowledge he had, first with an (also classically trained) flute player who he recorded 3 beautiful Flute and Piano CD's with DAN LEFLER. “DAN LEFLER & MARTIN GERSCHWITZ “ Volume 1-3 all available through Martin’s website. Then finally in 1998 he decided to do it all by himself, he basically went back to his roots.
As a result of that, Martin put out 2 more CD's, "Lazy Afternoon" (1999) and "Nobody knows me" (2000) - wonderful, relaxing all keyboard pieces of music with the exception of 2 vocal songs (one of them features Martin’s good friend Tricia Freeman on "Summertime", the other one Martin on "Nobody knows me better than I do") - both are available through this website (look above) - a must have for every music fan!
In March of 1999, Martin got approached to join "Eric Burdon & The New Animals" as their permanent keyboard/violin player. As of May 1999, Martin has been touring with them all over the world (Europe, North America, Hongkong, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, etc.), actually - the band was touring constantly all over the world with more than 100 shows per year!
In the middle of all this touring the band (with Martin) made time to record 3 Live CD's, "Eric Burdon & The New Animals - Bootleg 2000" which was recorded at "Stephen Talkhouse" in Amagansett, NY - in 2002 "Eric Burdon & The New Animals - Live in Seattle" which was recorded at the "Experience Music Project" in Seattle, WA - and in December of 2004 “Athens Traffic Live” which was recorded in - you guessed it - Athens/Greece!
In the summer of 2003 Martin recorded yet another CD, this time of his own band (“Martin Gerschwitz & friends”, which amongst others featured his band mates of “The Animals” as well), he then toured Europe several times with a mostly german line-up, and finally shot a concert DVD of his band in Frankfurt/Germany in November of 2004 (“Martin Gerschwitz & friends - Live”)! Once again - everything aforementioned (CD’s/DVD’s) is available through Martin’s website!
After the incredibly strange and weird break-up of "Eric Burdon & The Animals" in November of 2005, Martin was pretty much immediately asked to join "Iron Butterfly" (who is one of his favourite bands of his childhood - who doesn't remember and love "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida"?), and he happily accepted the offer - he'll be the keyboardplayer and he'll take over a couple of lead vocal parts as well - and maybe at some point the violin will be part of the show again, too.....???
