Tankard (band)

Tankard
Background information
Origin	Frankfurt, Germany
Genres	Thrash metal
Years active	1982–present
Labels	Nuclear Blast Noise Records Century Media AFM
Website	http://www.tankard.info
Members	Andreas Geremia Andreas Gutjahr Frank Thorwarth Olaf Zissel
Past members	Bernhard Rapprich Axel Katzmann Oliver Werner Andy Bulgaropulos Arnulf Tunn

Tankard is a thrash metal band from Frankfurt am Main, Germany, founded in 1982. ^[1] Along with the bands Kreator, Destruction and Sodom, Tankard is often considered one of the "The Big Teutonic Four" of Teutonic thrash metal. They released their first record in 1986 and continue to write and record in the same vein: fast metal songs in honour of alcohol.

History

Tankard was formed in 1982 by three classmates, Andreas Geremia, Axel Katzmann and Frank Thorwarth; they came up with the name Tankard with the help of a dictionary. Their earliest written song was called "Ray Death", a song about nuclear war and their first gig was played in a local classroom in 1983. As drinking alcohol in the school was banned, they smuggled their beer in with milk cartons. Soon after, Bernhard Rapprich left the band as his conservative father did not want him "hanging around with a bunch of drunks" and he was replaced by Andy Bulgaropulos.

In 1984, Tankard signed to Noise Records. While they have built a fan base, they continue to have day jobs.

Band members

Current members

• Andreas "Gerre" Geremia – vocals (1982–present)
• Frank Thorwarth – bass guitar (1982–present)
• Olaf Zissel – drums (1994–present)
• Andreas Gutjahr – guitar (1999–present)

Former members

• Bernhard Rapprich – guitar (1982–1983)
• Oliver Werner – drums (1982–1989)
• Axel Katzmann – guitar (1982–1993)
• Andy Bulgaropulos – guitar (1983–1999)
• Arnulf Tunn – drums (1989–1994)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

Year of Release	Title	Label
1986	Zombie Attack	Noise Records
1987	Chemical Invasion	Noise Records
1988	The Morning After	Noise Records
1990	The Meaning of Life	Noise Records
1992	Stone Cold Sober	Noise Records
1994	Two-Faced	Noise Records
1995	The Tankard	Noise Records
1998	Disco Destroyer	Century Media
2000	Kings of Beer	Century Media
2002	B-Day	AFM Records
2004	Beast of Bourbon	AFM Records
2006	The Beauty and the Beer	AFM Records
2008	Thirst	AFM Records
2010	Vol(l)ume 14	AFM Records
2012	A Girl Called Cerveza	Nuclear Blast
2014	R.I.B.	Nuclear Blast

Other releases

• Heavy Metal Vanguard (1984) - demo
• Alcoholic Metal (1985) - demo
• Alien (1989) - EP
• Hair of the Dog (1989) - compilation
• Open All Night (1990) - video
• Fat, Ugly and Live (1991) - live album
• Fat, Ugly And Still (A) Live (2005) - DVD
• Best Case Scenario: 25 Years in Beers (2007) - re-recorded compilation album

References

1. "Tankard," Encyclopaedia Metallum. Web, September 14, 2010.

External links

• Official Tankard site