Gothic Dark Wave icons SILKE BISCHOFF have signed a deal with Dependent Records. The German act’s catalogue will be reissued by the label.SILKE BISCHOFF comment: “After our material has been withheld from the public for so long, I feel it is my duty to give back to the fans what rightfully belongs to them, because they are the heartbeat of this band - we love you!”, Axel Kretschmann states. “I am convinced that Dependent is the best partner for our project. The label represents numerous well-known bands from our genre and has earned an excellent reputation - particularly in the underground scene. In my opinion, they do a very good job and offer exactly the expertise and support that we need. At the present, I do not see any other partner that could be a better fit for us.”
Stefan Herwig adds: “When SILKE BISCHOFF emerged in the 1990s, they were more than just a fixture on all dark music dance floors”, the label founder states. “They defined a way of life that eluded bourgeois appropriation. Many of their tracks became anthems that have stood the test of time and continue to resonate until today. We are delighted to make these cult milestones finally accessible again. SILKE BISCHOFF created an aesthetic counter-universe that defined what the music of the ‘black scene’ actually meant in the 1990s. Their artwork was not a mere accessory, but a manifesto - a visual expression of an anti-mainstream attitude toward life that shaped the gothic scene like almost nothing else. Melancholy, death, sexually charged imagery, and provocation defined the coordinates of an existence beyond bourgeois norms. We are thrilled to welcome SILKE BISCHOFF to our roster!”
SILKE BISCHOFF were originally founded by Axel Kretschmann and Felix Flaucher as a Gothic and Dark Wave project in 1990. Following the release of three two-track demo tapes that generated a huge buzz and an underground club hit with the track ‘I Don’t Love You Anymore’, already their self-titled debut album established SILKE BISCHOFF as a leading act of the dark electronic music scene in 1991. The track ‘On the Other Side (I’ll See You Again)’ even became regarded as an anthem of the European Gothic movement.
The band name, SILKE BISCHOFF, initially caused controversy in Germany as it was inspired by an 18-year-old victim of the 1988 “Gladbeck hostage crisis” that tragically ended in the death of the young woman. The grave misconduct of the media and also the actions of the police came under intense public criticism. With time it became widely accepted that the founding duo considered the name as an artistic memorial, particularly as often only the names of the perpetrators are remembered.
On the sophomore full-length ‘The Man on the Wooden Cross’ (1993), guitarist Frank Schwer joined the original duo and became a full-time member. With the following album ‘To Protect and to Serve’ (1995), SILKE BISCHOFF began to reach beyond the gothic scene and ‘Under Your Skin’ became a veritable club hit. This underlined their popular appeal, which also brought the band to their attention of mainstream media and even a ridiculous accusation of spreading “Satanism” on German television.
In the wake of the fourth “classic” album ‘Northern Lights’ (2001), Kretschmann left the band due to internal differences. Following a legal dispute, Flaucher and Schwer continued briefly under the new name 18 SUMMERS. In 2017, the reconciled members came together for an intimate private performance of some songs among a few very close friends that took place just before Flaucher passed away at the age of only 59 due to a long, serious illness on the 22nd of August that year.
At the 2025 edition of the prestigious Wave-Gotik-Treffen, Axel Kretschmann revived SILKE BISCHOFF with a celebrated stellar show and guest performances by DEINE LAKAIEN frontman Alexander Veljanov and Sven Friedrich (DREADFUL SHADOWS, ZERAPHINE, SOLAR FAKE) in front of a packed hall. More concerts with guest vocalists have been announced for 2026.
Line-up
Axel Kretschmann - vocals, keyboards, guitar
Live line-up
Axel Kretschmann - vocals, keyboards, guitar
Markus Köster - drums
Andy Simanowitz - piano, keyboards, background vocals
Dates
25 SEP 2026 - Bochum (DE) Matrix
26 SEP 2026 - Leipzig (DE) Täubchenthal
27 SEP 2026 - Berlin (DE) Columbia Theater
Source: Press Release / https://www.instagram.com/silkebischoffofficial
