Karussell is a German rock band from Leipzig. Alongside bands such as Karat, City, Puhdys, Silly, and Electra, it is considered one of the most prominent and popular groups from the former German Democratic Republic (GDR). The band is best known for the songs "Wer die Rose ehrt", "Ehrlich will ich bleiben", "Autostop", and "Als ich fortging", the latter of which remains frequently played on some radio stations and is considered one of the most popular hits from the GDR era. The band was formed in April 1976 through a reorganization of the Leipzig amateur group Fusion, incorporating former members of the recently banned Leipzig band Renft. The formation was largely initiated by keyboardist Wolf-Rüdiger Raschke, who also served as an informant for the Stasi, the state security service of the GDR. The original lineup included Peter Cäsar Gläser (vocals and guitar), Jochen Hohl (drums), Reinhard Oschek Huth (guitar), Lutz Kirsten (vocals and guitar), Claus Winter (bass), and Bernd Schumacher (saxophone and flute). Musically, Karussell continued the legacy of Renft. Early recordings included the songs "Whisky", "Lebe", and "Welt im Sand", produced in radio studios, as well as a reinterpretation of the Renft classic "Wer die Rose ehrt" for their second album. Lyricist Kurt Demmler contributed much of the material performed by the band. With support from the Central Council of the Free German Youth (FDJ) and the Concert and Guest Performance Directorate in Berlin, Karussell became a professional group in 1978, performing at the Rhythmus ’78 festival and releasing their first single, "Der Gitarrist". The band experienced frequent lineup changes, with Bernd Dünnebeil replacing Lutz Kirsten on guitar in 1978 and studio or guest musicians covering saxophone and flute parts after the departure of Bernd Schumacher. Their first LP, "Entweder oder", was released in 1979, including the track "Ehrlich will ich bleiben", which was used as the theme for the television film "Polizeiruf 110: Am Abgrund". Their second LP, "Das einzige Leben", followed in 1980. During the recording of their third LP, "Schlaraffenberg" (1982), Dünnebeil was replaced by Tom Leonhardt, formerly of ZOE and Schwarzer Pfeffer. Peter Cäsar Gläser left the band in 1983 to focus on his solo project and was replaced by Lutz Salzwedel, formerly of Passion. Leonhardt and Salzwedel left the band shortly after, and during a 1984 tour in West Germany with the album "Was kann ich tun", several members defected, leaving the band close to disbandment. Raschke helped the group recover, integrating the young singer and composer Dirk Michaelis and new guitarist Jürgen Hofmeister. Karussell returned in 1987 with the album "Café Anonym" and the hit "Als ich fortging", with lyrics by Gisela Steineckert and a new lyricist, Michael Sellin. Bassist Claus Winter later left the band, replaced by Jan Kirsten. Their final pre-reunification LP, "Solche wie du", was released in 1990. The band initially disbanded in 1991, with members pursuing other careers or solo projects. In 1994, Raschke and Kirsten attempted a revival with new members and the CD "Sonnenfeuer", but the lineup changes were not well received, and the project did not achieve significant success. Bassist Claus Winter died in January 2006, Reinhard Huth performed with the Leipzig band Beat-Club until 2007, and Peter Cäsar Gläser died in 2008. Karussell reformed in 2007, led by Raschke, with a lineup including Wolf-Rüdiger Raschke, Joey Raschke (later Joe Raschke), Reinhard Huth, Jan Kirsten, Frank Endrik Moll, and Hans Graf. Benno Jähnert replaced Moll on drums in 2008. The band’s comeback tour, "Wiedersehen im Traum", ran from 2008 to 2009. On 17 June 2011, Karussell released the album "loslassen" after almost 17 years. Despite frequent changes in membership, Karussell achieved considerable success in nearly all formations, supported by a dedicated fan base. Their music was characterized by a grounded rhythm and blues style and clear interpretation of often socially critical lyrics written by Kurt Demmler and later Michael Sellin. The band’s songs reflected the everyday life and existential questions of the GDR era, with "Als ich fortging" becoming their most successful hit. Studio albums Entweder oder (1979) Das einzige Leben (1980) Schlaraffenberg (1982) Was kann ich tun (1984) Café Anonym (1987) Solche wie du (1990) Sonnenfeuer (1994) Loslassen (2011) Erdenwind (2018) Unter den Sternen (2024)