Kraan

German Krautrock, Jazz Fusion band originally based in Ulm and formed in 1970.
Jan Fride Wolbrandt, Hellmut Hattler and Johannes Pappert were together in a group called "Progressive Jazz Group Ulm". All members were still in school. In 1968, a Rock band called "Inzest" was formed together with siblings Jan Fride and Peter Wolbrandt, who studied in Berlin before. In 1969, "Inzest" considered to become a professional band and in 1970, the three musicians together with Johannes Pappert founded the first incarnation of Kraan.
After a short period in Berlin and a return to Ulm, Hattler had a dispute with the band, left and settled to Wintrup, near Paderborn, where he was invited by Progressive Rock band, a band from Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany. The band lived at the farm in Wintrup as a community and the musicians invited the other musicians from Kraan, which led to a state, where the other Kraan members moved in, but at the same time, the band Erna Schmidt split and one after the other of their musicians left Wintrup. It turned out, that both bands were not much compatible to each other.
It was 1971 and Kraan reformed in Wintrup and Hattler was again part of the band, and in the rural area of Wintrup, they lived together in a community in this farm, which was built in the 5th century.
This community lasted for a time range of 15 years in different constellations.
In 1972 and 1973, they recorded their first two albums. In 1974, their third album "Andy Nogger (opens in a new tab)" was released. It was their first album produced by Conny Plank. In 1977, the band went on a first hiatus.
Already at the end of the same year, the band reunited in a different lineup and Kraan continued live and recording activities until 1983. In that year, the band went on a second hiatus.
Hellmut Hattler, who was the driving force behind all reunions, reformed the band in 1987. This version of Kraan survived until 1992, when they split for a longer time.
In 1999, the Danish fansite of Kraan organised a reunion of the band, which took place in 2000. Since that, Kraan were releasing many albums and were active live, as well.