Recording Info

Dates: December 1998 - January 1999

Players: Ali Roßwaag, Arnim Teutoburg-Weiß, Bernd Kurtzke, Peter Baumann, Thomas Götz

Additional Performers: Holly Burnette (Double Bass), El Köfte (Backing Vocals)

Recorded at: K4

Produced by: Uwe Sabirowsky

Engineered by: Uwe Sabirowsky

Mixed by: Unknown

Released on: May 14th, 1999 


About

Work on the album already began in 1997 with Steffi. They supposedly recorded demos of the songs Filter and Fake in summer of that year, just before he quit the band. Launched is their first album on the major punk label Epitaph Records. The manager of Epitaph saw them live in Amsterdam and thought they were great, which is how they first came in contact. Beatsteaks are also the first ever german bands to be on Epitaph. The band stayed with Epitaph Records for their next release, Living Targets, in 2002. Bernd Kurtzke talked about how Epitaph helped them gain popularity: „When we started recording and touring for Launched, that's where we began realizing that we actually have fans. And that's all thanks to Epitaph. It was a huge label at the time.“ According to Arnim Teutoburg-Weiß, this album was like a fresh beginning for the band. They sounded different compared to 48/49. It's got a more melodic sound than the older stuff they've put out. The lyrics are also more intimate than everything they've ever written thus far. They can't be found in booklets or sleeves because they're too personal. Unlike on 48/49, they've produced it in a way so you can make out what he's saying if you really want to know the lyrics. The album's name was an idea from their producer Uwe Sabirowsky. „First of all, it sounds cool. The name actually originates from our producer, because we've never thought about how this thing should be called. "Launched" sounds great, it looks pretty and symbolizes the hope we have of one day being a bigger band.“ - Peter Baumann

This album would be the last studio recording with their former bassist Alexander Roßwaag. Arnim described what Ali meant to him after their departure: „Ali was always like a father of the band to me. Whenever we'd have an argument as a band he'd come and calm us down.“ He left the following year.


Tracks Recorded

released on the album "Launched"