On 02/06/1971 as My Solid Ground set up what for the time was a gigantic amount of equipment in Studio U1 of Südwestfunk in Baden-Baden they already had enough live and studio experience not to be phased by a production environment designed to record orchestras and the like.

The band had their first studio experience on 27/10/1970 when they recorded the track “Flash” in the Mörfelden Studio in Frankfurt. With “Flash” the band won second place from 72 groups in an amateur beat band competition hosted by SWF. In February and April 1971 My Solid Ground recorded an eponymous album for the renowned label Bacillus.

The fact that for legal reasons the band could not use any of the titles from the LP or reworkings of them for the SWF production did not pose a problem for the band but served to increase their existing and what could not be described as underdeveloped ambition.

Bernhard Rendel, then 17, band founder, guitarist, singer and musical leader of My Solid Ground, experimented with band mates Ingo Werner (organ, piano), Karl-Heinz Dörfler (bass) and Andreas Würsching (drums) to lend the tracks specially composed for SWF the unmistakable.

My Solid Ground touch. Hard guitar riffs, spherical organ sounds, and exact rhythm sections:

My Solid Ground goes underground. All tracks were broadcast by SWF.

My Solid Ground’s band history corresponds with band founder Bernhard Rendel’s musical progression. In his early school years he discovered his affinity to music and guitars in particular and was encouraged by his mother. Not exactly typical for the time, she continued to support her son even when he progressed on to louder and harder guitar sounds.

With the band’s formation in 1968 the Rendel’s house offered the opportunity to practice weekly and polish off their own compositions. The young musicians used every spare minute to perfect their command of their instruments, the rhythmic, dynamic compositions My Solid Ground wanted to present their audience with demanded enormous talent. With his family’s support, Bernhard Rendel had not yet come of age, they arranged their own concerts and carried the financial risk involved. Soon My Solid Ground gained popularity in their home region of Rüsselsheim and nearby Frankfurt. In addition to the musical performance the band’s performances were notable for complex light shows. After several changes in band line-up the formation that recorded the entire studio takes crystallised.

Despite nationwide success, My Solid Ground remained a band with frequently changing members. In 1972 Bernhard Rendel moved to Frankfurt and with a new line-up the band lasted until 1974. Following this Rendel pursued his academic education. From 1986 until 2000 Bernhard Rendel was a lecturer in music at Mainz University. He currently teaches talented music students and is also active as a free-lance music producer and composer.

The band’s fame and recognition by fans around the world is largely based on the group’s excellent album. The four tracks the band produced for SWF only two months after recording their album and with the same line-up match the album in their quality and musical expression. Inspired by the planned re-release of the SWF session Bernhard Rendel recorded another 7 tracks in Autumn 2001. The scope of the new recording reaches from “space rock“ and lyrical elements to flowing psychedelic sounds. Resourceful and innovative: My Solid Ground 2001.

Manfred Steinheuer, January 2002

Thanks to Bernhard Rendel for the excellent and friendly support! 
Translation: Annette Duffy
www.my-solid-ground.de