Propaganda

Propaganda is a German synth-pop group from Düsseldorf, active from 1982 to the present. The best-known line-up centres on vocalist Claudia Brücken, drummer Michael Mertens, and keyboard players Susanne Freytag and Ralf Dörper. The band later also includes bassist Derek Forbes, drummer Brian McGee, and Betsi Miller, with Andreas Thein listed among its members.

Early years and ZTT Records

The group forms in Germany before moving to England in 1983. It signs to ZTT Records, alongside acts such as Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Art of Noise. Propaganda’s first single, “Dr. Mabuse”, reaches the British Top 30 in early 1984. Its follow-up, “Duel”, reaches number 21 in May 1985.

A Secret Wish and first break-up

The band’s first album, A Secret Wish, appears in 1985. A tour after the album leads to the addition of Derek Forbes and Brian McGee, both formerly of Simple Minds. Later that year the remix album Wishful Thinking follows. Ralf Dörper is the first original member to leave, and the group then splits after a prolonged legal dispute over leaving ZTT.

Later line-up and 1234

Propaganda returns in 1988 with Michael Mertens, Derek Forbes, Brian McGee and American vocalist Betsi Miller. The group signs to Virgin and releases 1234 in 1990. That album produces the single “Heaven Give Me Words”, which enters the British Top 40, while “Only One Word” charts more modestly later the same year.

Related projects

While Propaganda is inactive, Claudia Brücken stays with ZTT in part because of her marriage to label owner Paul Morley. She forms Act with Thomas Leer. That duo charts with “Snobbery and Decay” in 1987 and releases one album, Laughter, Tears, and Rage, in 1988. Brücken then works as a solo artist and charts with “Absolut (E)” from her 1991 album Love, And a Million Other Things.