Heidelberg, Germany • 1970-1972
Night Sun came out of Heidelberg, in Germany's Rhine-Neckar region, around 1970, and quickly became one of the heavier and more distinctive acts in the country's underground rock scene. The four-piece consisted of Bruno Schaab on vocals and bass, Walter Kirchgassner on guitar, Knut Rössler on organ and wind instruments, and Ulrich Staudt on drums. Several of them had previously played together in groups like The Things and Nine Days Wonder.
Their sound drew from hard rock but leaned into progressive structures and a darker tone that set them apart from many contemporaries. The sole album, Mournin', recorded in 1972, is the clearest document of what they were doing, built around Kirchgassner's sharp guitar work, Rössler's keyboards, and Schaab's strong vocal presence.
The band didn't last long. Kirchgassner left toward the end of 1972, which effectively ended things, and Schaab went on to play with Guru Guru not long after. But the short run didn't diminish what they left behind. Mournin' has steadily grown in reputation over the years and is now considered a key record in early '70s German heavy rock, one that holds up well for anyone drawn to that particular blend of weight, atmosphere, and raw conviction.
