Blue Plate Special: Nitzer Ebb
Nitzer Ebb, formed in 1982 in Chelmsford, Essex, is one of the most influential acts in the electronic body music (EBM) and alternative dance scenes. Fronted by Douglas McCarthy alongside Bon Harris and David Gooday, the group combined synthesizers, drum pads, and their punk and goth influences to craft an aggressive and visceral brand of electronic music. Drawing inspiration from German industrial pioneers like Die Krupps and D.A.F., Nitzer Ebb established their distinct sound early on, with their demo Basic Pain Procedure (1983) and debut single “Isn’t It Funny How Your Body Works” (1985). Their first album, That Total Age (1987), produced classics such as “Join in the Chant,” which became a dancefloor anthem from Ibiza to Detroit and cemented their legacy in the industrial and electronic scenes. Over time, albums like Belief (1989) and Ebbhead (1991) showcased a growing interest in pop songcraft while maintaining the band’s signature intensity, earning success on both dancefloors and alternative radio.
Following the release of their fifth album, Big Hit (1995), Nitzer Ebb took an extended hiatus, during which McCarthy collaborated with Alan Wilder’s post-Depeche Mode project, Recoil, and techno producer Terence Fixmer, while Harris pursued production work. Their influence on industrial and hard-edged techno artists continued to grow, leading to a resurgence of interest in their work. A reunion in the mid-2000s saw the release of Industrial Complex (2010) and successful tours with contemporaries like Die Krupps. In 2018, the band reunited with all its founding members for a retrospective box set, Box Set [1982–2010], and a global tour, reconnecting with fans old and new. Widely regarded as pioneers of the EBM movement, Nitzer Ebb’s enduring legacy is marked by their ability to evolve while staying true to the visceral energy that first made them icons of alternative dance and industrial music.
Some of my favorites from their catalog:
I Give To You – from the album Ebbhead (1991)
Join in the Chant – from the album That Total Age (1987)
Getting Closer – from the album Showtime (1990)
Kick It – from the album Big Hit (1995)
Lightning Man (Industry vs The Ebb Mix) – from the EP Lightning Man / Getting Closer / Fun To Be Had (1990)
So Bright So Strong – from the single Warsaw Ghetto / So Bright So Strong (1985)
Promises – from the album Industrial Complex (2010)
Murderous – from the album That Total Age (1987)
Family Man – from the album Ebbhead (1991)
For Fun – from the album Belief (1989)
