Fischer-Z Meets the Zeitgeist. Complexity can be so simple. Or at least prepared in such a simple way.
Fischer-Z is John Watts and John Watts is Fischer-Z. A 69-year-old songwriter, performer and artist who has been active for over 40 years, founded this now legendary band in the 70s, only recently discovered his neurodiversity as a superpower and has since had a different view on life and his work – and now released a new album: “My songs are my art form and they represent my view of the world. They fall into three categories: political, personal and psychological.” It has always been that way and will probably always remain that way.
John Watts has been writing relevant, touching, stirring songs since the 70s – and continues to do so. He is a driven person who seemed to be active on perhaps too many fields over the years: singer, guitarist, producer, painter, lyricist, businessman. Of course he is interested in himself and what is going on in his mind, what his life has in store for him, but also in the concerns of his fellow human beings, in their problems and wishes and, as a result, in the different political situations in the world.
He writes songs about the problems in England before and after Brexit, about the Cold War, about Russia’s war in Ukraine, about the suffering in Syria, about refugees in the USA or about human rights activists in Honduras. These are all complex topics, but John Watts always manages to break them down to simple denominators and personal stories. And this makes them tangible. Close to the spirit of the times, to the important topics of world political events, interested in the stories of its imagined but real protagonists – that is the musical triptych that Fischer-Z has always made up, and again on the new album “Triptych” and will be presented live on stage in spring 2024.
The band, with three new members compared to their debut LP “Word Salad” (1979) and with one more guitar on stage, continues to impress in their live performances. With hits like “Marliese”, “So Long” and “Red Skies Over Paradise”, Fischer-Z is one of the icons of New Wave and White Reggae – Fischer-Z is on a par with The Police and Madness. But there is more and more to come: “Over the last 12 months I have learned to view both my life and the world from a mild neurodiversity perspective. On the one hand, I recognise this as a strength in my creative activities, but also as a major challenge in everyday life.” The album “Triptych” was finished before the diagnosis. However, a second album was subsequently created (working title: “The Red Flag Record”), which is scheduled to be released this year. “This double release is an artistic confirmation of my diverse state of mind!” Thematically, „Triptych“ is, as described above, divided into three parts. The songs that deal with Watts’ personal inner life are very fragile and sublimely convey the vulnerability that many listeners will be able to understand.
They have been released together in advance on an EP, including the successful single “The Hamburg Beat”. On the other songs, John Watts takes his listeners into today’s world of intellectual Europe, but with the experiences of several centuries, a social conscience, but also very British.
Those in the know know that he comes from an old English officer’s family. Keeping the peace and knowing how to do it, packing everything congenially into music and presenting it in a way that is easy to understand – hardly anyone can do that like John Watts.
Concertgoers can expect some of the greatest classics of New Wave and cutting-edge music at this high level on the tour in spring 2024.
Link: https://www.facebook.com/fischerZmusic/
High Violet PR
