#249
DIN A Testbild was one of the pivotal groups of late 70s Berlin. Formed by Mark Eins, Gudrun Gut (also in Einstürzende Neubauten), Nutty Norman and Genee Romee in 1978 – mixing punk attitude with electronic instruments. They were taken under the wing of Tangerine Dream’s Klaus Schulze, who recorded their first album in his studio, later to release it on his label Innovative Communication. Programm 1 came out in 1980 – a fairly short album so the LP was pressed on 45 rpm. The reissue Mannequin did in 2016 keeps it that way.
Two more albums followed (numbered 2 and 3) on the same label and all reissued by Mannequin. In fact, there was a Programm 4 album as well, but it went unreleased until Mannequin started their reissue program. The personnel changed a bit during those years 1980-1983, with Mark Eins later using the name again in the 90s for two LPs recorded together with other collaborators.
But then in 2005 he got back together with original members Nutty Norman and drummer Ralf Zimmerman. Eventually, the new album Programm 5 Sample Attack came out on Mark’s own label in 2007. More records followed and DIN A Testbild is still active today.
