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MORITZ was formed in early 1986 in London, UK. A joining of forces of two bands based in the south of England, with the simple aim...to take on the Americans at crafting quality ‘AOR’ rock, a style of music so few UK bands were capable of, but the style of music that all the members of this exciting new band Moritz, were influenced by.
Chief songwriters/guitarist Greg Hart and bass guitarist Ian Edwards quickly built up a fantastic wealth of songs, and by
late 86 they were playing the first of just two now ‘legendary’ Marquee shows in Londons West End. The line up comprising Mike Nolan and Greg Hart on guitars, Ian Edwards on bass, Andy Stewart on Keyboards, John Metcalfe on drums were augmented by vocalist Steve Annetts who departed from the ranks in early 1987. Before long the band were joined by ex ‘Laurence Archers secrets’ vocalist Pete Scallan, and almost immediately studio time was booked to record the now highly collectable 12” vinyl EP, “Shadows of a Dream”, along with a second ‘sold out’ Marquee show, which rare footage recently appeared on you tube for the first time since the Summer of 1987!
The EP went on to sell out of its limited edition run, and a video was shot for the lead song ‘Can’t Stop Loving You’
in Autumn ‘87. A ballad penned by Greg Hart it is revered these days as a true classic of its kind, and would prove to be the band’s finest moment. Alas, the band could not secure the major record deal that was so often spoke about and despite a few line-up changes, the ‘Moritz’ magic seemed to dissappear, and in 1988 the band reluctantly folded, with Hart, Edwards and Stewart forming the highly respected AOR outfit ‘If Only’,a band that Moritz perhaps should have become. However with one album produced by Asia’s Geoffrey Downes, the band succumbed to the grunge movement in the early 90’s and disbanded. The band members went their seperate ways, some went into the ‘tribute circuit’, by now a lucrative living for musicians, and some faded out the business all together, for a while...Fast forward to 2007, and a chance conversation with ‘Moritz torch bearer’ Rob Evans from ‘Powerplay’ magazine, Greg Hart was asked to do a major feature discussing his musical ‘history’ from beginning to end.
An enthralling read, it was not long before the subject of ‘Moritz’ surfaced. So after being pursuaded that the internet
underground AOR scene was championing ‘Moritz’ it was decided that ‘Harmony Factory’ a label formed to release Hart’s solo album, would release the ‘Moritz’ back catalogue on CD, and should be made available for the fans. Without further ado ‘City Streets’ was released as a limited edition for first time on CD.
The blue touch paper had been lit...!
With interest gathering and reports flying in on lots of internet websites and magazines, a somewhat half hearted joke by Evans, about “putting the band back together” amazingly became a reality soon after. Vocalist Peter Scallan by pure coincidence, got back in touch after years abroad, and within weeks via a few emails and old phone numbers, the original line-up were sitting round a table like life long pals in deepest Sussex discussing the surreal prospects of ‘recording’ a new album......An album they felt “they always should have made”. That album was ‘UNDIVIDED’..Released in 2010 it recieved incredible reviews, and even prompted Rob Evans to call it “the greatest UK AOR album of the last 20 years”- who were they to argue. Moritz...rather miraculously were back, and back stronger than ever in spectacular fashion. Once the UKs ‘nearly rans’ back in the 80s, Moritz are now very much the front runners in everything about Classic Rock in the UK in 2013,
and with the new album, and live dates imminent....who knows where the story will lead to now,one thing is for sure.....
THE MORITZ BLITZ IS BACK!

Andreas "RockBelt": *Band Score 9.0/10* "Gonna Lose Her" just started to listen to it and then I realized that a wonderful musical journey had begun! This musical journey traveled me to a place full of melody, with its excellent music and vocals! Simply? Brilliant Melodic Rock Tune! The upcoming Album "SOS" from MORITZ is gonna be a Melodic Rock Diamond that will shine for good in 2013."
For
BeRock Radio MiniZine (2013)

City Streets
Undivided
SOS
   
Release year 1986
Release year 2010
Release year 2013
   
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