Brain
Brain was a Hamburg record label central to the development and international circulation of German krautrock and progressive rock during the 1970s.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Brain was a German record label founded in Hamburg in 1971 by Bruno Wendel and Günter Körber after both executives left Rolf-Ulrich Kaiser's Ohr label. The new company quickly established a distinctive position in the expanding West German rock market by combining adventurous artist development with a catalogue that connected experimental rock, progressive music, electronic composition, and hard rock. Its early roster included Guru Guru, whom Wendel and Körber brought from Ohr, and Cluster, whose second album was recorded and released by Brain soon after the label's formation. The label became one of the most important homes for krautrock and related German underground music. During the 1970s and into the 1980s, its releases included recordings by Neu!, Cluster, Harmonia, Klaus Schulze, Edgar Froese, Guru Guru, Grobschnitt, Novalis, Jane, Birth Control, Embryo, Popol Vuh, Curly Curve, Scorpions, Electric Sun, Accept, and other artists. This catalogue gave Brain a broad musical identity rather than a narrowly defined genre brief. The label could accommodate long-form psychedelic and electronic works, progressive rock, space rock, experimental compositions, and heavier guitar-oriented music. Brain achieved substantial commercial and cultural visibility in West Germany and much of western Europe, while making comparatively little impact in the United States. Its importance has nevertheless extended well beyond its original sales footprint. Brain catalogue titles by Neu!, Cluster, and other artists became reference points for later musicians and listeners. Neu!'s debut album, issued as Brain 1004, is particularly associated with the label's historical significance, while Neu! 75, identified in the reference material as Brain 1062, has been linked to the development of sounds that later influenced punk rock. In addition to developing German artists, Brain served as a West German licensing outlet for a number of British recordings. These releases included music by Greenslade, Caravan, If, Spirogyra, Atomic Rooster, Alexis Korner, Gryphon, and Steamhammer. The label generally retained the original British artwork, although some editions differed substantially from their source releases. For example, Brain's edition of Atomic Rooster's Nice n Greasy used a different sleeve, and If's Double Diamond was issued in Germany without a corresponding British release. Brain was also connected to the M2001 imprint and issued recordings licensed to its parent company, Metronome. One example was a reissue of Amon Düül's Psychedelic Underground. Later, the Rock On Brain series revisited parts of the early catalogue, sometimes using substantially altered artwork and, in some cases, different album titles. These reissue practices helped keep the label's recordings visible after the original release era, although they can complicate discographic identification for collectors. Körber left Brain in 1976 to establish Sky Records. Sky subsequently released Cluster-related material, early solo work by Michael Rother, and recordings by artists including Streetmark. Following Körber's departure, Brain's LP label design changed from green to orange, providing a visible marker for a later phase of the imprint. Many prominent Brain recordings have subsequently been reissued on compact disc by Repertoire Records. Brain is therefore remembered less as a continuing contemporary business than as a historically influential catalogue and label identity associated with the classic German experimental-rock period.
History
Brain emerged in Hamburg in the middle of 1971, when Bruno Wendel and Günter Körber left Ohr following disagreements with the management style of Ohr founder Rolf-Ulrich Kaiser. Rather than joining another existing company, the two former A&R executives established their own label and named it Brain. Their first important move was to bring Guru Guru with them from Ohr. They also signed Cluster, a group that had previously recorded an album for Philips, and soon released Cluster II. The label developed rapidly in West Germany and expanded across much of western Europe. Brain's growth coincided with the increasing visibility of German experimental and progressive music, often grouped under the broad term krautrock. Its catalogue was notable for the range of artists it supported. Neu!, Cluster, Harmonia, Klaus Schulze, Edgar Froese, Guru Guru, Grobschnitt, Novalis, Jane, Birth Control, Embryo, Popol Vuh, Curly Curve, Scorpions, Electric Sun, Accept, and others appeared on the label during the 1970s and into the 1980s. The resulting catalogue crossed psychedelic rock, electronic music, progressive rock, space rock, and harder forms of rock. Brain's strongest market position was in West Germany and western Europe. It did not establish an equally significant presence in the United States, but the international reputation of its artists later gave the catalogue a much wider cultural reach. The label's Neu! releases became especially important. The debut Neu! album appeared as Brain 1004, while Neu! 75 was issued as Brain 1062. The latter has been identified as an important influence on the sound of later punk rock, demonstrating how Brain's output continued to matter beyond the original progressive and krautrock audience. The business was not limited to German artists. Brain licensed a number of British recordings for the West German market, including releases by Greenslade, Caravan, If, Spirogyra, Atomic Rooster, Alexis Korner, Gryphon, and Steamhammer. In many cases the German editions retained the original British sleeves, though this was not universal. The Brain edition of Atomic Rooster's Nice n Greasy used different artwork, and If's Double Diamond was issued by Brain despite not receiving a British release. Brain also handled or participated in reissues of recordings licensed to its parent company, Metronome. Some of these titles appeared through the related M2001 label. Later, the Rock On Brain series brought earlier Brain recordings back into circulation. The series is notable among collectors because some entries used new sleeves and, in certain cases, different album titles rather than simply reproducing the original editions. A major organisational change occurred in 1976, when Günter Körber left Brain to create Sky Records. The new label issued Cluster-related work, early solo recordings by Michael Rother, and music by groups such as Streetmark. Brain's LP labels changed from green to orange after Körber's departure, creating a useful visual distinction between earlier and later editions. In subsequent years, Repertoire Records reissued many of Brain's better-known recordings on compact disc. Although Brain is principally remembered as a historical label rather than an active modern company, its catalogue remains closely associated with the international recognition of German experimental rock.
- 1976
Günter Körber leaves to form Sky Records
[1]Körber departs Brain and establishes Sky Records, which later releases Cluster-related and Michael Rother material.
- 1976
Brain label design changes from green to orange
[1]The imprint's LP label colour changes after Körber's departure, marking a later phase of Brain editions.
- 1972
Neu! debut appears as Brain 1004
[1]Neu!'s self-titled debut is released on Brain and becomes one of the imprint's most historically important catalogue titles.
- 1971
Brain is founded in Hamburg
[1]Former Ohr A&R executives Bruno Wendel and Günter Körber establish Brain after leaving Ohr.
- 1971
Guru Guru and Cluster join the new label
[1]Brain brings Guru Guru from Ohr and signs Cluster, whose Brain-era work begins with Cluster II.
Brain catalogue receives later reissues
[1]The Rock On Brain series and subsequent compact-disc editions by Repertoire Records renew access to important early recordings.
Products and positioning
An adventurous German record label focused on artist-led krautrock, progressive, electronic, psychedelic, and hard rock, with a secondary role as a West German licensing outlet for selected British releases.
Krautrock album catalogue · 1972
Neu!
Neu!'s self-titled debut was issued by Brain as catalogue number 1004. The record became one of the label's defining releases and an enduring reference point for experimental German rock. Its later reputation helped establish Brain as a major archival source for music that influenced subsequent alternative and punk-oriented artists.
Krautrock album
Neu! 75
Neu! 75 was released by Brain as catalogue number 1062. The album is among the label's most influential releases and has been associated with the emergence of sounds later reflected in punk rock. It represents Brain's role in documenting the more experimental and rhythmically direct sides of German rock.
Experimental electronic rock album · 1971
Cluster II
Cluster II was one of Brain's early landmark releases. Cluster had previously recorded for Philips, and the group was signed by Wendel and Körber soon after Brain was formed. The album helped define the label's openness to abstract, electronic, and non-standard rock formats.
Reissue series
Rock On Brain
Rock On Brain was a later reissue programme built around early Brain recordings. The series did not always reproduce original editions faithfully: some records appeared with substantially different sleeves and, in some cases, altered album titles. It nevertheless played an important role in keeping the label's archive in circulation.
Licensed rock catalogue
British licensed releases
Brain issued West German editions of selected British recordings by artists including Greenslade, Caravan, If, Spirogyra, Atomic Rooster, Alexis Korner, Gryphon, and Steamhammer. These releases expanded the imprint beyond German artists and often retained the source records' original sleeves, subject to title-specific exceptions.
Marketing campaigns
- Rock On Brain
Germany · Western Europe
A later reissue initiative revisited early Brain recordings and presented them to subsequent audiences.
Outcome. The series extended the commercial and collecting life of the catalogue, although its modified artwork and occasional title changes created distinctions from original editions.
Brand decisions
1976
Continue Brain after Körber's departureStrategyBackground
Günter Körber left the partnership to found Sky Records.
Action taken
Brain continued its label operations under a changed visual identity, with LP labels moving from green to orange.
Aftermath
Sky developed its own Cluster-related and Michael Rother catalogue, while Brain remained associated with its established roster and archive.
1971
Create an independent label after leaving OhrStrategyBackground
Bruno Wendel and Günter Körber left Ohr and chose to establish a separate company rather than continue under its management.
Action taken
They founded Brain in Hamburg and transferred Guru Guru while signing Cluster for new work.
Aftermath
Brain quickly became a prominent West German and western European label for experimental and progressive rock.
- Reissue the historical catalogueOther
Background
Brain's original recordings retained cultural and collector interest after the label's principal historical period.
Action taken
Recordings were revisited through Rock On Brain and later compact-disc reissues by Repertoire Records.
Aftermath
The reissue activity preserved access to prominent Brain releases and reinforced the imprint's archival importance.
Recent events
Megvii releases Brain++ commercial edition[4]
Reported:
Megvii formally released the commercial edition of its Brain++ AI productivity platform at the 2020 Zhongguancun Forum.
Megvii launches Brain++ AI productivity platform[5]
Reported:
Megvii formally launched its Brain++ AI productivity platform, designed to support end-to-end AI research and development.
Sources5 sources
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