S.T.S. (band)
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Founder | Gert Steinbäcker, Günter Timischl, Helmut Röhrling (Schiffkowitz) |
| Headquarters | Graz , Austria |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Number of employees | 3 |
S.T.S. (also known as STS, representing the initials of "Steinbäcker – Timischl – Schiffkowitz") was a trio from Graz, Austria, known for their contributions to the Austropop genre. Among their most distinguished tracks are "Großvater", "Irgendwann bleib i dann dort", "Gö, du bleibst heut Nacht bei mir", and "Fürstenfeld".
The group, formed in 1978 by Gert Steinbäcker, Günter Timischl, and Schiffkowitz (whose real name is Helmut Röhrling), all originating from Styria, infused their music with regional influences. Their instrumentation centered on acoustic guitar accompanied by three-part vocal harmonies, with lead vocals typically performed by the songwriter. Their musical style exhibits clear inspiration from acts such as Crosby, Stills and Nash.
Throughout their career, S.T.S. attained remarkable commercial achievements, earning three gold, eleven platinum, three double-platinum, and one quintuple platinum awards, with total album sales reaching 2.5 million copies. Their enduring acclaim stems from a steadfast dedication to their unique musical identity and dynamic live shows. Signature songs include Fürstenfeld, Da kummt die Sunn (a rendition of Here Comes the Sun), Großvater, Gö, Du bleibst heut Nacht bei mir (covering Help Me Make It Through the Night), Kalt und kälter, Mach die Aug’n zu, Wunder meiner Seligkeit, Überdosis G’fühl, and Irgendwann bleib i dann dort.
Early Formation
Prior to establishing S.T.S., each member pursued individual musical endeavors within Styria and Germany. Initial collaborations occurred between Steinbäcker and Schiffkowitz before Timischl joined to complete the trio. Their earliest gigs took place around Graz and its surrounding areas, where they garnered modest recognition. Following a farewell concert in 1976, the group temporarily dissolved.
During this hiatus, Timischl explored a solo career and undertook various occupations before serving with UN peacekeeping forces in Cyprus; there he performed in an entertainment ensemble and continued composing songs. Meanwhile, Steinbäcker encountered personal difficulties in Germany before returning to Styria where he released a single under the alias Stony Becker, which did not achieve commercial success. Schiffkowitz spent time in the United States conducting interviews with musicians for radio broadcasts and initiated work on a book.
The trio reunited in 1978, initially crafting songs partially in English but soon transitioning to the Styrian dialect. While maintaining part-time employment—Timischl met his future spouse; Steinbäcker worked as a stagehand and composer; Schiffkowitz engaged in journalism and his literary project—they continued performing locally. Their debut single in 1979, titled Matter of Sex, failed to chart; they also rejected a record label’s proposal to record in Italian and subsequently ended that contract.
In 1979, S.T.S. briefly served as support for the then-rising Erste Allgemeine Verunsicherung (E.A.V.) on tour; concurrently, Timischl collaborated with Opus. The following year saw Ariola Records release their single Da kummt die Sunn, a cover version of The Beatles' Here Comes the Sun. Although it received favorable radio play, sales remained low; nevertheless, Ariola invested in their first album Gegenlicht (1981), which sold around 2,000 copies—modest but indicative of potential.
Later singles such as Automaten-Karl experienced limited commercial success, compelling the band to depend heavily on revenue from live performances. After ending their association with E.A.V., S.T.S. encountered internal obstacles but persisted in producing music independently. The 1983 single Irgendwann bleib i dann dort initially sold 5,000 units but ultimately became a breakthrough hit two years later.
By early 1984, facing the possibility of disbanding if success remained elusive, they attracted attention from Vienna-based label Amadeo following submission of demos. This opportunity led to recording their second album Überdosis G’fühl in Vienna during March and April of that year. Released in May with an initial pressing of 500 copies, it included tracks such as I hab di Leben g'sehn and Das neue Vaterland.
Fürstenfeld
When the initial ten tracks for the LP were completed, the record label requested an additional song. Schiffkowitz remembered a 1982 East Styrian tune by Josef Jandrisits called With a Little Help. With Jandrisits' approval, they reworked the piece and added German lyrics, renaming it Fürstenfeld. Originally, this was intended as a satirical nod to Günter Timischl’s deep connection to his homeland. Having already been part of S.T.S.'s live performances, this song was chosen as the lead single. The album achieved platinum status by selling 70,000 copies within a year, while the single reached 140,000 sales, signifying their major breakthrough.
Years of success
In that same year, Günter Timischl departed from Opus after many years as a band member. Their last collaborative concert took place in Oberwart, Burgenland, which resulted in the single Live Is Life. This track achieved global sales of three million copies during the summer of 1984. Following a fully booked tour, S.T.S. released Grenzlos in 1985, which outperformed their earlier records by earning quadruple platinum certification. The album included popular songs such as Kalt und Kälter and Irgendwann bleib i dann dort, the latter charting two years post-release. With support from keyboardist Ewald Beit, who had contributed to previous sessions, they embarked on another sold-out autumn tour before taking a creative pause.
Their most extensive tour to date occurred in 1986, featuring 50 concerts across Germany, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. The fourth studio album, Augenblicke, was released in August 1987 with familiar session musicians and was followed by another successful summer tour and a subsequent two-year break.
In 1988, although they did not tour, S.T.S. issued S.T.S. – Auf Tour, a double live album recorded in Graz, Linz, and Vienna. No new studio material appeared in 1989; instead, two compilation albums highlighted selections from their earlier works.
The 1990s
At the end of 1989, S.T.S. reactivated their activities. Gert Steinbäcker focused on producing a solo album while Günter Timischl occasionally reunited with his former band Magic 69 through the "Magic '69 Reunion." The sixth S.T.S. record, Jeder Tag zählt, was followed by an extensive tour featuring an expanded lineup that included Ewald Beit on keyboards, German drummer Gerhard Wennemuth—recognized as Austria's top drummer in 1984—and bassist Erich Buchebner. Their established rhythm of recording albums, touring extensively, and taking breaks continued. Released in 1990, Jeder Tag zählt featured the single Drago.
In June 1992, their tenth album Auf a Wort expressed their opposition to right-wing extremism, particularly through the track Und es ist so schön da, which alludes to concentration camp experiences. Although no new album was originally planned for 1993, S.T.S. surprised fans with Rosegger, setting poetry by Styrian writer Peter Rosegger to music for the Styrian state exhibition.
After a three-year gap without a main album release, they returned in 1995 with Zeit, recorded at a Styrian studio owned by "Opus" guitarist Ewald Pfleger. The following tour consisted of 50 concerts and attracted record crowds—approximately 150,000 attendees throughout Austria and Germany—making it their most successful autumn tour so far. In spring and summer of 1996, they performed six shows alongside artists such as Pur (band), Toto (band), and Sting (musician). That year also saw the launch of their greatest hits collection titled Die größten Hits aus 15 Jahren.
After another break dedicated to production work, the 1998 album Volle Kraft was released. The accompanying tour included major venues like the Wiener Stadthalle and four performances at Munich’s Circus Krone Building. Additionally, a best-of CD named Master Series was issued that year. Following this period, S.T.S. shifted their focus away from studio recordings toward large-scale tours, sustaining strong fan engagement despite less frequent media exposure.
Developments Since 2000
On 31 August 2007, the album Neuer Morgen (A New Morning) was released, featuring 14 fresh tracks, including the promotional single Ende nie (No End). The radio reception was cautious due to the song’s provocative subject matter, which dealt with tensions between Islam and Western societies. Lyrics such as "you western, decadent asses" caused Radio Styria to decline airplay, stating that the song conflicted with their preference for a "positive attitude towards life."
In 2012, S.T.S. embarked on a farewell tour. As a tribute to their contributions, members Schiffkowitz, Timischl, and Steinbäcker were awarded Decorations of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria. By July 2014, the band declared they would cease performing together, citing health concerns affecting Günter Timischl.
In 2021, S.T.S. reunited briefly as guest performers during Opus’s farewell tour, sharing the stage for two evenings—their first collaboration in nine years. Steinbäcker initiated the performance with Großvater, subsequently joined by Schiffkowitz and Timischl for the song Fürstenfeld. The group emphasized that this was not a full reunion and confirmed no plans exist for future joint appearances.
Discography
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Additional information | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE | AT | CH | |||
| 1981 | Gegenlicht | — | — | — | Over 25,000 copies sold |
| 1984 | Überdosis G’fühl | — | 1 (Austria) | — | Exceeded 100,000 sales; reached #1 in Austria |
| 1985 | Grenzenlos | — | 1 (Austria) | — | More than 250,000 units sold; topped Austrian charts |
| 1987 | Augenblicke | — | 1 (Austria) | — | Sales surpassed 50,000; #1 single in Austria |
| 1990 | Jeder Tag zählt | — | 2 (Austria) | — | Sold over 50,000 copies |
| 1992 | Auf a Wort | — | 2 (Austria) | — | Sales above 50,000 units |
| 1993 | Rosegger (collaboration with Christian Kolonowits) | — | 18 (Austria) | — | |
| 1995 | Zeit | — | 1 (Austria) | — | Over 50,000 copies sold; Austrian chart-topper |
| 1998 | Volle Kraft | — | 2 (Austria) | — | Sales exceeded 50,000 units |
| 2003 | Herzverbunden | — | 1 (Austria) | — | Nominated for Amadeus Austrian Music Awards; sales over 30,000 |
| 2007 | Neuer Morgen | — | 1 (Austria) | — | More than 20,000 copies sold; reached #1 in Austria |
Note that Swiss chart rankings for the debut album from 1981 are not available.
Further reading
- Monika Kornberger: STS. In: Oesterreichisches Musiklexikon. Online edition, Vienna 2002 onward; print edition: volume 5, Austrian Academy of Sciences Publishing House, Vienna 2006.
External links
- Works by and about S.T.S. in the German National Library catalogue
- S.T.S. on Discogs
- Official website of Schiffkowitz
- Early years of Erste Allgemeine Verunsicherung including S.T.S. period
- STS on Scheibmaier Edition website