The story of Beckside of Richness goes back to the 1980s, when Samuel Beck and Richard Putz met during a secret smoke break at Berlin’s Fichtenberg High School. Rich had just won a composition contest, while Sam fronted a rock band called “L’unique Vérité.” Soon after, the two began writing song after song, spurring each other on despite their contrasts — Sam’s punk-funk edge versus Rich’s synth-pop sweetness. Over a hundred songs came out of this creative clash. When their band dissolved, they played all instruments themselves, recording piles of demo tapes. Later, they co-founded the crossover band “Luchten,” which reached the finals of the Yamaha Rock Explosion in Tokyo.During that period, saxophonist Jan Rase joined, eventually replacing Rich when he left to tour the U.S. as bassist with Pearls at Swine. Drummer Christoph v. Knobelsdorff entered the picture in Berlin, bonding with Rich through several projects, including the German pop outfit Lenz. In 2021, Rich rediscovered their old demos. Despite the rough sound, the songs rekindled the old fire, leading to the 2023 double-vinyl “Today Yesterday’s Tomorrow.” By then, Jan had joined permanently, switching to guitar. The name the two schoolboys once invented — Beckside of Richness — stuck. More than thirty years after their beginnings, the band finally stepped on stage. Even a serious illness that struck Rich in late 2024 didn’t stop them: work on their second album, working-title “It’s Never Too Late for Puberty,” is underway, set for release in February 2026.
“Made of Stone” is a classic three-minute track with verse, bridge, and middle eight. Drummer Christoph spontaneously decided to rewrite the lyrics for the wedding of a beloved person in London, turning it into a memorable gift – including a guest performance with the local party band. A few lines from that version were kept in the original, which is why Christoph is credited as co-writer.Beckside of Richness – Made of Stone
