Lear (Band)
Lear | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Zurich, Switzerland |
| Genres | Progressive rock, Hard rock |
| Years active | 1969–1979 |
| Members | Beatrice "Beba" Kürsteiner (vocals), This Mugglin (drums) |
Lear was a rock band from Zurich, active from 1969 to 1979. Characterised by lead singer Beatrice "Beba" Kürsteiner – Switzerland’s first female rock singer – the group played progressive rock with clear influences from classical music. Lear was founded in 1969 by drummer This Mugglin. Kürsteiner wrote the lyrics and melodic lines, while Mugglin acted as the bandleader.[1]
History
In the early 1970s, Lear achieved initial success: in 1971, music manager Heinz Meier (later of the agency "Free & Virgin") took over the band's management. He was impressed by Kürsteiner’s powerful voice and Mugglin’s double-drumkit setup. The band subsequently played opening slots for well-known rock groups such as Toad, If, Ekseption, and Golden Earring.
As the group grew more professional, it recorded demo tracks, but disagreements with their producer kept these from being released. In 1973, their song "President" appeared on the compilation album Heavenly and Heavy – Swiss Rock Candies, marking Lear’s only contemporary release.
Shortly before the band broke up, Kürsteiner attempted a solo career under the name Jessica: in 1974, she recorded the single "So He Went Far Away" with guitarist Thomas Moeckel for Polydor, but it failed commercially.
Lear disbanded in 1979. The group never released a studio album during its active years. In 1996, 12 studio and live tracks were released posthumously as part of the archival project Swiss Rock History on the LP Swiss Rock History Vol. 1. This brought delayed recognition to Lear as an early part of Swiss rock history. After the split, Kürsteiner ended her rock career and later worked as a radio host.[2]
Members
Discography
Compilation appearances
- 1973: Heavenly and Heavy – Swiss Rock Candies (compilation, Tritonus) – includes the track "President"
- 1996: Swiss Rock History Vol. 1 (Bluemoon Records SHR 001/96) – LP containing 12 previously unreleased tracks by Lear
Legacy
Today, Lear is considered one of the first serious Swiss rock bands with a female lead singer. Their compositions combined classical elements with hard rock. Despite limited recognition during their active years, the band is retrospectively acknowledged as a pioneering project in Swiss music history.
External links
- Lear – Swiss Rock History Vol. 1 at Discogs
References
- ↑ "Wo ist Beba Kürsteiner? Die erste Rocksängerin der Schweiz ist verschollen" (in Deutsch). Retrieved 2025-07-20.
- ↑ "«Beba Kürsteiner war die grosse Ausnahme»" (in Deutsch). Retrieved 2025-07-20.
This article "Lear (Band)" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Lear (Band). Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
