“What could possibly forecast the future of rock music in the new millenium, which has already begun eight years ago? Hoping not to be left disoriented, we count on albums like Back To The Start, that seem to be addressing the whole world. A reason for unbridled celebration!”
-WOM Magazine Germany. February 2008

The Durgas’ music reflects their intercontinental approach; from rock-pop to blues, their music layers authentic reggae, African and eastern European folk elements on an unapologetic Americana foundation with a potency that cuts through preconceptions of what rock is all about.

The brothers Benjii (voice, guitar) and Christopher Simmersbach (lead guitar) draw much of their musical Influence from their childhood; born in Bavaria, Germany they grew up in countries like Thailand, Tanzania, Mali, Senegal, Italy and The States; as seen in the award winning German documentary The Big Pink ZDF/ARTE.

They achieved wide notoriety playing as A Subtle Plague (1984-1998, on Rough Trade); the influential German magazine ‘Spex’ has called them “one of the best live bands the U.S. underground has to offer”. They toured extensively throughout Europe and the States for ten years, sharing stages with bands such as Therapy?, Iggy Pop, Noir Desir, Sonic Youth and Soul Asylum, to name a few; Rolling Stone magazine Germany even called them “The Greateful Dead of the 90s”. In a transitional period of changing line-ups from 1998 on they called themselves A Drastic Measure, until a new bandname was found that should ref The Durgas (2004).

The Durgas are Benjii and Christopher Simmersbach, Rainer Baumgartner (drums), Alex Czerny (hammond, piano) and Raphael Tschernuth (Bass). When they are not on tour their home is Los Angleles, Budapest, Berlin, and Istanbul, with their collective base in Berlin where they meet to record and to cultivate their many projects.

"On stage, delivering high-energy roots rock/blues/pop with blends of reggae, African high life and folk songs out of Eastern Europe, the Durgas are a dynamic and passionate force bound to bring the best out of any audience." Big Island Weekly, Hawaii. February 2008.

The Durgas play concerts all over the world, always bringing with them a characteristic style and live energy that seems to connect every audience, no matter what nationality or generation. The Durgas strongly believe in the healing powers of music, especially when played live. Under the project title Make It Happen, each year they play not-for-profit concerts in selected communities. They have witnessed first hand the effects that performing arts can have in promoting the fundamental, universal values of love, optimism, and understanding without judgment. In 2003 they played in Mitrovica, Kosovo, as part of the ongoing United Nations Peace Initiative. In 2004 they took part in the XV International AIDS/HIV Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, and played in HIV hospitals. Children all over the world have always been a personal priority to the band; they are supporting the German foundation “WeltKinderLachen” (World Children Laughing). In 2007 they did a Make it Happen tour through Asia, playing to children of migrant workers in Mumbai/India, in Sri-Lanka to families displaced by the Tsunami, in Thailand at ‘Insight Out, a project that promotes understanding between children of different ethnicity, for Burmese Refugees along the border, and for AAPPB (Assistance Association for Political Prisoners in Burma) –at which The Durgas were asked to write the official theme song for their campaign Free Political Prisoners Now, to be first played at the commemoration of the 8-8-88 uprising 20 years ago this August 8th 2008.

The Durgas’ music is featured on various soundtracks including Soul Of A Century (International Film and Video Award 2003, Premio EuroDoc 2002 for best European documentary). They will add their music to the documentary Energy Autonomy that is being currently produced.

In January 2008 the Berlin label Cannery Row Records released the Durgas debut album Back To The Start, mixed by Boris Wilsdorf (producer of the legendary German band Einstürzende Neubauten), mastered by Noa Winter Lazerus (The Rolling Stones, Tom Waits, Joe Cocker, Pink Floyd, Donald Fagen), with various guest musicians like Chuck Prophet, with live recordings from Hawaii and a video clip to their song ‘The Whiskey Tree’. Digitally the album is available on all major download platforms, like iTunes & Co.

In January 2008 The Durgas were introduced to Stephen Robertson, Executive producer of Project – Peace on Earth, and asked to contribute to the worldwide telecast concert by the producers of Live Aid that will take place on Sep 19th 2009 in significant locations around the world such as the Egyptian Pyramids, Mount Shasta, the Inca Pyramids, Stonehenge, Mont Fuji, and Ayers Rock to name a few.

In July 2007 The Durgas recorded their next album called Burma, produced by Noa Winter Lazerus, which is currently being mastered in Los Angeles, with an estimated release in summer 2008.