HP Zinker

H.P.ZINKER

Prog-Grunge legend H.P.Zinker was formed in 1989 in New York by two Austrians. Hans Platzgumer, still a teenager, and Frank Puempel had migrated to the U.S. with nothing but their guitars, a whole load of distortion pedals, a cheap drum machine and their vision of producing walls of sounds with a punk attitude. Quickly they established themselves as a part of the NYC Noise scene and shared the stage with bands as Sonic Youth, Ween, Helmet, Lemonheads and the Jon Spencer Blue Explosion. J Mascis drummed with them, Evan Dando sang with them and every month they played the stage of CBGB’s. Two now-legendary US Indie labels were founded just for them. Both Matador and Thrill Jockey’s 001 catalogue numbers are HP Zinker records. In 1990 they signed with the London-based label Fire Records, which went on to become Domino Records. They released five studio albums, countless singles & bootlegs and received a Grammy nomination.

In 1994, after turbulent years of endless touring, personnel changes, and the usual to-be-expected excess the power-trio broke up in the middle of a European tour. A disastrous gig in Rotterdam, where all their gear was stolen, marked the end of Zinker’s erratic phase one.
For three decades Hans Platzgumer resisted the calls to bring the band back. Instead he joined the likes of the Goldenen Zitronen, formed a new band, Convertible, had a couple of Hits with Queen of Japan, was successful as an electroDJ, producer, composer, and is author of numerous literary works. Nevertheless, and to many people’s surprise, “It seems,” he says, “the time is right for something like Zinker again.” After a 32-year break the band returns to rock clubs and festival stages in fall 2026.