FRANZ MIKO
Guitar / Vocals
Over 60 years of stage experience
Franz has been performing on stage since 1965 – over 60 years of stage experience spanning virtually every decade of rock, pop and soul history. It all began in Pforzheim with “The Jugglers” (Beatles, The Who, The Rolling Stones, an appearance on the TV talent show ‘Talentschuppen Baden-Baden’), followed in 1971 by “The Music Souls” (Led Zeppelin, Uriah Heep, King Crimson, Santana, original songs).
Studio and larger stages
In 1976, the focus shifted initially to the studio, before ‘Chamäleon’, an instrumental jazz-rock band with a horn section, was formed in 1979. In 1985, “The Gang” was reformed: sophisticated cover versions, gigs including in France and Denmark, four studio CDs, and guest appearances at venues such as the Pforzheim/Osterfeld Cultural Centre and the Mühlacker State Garden Show. In 2001, on the initiative of SWR1 and the Pforzheimer Zeitung, “The Music Souls” reunited with the SWR1 All-Star Band and Dave Dee under the banner “Legend of Pop”.
Restart and setting up Hard+Soul
From 2002, Franz began looking for bandmates once again; in 2005, “Watts-Up” was formed, featuring sophisticated cover versions of songs by Genesis, Peter Gabriel and Santana, with performances on Lake Constance and in Switzerland. In 2020, the search for a new band began, with Sandy as the singer, followed by the first sessions in Bretten in 2024. In 2025, Franz met Natascha and Gert there – marking the beginning of “Hard & Soul”.