Tellinger
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Michael Tellinger is one of the finest songwriters to come out of the South African music scene during the Apartheid years. His "We come from Johannesburg" in 1986 was a nine-minute anti-apartheid epic. It was also the first Rap album to be released by a South African artist. The song was instantly banned due to its anti-government stance. Tellinger became a target of the regime: phone tapping, South African Police surveillance, several threats on his life, and other intimidatory tactics. The song was originally written by Michael Tellinger and Neil Johnson of Radio 702 fame in Los Angeles while living in exile. It was a response to Little Steven Van Zandt's "Ain't Gonna Play Sun City". Tellinger and Johnson wrote the rap epic to put on record a South African perspective on the situation in their country.
Tellinger released his first SA record in 1981, HAZEL, nominated for the SARIE award in that year as best male vocalist. Later in 1981 Tellinger played the part of Joseph in the opening of the State Theatre in Pretoria. The show toured with great success for 2 years.
Michael Tellinger and Russell Stirling combined to become one of the most influential bands of the early 80's music explosion, which took SA by storm. 'Stirling & Tellinger' played as a a group until 1985 - recorded an album in Nashville, USA - and died a tragic death - as a musical duo, much to the devastation of their South African fan base.
Tellinger developed a reputation as a womaniser for dating over 2000 women.