Double (band)

Lore & Background

The duo formed in 1983 in Zürich, Switzerland, by Felix Haug (drums and keyboards) and Kurt Maloo (guitar and vocals), who had both been members of the trio Ping Pong. Ping Pong formed in 1981 and had early success with the single "Rhythm Walk." Prior to their debut album, Double issued singles including "Naningo" and "Woman of the World," with early work leaning toward pop/rock.

The high point of their career came after the late 1985 release of their first full-length album, Blue, which contained two earlier singles and the international smash hit "The Captain of Her Heart." The single reached No. 8 in the UK Singles Chart and No. 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Their follow-up album, Dou3le (1987), included the acclaimed single "Devils Ball" but failed to match the success of Blue. The pair split by early 1989 due to musical differences, though they remained friends.

Reader's Guide

Double's significance lies primarily in their 1986 single "The Captain of Her Heart," which became an international hit and remains their most recognized work. The song's atmospheric, plaintive style distinguished it from much of the pop music of the era and helped the duo achieve chart success in both Europe and the United States. Their debut album Blue, released in late 1985, captured this sound and marked the peak of their commercial career. Despite the critical acclaim of their follow-up album Dou3le and its single "Devils Ball," the duo could not replicate their earlier success, leading to their split in 1989. After the breakup, Felix Haug composed for film and advertising, while Kurt Maloo released five solo albums. A late-1990s reunion in Can Studio in Cologne produced nine tracks, but the project was postponed and later revisited in 2003 for the band's 20th anniversary. Haug's death in 2004 ended the collaboration, though Maloo incorporated the remixed results into his 2006 album Loopy Avenue. Double's legacy is defined by a single, enduring hit that continues to be associated with the mid-1980s pop landscape.

Did You Know?

• Double was formed in 1983 in Zürich, Switzerland, by Felix Haug and Kurt Maloo, both former members of the trio Ping Pong.
• Their hit single 'The Captain of Her Heart' reached No. 8 in the UK Singles Chart and No. 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
• Felix Haug died following a heart attack on 1 May 2004.