Karussell is a German rock band from Leipzig. Alongside bands such as Karat, City, Puhdys, Silly, and Electra, it is considered one of the most prominent and popular groups from the former German Democratic Republic (GDR). The band is best known for the songs "Wer die Rose ehrt", "Ehrlich will ich bleiben", "Autostop", and "Als ich fortging", the latter of which remains frequently played on some radio stations and is considered one of the most popular hits from the GDR era. The band was formed in April 1976 through a reorganization of the Leipzig amateur group Fusion, incorporating former members of the recently banned Leipzig band Renft. The formation was largely initiated by keyboardist Wolf-Rüdiger Raschke, who also served as an informant for the Stasi, the state security service of the GDR. The original lineup included Peter Cäsar Gläser (vocals and guitar), Jochen Hohl (drums), Reinhard Oschek Huth (guitar), Lutz Kirsten (vocals and guitar), Claus Winter (bass), and Bernd Schumacher (saxophone and flute). Musically, Karussell continued the legacy of Renft. Early recordings included the songs "Whisky", "Lebe", and "Welt im Sand", produced in radio studios, as well as a reinterpretation of the Renft classic "Wer die Rose ehrt" for their second album. Lyricist Kurt Demmler contributed much of the material performed by the band. With support from the Central Council of the Free German Youth (FDJ) and the Concert and Guest Performance Directorate in Berlin, Karussell becam