Malaria! was a Berlin‑based German rock group formed in 1981 from the remnants of Mania D, with founding members Gudrun Gut and Bettina Köster. The duo, both vocalists and songwriters, recruited Manon Pepita Duursma, Christine Hahn and Susanne Kuhnke, creating a lineup that blended dark wave, avant‑garde and danceable rhythms. Their debut single, "Malaria!", appeared on a 12" in 1981, followed by "How Do You Like My New Dog?" and the 1982 single "New York Passage". The breakthrough came with the 12" Weisses Wasser: White Water in 1982, where the track "Kaltes klares Wasser"-written by Bettina Köster-became an underground hit after its release on Les Disques du Crépuscule. The band’s early discography included the albums Emotion (1982) and New‑York Berlin (1982), and the EP Beat the Distance (1985). After a brief hiatus in the mid‑1980s, Malaria! returned with Compiled (1991) and Elation (1992) as a trio. They toured with Siouxsie and the Banshees, New Order and The Birthday Party, performing at venues such as 54, Mudd Club, Batcave and SO36. In 2001 the single "Kaltes klares Wasser" earned a Dance Music Award for “Best National Vinyl Sales Hit.” The group disbanded in the early 2000s, leaving a legacy that influenced later German girl‑bands and artists such as Chicks on Speed and Barbara Morgenstern. Drummer Christine Hahn died on 28 May 2025 aged 73; Saxophonist and singer Bettina Köster died on 16 March 2026 aged 66.
