Established during 1973, Berlin based melodic Rockers PRINZIP operated in the German Democratic Republic. The group's opening formation counted vocalist / guitarist Jürgen Matkowitz, an ex-member of RENFT and UVE SCHIKORA, former SET and BÜRKHOLZ-FORMATION bassist Frank Czerny with another erstwhile SCHIKORA member, Reinhard Miehatsch, on drums. This unit released a 1975 7" single 'Beschwerde'. Keyboard player Rainer Kirchmann and ex-VULCAN drummer Klaus Scharfschwerdt were enlisted in 1976. PRINZIP's debut album, 'Feuer-Rock', emerged on the Amiga label in 1978. Another SET member, Bernd Hauke, featured as drummer on the 1980 follow up 'Der Steher', after which Ralf Bursy, of REGENBOGEN and KEKS, was incorporated on second guitar. Third album 'Wir Reiten Mit Dem Sturm' arrived in 1983. By now former ELEFANT man Bodo Huth was handling bass guitar. Subsequently, Rainer Kirchmann joined PANKOW.

The album 'Phönix' was issued on the Amiga label again in 1988, featuring Jürgen Matkowitz alongside a new cast of singer Wolfgang Franke, bassist Uwe Geißler and drummer Michael Hoffmann, but the band folded in 1990.