A riddle wrapped in an enigma dressed up in leather and studs, Germany's Mekong Delta perplexed the heavy metal world both by playing an unconventional brand of progressive thrash and by keeping the identities of the bandmembers secret for the first five years of a career starting in 1987. The reality was far more mundane than the rumors, as it turned out, since it was later revealed that the group had originally been masterminded by Aaarrg Records owner Ralph Hubert, who wished to pair up members of existing bands like Rage and Living Death without incurring the wrath of the labels they were signed to. Hubert didn't even intend to participate in the whole charade at first, but took on the role of bass player and the pseudonym of Björn Eklund when Rage's Peavy Wagner bowed out early on, then completed the initial Mekong Delta lineup with vocalist Kell (real name Wolfgang Borgmann), guitarists Rolf Stein and Vincent St. John (actually Living Death members Frank Fricke and Reiner Kelch), and drummer Gordon Perkins (in reality future journeyman Jörg Michael, then also a member of Rage).