Reunification
Kevin Ashworth takes the first placement of his journalism course at the Berliner Morgenpost newspaper. This provides him three months in Berlin enabling him to see Lustfaust play in their home city. Ashworth contacts van Baelen to see what’s next for the band members and is surprised to be told that Lustfaust is totally over by van Baelen, particularly as Ashworth has seen posters all over Berlin advertising an upcoming Lustfaust show at Der Blaue Auster Bar. Van Baelen is angered by the fact that the remaining members are still performing under the collective name and he and Ashworth make plans to see the advertised gig.
Van Baelen and Ashworth turn up to see Lustfaust play at Der Blaue Auster with Ashworth expecting violence given van Baelen’s anger at the situation. Despite his reservations, van Baelen is actually blown away by how far the band has progressed in his absence. Ashworth also enjoys the gig sensing a much more cohesive unit than he had seen in Hamburg the previous year. Berger and Kruger are shocked by the sight of van Baelen but feel enough time has passed since their previous disagreements to be able to be civil to their erstwhile member. Through clenched teeth, van Baelen congratulates the band on their sound and offers them a drink. The drink descends into an all-night session that sees the previously acrimonious band members burying various hatchets.
Two days later, Kruger invites van Baelen to play with the band although both Berger and Kazuki are reluctant to offer the same advances. Van Baelen asks if rather than play guitar, he can occupy a role akin to a sound engineer and add sound loops and samples as the band plays. The resulting series of jams gives all members a renewed sense of purpose. The band realise that the ingredients they currently possess will give the band their most distinctive and progressive sound. Van Baelen is officially invited by into the fold.