Six Was Nine is a German rock duo formed in Frankenthal, Rhineland-Palatinate. The group consists of Achim Degen (vocals) and Markus Tiedemann (guitar), who had previously played in various bands before founding Six Was Nine. Their first album, A Few Bold Strokes of the Brush, was released in 1992 under Virgin Records. In 1994, the duo achieved significant success with their hit single "Drop Dead Beautiful" from the album Let It Come Your Way. This track, written by Mick Leeson and Peter Vale, reached number 36 on the Swedish charts and was featured in various music compilations. The accompanying video aired on VIVA and MTV. Six Was Nine continued their chart success with "Surprise, Surprise" from the same album, a cover of Bobby Womack and Jim Ford's song. Their subsequent albums included Walk with the Spirits (1996) and Zen & Now (1998), both of which produced notable singles such as "Mission of Love" and "Turning Wheel". Six Was Nine also performed live, notably as the opening act for Tina Turner's Wildest Dreams World Tour 96 in Belgium and the Netherlands. In 1995, they were awarded the Echo in the category "Nationaler Newcomer des Jahres." Despite their success, Six Was Nine disbanded after the release of Zen & Now.