It was back in 1979 when German fun punk band appeared close to the place where I used to life. ZK (absolutely sickening) where from Düsseldorf and formed around the punk scene from their home town. And they were an original punk band and often not knowing how to handle their instrument and later become Tote Hosen, probably the most well known post punk band in Germany. I really liked them in their early days and don't agree what they became decades later: just another mainstream band playing hooky songs in the tradition of punk adding rockabilly and schlager to their sound. I was there when they played their gig in spring 1979 in a very small venue. The place was called mouse trap in was in the first floor in an old house in central Stuttgart. You have to move a step to get there and the venue was on the left side. The main problem that there was a whorehouse on the right side and the customers had to push themselves past the concert visitors. I remember that the concert was very nice and amusing I we had great fun with the band. We were standing at the bar and a young person showed up to us and asked us if we are able to buy him a beer because he was to young to buy it in person. Of course we spent him a drink, not knowing that it was Campino, the main figure of the Toten Hosen, who became the leading figure of German punk rocker years later.
Today I like to feature a band that exists since 30 years. I don't know many German bands that exists this long time and being true to their ideas. One is Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle Dirk from Sexy Loser mentioned them weeks ago - the other one are Die Goldenen Zitronen (The Golden Lemons). They started as a punk rock band in Hamburg that are know for their entertaining and politically relevant style. When they formed in 1984 they were just another part of the Fun-Punk movement combined hard rock'n'roll with the 70th annual punk rock and humorous, partly bad, hit-like lyrics. Over the years the band added more experimental musical forms, with which different styles were combined. Their lyrics are political and take a critical view of society from a loft to left-radical perspective.
In 1994 they presented themselves with the album Das bißchen Totschlag (This to a little manslaughter) in a new musical style, to her usual power rock came elements from Garage-Trash, Electro beats, hip-hop and Noise rock pop. In the title song the band refers to the arson attacks in Mölln and Hoyerswerda, the politically motivated murders of blacks in Germany and the following increase of the asylum law as well as the murder of the squatter and anti-fascist Silvio Meier.In the course of the years they changed once more her music style and the instrumentation became more electronic. A certain slope to the avant-garde continued in theirs next works which was completed with Lenin one. There has come out once more, in the end, a collage of modern punk music off pop-cultural commonness. I love this band for being straight and going their very own way and not getting corrupted by the music industry like other nowadays still called punk bands like Die Ärzte or Die Toten Hosen. Die Goldenen Zitronen - Für immer Punk Die Goldenen Zitronen - Das bißchen Totschlag Die Goldenen Zitronen - Lenin Die Goldenen Zitronen - Der Bürgermeister
During the last weeks I have presented bands which are forgotten or and obscure or which never succeeded the way they should have earned. Today I will introduce maybe the most popular German punk band today - Die Toten Hosen (or The Dead Pants/DTH). Most of the members hung around with the punk scene at the famous Ratinger Hof in Dusseldorf - a well known place for punks in the late 1970s. They founded the band in 1982 as succession group of a local band called ZK what means nothing less than sickening. These young kids who just could serve their instruments played a weired mixture of punk, rockabilly and German schlager. I remember one of their concerts in the late 1970s in Stuttgart when they played in a little club called mousetrap. It was in the first floor on the left side. We stood in a row to get into the club and a lot of men have passed embarrassed us, because on the right side was a brothel. The concert was so amazing although there were just 100 visitors there. But this kids did a very good job. At this time it was possible to have a drink with the band and talking about music, football and everything else. ZK released only one regular record and vanished after a live recording.
Campino, von Holst and A. Meurer founded later DTH. They released several singles on various labels and I got me the single Bommerlunder (ice-coled Bommerlunder - a German schnapps). It was delivered with a small bottle of real Bommerlunder and for that I signed the first and last time ever in a fan club. Still got the member number DTH0074. They released their first full record called Opelgang in 1983 which was much based on the punk background. All the members of the band are self-thought musicians and for that they developed her own unmistakeable sound over the last 30 years. What was also important for me that the band, especially Campino, had a political activities. They support different social and political organizations without being a member of any political party. I remember very well when they played in Frankfurt on a benefit concert against ultra right wing racism when they played their song Sascha about a stupid nazi who doesn't realize that foreigners are still a part of our life. What also impressed me much that they were so close to their hometown Dusseldorf and their local football team. They donated about 100.000 Euro to sign a striker and they sponsored Fortuna Düsseldorf over several years when they had financial difficulties.
After all - it is a band I grew up for long long years, have seen them more than ten times over all the years and I will miss when they will be gone one day.
Sascha - An upright German
Sasha him is jobless
what he makes without work bare
he cuts off to himself the hair
and pees on a Jew's grave
Zigenuerschnitzel this well tastes
on Sintis he has a fury
he eats so with pleasure Cevapcici
He never liked Croatians
Sasha him is a German
and be German this is difficult
and as in German as Sasha
if Abdul becomes never more
He knows even the alphabet
knows where the leader's bunker stands
No this man this is no idiot
Sasha is a German Rep
He is politically informed
and if every stranger knows this interferes
and his loyal sheepdog
now does not bark without reason
Since Sasha him is a German
and be German this is difficult
and as in German as Sasha
if one is not alongside
Now he leaves the sow only out
and goes to the asylum-seeker's house
there he smashes a disc
since every black is a pig
then he lights the booth
every acts just what he is able to do
with the subject "German thoroughness"
there he completely knows
Yes Sasha him is a German
and be German this is difficult
who is as in German as Sasha
otherwise, he is nothing more
A good 50 years ago
if it has already tried one
the thing missed
Sasha has not got it...
Ten Little Jägermeister: A counting out rhyme of people you lose on your way
Normally I am not the type who publishes or comments lists. Of course I read very much with pleasure which music and albums were important for others last year. The first reason why I, nevertheless, publish a list is to be given my brother an overview what kind of music impressed me much and was essential for me last year. The second reason is why not doing things you haven't done before.
I enjoyed Swiss Adam's idea to number 13 records for this year. So thank you mate to use your idea for this post.
13. Boards of Canada - Tomorrows Harvest: Timeless electronic music inspired by soundtracks; good to have them back after 8 years.
12. Midlake - Antiphon: Folksongs meet Psychedelic . Simple melodies compared with a little darkness and melancholic attitudes and leading keybords. Listen to It's going down.
11. David Bowie - The next day: Suddenly he's back with a very good record with one of his best songs in the last ten years on it: Where are we now
10. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Push the sky away: Reduced to something new for the band. Now trusting more in simple melodies and forms than before.
09. The Pastels - Slow Summits: Another record from the kings of quiet guitar pop added with a little electronic sounds and a bit soul.
08. My Bloody Valentine - mbv: Why did we have to wait 23 years for this album. It's just the sound, the sound and the sound that makes you addicted to.
07. Die Toten Hosen - Tage wie dieser: Released a year before but this song accompanied me all year round.
06. Daniel Avery - Drone Logic: Sensational debut record with massive feedback. Sometimes I think he finished what Andrew Weatherall started with The Sabres of Paradise.
05. London Grammar - If you want: Electronic minimalism with a great sopran by Hanna Reid and cautiously guitar and piano. Beautiful.
04. Jon Hopkins - Immunity: Fantastic mixture of techno, ambient and a little krautrock. The whole record seems like a sound collage after leafing the club.
03. Steve Mason - Monkey Minds in Devil's Time: Another great record from the former member of the Beta Band. A very own mixture of country, folk, dub and rap with lyrics that puts the finger in our nowadays wounds.
02. Dexys - One Day I'm Going To Soar: Released in 2012 it was one of the best records in this year. But I played it so often last year. It grew more and more by listening to it. If it was a very good record the first time I heard it I have to admit that it is a masterpiece. Fantastic songs with so many lyrics that I can agree with.
01. The Asphodells - Ruled By Passion Destroyed By Lust: Andrew Weaterall made a perfect record. Hypnotic songs that snake one into another. Played it so often last year and enjoyed it at each time.
I posted this song a few weeks ago, but I agree to this song so much right now. It tells a story that most of us know very well, even it was a couple of days ago. Excuse me - it's late at night and I am a little moody right now. But if you can join to this song and it's meaning - I thank you:
I were since weeks, for this day
and dance with joy, about the asphalt
As if it was rhythm , as if there were a song
Me moves on and on, through the streets
Meet you to fetch you, as agreed
At the same time, in the same meeting place, how last sometimes
By the scrum, the crowd of people
If we make a way the well-known way
Along the lanes, to the Rhine terraces
About the bridges, up to the music
Where everything is according to where everybody is on it, around to spin
Where the other wait to start with us, and come away
On days like this, one wishes infinity
On days like these, we still have forever time
Wish I me infinity
Here this is everlasting, forever for today
We stand not quietly, for a whole night
Come I carry, by the people
Is not afraid, I give Eight on you
We can be done, disappear, swim with the stream
Dreh'n our circles, do not come down any more, are weightless
On days like this, one wishes infinity
On days like these, we still have forever time
At this night of the nights which promises us so much
