The Foreign Correspondent Returns - Stories About German Rock Music # 44

Spliff (I know what synonym it is for) came from Berlin. What is in it so particularly? Berlin about which it is here does not deal with today's any more overmuch. Berlin an end of 1970s was, not least because of the island situation within the Western Germany, a special case. Crowds of the young men who wanted to escape the service in the armed forces moved there and by the geographical bulkheading quite an own cultural scene which worked magically engagingly on all kinds of outsiders also originated. Pop dimensions like David Bowie, Iggy Pop or Depeche Mode made this Berlin for for some time her native country. The band is very successful during those days in Berlin. Stylistically in the political rock the seventy-year-old roots, however, one cannot hold a candle overpowering Ton Steine Scherben (another German left wing band from the 70s). When Nina Hagen from the GDR is expelled, she joins the four one and completes the Line Up of Nina Hagen Band as the troop is called. After only two albums the combo separates. From the remains arise in 1980 on the one hand the solo artist Hagen and Spliff. They had their most successful years throughout the New German Wave but their were much better than this foolish stuff.

And as Nina Hagen Band:

And the German version of White Punks on Dope by The Tubes:

The Foreign Correspondent - Stories about German Rock Music # 7

Herwig Mitteregger is an Austrian musician, played in former times in the back-up band from Nina Hagen - Spliff (a synonym for a joint). They were very successful in the days of New German Wave with chartbreakers like 'Carbonara' and  'Heut Nacht'. After the split of 'Spliff' he turned into a solo career, in which he played the most of the instruments by himself. On this record he tried to explore some new ways to produce the songs he liked to do in his way. Most of them sound a little bit of morbid for listeners who are not able to understand his words. But for me he made a record that still stands the test of time. 'Kein Mut, kein Mädchen' what means 'No courage, no girl' is a record that had an tries to plump the borders of rock music and electronic. It is a perfect mixture of how new sounds could sound. Nearly 20 years ago it was a masterpiece from him and it still sounds fresh and new over a long years ago.

Herwig Mitteregger - So oder So
Herwig Mitteregger - Kald wie'n Stein
Herwig Mitteregger - Rudi