Deutsch Punk fur AllesWelcome to the latest installment of mixed tapes! Today I am going for a geographic theme that revolves around great punk rock from Germany. I am concentrating on bands that recorded their cuts in the late 1970’s through the mid 1980’s. The selection of bands is somewhat random in the respect that they do not necessarily represent the “best” bands or the most “popular” bands. Instead, this compilation attempts to give you a look at some of the different styles that these bands were playing. It is a common belief among other punkologists and pundits that there is a “German” sound that revolves around melodic choruses and get drunk and pogo type lyrics……I say bullshit. Instead I see German punk as a really diverse scene comprised of many smaller scenes that run the gamut of style and substance. You have anarcho next to pogo, next to thrash, next to garagey-stomp-bash…I think there are many flavors to sample here. I am thinking that perhaps I’ll do a part II at some point due to the fact that I had to leave out a lot of heavy hitters in this installment, i.e. OHL, Vorkriegsphase, Slime,The Pack, Tu do Hospital etc. Anyway, my apologies for the protracted wait……and thanks to Raj for pushing me to get this done. Hope you like the songs.
Anti-Toxin-right to live Wow…righteous crossover- thrashin’ -goodness here….This is definitely hardcore, but hardcore of the mid to late eighties variety where these guys were trying to throw some metallic edges into their material. Perhaps not the finest examplar of what this style could be, however it keeps me interested. Fast tempos and bargain basement production makes this sound cool to me.
Big balls and the Great White Idiot- kick her in the dirt Primo first generation punk rock here that will level you. It is profoundly crude and uber mean spirited…I love it. Definitely not sensitive, but hey isn’t that why we love punk? Do we really need a Deutsch Crass? Big Balls and the Great White Idiot was one of the first and best known German punk rock bands. They were founded in Hamburg in 1975 by Wolfgang “Wolle” Lorenz (guitar), “Baron Adolf Kaiser” (vocals), and the Grund brothers Peter (drums), Alfred (bass, vocals) and Atli (guitar).“Baron Adolf” provoked the audience by wearing a Nazi uniform and a black moustache as an expression of anarchy. Performances on stage were highly aggressive; the band was known to shout at the audience to go home. Punk News magazine called the sound “mean and ugly.”The first album (this one) was released in 1977 by Teldec and holds great song titles like “I’m A Punk”, “Kick her in the dirt” and “I’m Singing To You With My Fingers In Your Ass”. Besides that covers of Sex Pistols’ “Anarchy In The U.K.” (”Anarchy in Germany”), “White Light, White Heat” of Velvet Underground and “Search and Destroy” of the Stooges.
Blitzkrieg-rock n roll Though not really an anti-Disco song, Blitzkrieg (from Germany) included "Rock 'n' Roll Is Dead," a short, snarling song on their first 7" from 1981 that puts all this bluntly in perspective. With disco's enormous popularity, many people really felt rock 'n' roll was dead. But then, some critics and fans who were around long enough thought rock 'n' roll had died before the Beatles washed ashore and died again at Altamont. Others argue that rock 'n' roll as a popular music genre did indeed die with disco's popularity, especially when surveying today's musical landscape of mainstream music is dead. Either way this tasty bit of punk is classic and worth your time….
Brigade Fozzy-apocalypse Another obscure German punk band, this was their second ep on their own Punk Anderson label, limited numbered edition of 500 copies, this is the copy no.113 (handmade written),insert included. Cool fuzzy punk with the “typical” German melodic vocals.
Buttocks- bonanza Often touted as Germany's very first "hardcore" punk band, The Buttocks were ahead of their time. Forming in 1978, this is their first of two ep's. Their debut 1979 ep "Bonanza" is great, this ep is one of those rare magical moments when a band is captured at their peak. While still an active band, The Buttocks also appeared on the "In Die Zukunft" compilation LP in 1980 on the Konnekschen label as well as the famous "Kein Experimente vol.1" comp LP in 1983 on Weird System.*Update...I think that one of these dudes went on to drum for the Targets (another great HC band..)
Chaos Z- harte zeiten Another cool band that straddles the line between punk and hardcore…This band’s debut single is recorded in a lo-fi manner, but still exudes power and melody…Look for their Lp on Rock o Rama records from 1983, it is also a killer.
Combat not Conform-cnc American influenced hardcore here….I wouldn’t call this crossover because it does not sound overtly metallic to me, however it does contain some start/stop action that makes me think they were listening to US hardcore a la minor threat alongside the obligatory discharge stuff. Lp comes with awesome full size poster and overall great packaging…get it now because although it is rare/obscure it falls below most collector scum’s radar.
Crapscrapers- rassimus-tour Self released hardcore single from 1983. Crude mid paced fare is present here. Not earth shattering, but cool for what it is.. It seems to me that were going for a sound that was standard for the day sort of speedy UK influenced, but with a more plodding influence.
Hans-a-Plast-Polizeiknuppel/Starfighter Great Hannover punk from 1979 in the vein of X ray Spex or Essential Logic. Female/male vocals, saxophone....marvelous! This is one of my very favorite records ever, I mean listen to how catchy these songs released in 1979 on the LAVA label are. I was talking to a friend about this band last night as we were driving and I found myself drooling over the “classicness” of this and also saying that this is what makes punk rock the best music in the history of the world or something silly like that. If you listen to it, surely you will agree. I have yet to meet anyone who is not instantly hooked in by this band upon first listen….I know I’m hyping it up, but I’m just saying…….
Harnhorer-manchmal Another fine release on the always credible Pogar records. These dudes are an example of a band that was probably just working out their ideas in a garage and had that typical 1980’s moment where they said “umm we’ve been together for a month let’s make a demo on the boombox and then press it to vinyl” Whatever the case may be, what this lacks in production value it makes up for in its’ raw pre-hardcore ferocity.
Honkas-das lied fur fritz This was an early German punk band with Max Müller (Mutter, Campingsex) on the vocals. They only released this 7" in around 1981. Very rare!
Inferno-got ist tod/kkk This is by far my favorite Deutschpunk/Hardcore band of them all…These two tracks were from their amazing Tod und Wahnsinn Lp (Death and Madness) It shows how you can play ultra fast thrash and still use melody to pull off a tsunami like thrash effect! Their best effort by far…the Hibakusha Lp is still pretty rad, but doesn’t have the overdriven manic style of the first Lp. Did I mention that the cover is done by the illustrious Pushead? Another prime example of a band that was as good if not better than their American contemporaries such as MDC, DK’s, Crucifix, et. al. Oh yeah, it was released on Mullemeir records in 1983.
KGB-Deutschland Great thrash with passionate and nasally snot vocals. I love the amateur solos in this song; they work well with the rest of the song. Not super fast, but fast enough to be catchy hardcore. Lyrics are very critical of (West) Germany and its' identity in regard to its history and present situation….I guess that makes this political in that quasi-informed way that punk can be sometimes…
Malinheads-hoax Ok, full tilt thrash here…wild stuff indeed. Love the shouted vocals and throbbing bassline in the intro! It bleeds perfectly into the raw thrash that hits you over the head and is over before you know what happened. One of the best singles on Pogar records from 1983. Find this single! Poseur!! P.S. Taiga, you should buy this from me before I change my mind…..
Marplots-bombenterrorAnother impressive record out of the Berlin area…This Pogar record release features speedy thrash with awesome shouted chorouses. This schallplaten has great production values that add to the “powerful” feel of this tune. These guys were a part of the early to mid eighties scene in Berlin along with Vorkriegsjugend, Vellocet, etc.
Middle class fantasies-party in der GaskammerWhoa….snot punk from the 70’s. These losers put together a stomper that is a full on tongue-in–cheek-sick sense of humor song that will be sure to offend liberal minded people. This song certainly tweaks those with a sensitive streak….Musically top notch punk that can’t be beat.
Morbid Outburst-no language This 12'' on Destroy records is from 1987. Great HardCore Punk band that has a “weird” edge to it both lyrically and musically. Very odd vocals that are warbled and paranoid. Music is frantic and had some different flavors sprinkled in for good measure. Not typical, but so good. Why don’t more people know about this platter? Did I mention that the singer Karl Nagel is totally a freak…very odd dude. I think he can be found on the web at this address: www.karlnagel.de/website/action/sub/fotos/main_text.php?id=20070206_195200_hphotos_10
Mottek-lonlinessCool HC on Starving Missile Rex (they put out the first Sheer Terror Lp. Did you know that?) These krautlanders put together some well played mid tempo HC on their second Lp called Riot from 1986. As I listen to this now, I think the first Lp Hypnose was better, but oh well…this is the one I pulled out. Anyway, these dudes were contemporaries of bands like LARM, BGK, Negazione etc. and were well liked throughout Europe. Not surprisingly folks in the US were not listening…and this band fell under the radar as so many from Germany did…
Nikoteens-8zigerAmazing trash punk core from 1983. These dudes sound like they were influenced by the UK 82 types of bands. I guess what makes it stand out to me is the guitar tone…it is so ridiculously raw, it sounds like a fuckin’ chainsaw…Anyway, they were not the tightest, but so what they were was intense. This track comes from their very rare Lp Aloah-Oehh on Rock-o-Rama records out of Koln.(More about ROR later...)
Niveau Null-nazisThe only thing that I know about this band is that they are from Bremen and I like this song. Rare as fuck single, who knows how many of these are out there? Anyone? Cool minimalist punk.
Normahl-schwarz rot goldThis is another early to mid eighties band that found some popularity in their native land as well other parts of Europe. I know they gigged a lot and wish I could have seen them. They started out as a pretty standard punk outfit and then found themselves playing more complex hardcore influences songs. This is a later release off of the Harte Nacht Lp on Mullemier records (same label as the Maniacs, Inferno, etc.) Cool song that I think has a mature intensity to it….whatever that means. I guess this is them not trying to be too fast…I always thought maybe there was a slight Oi influence to these guys sound.
Porno Patrol-jump backHoly fuck! This is one of my favorite Deutsch singles of all time. Great snarling hardcore with a singalong style that catches you right away. The singer David Pollack was a mover and shaker in the International HC scene during this period and was often responsible for setting up tours for bands in Europe i.e. networking and linking a lot of the different scenes throughout the US and Europe. Remember this was all pre-internerd days when people booked tours based on limited resources and a lot of faith in the goodwill of the other scenesters….hmmm. Looking back I marvel at how amazingly sincere some people were, they were almost evangelical about spreading the counterculture far and wide. Naïve yes, but certainly it was a special moment for sure. Anyway, back to the music: Tight, melodic thrash with great vocals. On the Destiny label. Go find it.
Razors-enemyAnother first generation Deutschpunk band that certainly screams garage-thud-crudity. Simple maybe even formulaic a la a retarded interpretation of British punk. Remember the later 70’s were a horrible time for music, so these dudes probably thought they were shaking shit up with this slab of neanderthalpunk. They went on to some degree of popularity in their homeland and put out an Lp on Rock o Rama records. Anyway, this is their first single and I think it is pretty decent.
Razzia- schatten uberYes! Great melodic hardcore with great arrangements here! This band somehow flys well below the radar in most collector circles. Well, not anymore. This is always a band I love turning people on to…Speedy, but not thrash...tight, but not clean, aggressive, but not thugdumb, lyrics are smart, but not mindless platitudes. This actually reminds me of great Scandinavian bands like Barn Av Regbuen, Svart Framtid or Bannlyst. So good, I can’t wait for you to hear it. Raj, I’ll rip the whole Lp for you if you like it….. Oh yeah, it is off of their hand numbered Tag Ohne Schatten Lp on Weird System records.
Rotzkotz-disco soundAwesome, Awesome , Awesome. Mean, spiteful, and juvenile. Seventies punk was often known to be not too intellectual (thankfully). This is the perfect song to address the issue of Disco.
Sons of Sadism-millionenMore Hc for you. I guess the kids would call this “bandana thrash” nowadays (or is that already a passé phrase?) Cool band that I believe was trying to emulate some of the elements of the second wave straight edge movement coming out of the US. Their music and apparel screams “we want to open for Youth of Today and BOLD. We have x-swatches here too…” Funny how a lot of people around the world aped that specific sound…I mean there were a lot of other US bands to copy, right?
Stosstrupp-neu weltAnother release on the controversial Rock o Rama label. These guys are at the top of the heap as far German punk goes. I love this whole 7 incher, but this particular song totally smokes! I love the way they push the tempo right to the edge, it almost sounds like they ar etyring to play too fast without the skill and acumen, but they end up pulling it off. I mean it is not Siege or Deep Wound fast, but it is definitely HC. The lyrics are top notch too (New World) and caused some controversy back then, but not in the way you might think. If you come across this single look on the back of it….it has some of the lyrics to the song crossed out in black magic marker…..Relax, some snot nosed punker didn’t fuck with, rather it was censored by the owner of their label. Herbert Egoldt the impressario behind this label started out in the seventies as a supporter of local punk rock by putting out bands from Germany such as OHL, Nikoteens, Vorkriegsphase,and Stosstrupp (and later he would put on Norwegian and Finnish bands as well….) but, right around this time of this release he started making contact with the British neo-nazi scene in Britain. More speficially, he released material by Skrewdriver and eventually became the biggest exporter of neo-nazi music around the world. So….he didn’t “approve” of Stosstrupp’s anti-nazi/fascist lyrics and censored his own label’s release because it very vocally called out the fascist ideologies he and his new cronies were spitting out! Anyway, conventional wisdom tells us that any Rock O rama releases after 1984 are to be avoided if you are offended by Nazi and white supremacist ideas. Anything before, is solid and awesome Deutsch punk, Finnpunk or Scandipunk. Got it?
Tollwut-seuchen Title track is good early punk from Bochum with female vocals with cool inserts and a numbered picture sleeve. Not too much else to say here, pretty standard fare.
Vorkriegsjugend-vaterland/rattenBest for last? Maybe.. Here we have the HEUTE SPASS MORGEN TOD 2x7" (Pogar, 1983) So anyway, these two tracks comes from Berlin’s finest HC band. So powerful and raw, there is nothing about this record that is not classic. This single is actually a doppel (double) ep that has some of the most incredible hardcore punk ever committed to vinyl. Honestly, this is as good as anything recorded anywhere at any time. I love the graphics, I love the recording, I love the hoarse vocals and the music…the fucking music. This track is more Oi influenced while some of the other tracks are warp speed thrash. Fuck, you need this immediately. Trade you shitty first pressing of________or ______ and score a copy of this.
So anyway, that's it for now friends.....Perhaps next time we'll wash up on such exotic shores as Italy, Norway or New Jersey....we'll see.Here is the link to download
http://www.sendspace.com/file/b7dzrd
