Die Goldenen Zitronen
Encyclopedia
Die Goldenen Zitronen are a punk rock
band from Hamburg
, Germany
that are known for their entertaining and politically relevant style. Their original name was Die Deutschen Nazikartoffeln (The German Nazi-potatoes). When the band formed in 1984 at the beginning of the “Fun-Punk”-movement, punk
was their main style. They are considered a forerunner to the "Hamburger Schule
." 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 left to left-radical perspective.
The founding members were Schorsch Kamerun
(vocals), Ale Sexfeind (drums), Ted Gaier (bass, guitar), and Aldo Moro (guitar, bass). Initially they combined hard rock with 1970s-era punk and lyrics that were both angry, yet comedic and pop-like. The band rejected the traditional music industry, seeing themselves as a symbol of artistic independence not wanting to "serve the structures of rock" (Ted Gaier.) Of the founding members, only Schorsch Kamerun and Ted Gaier remain. The new members are Thomas Wenzel (Die Sterne
) under the pseudonym Julius Block, keyboarder and drummer Mense Reents (Egoexpress, Stella), and Enno Paluca.
In 1986 Die Goldenen Zitronen courted initial attention with their single "Am Tag als Thomas Anders
starb" ("on the day Thomas Anders died"). Their subsequent release, "Für Immer Punk," was a cult hit in the German punk scene, inspiring comparisons with bands such as Abwärts
, Die Toten Hosen
and Die Ärzte
.
The band developed their style further with 1990s "Fuck You," in which they mock popular rock groups and protest against the tedium of daily life.
1994's "Das Bisschen Totschlag" saw a major musical transition, in which Zitronen mixed their usual power-rock style with elements of garage-trash, electro-beat, hip-hop and noise-pop. This trend of experimentation continued with 1996's "Economy Class," which was influenced by improvisational jazz.
With 1998's "Dead School Hamburg" (a jab at the Hamburger Schule
trend of music), the band further altered their style, pursuing a greater emphasis on electronic instrumentation. Their most recent album, 2001's "Schafott zum Fahrstuhl", takes a more avant-garde direction.
Die Goldenen Zitronen have had a diverse number of collaborators, ranging from the poet Franz Josef Degenhardt
to new acts such as Chicks on Speed
or Peaches.
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band from Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
that are known for their entertaining and politically relevant style. Their original name was Die Deutschen Nazikartoffeln (The German Nazi-potatoes). When the band formed in 1984 at the beginning of the “Fun-Punk”-movement, punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
was their main style. They are considered a forerunner to the "Hamburger Schule
Hamburger Schule
The Hamburger Schule is a musical current in Germany during the 1980s and early 1990s. With some active bands and artists it is still present. It is encompassing elements from punk, grunge and experimental pop, and featuring intelligent 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 left to left-radical perspective.
History
Founded in the 1980s, they have in recent years branched out from punk and created a more experimental style that combines several different forms of music. The band is also especially known for its chaotic live performances.The founding members were Schorsch Kamerun
Schorsch Kamerun
Schorsch Kamerun, whose real name is Thomas Sehl, is a German musician, singer, author, theatre director, and club proprietor....
(vocals), Ale Sexfeind (drums), Ted Gaier (bass, guitar), and Aldo Moro (guitar, bass). Initially they combined hard rock with 1970s-era punk and lyrics that were both angry, yet comedic and pop-like. The band rejected the traditional music industry, seeing themselves as a symbol of artistic independence not wanting to "serve the structures of rock" (Ted Gaier.) Of the founding members, only Schorsch Kamerun and Ted Gaier remain. The new members are Thomas Wenzel (Die Sterne
Die Sterne
Die Sterne is a two/three/four-piece indie pop band, from Hamburg, Germany. They were formed in 1992 and have released eight studio albums, the most recent in 2010.-Members:...
) under the pseudonym Julius Block, keyboarder and drummer Mense Reents (Egoexpress, Stella), and Enno Paluca.
In 1986 Die Goldenen Zitronen courted initial attention with their single "Am Tag als Thomas Anders
Thomas Anders
Thomas Anders is a German singer, composer and record producer. Anders was the lead singer of Germany's popular pop-duo Modern Talking in 1984–1987 and in 1998–2003.-Early years:...
starb" ("on the day Thomas Anders died"). Their subsequent release, "Für Immer Punk," was a cult hit in the German punk scene, inspiring comparisons with bands such as Abwärts
Abwärts
Abwärts is a West German post-punk group from Hamburg. Members Mark Chung and FM Einheit would leave the group in the early 1980s to join the Berlin-based band Einstürzende Neubauten....
, Die Toten Hosen
Die Toten Hosen
Die Toten Hosen is a German punk band from Düsseldorf. They have enjoyed decades-long mass appeal in Germany.The band's name literally means "The Dead Pants" in English, although the phrase "tote Hose" is a German expression meaning "nothing going on" or "boring"...
and Die Ärzte
Die Ärzte
Die Ärzte is a punk band from Berlin. Die Ärzte are one of the best-known German punk rock bands and have released over 20 albums. The band consists of guitarist Farin Urlaub, drummer Bela B. and bass player Rodrigo González...
.
1994's "Das Bisschen Totschlag" saw a major musical transition, in which Zitronen mixed their usual power-rock style with elements of garage-trash, electro-beat, hip-hop and noise-pop. This trend of experimentation continued with 1996's "Economy Class," which was influenced by improvisational jazz.
With 1998's "Dead School Hamburg" (a jab at the Hamburger Schule
Hamburger Schule
The Hamburger Schule is a musical current in Germany during the 1980s and early 1990s. With some active bands and artists it is still present. It is encompassing elements from punk, grunge and experimental pop, and featuring intelligent lyrics...
trend of music), the band further altered their style, pursuing a greater emphasis on electronic instrumentation. Their most recent album, 2001's "Schafott zum Fahrstuhl", takes a more avant-garde direction.
Die Goldenen Zitronen have had a diverse number of collaborators, ranging from the poet Franz Josef Degenhardt
Franz Josef Degenhardt
Franz-Josef Degenhardt was a German poet, satirist, novelist, and – first and foremost – a folksinger/songwriter with decidedly left-wing politics. He was also a lawyer, bearing the academic degree of Doctor of Law.Degenhardt was born in Schwelm, Westphalia...
to new acts such as Chicks on Speed
Chicks on Speed
Chicks on Speed is a multi-national musical ensemble, formed in Munich in 1997, when members Melissa Logan, Kiki Moorse and Alex Murray-Leslie met at the Academy of Fine Arts....
or Peaches.
Discography
- 1987 - Porsche, Genscher, Hallo HSV
- 1988 - Kampfstern Mallorca dockt an
- 1990 - Fuck You
- 1991 - Punkrock
- 1994 - Das bisschen Totschlag
- 1996 - Economy Class
- 1998 - Dead School Hamburg (Give me a Vollzeitarbeit)
- 2001 - Schafott zum Fahrstuhl
- 2001 - Videocompilation (Video VHS PAL)
- 2002 - Aussage Gegen Aussage (Best of)
- 2006 - Lenin
- 2009 - Die Entstehung der Nacht
Compilations
- 2006 - "silver monk time - a tribute to the monks" (29 bands cover the Monks)
Films
- The German filmmaker Jörg Siepmann produced the film Golden Lemons, a documentary about 2002 USA-Tour of the band, which they made together with Wesley WillisWesley WillisWesley Willis was a musician and artist from Chicago. A diagnosed chronic schizophrenic, he gained an enormous cult following in the 1990s after releasing several hundred songs of simple but unique music, with emphasis on his humorous, bizarre, and frequently obscene lyrics...
and other bands. The film had its premiere at the Berlin International Film FestivalBerlin International Film FestivalThe Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
in February 2003. Die Goldenen Zitronen dissociate themselves from the film. - In 2007 Übriggebliebene ausgereifte Haltungen, another "rockumentaryRockumentaryThe term rockumentary is a neologism denoting a documentary about rock music or its musicians. The term was used by Bill Drake in the 1969 History of Rock & Roll radio broadcast, and by Rob Reiner in the 1984 mockumentary film This Is Spinal Tap....
" about Die Goldenen Zitronen, by German filmmaker Peter Ott had its premiere in Hamburg and was released in German cinemas and on DVDDVDA DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
in 2008.
Other bandmember projects
- Ted Gaier: "Three Normal Beatles" and "Les Robespieres" (with Klaus Ramcke), Schwabinggrad Ballett (with Bernadette La Hengst, Knarf Rellöm)
External links
- Official Site (German)
- Interview (German)
- Review of 'Entstehung der nacht' (English)