Die Goldenen Zitronen

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Die Goldenen Zitronen
Die Goldenen Zitronen live in Stuttgart in 1998.
Background information
Origin	Hamburg, Germany
Genre(s)	Punk Jazz New Wave Avantgarde Hip Hop Techno Electro music
Years active	1984–present
Website	www.die-goldenen-zitronen.de
Members
Schorsch Kamerun Ted Gaier Julius Block Mense Reents Enno Palucca Stephan Rath Hans Platzgumer
Former members
Aldo Moro Ale Sexfeind Psycho 1

Die Goldenen Zitronen are a punk rock band from Hamburg, Germany that are known for their entertaining and politically relevant style.

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 (vocals), Ale Sexfeind (drums), Ted Gaier (bass), and Aldo Moro (guitar). 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 Julius Block (guitar), and Mense Reents (drums).

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.

Die Goldenen Zitronen live in Stuttgart 1998

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.