Scherben

New Edition to Mark the Band's Anniversary

In 1970, "Macht kaputt, was euch kaputt macht" (Destroy What Destroys You), the first single by Ton Steine Scherben, was released, and its refrain quickly became a rallying cry for the extra-parliamentary left, which was deeply influenced by the American musical underground. For the first time, rock music with German lyrics no longer sounded alien or embarrassing, but authentic in the best sense of the word.

Wolfgang Seidel, a founding member of the Scherben who is still active as a musician today, wants to offer a slight correction to the idealized image of the band on the occasion of the anniversary celebrations, which have even made it possible to establish a Rio Reiser Square in Berlin-Kreuzberg. He has brought together eyewitnesses, political activists from the 1970s and friends of the band, whose memories bring the past vividly back to life.

Now available again with a new foreword by the editor, this book is far more than just a band history. It offers an overview of the mentality of the West German left in the 1970s and 1980s, extending all the way to the present day.

Table of Contents

Editorial

Wolfgang Seidel: Another Anniversary ...

Thorwald Proll: Yesterdays Scherben

Ted Gaier: The Thing About the Past. Or: How Can You Actually Talk About Freedom?

Wolfgang Seidel: Berlin and the Left in the 1960s. The Formation of Ton Steine Scherben.

Andre Greiner-Pol (Freygang): How the Scherben Made Their Way East

Detlef Krenz: The Zodiak at Hallesches Ufer

Wolfgang Seidel: Scherben ...

Achim Müller: Iron Educates

Wolfgang Seidel and Martina Groß in Conversation with Werner Schretzmeier: The Struggle for Their Own Youth Centre

Lutz Neitzert: Watermen and Moon Calves

Tine Plesch in Conversation with Britta Neander: Carambolage

Wolfgang Seidel in Conversation with Françoise Cactus: "They Always Did These Psychedelic Experiments."

Volker Hauptvogel & Dietmar Kirves: The Refusers

Egon Bunne / Oliver Held: The Smell of Fresh Hay

Jimmy Boyle: A Critique of Consumer Criticism

Hartwig Vens: "Our Songs Are Simple So That Many People Can Sing Along." On the Language of the Scherben.

Ralf Fischer: Left and Right Must Not Be Confused. Clarifying a Widespread Misconception.

Robert Kneschke: Slave Traders in Call Centres. Why the Scherben Continue to Inspire Young People and Why Websites Are Still Being Created.

Antonio Xavier Merchan Casado: The Sound of the Hour. Naunyn Ritze Revisited.

Thies Marsen: Fresenhagen Revisited