Die Ärzte
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Die Ärzte (German pronunciation: [diː ˈʔɛːɐ̯tstə]; lit. ''The Doctors'') is a German rock band from Berlin. The band has released 14 studio albums.[1] The group consists of guitarist Farin Urlaub, drummer Bela B and bass player Rodrigo González. All three write and perform their songs.
History
1982-1985: Early years, debut album
Die Ärzte were formed in West Berlin in 1982 by Jan Vetter (alias Farin Urlaub, a pun on the expression "Fahr' in Urlaub", meaning "Go on vacation"), Dirk Felsenheimer (alias Bela B, referring to Dracula actor Bela Lugosi) and bassist Hans Runge, alias Sahnie . Bela and Farin had previously played together in the punk band Soilent Grün, established in 1979 and named after the film Soylent Green.
After Soilent Grün broke up in 1982, Bela and Farin decided to form another band. In the first two years (including Sahnie) they mostly played in clubs in their hometown, Berlin. Their first release was a contribution to the sampler 20 schäumende Stimmungshits (rough translation: "20 foamy party hits"), featuring a strong alcohol theme (for example, the chorus of "Vollmilch" translates as "you drink whiskey, he drinks beer, I drink milk"). In 1983 they won a rock contest in Berlin and with the prize money they recorded their debut EP Uns geht's prima... ("We're doing great..."). Finally CBS signed them, and they released their first LP Debil ("Moronic") with their second LP following in 1984 with Im Schatten der Ärzte ("In the shadow of Die Ärzte") a year later.
1986-1989: Success, controversies, line-up change, breakup
After the second album they parted ways with Sahnie due to internal problems. Producer Manfred 'Manne' Praeker played the bass parts on the third album. Later,
The inner sleeve was put on the index separately because it contained the lyrics. Some tour posters were considered misogynistic and were also put on the list. They contained a drawing of a tied up and gagged woman called Gwendoline that was inspired by bondage artist John Willie and is the mascot of the band. Since then, Die Ärzte have used a skeleton version of Gwendoline in the artwork of most of their albums. Later, from 2000 on, live shows have featured two oversized Gwendolines that flank the stage (especially at outdoor concerts). The commissioned artist had first colored the figures independently. However, after the Hard Pop Days were played with these colorful editions and a houseboat at Popkomm in Cologne was adorned with them, they were recolored into classic black and white design.
The following album
In 1989, they released one last single from the Wahrheit LP and a compilation of early EPs and rare recordings (Die Ärzte früher! ("Die Ärzte earlier!").
1993-1999: Reunion, new bassist, first no.1 single
Neither Farin's new band
In 1996 they wanted to make an EP just about hair, however, they wrote too many songs for an EP and it became their next album, Le Frisur. It was not as successful as its predecessors. Also during this year, as well as touring in their own right, they also supported Kiss on the German dates of their Alive/Worldwide Tour — a dream come true for Bela and Rod. In 1998 their single "Männer sind Schweine" ("Men are pigs") became their first number 1 single in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, with the album 13 also being number 1 in Germany and Switzerland. After a lot of promotion and touring that year, they decided to take a break and also to never again play "Männer sind Schweine" during concerts, due in part to its huge chart success, which in turn attracted remakes, e.g. "Frauen sind Schweine" ("Women are pigs").
2000-2013: Further success, MTV Unplugged, solo work
In 2000 they came back with the album,
After that they again took a break: Bela did some acting and Farin recorded his first solo album
While the band was on another break, Farin released another solo album
After they played a few concerts in 2009, they took a break. In April 2011 they toured under the pseudonym "Laternen-Joe" and, in December, they gave two special concerts at the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund, one only for women, and one only for men.
In 2012 Die Ärzte released their next record auch ("as well", "also"), preceded by the single "zeiDverschwÄndung" ("wÄste of time").[1] From May to August, as well as November and December in the same year they went on two concert tours throughout Germany, Austria and Switzerland.[2] Their concerts at the Festhalle Frankfurt and the Waldbühne Berlin were used for a live album and concert film called Die Nacht der Dämonen ("Night of the Demons"), which was released in 2013.[1] In 2013 Die Ärzte also went on another concert tour, this time mainly playing large open air and stadium concerts.[2]
Since 2013: Hiatus, more albums, further touring
Die Ärzte made a surprise appearance playing Schrei nach Liebe at Jamel Rock den Förster in 2015, an antiracist and antifascist music festival in Jamel, a small village in Northeastern Germany that is mainly inhabited by Neo-Nazis, as well as two married artists, who organise the festival every year. In that same year, among rising anti-immigration tensions in Germany, their anti-Nazi song Schrei nach Liebe reached No.1 in the German charts, 22 years after its original release.
In 2016, their former bassist Hagen Liebing died, at age 55. In the same year, another biography, Das Buch Ä ("the book Ä") was released, revealing the band had been on bad terms during the 2013 tour and was inactive afterwards (apart from the Jamel appearance). The three band members all released further solo work, however.
In June 2019 die Ärzte played headlining shows at the festivals Rock am Ring and Rock im Park in Germany, Nova Rock Festival in Austria, as well as Open Air St. Gallen in Switzerland. These shows were exclusive in their respective countries. Before these festivals, die Ärzte played a club tour in non-German speaking parts of Europe in May. These were their first full live shows since 2013.[3]
In October 2020, die Ärzte released their first studio album in 8 years, Hell ("bright"). The tour that was meant to follow the album was first postponed into 2021 before being completely cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] In 2021, die Ärzte then released another studio album, Dunkel ("dark"). They went on two concert tours in 2022, one regular stadium and open air tour, as well as a tour where they exclusively played in Berlin, where they went from small clubs that hold 150 people, over medium-sized concert halls, up to the Tempelhofer Feld, where they played for 60 000 people on two days each (a third concert had to be cancelled on the day due to a thunderstorm).[2] This tour was designed to help the local Berlin venues after the pandemic.[4]
In 2023, they played a further tour, announced only a week before it started (and sold out within minutes), and announced two further concerts at Tempelhofer Feld for 2024.
Relationship with Die Toten Hosen
Throughout their career, Die Ärzte have often been compared to fellow German punk band
Adopting aliases Die Ärzte and Die Toten Hosen have played small club shows together in the past. In 2012 Die Toten Hosen covered Die Ärzte's Schrei nach Liebe on the bonus disc for their album Ballast der Republik. The same year, they covered the song while headlining Germany's biggest rock festival
In June 2022 Die Ärzte appeared at one of the 40th anniversary concerts Die Toten Hosen gave in Düsseldorf. They first performed two Die Toten Hosen songs on their own, before being joined by Die Toten Hosen for Schrei nach Liebe and Blitzkrieg Bop.[5]
Band name
The band name "Die Ärzte" was decided upon after Farin Urlaub and Bela B noticed that the folder with the umlaut "Ä" was empty in most record stores. Since their 2003 album
The three dots also symbolize the three members of the band. The German cartoonist Schwarwel, who also directed music videos for famous pop punk bands including Good Charlotte and Unwritten Law, realized the idea. "Die Ärzte", with two dots, is correct German orthography and not related to the heavy metal umlaut in any way. They often call themselves "Die beste Band der Welt" ("The best band in the world") in jest due to them wondering why they have so many fans. They often change their band name for short periods, sometimes only a matter of days. For example, they called themselves "Die Köche" ("The cooks") to promote their 2007 album "Jazz ist anders" ("Jazz is different"), relevant due to the album art's pizza theme. By adopting new names, the band is able to avoid attracting large crowds, allowing them to hold small concerts.
International reception
The band has been very popular in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, while also enjoying some success in other Northern European countries.[citation needed] Unlike fellow early 1980s German punk band Die Toten Hosen (whose career has often been compared to Die Ärzte, often trying to promote a rivalry), Die Ärzte are largely unknown outside of these countries, aside from descendants of German nationals abroad as well as many students. The band considered releasing an album in English in the mid-1990s, but they dropped the idea (the songs recorded for said album were released in 2018 on the compilations "Seitenhirsch" and "They've given me Schrott").
In 2002 they did a short tour in Japan and released a compilation (titled simply die ärzte) of their last albums there, and in 2004 they did a short tour in South America.
On occasion (for example concerts in 2008, 2019, 2023) they also played non-German-speaking countries of Europe, such as Poland, Czechia, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, France, the UK, Sweden, Denmark, Luxembourg, Russia, the Netherlands and Belgium.
Band members
- Farin Urlaub (Jan Vetter) – vocals, guitar, bass (1982–1988, 1993—present)
- Bela B (Dirk Felsenheimer) – vocals, drums, guitar (1982–1988, 1993—present)
- Rodrigo González – vocals, bass, guitar, keyboards (1993—present)
Former members
- Hans Runge ("Sahnie") – bass, vocals (1982–1986)
- Hagen Liebing ("The Incredible Hagen") – bass, backing vocals (1986–1988; died 2016)
Timeline
Discography
- Studio albums
- Debil (1984)
- Im Schatten der Ärzte (1985)
- Die Ärzte (1986)
- Das ist nicht die ganze Wahrheit... (1988)
- Die Bestie in Menschengestalt (1993)
- Planet Punk (1995)
- Le Frisur (1996)
- 13 (1998)
- Runter mit den Spendierhosen, Unsichtbarer! (2000)
- 5, 6, 7, 8 – Bullenstaat! (2001)
- Geräusch (2003)
- Jazz ist anders (2007)
- auch (2012)
- Hell (2020)
- Dunkel (2021)
Literature
Title | Year | Author | Publisher |
---|---|---|---|
Die Ärzte Fanbook | 1997 | Thomas Kallweit | Falken Verlag |
Die Ärzte: früher, jetze & morgen | 1998 | Peter Wagner | Ideal Verlag |
Im Angesicht des Schattenreichs von Die Ärzte | 1998 | Frans Stummer, Georg F.W. Tempel | Ehapa |
Die kleinste Band der Welt | 2000 | ? | – |
Rote Gourmet Fraktion – Kochen für Rockstars | 2001 | Ole Plogstedt, Jörg Raufeisen, Hollow Skai | Kiepenheuer & Witsch |
Die Ärzte. Auf den Spuren der Kult-Band zwischen Charts und Provokation | 2001 | Murielle Martin | Dirk Lehrach Verlag |
Geschichten aus der DIE ÄRZTE #1: Angriff der Fett-Teenager | 2001 | Schwarwel, THC Reichl | Extrem Erfolgreich Enterprises (EEE) |
Ein überdimensionales Meerschwein frisst die Erde auf | 2001 | Markus Karg | Schwarzkopf & Schwarzkopf |
Meine Jahre mit "Die Ärzte" | 2003 | Hagen Liebing | Schwarzkopf & Schwarzkopf |
Die Ärzte Songbook | 2004 | – | Bosworth Musikverlag |
Die Ärzte Notenfreund | 2005 | – | Bosworth Musikverlag |
Bäst of Songbook
|
2007/2008 | – | Bosworth Musikverlag |
Rockterrine: So schmeckt Rock'n'Roll! | 2008 | Jens Nink | Rockbuch Verlag – ein Imprint der edel entertainment GmbH |
Die Ärzte Songbook für Ukulele | 2013 | – | Bosworth Musikverlag |
Das Buch Ä | 2016 | Stefan Üblacker | Schwarzkopf & Schwarzkopf |
Nackt im Wind: Die Berlin-Tour MMXXII | 2023 | Jörg Steinmetz | Prestel Verlag |
Awards
Year | Presenter | Awards | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1988 | Bravo Otto | Rock-Gruppe in Gold | Won |
1995 | Bravo Otto | Band Rock in Silber | Won |
Echo |
Gruppe des Jahres national | Nominated | |
1996 | Comet | Video National – Rod Loves You | Won |
Bravo Otto | Band Rock in Bronze | Won | |
Echo | Gruppe des Jahres national | Nominated | |
Echo | Erfolgreichste nationaler Song des Jahres: Ein Song namens Schunder |
Nominated | |
1997 | Echo | Nationaler Newcomer des Jahres – Rod Loves You | Nominated |
1998 | Bravo Otto | Band Rock in Bronze | Won |
1999 | Echo | Musikvideo des Jahres national: Männer sind Schweine | Nominated |
Echo | Gruppe des Jahres national: 13 | Nominated | |
Echo | Erfolgreichster nationaler Song des Jahres: Männer sind Schweine | Nominated | |
2001 | Echo | Videoclip national: Manchmal haben Frauen... | Won |
Comet | Beste Rockband | Nominated | |
Comet | Act national | Nominated | |
Comet | VIVA ZWEI Zuschauercomet | Nominated | |
Comet | Video national: Manchmal haben Frauen... | Nominated | |
2003 | MTV Europe Music Awards | Bester deutscher Act | Won |
2004 | Comet | Bestes Video: Unrockbar | Nominated |
2005 | Echo | Musik-DVD-Produktion national/international: Die Band, die sie Pferd nannten | Won |
Echo | Bester Live-Act | Nominated | |
2007 | 1Live Krone | Lebenswerk | Won |
2008 | World Music Award |
World's Best Selling German Artist | Won |
1Live Krone | Beste Single: Junge | Won | |
Echo | Gruppe des Jahres – Rock/Alternative National | Won | |
Comet | Album des Jahres: Jazz ist anders | Nominated | |
Comet | Bester Live Act | Nominated | |
MTV Europe Music Awards | Bester deutscher Act | Nominated | |
2009 | Echo | Bester Rock/Alternative/Heavy Metal national: Jazz ist anders | Won |
Comet | Bester Song: Lasse redn | Nominated | |
Comet | Bester Liveact | Nominated | |
2014 | Echo | Erfolgreichste Musik-DVD-Produktion (national): Live – Die Nacht der Dämonen | Won |
References
- ^ a b c "Diskografie". die ärzte (in German). Retrieved 12 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Live". die ärzte (in German). Retrieved 12 July 2023.
- ^ "The Return of Die Ärzte! – Rock am Ring 2019". Rock am Ring (in German). Retrieved 7 June 2018.
- ^ "Frenetisch gefeiert: So war das Ärzte-Konzert in Berlin". Berliner Zeitung (in German). 7 May 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
- ^ a b Die Ärzte und die Toten Hosen (E12) | Diese eine Liebe - 40 Jahre die Ärzte, retrieved 12 July 2023
Further reading
- Karg, Markus; BelaFarinRod (2001). Die Ärzte. Ein überdimensionales Meerschwein frisst die Erde auf (in German). Schwarzkopf & Schwarzkopf. ISBN 3-89602-369-1. English translation of the title: "A Colossal Guinea Pig Devours the World".
- Liebing, Hagen (2003). The Incredible Hagen: Meine Jahre mit 'Die Ärzte' (in German). Schwarzkopf & Schwarzkopf. ISBN 3-89602-426-4. English translation of the title: "My Years with 'Die Ärzte'".
- Üblacker, Stefan (2016). Das Buch ä: Die von die ärzte autorisierte Biografie (in German). Berlin: Schwarzkopf & Schwarzkopf. ISBN 978-3862655854. English translation of the title: "The Book ä - The biography authorized by die ärzte".