The band formed out of the ashes of punk band, ZK, founded 1978. The members of Die Toten Hosen (literally "The Dead Trousers" in English; "tote Hose" is a German expression meaning "lifeless", "boring", or "nothing going on") are Campino (Andreas Frege), Kuddel (Andreas von Holst), Vom (Stephen George Ritchie), Andi (Andreas Meurer) and Breiti (Michael Breitkopf). Vom replaced Wölli as the drummer in 1999 (Wölli's untimely departure from the band was due to injuries caused by a car accident), who himself had replaced Trini in 1985 and is still an honorary member of the band; Trini became the band's manager.
The band has existed for over 20 years, and their songs' focus gradually shifted from funny and nonsensical to serious; the songs from their first LP were mostly about having fun, but by the end of the 1980s they were focusing more on political and social issues such as racism.
Part of the folklore surounding the band is the story that in their early days they played for free on private birthday parties or similar events. However only under the conditions that the host provided for unlimited beer supply and paid for all damages caused by the band.
The debut single "Wir sind bereit" ("We are ready") was released in 1982, and was followed by their first album, "Opel-Gang", the next year. In 1988, Die Toten Hosen released the LP "Ein kleines bisschen Horrorschau". It refers to the movie A Clockwork Orange based on the book by Anthony Burgess. In 1993, Frank Castorf produced a German theater version of the book, in which Die Toten Hosen performed as actors and musicians.
Their 1000th concert was on 28th June 1997, in the Düsseldorfer Rheinstadium, and was attended by more than 60,000 fans. A Dutch girl died in the crowd; after various talks with security and police, the band decided to play soft songs until the end, in order not to panic the crowd. Later the band produced the song "Alles ist Eins" in memoriam for the Dutch girl.
Die Toten Hosen have collaborated with numerous other musicians (like Bad Religion, AC/DC, U2, Rolling Stones); they are also one of the few German punk bands popular outside of Germany (esp. in South America, Australia, eastern Europe) other notable bands being Die Ärzte and Rammstein.
As longtime fans of the their local soccer team Fortuna Düsseldorf they have been sponsoring the club from 2001 to 2003.
After their Unplugged concert in the end of 2005 they've taken a time-out. But they disclaimed rumors, that this is the end of the band.
In 2008 they released the Album "In aller Stille.
In 2012, Die Toten Hosen released their album Ballast der Republik. A special edition includes a bonus CD with cover versions of songs that influenced the band. On 26 April 2016, it was announced that former drummer Wolfgang Rohde had died of cancer.
Einen Großen Nazi Hat Sie!
Die Toten Hosen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Einen kleinen Nazi hat sie
Hat den großen und den kleinen Nazi gern
Sagt zum großen Nazi Schatzi
Sagt zum kleinen Nazi Schatzi
Und verachtet in der Stadt die feinen Herrn
Drum tut mir jeder Herr leid Wenn er in der Schweiz verliebt in eine Sennerin
Einen großen Nazi hat sie
Einen kleinen Nazi hat sie
Denn sie ist in punkto Nazi, Kennerin
Einen großen Nazi hat sie
Einen kleinen Nazi hat sie
Hat den großen und den kleinen Nazi gern
Sagt zum großen Nazi Schatzi
Sagt zum kleinen Nazi Schatzi
Und verachtet in der Stadt die feinen Herrn
Drum tut mir jeder Herr leid
Wenn er in der Schweiz verliebt in eine Sennerin
Einen großen Nazi hat sie
Einen kleinen Nazi hat sie
Denn sie ist in punkto Nazi, Kennerin
The Die Toten Hosen's song "Einen Großen Nazi Hat Sie!" tells a story of a woman who is in love with two Nazis - a big one and a small one. She likes both of them and affectionately calls them "Schatzi," which means "treasure" or "sweetie" in German. The lyrics suggest that the woman is knowledgeable about Nazis, hence the line "Denn sie ist in punkto Nazi, Kennerin," which means "She is an expert on Nazis."
The song also emphasizes the woman's disdain for the "fine gentlemen" in the city. The last verse contains the lines "Drum tut mir jeder Herr leid wenn er in der Schweiz verliebt in eine Sennerin" which means "So I feel sorry for any man who falls in love with a Alpine dairy maid." This implies that the woman sees herself as being superior to the city's elite and prefers the company of her two Nazi lovers.
Overall, the song seems to be satirical, depicting the absurdity and horror of someone who is in love with Nazis. It could also be interpreted as a commentary on the dangerous allure of fascism and extremism.
Line by Line Meaning
Einen großen Nazi hat sie
She has a big Nazi boyfriend
Einen kleinen Nazi hat sie
She has a small Nazi boyfriend
Hat den großen und den kleinen Nazi gern
She likes both the big and the small Nazi
Sagt zum großen Nazi Schatzi
She calls the big Nazi 'darling'
Sagt zum kleinen Nazi Schatzi
She calls the small Nazi 'darling'
Und verachtet in der Stadt die feinen Herrn
She despises the gentle gentlemen in town
Drum tut mir jeder Herr leid
Therefore I feel sorry for every gentleman
Wenn er in der Schweiz verliebt in eine Sennerin
If he falls in love with a Swiss mountain girl
Denn sie ist in punkto Nazi, Kennerin
Because she is a connoisseur of Nazis
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Fritz Gruenbaum, Stephan Weiss
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Rumundjin
Hi and remember: as said in German months ago: "Nazi" was formerly the short form of the German Christian name "Ignaz" (= Ignatius) Danke an Parlophon für das Hochladen. Bin durch Zufall darauf gestossen als ich nach "Du bist meine Greta Garbo" gesucht habe. Auch wenn ich "erst" 1963 geboren wurde, so bin ich doch ein Fan der Schlagermusik aus den 20er-40er Jahren. (Und bedauere es sehr, dass der WDR "Schellack-Schätzchen" vor einigen Jaren eingestellt hat :-( )
@parlophonman
Es freut mich sehr das es Ihnen gefällt !
@jd03150
This recording reminds me of an unpleasant experience I had several years ago with Deutsche Welle. I wrote to complain when they cancelled what I considered one of the better programs on DW at that time. They wrote back and told me that DW was no longer going to featuring old German "oompah" music. I don't remember my response but I expect it was quite sharp. Call it "oompah" if you like, but I call it great and this is a superb example.
@scubaloom
I'm from Bavaria (Southern Germany), and this is fully correct. This short version of that rather old name was known long before the Nazis appeared. Since that time, however, it is no longer in use - no wonder. Greez
@Grundsau47
Political Correctness is a bane of American life. To everyone who is offended by this recording, well, it's a damn fine melody, AND, I can't think of anything more detrimental to nazism than to make fun of it in this manner. Victor Borge knew this well, as did other comedians, Jewish and Gentile.
@theodornorden9937
+Nick Lucas (PennaGrundsau) it is not making fun of nazism, it is about a girl who likes real men instead of "fine" feminin men.
@parlophonman
The reverse side of this record is from the same Revue and songwriter, and it is very remarkable too! It's called: "Wenn du Putzi sagst, bin ich glücklich"! Hitler had a close friend, Ernst Hanfstaengl, with the nickname Putzi. I don't now of this was a hint about their friendship.
@floranoctem8257
Beate Zschäpe und die beiden Uwes ?!?
@northatlantic78rpm
I have been waiting for many years to listen to this great cabaret song from 1928. Thank you very much.
@valeryjkulakov2273
Thank you very much for posting.