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.
Im Jet-Grill
Die Toten Hosen Lyrics
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„Schlinger, Zentrum?“
„Hoffentlich hat er überhaupt auf“
„Ja, natürlich ha'm wir auf“
„Sogar neu, neue“
„Okay, jetzt geht's los, Jet-Grill“
„Jet-Grill die erste“
„'N Abend“
„Ich hätt' gern 'ne Pommes rot-weiß“
„Pommes rot-weiß is verboten, zack zack“
„Ich hätt' gern Currywurst, Pommes, Mayo“
„Currywurst, Pommes, Mayo, Pommes rot-weiß“
„Ich krieg' noch 'ne Frikadelle mit Ketchup dazu“
„Frikadelle, Keetchup, Pommes rot-weiß“
„Hast du schon mal Eis gegessen, tele?“
„Fragen ob das schmeckt“
„Iss einfach Pommes mit Ketchup“
„Wollt ihr hier essen?“
„Ja,“
„Ja, jop“
„Ja, Ja, Ja“
„Wir setzen uns dann schon mal“
„Ja, könn ma auch machen, oder?“
„Ein, zwei mal Currywurst mit Pommes, rot-weiß?“
„Heh? Ja,“
„Und det Pommes?“
„Eh bei mir nur Mayo“
„Also nicht rot-weiß
„Ketchup und irgendwo nur Ketchup und Mayonnaise“
„Jop“
„Und mit der Frikadelle, Ohne Pommes?“
„Uh die kommt bei, die Frikadelle kommt bei mir raus“
„Frikadelle mit Pommes?“
„Ja“
„Oder?“
„Du wolltest doch rot-weiß?“
„Ja, das hab ich scho gesagt“
„Nein, er meint es kommt nichts dran“
„Ne, Frikadelle, rot-weeß“
„Frikadelle, Pommes rot-weiß“
„Willst dich hier hinsetzen?“
„Halt ma hier“
The lyrics of Die Toten Hosen's song "Im Jet-Grill" depict a humorous and chaotic interaction at a fast-food restaurant. The conversation revolves around ordering food and the confusion that arises due to miscommunication and misunderstandings. The characters in the song, presumably customers and staff, struggle to understand each other's orders and preferences, resulting in comical exchanges.
The lyrics begin with someone asking who will replace the "Jet-Grill," suggesting a malfunctioning cooking device. The response is that they have a new one. Then, a customer tries to order french fries (Pommes rot-weiß) but is abruptly told that it is forbidden, indicating some sort of regulation or restriction. The confusion continues as another customer wants a currywurst with fries and mayo but is instructed to order a currywurst with fries and mayo, followed by fries with ketchup. The conversation becomes even more convoluted when the mention of a meatball (Frikadelle) with ketchup and fries arises.
Line by Line Meaning
„So und wer ersetzt hier den Jet-Grill?“
Who will replace the Jet-Grill here?
„Schlinger, Zentrum?“
Schlinger, center?
„Hoffentlich hat er überhaupt auf“
Hopefully, he is even open
„Ja, natürlich ha'm wir auf“
Yes, of course, we are open
„Sogar neu, neue“
Even new, brand new
„Okay, jetzt geht's los, Jet-Grill“
Okay, now let's start, Jet-Grill
„Jet-Grill die erste“
Jet-Grill, the first one
„Guten Tag“
Good day
„'N Abend“
Good evening
„Ich hätt' gern 'ne Pommes rot-weiß“
I would like a french fries with ketchup and mayonnaise
„Pommes rot-weiß is verboten, zack zack“
French fries with ketchup and mayonnaise are forbidden, hurry up hurry up
„Ich hätt' gern Currywurst, Pommes, Mayo“
I would like currywurst, french fries, mayonnaise
„Currywurst, Pommes, Mayo, Pommes rot-weiß“
Currywurst, french fries, mayonnaise, french fries with ketchup and mayonnaise
„Ich krieg' noch 'ne Frikadelle mit Ketchup dazu“
I also want a meatball with ketchup
„Frikadelle, Keetchup, Pommes rot-weiß“
Meatball, ketchup, french fries with ketchup and mayonnaise
„Hast du schon mal Eis gegessen, tele?“
Have you ever eaten ice cream, tele?
„Fragen ob das schmeckt“
Asking if it tastes good
„Iss einfach Pommes mit Ketchup“
Just eat french fries with ketchup
„Wollt ihr hier essen?“
Do you want to eat here?
„Ja,“
Yes,
„Ja, jop“
Yes, yeah
„Ja, Ja, Ja“
Yes, yes, yes
„Wir setzen uns dann schon mal“
We'll go ahead and sit
„Ja, könn ma auch machen, oder?“
Yes, we can do that, right?
„Ein, zwei mal Currywurst mit Pommes, rot-weiß?“
One, two times currywurst with french fries with ketchup and mayonnaise?
„Heh? Ja,“
Huh? Yes,
„Und det Pommes?“
And the french fries?
„Eh bei mir nur Mayo“
Well, for me, just mayonnaise
„Also nicht rot-weiß
So not red-white
„Ketchup und irgendwo nur Ketchup und Mayonnaise“
Ketchup, and somewhere just ketchup and mayonnaise
„Jop“
Yeah
„Und mit der Frikadelle, Ohne Pommes?“
And with the meatball, without french fries?
„Uh die kommt bei, die Frikadelle kommt bei mir raus“
Uh that's included, the meatball comes with mine
„Frikadelle mit Pommes?“
Meatball with french fries?
„Ja“
Yes
„Oder?“
Or?
„Du wolltest doch rot-weiß?“
You wanted red-white, right?
„Ja, das hab ich scho gesagt“
Yes, I already said that
„Nein, er meint es kommt nichts dran“
No, he means nothing is added
„Ne, Frikadelle, rot-weeß“
No, meatball, red-white
„Frikadelle, Pommes rot-weiß“
Meatball, french fries with ketchup and mayonnaise
„Willst dich hier hinsetzen?“
Do you want to sit here?
„Halt ma hier“
Just hold on here
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Andreas Frege, Andreas Meurer, Michael Breitkopf
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind