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.
Rock Me Amadeus
Die Toten Hosen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Und er lebte in der großen Stadt
Er war in Wien, war Vienna
Wo er alles tat
Er hatte Schulden denn er trank
Doch ihn liebten alle Frauen
Und jede rief
„Come and rock me Amadeus“War ein Superstar
Er war populär
Er war so exaltiert
Because er hatte Flair
Er war ein Virtuose
War ein Rockidol
Und alles rief
„Come and rock me Amadeus“
Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus
Oh oh, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus
Oh oh, Amadeus
Es war um siebzehnachtzig
Und es war in Wien
No plastic anymore
Woher die Schulden kamen
War wohl jedermann bekannt
Er war ein Mann der Frauen
Frauen liebten seinen Punk
Er war ein Superstar
Er war so populär
Er war so exaltiert
Genau das war sein Flair
Er war ein Virtuose
War ein Rockidol
Und alles ruft noch heute
„Come and rock me Amadeus“
Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus
Oh oh, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus
Oh oh, Amadeus
Oh oh ah, Oh oh ah ah
Oh oh ah, Oh oh ah ah
Oh oh ah, oh oh oh oh oh
Come and rock me, rock me
Oh oh ah, Oh oh ah ah
Oh oh ah, Oh oh ah ah
Oh oh ah, oh oh oh oh oh
Come and rock me
Come and rock me Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus,
Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus,
Amadeus, Amadeus
Oh oh, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus
Oh oh, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus
Oh oh, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus
Oh oh, Amadeus
The lyrics to Die Toten Hosen's "Rock Me Amadeus" tell the story of a punk rock star living in Vienna. Despite being in debt from excessive drinking, he is loved by many women who call out for him to "come and rock me Amadeus." The lyrics also emphasize his star power, virtuosity, and exalted attitude, which are all components of his unique flair.
The punk rocker's success is contrasted with the state of Vienna during the late 1700s. The city was in a state of financial distress, and the banks were against him. Despite this, the rocker's popularity continued to thrive due to his appeal to women and his unique style. The repetition of the phrase "Amadeus" throughout the song references Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a famous composer from Vienna who is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of all time.
Overall, the lyrics to "Rock Me Amadeus" are a whimsical mix of punk rock and classical music references that tell the story of a unique rock star in Vienna during a time of financial hardship.
Line by Line Meaning
Er war ein Punker
He was a punk
Und er lebte in der großen Stadt
And he lived in the big city
Er war in Wien, war Vienna
He was in Vienna
Wo er alles tat
Where he did everything
Er hatte Schulden denn er trank
He had debts because he drank
Doch ihn liebten alle Frauen
But all women loved him
Und jede rief
And everyone called
“Come and rock me Amadeus”
"Come and rock me, Amadeus"
War ein Superstar
He was a superstar
Er war populär
He was popular
Er war so exaltiert
He was so exalted
Because er hatte Flair
Because he had flair
Er war ein Virtuose
He was a virtuoso
War ein Rockidol
He was a rock idol
Und alles rief
And everyone called
“Come and rock me Amadeus”
"Come and rock me, Amadeus"
Es war um siebzehnachtzig
It was in 1780
Und es war in Wien
And it was in Vienna
No plastic anymore
No plastic anymore
Die Banken gegen ihn
The banks against him
Woher die Schulden kamen
Where the debts came from
War wohl jedermann bekannt
Was known to everyone
Er war ein Mann der Frauen
He was a ladies' man
Frauen liebten seinen Punk
Women loved his punk
Und alles ruft noch heute
And everything still calls today
“Come and rock me Amadeus”
"Come and rock me, Amadeus"
Oh oh ah, Oh oh ah ah
Oh oh ah, oh oh ah ah
Oh oh ah, Oh oh ah ah
Oh oh ah, oh oh ah ah
Oh oh ah, oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh ah, oh oh oh oh oh
Come and rock me, rock me
Come and rock me, rock me
Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus
Oh oh, Amadeus
Oh oh, Amadeus
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ferdinand D. Bolland, Robert J. Bolland, Johann Hoelzel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind