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.
Traurig einen Sommer lang
Die Toten Hosen Lyrics
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Als in Paris '71 Jim Morrison verstarb
Sah ich meine Schwestern weinen, als ich aus der Schule kam
Keine acht Jahre später war ich selbst den Tränen nah
Als Sid Vicious seinen Löffel viel zu früh abgab
Von da an war mir klar
Dass das Musikantenleben saugefährlich war
Als Bon Scott 1980 im Alkohol ertrinkt
Hab' ich selber schwer zu kämpfen mit meinem ersten Acidtrip
Und ich weiß noch ganz genau, wie traurig wir alle waren
Als Rex Guildo '99 aus seinem Fenster sprang (Hossa!)
Es war ein Schock, ein böser Traum
Die ganze Welt war kalt und grau
Wir waren traurig einen Sommer lang
Wir gaben uns're Unschuld auf
Wir waren jung, wir waren blau
Wir waren traurig einen Sommer lang
Einen Sommer lang
Einen Sommer lang
Und als man Michael Jackson tot in seiner Bude fand
Sah ich die Menschen Moonwalk tanzen auf Ibiza am Strand
Drum möcht' ich, dass ihr wisst
Dass das Musikantenleben kein Zuckerschlecken ist
Es war ein Schock, ein böser Traum
Die ganze Welt war kalt und grau
Wir waren traurig einen Sommer lang
Wir gaben uns're Unschuld auf
Wir waren jung, wir waren blau
Wir waren traurig einen Sommer lang
Einen Sommer lang
(Ahh, ah-ahh, oh-ohh, oh-ohh)
(Ahh, ah-ahh, oh-ohh, oh-ohh)
The song "Traurig einen Sommer lang" by Die Toten Hosen speaks to the experiences of the band and the generation that they represented. Through a series of anecdotes about the deaths of famous musicians, the song paints a picture of the dangers and struggles that come with a life in music. It begins with the death of Jim Morrison in Paris in 1971, and the impact that it had on the singer's family. The song then moves through a litany of other deaths, including Sid Vicious, Bon Scott, and Rex Guildo. Each time, the singer reflects on the sadness and loss that these deaths caused, both for the musicians themselves and for those who loved them.
While the song is primarily about the deaths of these musicians, it also speaks to the larger cultural context in which they lived and worked. It acknowledges the role that drugs and alcohol played in their lives, and suggests that these substances were both a symptom of the pressures of celebrity and a contributing factor to their untimely deaths. The song also speaks to the sense of community that existed among fans and fellow musicians, who mourned together in the wake of these tragedies.
Ultimately, "Traurig einen Sommer lang" is a powerful and poignant reflection on the dangers and sacrifices of a life in music. It is a reminder that, even as we celebrate the art and creativity that great musicians bring into the world, we must also be mindful of the personal toll that this life can take.
Line by Line Meaning
Als in Paris '71 Jim Morrison verstarb
When Jim Morrison died in Paris in '71
Sah ich meine Schwestern weinen, als ich aus der Schule kam
I saw my sisters cry when I came home from school
Keine acht Jahre später war ich selbst den Tränen nah
Not even eight years later, I was close to tears myself
Als Sid Vicious seinen Löffel viel zu früh abgab
When Sid Vicious passed away way too early
Von da an war mir klar
From that point on, I knew
Dass das Musikantenleben saugefährlich war
That the life of a musician was extremely dangerous
Als Bon Scott 1980 im Alkohol ertrinkt
When Bon Scott drowned in alcohol in 1980
Hab' ich selber schwer zu kämpfen mit meinem ersten Acidtrip
I myself struggled heavily with my first acid trip
Und ich weiß noch ganz genau, wie traurig wir alle waren
And I remember very clearly how sad we all were
Als Rex Guildo '99 aus seinem Fenster sprang (Hossa!)
When Rex Guildo jumped out of his window in '99 (Hossa!)
Es war ein Schock, ein böser Traum
It was a shock, a terrible dream
Die ganze Welt war kalt und grau
The whole world was cold and grey
Wir waren traurig einen Sommer lang
We were sad for a whole summer
Wir gaben uns're Unschuld auf
We gave up our innocence
Wir waren jung, wir waren blau
We were young, we were blue
Einen Sommer lang
For a summer
Und als man Michael Jackson tot in seiner Bude fand
And when they found Michael Jackson dead in his home
Sah ich die Menschen Moonwalk tanzen auf Ibiza am Strand
I saw people doing the Moonwalk dance on the beach in Ibiza
Drum möcht' ich, dass ihr wisst
Therefore, I want you to know
Dass das Musikantenleben kein Zuckerschlecken ist
That the life of a musician is not a piece of cake
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Andreas Frege, Andreas von Holst, Andreas Meurer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@randalepabstfungaming4761
Wie viele grosse Musiker sind bereits nicht mehr am leben Michael Jackson, Freddy Mercury, Elvis Presley, Chester Bennington, Curt Cobaine, Whitney Houston, Amy Winehouse, Sid Vicious, Aretha Franklin, David Bowey, Avicci, John Lennon, Luciano Pavarotti, Jimmy Hemdrix, Bob Marley, Otis Reddin, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Falco, Tupac Shakur, Notorious BIG, Roger Cicero, Johnmy Cash, Frank Sinatra, Chuck Berry, Joe Cocker, Leonard Cohen, James Brown, Prince u d viele mehr sie alle haben Generationen geprägt danke für eure Musik wir werden immer an euch denken ihr lebt in euren Liedern weiter
@ichbinsnur89
Sau... Du bist ja Intelligent
@marina06AM
Sid Viciuosß Die 4 ramones ?
@strangerxxl1567
Lemmy
@iancedrikhofius8911
Syd ...
@kuhlupine
Du hast Syd Barret vergessen
@Marianomramone
Excellent video. Different cultures, same passion! Long live rock and roll, long live Die Toten Hosen! Grüße aus Argentinien!!
@SuperCrazyjulian
The best Song from the Toten Hosen, greetings from Germany
@melicarrillo9252
goooooooood video . thank you for uploading , greetings from argentina .
@stardustgirl323
Though I don't understand German language but I find this so amazing and greetings from Algeria!