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Political rock legend Ton Steine Scherben returns for a memorial concert!
On July 19, 2025, the political rock band Ton Steine Scherben will play a memorial concert in Wilhelmshaven to mark the opening of an exhibition.
Political rock legend Ton Steine Scherben returns for a memorial concert!
On July 19th there will be a special concert at the Pumpwerk in Wilhelmshaven that will make the hearts of many music lovers beat faster. The legendary political rock band Clay stones shards will perform for the opening of an exhibition. It will be an emotional memorial concert for their deceased members Rio and P.P.S. Lanrue, who celebrated their 75th birthday this year.
The band, which emerged from a theater project in West Berlin in 1970, has an eventful history. As early as 1970 they performed at the legendary Fehmarn Festival, the first rock music festival in Germany. The founding members Kaisichtermann (bassist) and Funky K. Götzner (drummer) are at the performance, as are Marius del Mestre and the singer-songwriter Birte Volta. Surprisingly, the band does not play with their original line-up, but many of their iconic sounds remain.
Music and social criticism
Ton Steine Scherben's music was always characterized by socially critical themes. The band was not only musically active, but also part of the political movement that was strong in West Berlin in the 1970s. How This article shows, radical music and politics influenced each other and became an expression of protest and change.
Nikel, a member of the band, said that critical music is hardly played on the radio these days. He misses the socially critical content that once made up an important part of German-language music. Where are the songs that make you think? Ton Steine Scherben also examines this question in a larger historical context, which addresses the role of music in political identity formation processes.
Relevance of music across generations
The melodies and lyrics of Ton Steine Scherben are more than just nostalgic memories; they are relevant for today. Younger people, suffering from the challenges of exploitation, social media and rapidly advancing technology, are interested in the challenges of the past. The song “Break what breaks you” made the band famous in the 70s and is still seen as a call for resistance today.
“Everything is changing” and “If not now, when?” are examples from her repertoire that quickly find a special response among listeners. The band's music not only offers a look back at the past, but also a glimmer of hope for a better future. Nikel is convinced that her songs can build a bridge to the concerns of young people who are committed to change.
Yes, music has the power to inspire. In his book “The Power of Sounds – Music as a Means of Creating Political Identity in the 20th Century”, the historian Christian Jansen addresses the question of how music works in the creation of collective identities. This interdisciplinary work deals with the influence of music on political movements and identity formation in detail, which also underlines the importance of Ton Steine Scherben's songs. Details can be found in the article Deutschlandfunk.
The upcoming performance promises not only a musical experience, but also a deep look into the eventful history of political song in Germany. A music-historical event not to be missed!