Checkpoint Charlie (band)
| checkpoint Charlie | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| origin | Karlsruhe , Germany |
| Genre (s) | Polit rock , protopunk |
| founding | 1967, 1977, 1990, 2002 |
| resolution | 1973, 1982 |
| Founding members | |
Language, song |
Uwe von Trotha |
Vocals, bass |
Harald Linder (until 1973) |
Guitar, drums |
Werner Heß (until 1973) |
guitar |
Gian Mayer (until 1972) |
Keyboard |
Joachim "Krebssalat" Krebs (until 1978) |
| Other members | |
guitar |
Malte Bremer (1970) |
guitar |
Werner Walten (1970) |
Vocals, bass |
Jürgen Bräutigam (1977–1982) |
Drums |
Lothar Stahl (1977–1982) |
| Wilfried Sahm (1977–1982) | |
Checkpoint Charlie was one of the first German-speaking rock bands and was mainly active in the late 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s, using mainly socially critical and satirical texts in rock music . Through numerous appearances, Checkpoint Charlie became an integral part of the student opposition movement in the late 1960s .
history
Early years 1966–1973
Checkpoint Charlie was created in Karlsruhe in 1966 when Harald Linder and Uwe von Trotha met. The idea of lyrical and creative music quickly came up. a. by Bertolt Brecht and François Villon with beat music . The new band members were Joachim “Krebssalat” Krebs and Werner Hess. In 1969 they performed at the last Burg Waldeck Festival . Her first LP was produced in-house in 1970 and contained a recording of a concert at the University of Erlangen . In their then rock operetta "Scheiße" they dealt with problems of environmental protection. This was followed by the first trial against the band because of a black, red and gold toilet bowl. As an example of the German rock scene and the term "rock and the claim to cultic enlightenment", Checkpoint Charlie found its way into the 13-part NDR series Sympathy for the Devil in 1971 , but was largely cut out afterwards. After the group broke up for a short time, Checkpoint Charlie rehearsed in 1972 at Waldeck Castle for its "self-defense" program. The tour was supposed to be financed by the Association of Conscientious Objectors , but this stopped shortly before the start, which resulted in major financial problems. Nevertheless, Checkpoint Charlie played with a smaller cast in over 100 cities in Germany, but broke up in 1973.
Restructuring 1977–1982
In 1977 Uwe von Trotha and Joachim Krebs re-founded the group and took part in the free and outdoor festival in 1977 in Vlotho and the subsequent events in Porta Westfalica in 1978 and 1979. The second LP was made eight years after the first under the name of Frühling der Krüppel auf dem independent label Schneeball , in which friendly groups such as Embryo , Ton Steine Schherd and Missus Beastly participated. The band founded the "Familie Hesselbach Kommune" in the northern Palatinate town of Bistigart . The LP, released in 1979, mostly called "The Transparent" because of the transparent vinyl and cover, contained two studio recordings and three live recordings. In 1980 they got into new legal difficulties because of a cardboard pig called "Franz Josef". The public prosecutor's office took a concert on July 28, 1979 at the “Burghaldefest” in Kempten as an opportunity to sue the group for insulting the Bavarian Prime Minister Franz Josef Strauss . The 1981 LP Krawall im Schweinestall took up this incident both in the songs and in the 8-page booklet. In 1982 the LP Feuer und Flamme was released , after which the band withdrew.
Later projects
In the 1990s Uwe von Trotha went on tour again with musician Therofal and released the album Echtes Liveblocking Gurglersinfonie with other friends .
In 2002 the band was revived again with a concert at the Burg-Herzberg-Festival and a small tour.
Discography
Albums
The first LP appeared on the small Erlangen label CPM , it was mainly distributed through concerts by Checkpoint Charlie and befriended bands. All other LPs were released by Schneeball . Some albums have been re-released on CD, except for the first and the last they are available on various music streaming platforms .
- 1970: Hello with a bright sound
- 1978: Spring of the cripples
- 1979: Checkpoint Charlie / The Transparent
- 1981: Riot in the pigsty
- 1982: Fire & Flame
- 1990: Real live blocking Gurglersinfonie
Posts on samplers
- 1977: April is snowball : "Smog alarm"
- 1977: Umsonst & Draussen - Vlotho 77 : "Excerpt from the story of Mr. Müller" (Live)
- 1978: Free & Outside - Porta Westvlothica 78 : "Smogalarm" (Live)
- 1983: Snow storm : "When my son was born"
- 1995: Where is mom at home? : "He no longer goes to Thailand because he found his girl in Saxony"
- 1997: A comet is a dirty snowball : "He no longer goes to Thailand because he found his girl in Saxony"
Web links
- Checkpoint Charlie at Discogs (English)
- Band history on the website of Uwe von Trotha.
- Checkpoint Charlie on the website of the Schneeball label
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Interviews & Articles: Checkpoint Charlie. Ox fanzine, accessed January 26, 2020 .
- ↑ a b c d e f g h Checkpoint Charlie. From: Rock in Germany on CD-ROM. Retrieved January 26, 2020 .
- ↑ a b c d Sounds , No. 47, 1/73, pp. 29 and 30 Checkpoint Charlie's self-defense against armed service
- ↑ Hessischer Rundfunk October 29, 1972: Meeting point 72: With rock against the war?
- ↑ Super User: Porta Westfalica - the German Woodstock 1979. Accessed on January 26, 2020 .
- ↑ Snowball Records in Indigo Distribution. Retrieved January 26, 2020 .
- ↑ The 68er: Noble dropout - SWR - Landesschau Rheinland-Pfalz. Retrieved January 26, 2020 .
- ↑ Checkpoint Charlie (5) - riot in the pigsty. Retrieved January 26, 2020 .
- ↑ Living legend: Checkpoint Charlie on the road again! Retrieved January 26, 2020 .
- ↑ Line-up 2002 - Burg Herzberg Festival. Retrieved January 26, 2020 .