Andreas Frege

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Campino at a 1987 concert
Campino at a 1987 concert

Andreas Frege (b. June 22, 1962 in Düsseldorf, Germany), is better-known under the pseudonym Campino. He is the lead singer of the German punk band Die Toten Hosen (which literally translates into English as 'the Dead Trousers' but is slang for "boring", "lifeless," or "nothing going on").

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[edit] Youth

Campino grew up the son of a Conservative judge and an English teacher. His mother came from England. He was one of five siblings, including his brother John, who is twelve years older and has often promoted Campino. He never had the chance to meet one of his brothers, who died prior to the singer's birth. When aged two, he and his family moved to nearby Mettmann in North-Rhine-Westphalian, Germany.

Andreas was an outsider at school. He acquired his nickname from a suitcase sticker which stated: "Der große Zauberer Campino" ("The great sorcerer Campino") - around this time he entered the punk scene in Düsseldorf. From 1978 to 1982 he was the lead singer of the Punk band ZK, often described as predecessor of Die Toten Hosen.

Campino, (right) with Angus Young, (left) from Australian Hard Rock band AC/DC.
Campino, (right) with Angus Young, (left) from Australian Hard Rock band AC/DC.

[edit] Die Toten Hosen

Die Toten Hosen were created by Andreas, along with 5 other band members Kuddel, Breiti, Andi, Trini and Walter. They have celebrated large success beginning in the 1980s. Nowadays, Die Toten Hosen still continue to impose themselves on German music charts and are also considered to be influential to other German modern Punk bands and aspiring punk musicians.

[edit] Trivia

In the 1990's, Campino would often check into hotels under the spoof name 'Rudi Dutschke'.

Campino, whose mother is English, is a fan of the English national football team.

Campino has been known to dislike fellow German rock band Rammstein. He makes a brief appearance on the Lichtspielhaus DVD stating that he thinks that lead singer Till Lindemann is a 'Siegfried and Roy-style idiot' that Americans 'loved to be entertained by'.

Campino appeared as a guest singer for the 1998 Bad Religion single "Raise Your Voice." He was also featured in the music video.

[edit] Success

In 2003, German TV Channel ZDF conducted a nationwide poll to name the "one hundred most famous Germans" of all time. Out of a huge 300 entries, Campino rated an impressive 65th, proving both his popularity and success in mainstream German media.

[edit] Personal life

On 9 March 2004 his girlfriend Karina Krawczyk, a famous actress, gave birth to his son Lenn Julian. Now, the both of them are separated.