Ton Steine Scherben

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Ton Steine Scherben (Literal English translation: "Clay Stones Shards"; in German, "Ton" can mean "sound" as well, so the band's name may be considered to be an amphibology) were a German anarchist rock band formed in 1970 when the members were all around 20 years of age. Singer Rio Reiser usually told journalists the name was taken from a description by pioneer archeologist Heinrich Schliemann of what he saw when he first came to the site of ancient Troy. Other members of the band claim it is a play on the name of the German labor union Bau Steine Erden (Construction Stones Earth).

They are considered to have been the first genuine German-language rock band, together with Udo Lindenberg. Their first big-stage appearance was at an Open-Air on 6 September 1970 on the Fehmarn stage where Jimi Hendrix had had his last appearance directly before. The stage went up in flames while they were still playing; it probably had been set on fire by people around Hendrix who had just received news that the event's organizers had disappeared with all the cash, but many people believed that Ton Steine Scherben had set the stage on fire, which gave them tremendous credibility in the radical scene.

Their style can be described as somewhere between the Rolling Stones and yet-to-be-invented Punk rock. All their Albums were self-published; they published few singles and are still very rarely played on most German radio stations. Their lyrics were at the beginning anti-capitalist and anarchist. They didn't think the socialism of the Soviet Union was anywhere near real socialism, and had connections to the squatter scene and the German Red Army Faction terrorists during the time before the latter turned to violent crime and murder. Later Ton Steine Scherben toned down on socialism and added themes like freedom, love, drugs, and sadness. Most of their songs can be described as slightly mad, sometimes in a funny way, sometimes in a rather scary way. Later songs were about more complex issues such as unemployment (Mole Hill Rockers) or homosexuality (Mama war so). They also contributed to two full-length concept album about homosexuality which were issued under the name Brühwarm (roughly: boiling hot).

Managed at some time by Claudia Roth (later to become co-chairwoman of the German Green Party), they disbanded in 1985 when the band's debt became unbearable. Singer Rio Reiser then embarked on a solo career until his death in 1996. At that time the rest of "Ton Steine Scherben" reunited one more time for a farewell concert.

In their early years Ton Steine Scherben was called TSS for short, later it became common to call them Die Scherben (The Shards).

In 2000s the original members of Ton Steine Scherben reunited and are touring since 2005 as 'Ton Steine Scherben Family', performing the band's classics.

[edit] Members

[edit] Discography

  • Warum geht es mir so dreckig (1971) (Why am I so miserable)
    • Ich will nicht werden, was mein Alter ist (I don't wanna become what my Old Man is)
    • Warum geht es mir so dreckig (Why am I so miserable)
    • Der Kampf geht weiter (The struggle continues)
    • Macht kaputt, was euch kaputt macht (Destroy what destroys yourself)
    • Einheitsfrontlied (Song of the United Front, lyrics and music by Bertolt Brecht and Hanns Eisler)
    • Mein Name ist Mensch (My name is man)
    • Sklavenhändler (Slave trader)
    • Alles verändert sich (Everything changes)
    • Solidarität (Solidarity)
  • Keine Macht für Niemand (1972) (No power for nobody)
    • Feierabend (Leisure time)
    • Die letzte Schlacht gewinnen wir (In the final battle we will succeed)
    • Paul Panzers Blues
    • Menschenjäger (Man hunter)
    • Allein machen sie dich ein (Alone we can't stand it)
    • Schritt für Schritt in Paradies (Step by step towards paradise)
    • Der Traum ist aus (The dream is over)
    • Mensch Meier
    • Rauch-Haus-Song
    • Keine Macht für Niemand (No power for nobody)
    • Komm schlaf bei mir (Stay with me tonight)
  • Wenn die Nacht am tiefsten (1974) (When it's darkest night)
    • Heute Nacht (Tonight)
    • Samstag Nachmittag (Saturday afternoon)
    • Guten Morgen (Good morning)
    • Durch Die Wüste (Through the desert)
    • Nimm Den Hammer (Take the hammer)
    • Ich Geh Weg (I'm leaving)
    • Halt Dich An Deiner Liebe Fest (Hang on to your love)
    • Wir Sind Im Licht (We are enlightened)
    • Wenn die Nacht am tiefsten (When it's darkest night)
    • Land in Sicht (Land in sight)
    • Komm an Bord (Come onboard)
    • Steig Ein (Step on)
  • IV (1980)
    • Jenseits von Eden (East of Eden)
    • Bleib wo du bist (Stay where you are)
    • Sumpf Schlock
    • Der Turm stürzt ein (The tower collapses)
    • Wie in den Tagen Midians (As of the time of Midian)
    • Vorübergehend geschlossen (Temporarily closed)
    • Ebbe und Flut (Low and high tide)
    • Filmkuß (Movie kiss)
    • Der Fremde aus Indien (The stranger from India)
    • Kleine Freuden (Little pleasures)
    • Heimweh (Homesick)
    • Alles ist richtig (Everything is right)
    • S'is eben so (That's what it's like)
    • S.N.A.F.T
    • Kribbel Krabbel
    • Niemand liebt mich (Nobody loves me)
    • Da! (There!)
    • Morgenlicht (Morning light)
    • Ich hab nix (I've got nothing)
    • Gold
    • Wiedersehn (Goodbye)
    • (Auf ein) Happy-End ((Towards a) happy ending)
  • Auswahl I (1981)
    • Warum geht es mir so dreckig
    • Mein Name ist Mensch
    • Rauch Haus Song
    • Macht kaputt was euch kaputt macht
    • Wir streiken
    • Wenn die Nacht am tiefsten
    • Halt dich an deiner Liebe fest
    • Kribbel Krabbel
    • Guten Morgen
    • Keine Macht für Niemand
  • Scherben (1983) (Shards)
    • Wo sind wir jetzt (Where are we now)
    • Verboten (Forbidden)
    • Sternschnuppen (Shooting stars)
    • Regentag (Rainy day)
    • Laß uns ein Wunder sein (Let us be a miracle)
    • Mama war so (Mum was so)
    • Tanz! (Dance!)
    • Traum ohne Stern (Dream without stars)
    • La Reponse (The response)
    • Mole Hill Rockers
    • Hau ab (Go away)
    • Fieber (Fever)
    • Ardistan
    • Bist du's (Is it you)
  • In Berlin (Live) (1984)
    • Ich will nicht werden was mein Alter ist
    • Verboten
    • Feierabend
    • Heut' Nacht
    • Raus (aus dem Ghetto) (Out of the ghetto)
    • Ich will ich sein (I wanne be me)
    • Shit-Hit
    • Jenseits von Eden
    • La Response
    • Keine Macht für Niemand
  • Live I (1985)

The following albums were issued after the band ceased recording:

  • Live II (1996)
    • Wenn die Nacht am tiefsten
    • Wir müssen hier raus
    • Halt dich an deiner Liebe fest
    • Steig ein
    • Kleine Freuden
    • Bist du's
    • Kommen sie schnell
    • Der Traum ist aus
    • Land in Sicht
  • Live III (2006)
    • Wo sind wir jetzt
    • Haub ab
    • S.N.A.F.T.
    • Ardistan
    • Heimweh
    • Alles verändert sich
    • Durch die Wüste
    • Warum geht es mir so dreckig
    • Ebbe und Flut
    • Mein Name ist Mensch
    • Rauch-Haus-Song
    • Allein machen sie dich ein
    • Wiedersehn
    • Der Turm stürzt ein
    • Lass uns ein Wunder sein
    • Jetzt schlägt's dreizehn
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