"Hannover's reputation is poor; the people are thought to be obstinate, stiff, and depressed. They are seen as being prudish, moral, and clean, according to a 1970 Tagesschau article about the city. Hanover is a hotbed of German punk a few years later.
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| German punks in Hanover in 1980s |
Maybe because the city's perceived bourgeoisie is a particularly fruitful setting for the rebellious subculture. Aside from the social atmosphere, the circumstances were terrible: According to Hollow Skai, the musical infrastructure was confined to rock bands like the Scorpions.
Together with Klaus Abelmann and Detlef Max, the former punk wrote a book titled "How punk came to Hanover" that details the first punk movements in the city. He and many of his friends recall the optimistic mood that pervaded the environment between 1977 and 1983 in it.
Above all, Hollow Skai highlights what the punks have skillfully put together. One of the fundamental tenets of punks in the late 1970s, Hollow Skai, says, "The notion of do-it-yourself, meaning doing everything yourself, was of course very essential. "We established a record company since there weren't any in Hanover. Since there were no music publications, we created fanzines.
From his flat, Hollow Skai managed the No Fun Records label. He also made records for the group Hans-A-Plast available here. It was broadcast on Federal Republic television in 1980 thanks to its inclusion in the WDR Rockpalast.
Annette Benjamin, a former member of Hans-A-Plast, wrote a chapter for the book. She believes the Hanover punk scene unique since many women were involved early on and naturally took up space, even if they were frequently grinned at.
Benjamin, who was performing at Hans-A-Plast with two other ladies at the time, recalls thinking it was wonderful that so many women had the courage to perform in Hanover. "I thought that was really unusual, and I felt great about my band. We had a lot of power to sing in opposition to what we were observing at the moment.
The Federal Republic's male-dominated society was another factor. The fact that misogyny existed in the purportedly alternative punk movement was musically processed by Benjamin as follows: "That's why Hans-A-Plast also composed the song 'Für ne Frau great'. Because it was frequently said, "Well, you do it for the good of a woman."
Hollow Skai is also clear that Hanover was always a little more political than the similar scenes in the other punk strongholds of Hamburg, Berlin, or Düsseldorf, with satirical songs against patriarchy.
He found punk so fascinating because of the positive outlook that was concealed underneath the ostensibly destructive image. "We wished to try something different. To make way, the outdated had to go first, claims Skai. "That is a standard concept in art theory today; it is nothing new, but it was novel back then."
His comrade-in-arms Klaus Abelmann appreciates the strength that punk gave young people. The co-editor of the book believes that punk extends much beyond loud music and scrounging. "Anything may be punk. Above all, it's an attitude rather than something you do when drinking a beer in front of the railway station.
It's hardly unexpected that the novel concludes in 1983 because that year saw violent altercations between punks and skins and the police during the days of mayhem. "The only individuals who wanted to riot were young people, and they were entirely disorganized. What, though? What are you defending? That didn't help, Hollow Skai reflects on the situation at hand. He broke away from the ideas of the original punks during the anarchy days. Punk was left behind by Hollow Skai and Klaus Abelmann.
Although they claim in their book that they don't want to "sit like the two grandpas from the Muppet Show and say: We were the first to have no future" today. The punks' motto from back then, "No Future," is more relevant than ever now, especially in light of the climate issue. The editors were forever changed by their brief but strong brush with punk. Even now, Annette Benjamin continues to perform with The Benjamins.
They are all of the opinion that the punk ideas are still quite popular today. Her book "How punk came to Hanover" contains inspiring tales about a great subculture in an unusual location.
Source: Joschka Brings/NDR