Hamburg Calling

Berlin or Düsseldorf. Clearly: Hamburg. Here, punk hit the hardest in Germany during the late 1970s. Inspired by the whirlwind that swept through English clubs, young men soon gathered by the Elbe to form bands like the Razors, Buttocks, or Coroners, aiming to shake off the self-satisfaction and lethargy of rock 'n' roll with just two or three chords. Meanwhile, a slightly older young man took a keen interest in what was happening in the Karolinenviertel. Alfred Hilsberg brought bands from England and Germany to the city, and in the magazine Sounds, he wrote about the new sounds emerging from rehearsal basements and youth centers. However, he soon grew bored: he wanted more than just short, fast numbers nailed together with guitar, bass, and drums. Through his label ZickZack and various festivals, he provided adventurous musicians the opportunity to explore new paths between underground and pop. Not only did records from Hamburg bands like Abwärts, X Mal Deutschland, or Palais Schaumburg come out on his label, but even Einstürzende Neubauten showcased what they had found in the junkyard. Hamburg Calling tells the story of the most exciting years in the city's musical underground with outstanding images by graphic designer Sabine Schwabroh—who was present at all the important concerts—photographer Ilse Ruppert, and numerous amateur photographs, capturing the evenings between Krawall 2000, Markthalle, and Versuchsfeld, and the subsequent nights in Marktstube, Subito, and Schlachterei, where the next ideas were born.