WIZO
Encyclopedia
Wizo (ˈviːzo) is a punk rock
band from Sindelfingen
, Germany. The band was formed in 1985. Their messages run from political to humorous, and they are strongly opposed to Nazism
, fascism
, racism
, and "all of that crap". They split up in March 2005 and reunited in November 2009.
. In 1986 they altered their name to "Wizo" and got their first gig in 1987. In 1988 Wizo released their first demo tape, in 1990, they released another demo. Jochen only sang a few songs, including the Judas Priest
cover, "Breaking the Law
". He then left and Axel Kurth became the front man.
Later that year, they founded their own label, Hulk Räckorz and released the "Klebstoff" ("Glue") EP, their first vinyl record.
In 1991, "Für'n Arsch" (familiar for "To No Avail", lit. for "for the ass") was released.
In 1992, their first CD, "Bleib Tapfer" ("Stay Brave") was released.
They then released the single "Roy Black ist tot" ("Roy Black Is Dead") as a dubious tribute to the German pop-star Roy Black on the one year anniversary of his death. The tribute in question was a punk cover of a children's song with the lyrics altered to a German version of "Roy Black is dead, Roy Black is dead." It was named the worst CD of the year by the Bild-Zeitung
, a major German tabloid.
In 1994, their next CD, "Uuaarrgh!" (onomatopoeic, like a big "ouch", as in comics) was released.
In 1995 they released "Herrénhandtasche" ("gents purse") and played on a tour with Die Ärzte
.
In 1996, WIZO's lineup changed; Ingo Hahn replaced their long-standing drummer, Charly Zasko, and he and Axel "are fortunately no longer in contact." With Ingo, "Doof wie Scheiße" ("Dumb as Shit") was also recorded.
In 1997, they released the "Weihnachten stinkt!" ("Christmas stinks!") Split EP with the Japanese punk band Hi-Standard
.
In 1998, WIZO released "Kraut & Rüben EP" ("Cabbage and Carrots") on the label Fat Wreck Chords
, being the songs that were already popular in Germany, but unknown to the rest of the world. That year, Herr Guhl replaced Ingo as drummer.
September, 2004, WIZO made a first in the music industry by releasing a single on USB keydrive, titled as the "Stick EP". In addition to five high bitrate
MP3s, it also included a video, pictures, lyrics, and tabs.
In November 2004, coinciding with the release of their final album, "Anderster" (lit. "differendest"), they announced their intent to dissolve in March 2005, upon the conclusion of their farewell tour.
In November 2009, they announced a new album and a tour for 2010 on their official Homepage.
WIZO's music was characterised by a combination of humorous and political lyrics and a fast punk rock
sound, and as such the band is considered part of the German movement known as "Fun-Punk".
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band from Sindelfingen
Sindelfingen
Sindelfingen is a German town near Stuttgart at the headwaters of the Schwippe that is the site of a Mercedes-Benz assembly plant.-History:* 1155 First documented mention of Sindelfingen...
, Germany. The band was formed in 1985. Their messages run from political to humorous, and they are strongly opposed to Nazism
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
, fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
, racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
, and "all of that crap". They split up in March 2005 and reunited in November 2009.
Lineup
- 1985 – Axel Kurth (Vocals + Guitar)
- 1985–2005 – Jörn Genserowski (Bass)
- 2009 - Thorsten Schwämmle (Bass)
- 1987–1990 – Ratz (Drums)
- 1990–1996 – Charly (Drums)
- 1996–2000 – Ingo (Drums)
- 2000 – Thomas Guhl (Drums)
Biography
Jochen Bix founded the band "Wieso" (meaning "why?") with friends in Sindelfingen, a town in the vicinity of StuttgartStuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
. In 1986 they altered their name to "Wizo" and got their first gig in 1987. In 1988 Wizo released their first demo tape, in 1990, they released another demo. Jochen only sang a few songs, including the Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
cover, "Breaking the Law
Breaking the Law
"Breaking the Law" is a song by British heavy metal band Judas Priest, originally released on their 1980 album British Steel. The song is one of the band's better known singles, and is recognized by its opening guitar riff.-Music video:...
". He then left and Axel Kurth became the front man.
Later that year, they founded their own label, Hulk Räckorz and released the "Klebstoff" ("Glue") EP, their first vinyl record.
In 1991, "Für'n Arsch" (familiar for "To No Avail", lit. for "for the ass") was released.
In 1992, their first CD, "Bleib Tapfer" ("Stay Brave") was released.
They then released the single "Roy Black ist tot" ("Roy Black Is Dead") as a dubious tribute to the German pop-star Roy Black on the one year anniversary of his death. The tribute in question was a punk cover of a children's song with the lyrics altered to a German version of "Roy Black is dead, Roy Black is dead." It was named the worst CD of the year by the Bild-Zeitung
Bild-Zeitung
The Bild is a German tabloid published by Axel Springer AG. The paper is published from Monday to Saturday, while on Sundays, Bild am Sonntag is published instead, which has a different style and its own editors...
, a major German tabloid.
In 1994, their next CD, "Uuaarrgh!" (onomatopoeic, like a big "ouch", as in comics) was released.
In 1995 they released "Herrénhandtasche" ("gents purse") and played on a tour with Die Ärzte
Die Ärzte
Die Ärzte is a punk band from Berlin. Die Ärzte are one of the best-known German punk rock bands and have released over 20 albums. The band consists of guitarist Farin Urlaub, drummer Bela B. and bass player Rodrigo González...
.
In 1996, WIZO's lineup changed; Ingo Hahn replaced their long-standing drummer, Charly Zasko, and he and Axel "are fortunately no longer in contact." With Ingo, "Doof wie Scheiße" ("Dumb as Shit") was also recorded.
In 1997, they released the "Weihnachten stinkt!" ("Christmas stinks!") Split EP with the Japanese punk band Hi-Standard
Hi-Standard
Hi-Standard is a Japanese punk rock band who formed in 1991. The release Making the Road sparked sold-out Japan shows and US/European tours with punk bands such as NOFX, No Use for a Name and WIZO. Although members of Hi-Standard were Japanese born, all of the band's major releases were sung in...
.
In 1998, WIZO released "Kraut & Rüben EP" ("Cabbage and Carrots") on the label Fat Wreck Chords
Fat Wreck Chords
Fat Wreck Chords is a San Francisco, California based independent record label, focused on punk rock. It was started by Fat Mike and his ex-wife, Erin, in 1990....
, being the songs that were already popular in Germany, but unknown to the rest of the world. That year, Herr Guhl replaced Ingo as drummer.
September, 2004, WIZO made a first in the music industry by releasing a single on USB keydrive, titled as the "Stick EP". In addition to five high bitrate
Bitrate
In telecommunications and computing, bit rate is the number of bits that are conveyed or processed per unit of time....
MP3s, it also included a video, pictures, lyrics, and tabs.
In November 2004, coinciding with the release of their final album, "Anderster" (lit. "differendest"), they announced their intent to dissolve in March 2005, upon the conclusion of their farewell tour.
In November 2009, they announced a new album and a tour for 2010 on their official Homepage.
WIZO's music was characterised by a combination of humorous and political lyrics and a fast punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
sound, and as such the band is considered part of the German movement known as "Fun-Punk".
Discography
- Für'n ArschFür'n Arschfür'n Arsch is the debut album by the German punk rock band Wizo. "für'n Arsch" is a vulgar expression for "in vain".-Track listing:#"Diese Welt" – 2:59#"I want You to be ma girl" – 2:28#"Gute Freunde" – 4:04...
(1991) - Bleib TapferBleib tapferBleib Tapfer is the second album by WIZO, self-released on their own label, Hulk Räckorz.-Track listing:#"Bei Dir" – 1:31#"Mein Tod" – 3:21#"Nice Day" – 4:18#"Bleib Tapfer" – 3:30#"Es ist Vorbei" – 4:35...
(1992) - All That She Wants EP (1993)
- UUAARRGH!UUAARRGH!UUAARRGH! is an album by German punk band WIZO, originally released in 1994 by the band's own label, Hulk Räckorz. In 1995, the band signed to Fat Wreck Chords who re-released the album to an international audience with a markedly different track listing.-Track Listing :#"Wer Bist Denn Du" –...
(1994) - Mindhalálig Punk (split with AuroraAurora (punk band)Aurora is a punk band formed in Győr, Hungary in 1983.The band is the longest standing and best known band in the Hungarian punk scene.-Discography:*"1988" *"Viszlát Iván" *"Előre Kurvák, Gengszterek" *"Fel Támadás"...
) (1994) - HerrenhandtascheHerrenhandtascheHerrenhandtasche – as it says on the album cover – is a studio album by the German punk rock band WIZO, released in 1995, and means "manpurse" in English.- Track listing :# Hello - 0:19# 9247 - 3:15...
(1995) - Weihnachten stinkt! (split EP with Hi-StandardHi-StandardHi-Standard is a Japanese punk rock band who formed in 1991. The release Making the Road sparked sold-out Japan shows and US/European tours with punk bands such as NOFX, No Use for a Name and WIZO. Although members of Hi-Standard were Japanese born, all of the band's major releases were sung in...
) (1997) - Kraut & Rüben EP (1998)
- Stick EP (2004)
- AndersterAndersterAnderster, or ' as it says on the album cover, is the last studio album by the German punk rock band WIZO.The word anderster, meant to mean more different, is an artificial construction from the German word anders, which means different...
(2004)