Punk's 50th Anniversary Celebrates Rebellion, Chaos and Unfiltered Energy
This year marks the 50th anniversary of punk—a milestone being celebrated with a special event. Musicians, journalists, and cultural figures will gather to reflect on the movement's history and lasting influence. The discussion will feature live performances, personal stories, and debates on punk's core values.
The event will bring together key figures from Germany's punk scene. David Spoo, a Hanover-based punk veteran active since the early 1980s, and Rod González, bassist and singer of Die Ärzte, will perform classic punk anthems from Hanover and Hamburg. Their setlist will highlight the raw energy that defined the genre.
Joining them are Hollow Skai, founder of the punk label No Fun Records, and Klaus Abelmann, a journalist and co-editor of the anniversary book Hey Ho! Let's Go! 50 Years of Punk in Hanover. The book documents the city's chaotic punk roots, including the infamous Chaostage—wild, unstructured events that began in the late 1970s. These gatherings, marked by spontaneous gigs and rebellious spirit, became a symbol of alternative youth culture, later inspiring festivals in Stuttgart and Hilden.
Our website's culture editor, Ulrich Gutmair, will moderate the talk. Topics will range from punk's DIY ethos and the role of women in the scene to the enduring importance of attitude over commercial success. The discussion will also revisit Hanover's Chaostage, exploring its legacy alongside broader punk movements in Hamburg and Berlin.
The anniversary event will mix live music with conversations about punk's past and present. Performances by Spoo and González, alongside insights from Skai and Abelmann, will highlight the genre's uncompromising spirit. The celebration aims to show how punk's defiant energy and grassroots values continue to resonate today.
