Recommendations of the Editorial team
On their last studio album, Die Toten Hosen give it their all once again. ROLLING STONE has already been through a lot with the people of Düsseldorf – and in our latest one Cover story Let’s talk to Campino about pressure and gratitude, embarrassment and pathos, a dignified farewell – and what might still happen…
A small excerpt from the conversation about the new song “No Leaf Between Us”.
In “No Leaf Between Us” you thank all the people who are committed to a better coexistence. The album booklet says that the song would probably have been eliminated from a regular album. Why? A solidarity song like this suits you well.
Yes, it’s a song of solidarity, but it’s difficult not to be overwhelmed by pathos when you sing it. At the same time, we felt the need to express it this way. My God, it’s our last album, it doesn’t matter if people accuse us of always coming around the corner with this do-gooder attitude. This is worth the price to us, which we will certainly pay.
But I admit, I would have postponed the topic if it wasn’t our last record. When it comes to topics that touch you or that get to the point, you can quickly cross the line to the pathetic or slightly embarrassing – it’s always a balancing act. With a funny song like “Don’t let me do it” there is no such thing. You either have a few catchy lines or you don’t, but you can’t crash with a song like that. “Not a leaf between us” is from the dangerous box, you have to be careful.
“For everyone who doesn’t stay silent here/shows attitude and courage/This is for you!“
But counteracting the angry bourgeoisie and cynicism is fundamentally good.
There has to be room for everything – even for anger and even for a cynical remark, that has to come out, and then it’s good. But if you keep these feelings inside yourself too much or run through life with them as your basic attitude, it’s wrong and in the long run you’ll poison yourself with it. That is my firm belief.
Even five friends don’t always agree
Are there more discussions with the other band members when it comes to songs like this? Or are you still dealing with it yourself?
This isn’t easy. When it becomes completely unbearable for the others, they say: It doesn’t work that way. Or: Don’t let it be done… But in principle they trust me that something sensible will come out of it – although they probably often secretly fold their hands and shout: “Oh Lord, don’t let him mess it up!” If someone has problems with certain words or lines, I try to address them. This is usually solvable. If someone has difficulty with the whole topic of a song and doesn’t understand it at all, then that’s of course a bigger problem. But something like this doesn’t happen often. You can’t expect, even with five friends, that everyone will always agree and no compromises will have to be made.
Writing lyrics for the Toten Hosen is a bit like the drinks delivery guy: you don’t even notice him. Only when the drinks are suddenly no longer there does everyone get pissed off and shout: “What’s the point?!” But otherwise it’s just: “Yeah, yeah, okay, put it over there in the corner, bye!”
The complete interview with Campino and an insight into the album cover design with Andi Meurer plus the world-exclusive vinyl single “Always only loved (with Sven Regener from Element Of Crime) / Liebeslied (Live 2025)” – only in ROLLING STONE. The July issue will be available from May 29th wherever magazines are sold. Or simply order at [email protected] or here.
