“Udo Lindenberg & the Panikorchester – 50 years of Rock’n’Roll in the colorful Republic” on ARTE

Today, Udo Lindenberg & the Panikorchester are as much a part of the German music world as Pumpernickel is of Westphalia. But how did it all start for the team? The documentary “Udo Lindenberg & the Panikorchester – 50 Years of Rock’n’Roll in the Colorful Republic” that ARTE will broadcast on Friday (September 15) answers this question. In 89 minutes, the story of Lindenberg and his band is traced, which has gone through all the ups and downs in its 50-year existence. Of course, a bit of history about the “Colorful Republic of Germany” should not be missing.

In addition to numerous archive recordings that show the early years of Lindenberg and the orchestra, the musicians also have their say. But there are also numerous companions and others who were influenced by the iconic hat wearer. These include Jan Delay, Adel Tawil and Peter Maffay.

From Münster through the “Bunte Republic”

It all started in 1973 in Munster. In the Westphalian town, Udo Lindenberg, Steffi Stephan, Gottfried Böttger, Peter “Backi” Backhausen and Karl Allaut decide to form a band. Under the name “Udo Lindenberg & das Panikorchester” the quintet performs in local pubs and releases the album “Alles Klar auf der Andrea Doria” in the same year. The group around Lindenberg suddenly became famous overnight and shaped the wild 70s in Germany.

Of course, not everything always runs smoothly in the band’s 50-year history: Orchestra members come and go, the long tours show their marks, and in the political upheavals of the ’80s and ’90s, Lindenberg and his musicians also have to reinvent themselves. The documentary shows how they succeeded and how a small band from the Münsterland region developed into one of the most successful music groups in Germany.

“Udo Lindenberg & the Panikorchester – 50 Years of Rock’n’Roll in the Colorful Republic” will be shown on September 15 at 9:45 p.m. on ARTE. If you miss the broadcast on TV, you can watch it until March 14, 2024 in the ARTE media library catch up.