Friedemann from the island of Rügen took his first known musical steps with the band Tonnensturz. Friedemann was the drummer for Tonnensturz. With the end of Tonnensturz and the founding of COR, Friedemann became the singer. However, there was an excursion to the shooting gallery with Troopers from Berlin from 2004 to 2007.
As many surely know, COR disbanded in 2023. At the same time, Friedemann has been pursuing solo paths since 2014. Initially with musical accompaniment, but increasingly alone.
Anyone who knows Friedemann has surely gained the impression that he is someone who has something to say. Friedemann can express this very aptly in a quiet manner, but as it often goes, eventually the noise beckons.
Thus, Friedemann has founded KODDER.
KODDER is coming.
To better understand what KODDER is, I let Friedemann answer a few questions about his new band. The answers and my questions to the true Rüganer can be read below.
Frank: KODDER is a relatively new band project of yours.
How did KODDER come about? How did you find your bandmates?
Friedemann: I had the idea of an uncompromising punk band in my head for a while, and with the dissolution of COR, the way was clear. The whole thing was supposed to go in the direction of early COR, more heart than head and without much consideration of song structure, etc. Then I publicly asked if anyone was interested. After a Friedemann concert in Rostock, a man my age approached me and asked if I would do a session with his son. I had already tested several drummers, and something always didn't fit.
After the first rehearsal day with Arthur, it was clear - it fits!
Super drummer, extremely unique, and a freak like me!
We are guys from different generations who love to spend time in the rehearsal room and love music uncompromisingly.
I knew Stefanie from her time with "Mickey the Sick", a women's punk band from Halle an der Saale. I hadn't noticed her because she is rather reserved, but I could vaguely remember some shared concerts. She contacted me and asked if I would be interested in rehearsing with her. We did that, and after our first band rehearsal together, I knew:
You have two very good people!
Unconventional, unique, of good character, and very good instrumentalists.
We spend a lot of time together and rehearse a lot and enjoy it. Sometimes I feel like I'm 18 again, when we were constantly in the rehearsal room playing.
We three are now taking this as a beautiful, creative time for ourselves.
Frank: The band name immediately reminded me as a Berliner of the "Kodderschnauze"
How did you come up with the band name?
Friedemann: In our northern region, there is the term “koddern”, which means something like venting, complaining, stirring up trouble, and being cheeky. It fits the band plan and attitude. In Switzerland, there is a similar word (I believe “Chodder”), which means something like slime and snot. I found that interesting too.
Frank: How much COR is in KODDER?
Friedemann: The idea is similar, the roughness too. Besides, I am involved. So it's a good mix. There will always be COR songs live as well. They are good, and I love them. However, I will play them differently, less metal, more punk and rock 'n' roll. Then there are also two new people, and they influence it a lot. That makes the COR songs sound new. Additionally, Stefanie sings along and takes on a large vocal part, which really changes a lot!
Frank: Your first song has the chorus "You disgust me. I disgust myself". How did this song and the chorus come about? Why such a radical statement?
Friedemann: The state of the world, the indifference, the blind eye of many people in this world gets on our nerves. With all due respect, we can and must change the course of things with our behavior. I am often criticized for demanding that my fellow human beings reflect on their way of life and then sort out the garbage and do better. In my eyes, and in those of Arthur and Stefanie, that is the only way. I do this daily in my private life, within my activities, and my work. It is exhausting but totally meaningful. All this talk about a better world and the fight against injustices, and then often nothing happens. That leads us as humanity to the abyss. I sympathize with all those who do not accept this, with Fridays for Future, Kein Bock auf Nazis, Ärzte ohne Grenzen, with FLINTA movements, and many others.
There are incredibly committed people who push through and draw attention to grievances, fight them, and are often laughed at, criminalized, and fought against by us, even though we know: They are right and often rely on scientific findings (like, for example, regarding climate change) and well-founded knowledge!
What a nonsensical behavior of the societal mass!
That disgusts us, especially because it is also spreading in our so-called scene. How much rubbish flows from the minds of many supposedly left-leaning, democracy-friendly people, how much indifference and consumer thinking can be seen and heard... That is sometimes unbearable and is not least a cause of how things are in this country and in this world.
We have such extreme anger, and it is released in songs.
Frank: On your first EP, which will be released in a limited edition of 333 copies,
there is also a song about Campino, who recently received the State Prize of North Rhine-Westphalia. What motivated you to dedicate a song to the singer of Die Toten Hosen?
Friedemann: There was quite a backlash for the song!
I am currently sitting here under the impression of the comments from people who left them under the video.
I expected that.
No, it is not a marketing strategy!
I have dealt extremely with the things I sing there. I am surprised by the very rough tone and the personal insults.
That reminds me of the comments under Lampedusa Blues, a song by COR ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3C5BEcxOI-4 ), which were similarly harsh and came from the other political side.
Hardly anyone engages with the facts!
Die Toten Hosen are millionaires who belong to the elite of society, talking about a better world (Campino actually does this often and is also engaged), but then collaborating with the normal large industries that don't care what they sell to whom at what price (e.g., the BMG collaboration with Die Toten Hosen and previously worked with Kollegah / Farid Bang). Honestly, there has to be more than just complaining about Nazis and the AfD and Kollegah!
There needs to be criticism of the industry, there needs to be criticism of our society, there needs to be role models and better practices.
The higher one is positioned in this society, the more opportunities one has, the greater the responsibility in my eyes. It's not just about Campino; it's about all the big stars and celebrities who have come from punk or subculture, now have opportunities and responsibilities, and in my opinion, are not doing well enough.
We need more involvement, more clear stances, and no bowing to monarchs, industry, and accepting state awards. Because Mr. Wüst belongs to the CDU, a party that has led us to where we are today with its "industry-friendly, we don't care about the environment and people's well-being as long as profit is right" attitude.
The elite finds each other, awards each other prizes, and applauds each other. Then there is a bit of criticism of the misguided sheep who vote for the AfD, a reminder of values that one has betrayed, and please vote democratically. After that, a little champagne and buffet.
That is weak, very weak.
Frank: If I'm correctly informed, you want to release more soon.
What can you tell us? What can we expect?
Friedemann: The EP will be released in a limited edition of 333 with an etched band logo
and will contain three songs. In April 2025, the LP with 15 songs will come out. Both will be released on the label Weird Sounds.
The KODDER tour starts in February 2025.
Frank: You are someone who is solo, now has KODDER, then
you have a family and are a farmer. I imagine that to be organizationally demanding. How do you manage to organize everything?
Friedemann: It is exhausting, but I enjoy it very much and am supported by a good network of family, friends, and Andre from our label Weird Sounds.
I try to do as much as possible myself and stay true to my ideals. Often it is a balancing act, but I have very critical people around me who step in when necessary and push me back on track.
Frank: Noticeable climate change, noticeable political change... how do you see
the situation for yourself, for Rügen, for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern?
Friedemann: These are problems whose solutions we still hold in our own
hands. Less complaining, more taking responsibility, giving more of oneself, and seeking solutions in the private environment as well as in one's own behavior. Not always "Those up there" but sometimes "We down here".
Politics only creates the framework. Each individual must fill it in themselves. Personal responsibility is a good keyword. My family and I do this, for example, by avoiding air travel, imported tropical fruits, industrial meat, and before every purchase asking:
Do we need this?
Who produced it under what conditions?
Are there alternatives?
Many people always accuse me of just complaining and knowing better! I can reassure them. I am a great self-doubter who constantly questions himself and does not consider the paths he takes to be universally valid. I am on a journey, I am searching, I make mistakes, but at least I engage with myself, my time, and my tasks within it.
Frank: With whom would you like to spend a day in the tour bus and
why?
Friedemann: I have no idols, and besides, I would prefer not to meet some musicians so that the perfect world in which I see them is not destroyed. In the end, he or she might be an asshole, and then I can't listen to the music anymore. I would be interested in open conversations, for example, with Campino. I would like to know why certain decisions are made. That makes it interesting, but I prefer to spend time in the tour bus with my band or alone.
