What is going on here in the Free State of Bavaria? The band AMDAMDES from Landshut, Bavaria, has had their performance in Schrobenhausen on April 20th temporarily banned by the state authorities.
At this point, I would like to quote our buddy, Denni, to give you some insight into the situation:
"I've been looking forward to the punk concert on April 20, 2013, for half a year now. The bands "Die Dorks", "Amdamdes", "Containa & the Bikini Bastards", and "Smalltown Conspiracy" were supposed to perform in Schrobenhausen, Bavaria. After rumors had been circulating since last Friday, I received a call today from Police Chief Klaus Rewitzer of the Schrobenhausen police station. He informed me that "Amdamdes" has been banned from performing in our Bavarian small town, on the grounds that he does not tolerate bands that call for "violence against police officers" in their songs. In the case of "Amdamdes", it concerns two indexed songs (a cover of the song "Polizei SA/SS" by Slime and the song "Scheiße bitte"). Since the band definitely does not play either song live, the ban on their performance is incomprehensible. I was also assured over the phone that if "Amdamdes" performs, they will receive a complaint for breach of domestic peace or state peace. Unfortunately, the concert must now take place without "Amdamdes". However, the concert will definitely go ahead with the three remaining bands. We will not let ourselves be forbidden to celebrate in the so-called Free State of Bavaria."
Now you are probably wondering just like I am whether this is really that simple. Just because a band has two songs on the index that they claim not to play officially, I believe no one can prohibit the pub owner from hosting a concert with the mentioned band. After all, this is about individual freedom; everyone can do and bring into their establishment whoever they want. Fortunately, we do not (yet) have ankle bracelets in the Free State, so everyone can still move freely at the moment. At first glance, this looks very much like a pure form of harassment. I also find it puzzling what this threat of a complaint for breach of domestic peace is supposed to mean. A complaint for breach of domestic peace is usually filed by the owner of a house or property if they feel personally disturbed by someone, and not by the police, as this is actually a civil matter. And simply filing a complaint for breach of state peace just because someone has an electric guitar in their hand is fortunately (still) not that easy. No one can prohibit us from pointing out existing social grievances and societal abysses with our music, as we still have a fundamental right to free expression. Furthermore, and this is something that punk music has inherently had since its beginnings in England, not everything is said delicately in the name of artistic freedom. Mr. Knigge is not a correctional officer who can determine that. And regarding justice: artistic freedom also relates to personal freedom and is thus a fundamental right of each individual. I would strongly recommend the guys to consult a lawyer as soon as possible, because the last word has definitely not been spoken yet! Those who stand behind our music and see punk rock as more than just a party, but as a way to express their opinion and individual stance, should show up at the concert in Schrobenhausen on April 20th and demonstrate with us and the three other bands that we are not alone. We will not be pressured by the reprisals and will do what is rightfully ours, namely play punk rock. Please share this article, inform yourselves, and check out the band's page! Clubs, promoters, bands, our solidarity is needed here. This indexing cannot be equated with a complete censorship of the band, as it does not mean that we can be silenced and stop speaking out against everything that is going wrong in our state system!!!! Most people have no issue with a concert featuring subtle right-wing messages like those from Frei.Wild, while individuals from the right spectrum, who have been convicted multiple times for bodily harm, were, for example, escorted by police cars to the venue in Halsbach, Bavaria, to shout their inhumane hate texts into the microphone without disturbance. Why do you tolerate that???? Why were there so many investigative blunders in the case of the NSU?? It is time to wake society up, to develop a sense of what is going so wrong here, and above all, that the danger lurks in the middle of society. AMDAMDES, on the other hand, does nothing more than play loud music with lyrics that do not sweep anything under the rug and are meant to provoke thought in society! The only terror cell behind this is their full-tube amp for the guitar.
Link to the band:
www.amdamdes.net
Lizal from Die Dorks
