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Erich Honecker's Rock and Roll Years

Henning Wehn investigates 'Ostrock' - the East German rock and pop music scene. What was Erich Honecker’s influence? From 2011.

Henning Wehn investigates 'Ostrock' - the rock and pop music scene in the old East Germany.

During the Cold War, we were given the impression that life behind the Iron Curtain was unrelentingly grim and that communist youth suffered from a lack of fashionable clothing and an earnest adherence to the socialist dream.

But this wasn’t always the case and despite the fact that Erich Honecker believed 'beat music' was being used by the enemy to send East German Youth into 'overdrive', he had only limited success in placing controls on a thriving rock and pop music scene in the GDR.

It’s true that his musicians had to perform in front of a committee to obtain a licence, that there was only one - state controlled - record company and that if you fell foul of those in power, your music 'ceased to exist'. But East German youngsters were listening to Western music being played on radio stations on the other side of the Wall and so Honecker ultimately failed to control their musical tastes.

German comedian Henning Wehn goes to Berlin in search of a scene unknown to him when he was growing up in West Germany. He talks to Ostrock musicians and fans and uncovers a story that involves, the Stasi, disappearing musicians, lyrics with hidden meanings and music that was 'Western' in all but name.

Producer: Helen Lee.

First broadcast on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4 in April 2011.

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Mon 26 Apr 2021 03:30

Piers Plowright's Pick

Piers Plowright's Pick
Legendary radio maker Piers Plowright recommends Erich Honecker's Rock and Roll Years:

"German stand-up comedian Henning Wehn presents in delightfully idiosyncratic English portrait of ‘Ostrock’, East Germany’s largely unknown rock’n’roll scene before the Berlin Wall came down in 1989.

"The story, part tragedy, part comedy, is told through interview (some delightfully unexpected like the German critic who’s learnt his English by following Leeds United), musical excerpts, and street and record shop conversations.

"This is one of those programmes that is quite straightforward in form but a revelation in content. Full of excellent one-liners and thoroughly refreshing in presentation and treatment."

Credit

Role Contributor
Visual Editor Ian Bent

Broadcasts

  • Thu 28 Apr 2011 11:30
  • Mon 16 Jan 2017 06:30
  • Mon 16 Jan 2017 13:30
  • Mon 16 Jan 2017 20:30
  • Tue 17 Jan 2017 01:30
  • Thu 22 Apr 2021 14:30
  • Fri 23 Apr 2021 02:30
  • Sun 25 Apr 2021 15:30
  • Mon 26 Apr 2021 03:30

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