Recorded and remixed / episode 02 - the Mülheim breed

Why Mülheim an der Ruhr? Well, we don’t know either... But one thing was obvious when we started the preparations for our series: the artists hailing from this city seem to have some kind of special standing in the Ruhr area. Totally unique, hovering between so-called „e-music“ and entertainment, they’re an original, very independent breed.

Text by Peter Hesse and Jens Mayer

Bohren & der Club of Gore have their own intense kind of music which is hard to categorise. In the band info the quartet provides, it is described as „Doom Ridden Jazz Music“. Their wary attitude, a bit stubborn and very down-to-earth, is spiced with a dash of quiet humour and makes for a one-of-a-kind musical experience. „We’ve always wanted to be unwieldy, and we are unwieldy“, sax player Christoph Clöser defines the band’s self-conception – since their start in 1988, many a seasoned TV editor has met a real challenge when trying to describe their style. 2008, the band released their sixth and so far last album „Dolores“. The combo is equally appreciated and admired by Metal fans, Alternative / Indie lovers and classic Jazz aficionados. Their audience always consists of a wide array of types, including upscale scholars as well as teen-aged Black Metal kids, all of them considering Bohren’s music as “cool”.

Helge Schneider is a big fan of this adjunct: „Cool is the word. Supercool. You can only learn by experience – without prejudices.“ Says the man, standing on a lawn among his dwarf sheep. He has invited us over to his home and muses about the Ruhr area, the arts and commerce, and the really important things in life. The man has many talents: he is filmmaker, stage director, musician, multi-instrumentalist, graphic artist, master of the afterburn-punchline, clown, author... „Po-Po-Po-Pokerface“ – Schneider’s very own version of the smash hit, sung by himself, comes from his mobile phone, an homage to Lady Gaga - maybe because sometimes he feels a bit gaga, too – who knows…
Schneider, born 1955 in Mülheim an der Ruhr, was a classical quitter until his decision to focus only on music: he quit grammar school, the conservatoire – those just curbed his ambitions as an artist. 1989, his first record was released – titled: „Seine größten Erfolge“ („His biggest successes“). With songs as „Katzeklo“ („cat toilet“) and „Fitze Fitze Fatze“ (a nonsensical word combination), he became famous in Germany. His film „Texas - Doc Snyder hält die Welt in Atem“ („Texas – Doc Snyder keeps the world busy“) was the most successful German movie of 1993. His play „Mendy – das Wusical“ premiered 2003 at the Schauspielhaus in Bochum. Before we start filming him at the piano in his rehearsal room, he asks: „You need more light?” A pro question – after all, the Jack of all trades photographs all his posters himself, and so he illuminates the scene perfectly for us. The man seems to be up to any given challenge.

Strange masterpieces, made by people living in Mülheim an der Ruhr. TV show host Wim Thoelke and the artist Christoph Schlingensief also hail from this town. „Artists are important“, Helge Schneider tells us – and feeds the black sheep grazing behind his house.

„The Ruhr area – recorded and remixed“: a series of episodes by Jens Mayer, Jörg Stiepermann and Peter Hesse on music, people and the region.

More episodes of The Ruhr area - recorded and remixed:

Video

Blog