1988

Picture 1: Uli Rehberg in front of his world-known record store Unterm Durchschnitt, ca. 1988

This was the local meeting point of the members of Grober Unfug, Platzangst, Knallschoten, Spiel 77, HH-Milch, Terröristleri, Channel Rats and the writers of fanzines like Funzine, Minusrekord, Holy War, A.d.S.W. and others from near and far. Founded by late Robert Nitz (founder of Konektschen Records, who put out the first HH-Punk records/samplers) it went throu the hands of Uli & Mansur Niknam (later fame with WEIRD-System Records, back then just a long-haired hippie) to become Uli's very own resort. Famous for the X-Mas and New Years record-burning parties (unsoled punk records and stuff was handed to the fire). Uli put out some great Atonal record on his own Walter Ulbricht Schallfolien AG lable ranging from Throbbing Gristle to Asmus Tietchens. His shop was a fear-point in the late 80s and begining 90s for constant customer abuse and ignorance.

Picture 2&3: Minus (Minusrekord Fanzine), EM-Final 1988

A nice shot of Minus (fame w/ Funzine and Minusrekord Fanzine) showing is DIY Vialli shirt during 1988's European Football Championship. This was in real DIY/punk attidude and sported a "Holsten Pilsner" hand made add on the front. The Championship was crowned by the Dutch wining over Germany in Hamburg (sic!) and endless riots on the Reeperbahn that day. Even on TV an infamous old punk from Hamburg (then part of the Hamburg Hooligan Scene) was on TV with a nice little ode of " we are going to kill all those dutch bastards". He is well known for having to sell his huge punk record collection in order to pay the fines (...and lawyer) he was ordered to pay for his hoologian activities. Nice to see the mighty dutch team win the final with a cool strike by Marco van Basten. Also well remembered is the durch goalkeeper who wipped the german national team shirt after the game over his arse - nice goodbey-we-kicked-you-out to the german fans! (As i am working nowadays for a anglo-dutch company i do not understand why the germans and the dutch still hate each other - but i have a very good understanding!)

Picture 4 : Punks on the attack again (Punks vs. Yuppies)

This is another nice newspaper clip of local punk activists trying to defend HH-Ottensen (where the venue "Fabrik" is located) against the invasion of Yuppies (ie. high price / high qulity restaurants in converted industrial buildings). Of course this is not stopable, as the lines of power go with the lines of money but it was another highlight in the press.

Picture 5 : The Return of Oma Hodel EP (Holy War Records 1988)		Picture 6: Backside cover

This was the last release of Holy War Records in the 80ties (and the next releases only came in 2003 with the Demolition Girl Picture EP) - the follow up to the 1985 release "The Rise and Fall of Oma Hodel" and so to say equal to "End of the century". It is still a pretty much demanded collectors item as it carries the only ever recorded song of the great Schwerpunk - a short living blend of Saint Vitus, White Pigs and Nordic Grindcore way befor that style of music did actualy hit big time in the late 90ties.

Picture 7: Schwerpunk Promo Poster for never released LP

The Schwerpunk LP finaly did blow Holy War Records out of existence for some time as the recording sessions where paid but the band leader Igor did virtualy kill the band after the final recording sessions and took with him the tapes - never to be seen nor heard in Hamburg again. You can see Igor on this picture on the right side, together with Hans (drums) and Robert (guitar).

Picture Credits: (1) - (7) from the Holy War Archive - All pictures are (c) 2011 by The Holy War Archive Foundation and unagreed usage will result in unhealthy punishment by the Holy War Team.