Der nette Mann
Der nette Mann (German for "The nice man") is the debut album by German rock band Böhse Onkelz. It was released in 1984. Der nette Mann is considered the first album of the German skinhead subculture. Six of its 14 tracks are deemed to either promote violence, Nazi-ideology or pornography by the German Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons. Therefore, not only the whole album is put on the 'index' (which means, it is not to be sold to minors, not to be put on public display, not to be advertised). Shortly after the 'indexing', the album was additionally embargoed due to purported "glorification of violence" in its lyrics, making it altogether illegal to sell the album in Germany. As of today, this decision ceased to come into effect, the indexing still stands. Original copies of the album (2,000 were sold) are regarded as rarities and have a value of more than €350. On 28 December 2020, the album was officially reissued for the first time as part of the group's Onkelz: 40 Jahre boxset, albeit omitting the tracks "Frankreich '84", "Fussball + Gewalt" and "Dr. Martens Beat", after the Onkelz lobbied to have the album removed from the Index. Track listing Frankreich '84 (France '84) Fußball + Gewalt (Soccer and Violence) Der nette Mann (The Nice Man) Deutschland (Germany) Singen und Tanzen (Singing and Dancing) Mädchen (Girl) Tanz auf deinem Grab (Dance on Your Grave) Dr. Martens Beat Vereint (United) Freibier (Free Beer) Stolz (Pride) Freitag Nacht (Friday Night) Böhse Onkelz Alkohol (Alcohol) Track notes Frankreich '84' This song's theme is the UEFA Euro 1984 in France. The band indeed had tickets to some of the games, but got into trouble with the French border police. "Frankreich '84" was one of the tracks, because of which the whole album was embargoed. The term "Frankreichüberfall" (France Assault i.e. assault on France), is reminiscent of the German attack on France in World War II. The Bundesprüfstelle für jugendgefährdende Schriften (German Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons) concluded that "Frankreich '84 is forcing violence and glorifying the Nazi regime" and is demeaning to the French national team and supports Nazi tendencies. Fußball + Gewalt This song is about the battles between football hooligans. Der nette Mann This track is concerned with child abuse, told from the perspective of the criminal himself. "Ich bin der nette Mann von nebenan, und jeder könnt' es sein. Schaut mich an, schaut mich an, ich bin das perverse Schwein." ("I am the nice man from next door / and everyone could it be / Look at me, look at me / I am the pervert pig"). Although the band intended the song as a statement against child molesters, the Bundesprüfstelle reached the conclusion, that its lyrics propagate violence towards children. Nevertheless, the band performed this song until their dissolution on several concerts, deliberately facing paying hefty fines each time. Deutschland This is an over-patriotic song. The Böhse Onkelz were - so they say