Die Ärzte

Die Ärzte spearheaded the German punk rock revolution. While never achieving the international renown of rivals Die Toten Hosen, their impact on Central European music and culture is profound, and their satirical and often political songs are even taught in German schools. Die Ärzte, German for "the Physicians", formed in Berlin in 1982. Singer and guitarist Farin Urlaub and drummer Bela B. previously teamed in the short-lived Soilent Grün. After adding bassist Hans Runge, the trio adopted the name Die Ärzte for the simple reason that no other band's moniker started with the letter Ä.