Wizo

This article is about the band. For the Carolingian scholar, see Candidus (floruit 793–802). For the Jewish organisation, see Women's International Zionist Organization.
Wizo
Background information
Origin Sindelfingen, Germany
Genres Punk rock, hardcore punk
Years active 1985–2005, 2009–present
Labels Hulk Räckorz
Members Axel Kurth
Thorsten Schwämmle
Axel Stinson
Past members Jörn Genserowski (1985-2005)
Ratz (1987–1990)
Charly (1990–1996)
Ingo (1996–2000)
Thomas Guhl (1998–2015)

Wizo (German pronunciation: [ˈviːzo]) is a punk rock band from Sindelfingen, Germany. The band was formed in 1985. Their messages run from political to humorous, and they are strongly opposed to Nazism, fascism, racism, and "all of that crap". They split up in March 2005[1] and reunited in November 2009.[2]

Lineup

Biography

Jochen Bix founded the band "Wieso" (meaning "why?") with friends in Sindelfingen, a town in the vicinity of Stuttgart. In 1986 they altered their name to "Wizo" and got their first gig in 1987. In 1988 Wizo released their first demo tape, in 1990, they released another demo. Jochen only sang a few songs, including the Judas Priest cover, "Breaking the Law". He then left and Axel Kurth became the front man.

Later that year, they founded their own label, Hulk Räckorz and released the "Klebstoff" ("Glue") EP, their first vinyl record.

In 1991, "Für'n Arsch" (familiar for "To No Avail", lit. for "for the ass") was released.

In 1992, their first CD, "Bleib Tapfer" ("Stay Brave") was released. They then released the single "Roy Black ist tot" ("Roy Black Is Dead") as a dubious tribute to the German pop-star Roy Black on the one year anniversary of his death. The tribute in question was a punk cover of a children's song with the lyrics altered to a German version of "Roy Black is dead, Roy Black is dead." It was named the worst CD of the year by the Bild-Zeitung, a major German tabloid.

In 1994, their next CD, "Uuaarrgh!" (onomatopoeic, like a big "ouch", as in comics) was released.

In 1995 they released "Herrénhandtasche" ("gents purse") and played on a tour with Die Ärzte.

In 1996, WIZO's lineup changed; Ingo Hahn replaced their long-standing drummer, Charly Zasko, and he and Axel "are fortunately no longer in contact." With Ingo, "Doof wie Scheiße" ("Dumb as Shit") was also recorded.

In 1997, they released the "Weihnachten stinkt!" ("Christmas stinks!") Split EP with the Japanese punk band Hi-Standard.

In 1998, WIZO released "Kraut & Rüben EP" ("Cabbage and Carrots", also "higgledy piggledy") on the label Fat Wreck Chords, being the songs that were already popular in Germany, but unknown to the rest of the world. That year, Herr Guhl replaced Ingo as drummer.

September, 2004, WIZO made a first in the music industry by releasing a single on USB keydrive, titled as the "Stick EP". In addition to five high bitrate MP3s, it also included a video, pictures, lyrics, and tabs.

In November 2004, coinciding with the release of their final album, "Anderster" (lit. "differendest"), they announced their intent to dissolve in March 2005, upon the conclusion of their farewell tour.

In November 2009, they announced a new album and a tour for 2010 on their official Homepage.

WIZO's music was characterised by a combination of humorous and political lyrics and a fast punk rock sound, and as such the band is considered part of the German movement known as "Fun-Punk".

WIZO released their latest album "Punk gibt's nicht umsonst" on 13 June 2014. The CD will be released in July and the vinyl will follow in August.

Discography

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wizo.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.wizo.de/english.htm
  2. ↑ http://www.wizo.de
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