SCHLAFLOSE NÄCHTE, Instandbesetzung – Ein Gespenst geht um, 1981

This first record i found yesterday in a local record-store here in Berlin Kreuzberg for 1 Euro. It`s a private pressing from 1981 and it says on the back that “This record was made by squatters for squatters” and that 2,50 German marks go directly to imprisoned squatters. If this was a Punk record it would be a classic, but because the music on this record is only normal Rock music it will probably remain obscure forever. The lyrics however are a pretty good document of the early eighties squatters movement.The chorus says:”Long hair, short hair, flipped-out! With Leather jackets, colored pants, really crazy! That`s how we go into the houses and we want to stay there. We won`t let them spoil our Fun!”

I couldn`t help humming that song all day: “Instandbesetzung-Ein Gespenst geht um”(Squatting – A ghost is about town) by SCHLAFLOSE NÄCHTE (sleepless nights). The B-side is “Schöner Wohnen” by 5 AUS 36. Five People from Kreuzberg. The cover was done by Detlef Surrey, who did quite a few squatting related comics in the early eighties.

This little book by Detlef Surrey, Fuchsi, Harald Juch and Peter Petri came out in 1981 at the height of the squatting movement. Today Detlef Surrey still works in Kreuzberg.

You can check out what he is doing now, 25 years later at surreystudio

SCHLAFLOSE NÄCHTE, Instandbesetzung – Ein Gespenst geht um, 1981

Ein kleiner, zusammengefasster, von mir auf deutsch geschriebener Text über diese Platte, erschien am 27. August 2009 in der Wochenzeitung Jungle World.

Er findet sich hier.

Tags: 45s, Berlin Records, Cartoon, German, Punk, Records, Squatting