Behind the Iron Curtain: The Untold Story of Heavy Metal in the GDR

Heavier, harder, louder, faster was the motto for heavy metal fans in the 1980s, not just in the West but also behind the Iron Curtain. The Museum in der Kulturbrauerei Berlin is hosting a charming exhibition, “Heavy Metal in the GDR,” that dives into the passionate and surprisingly resilient heavy metal scene in East Germany.

I grew up in Belo Horizonte, a city in Brazil famous for the country’s biggest heavy metal band, Sepultura. But they were not the only band to come out of the town. My hometown was one of the main Brazilian thrash metal musical movement scenes. The bands that emerged from there were the most extreme, such as Sarcófago, Overdose, and Mutilator.

Also, the most important record label, Cogumelo Records, is from there and has been releasing records since 1985.

In the 1990s, I was presented with all this, which changed my life. I started a band, learned to play drums, and got excited about the concerts around me. When I first read about this exhibition on heavy metal in East Germany, I knew I had to go there to see what happened in a country so different from where I grew up.

Heavy Metal in the GDR: Rocking the Wall with East German Metalheads

The exhibit takes you back to a time when bands like Iron Maiden, Mötley Crüe, and Metallica were rocking the West, and East German youth were finding their own voice through music. They listened to these bands through radio shows that were illegal to them.

You’ll see leather jackets, studded bracelets, guitars, and records that tell the story of a youth culture that wasn’t afraid to be different, even in the face of harsh punishment.

Through interviews and videos, you’ll hear directly from the people who lived it – the fans and the bands who defied the odds to create their own world of heavy metal. You’ll also learn how they found ways to connect with each other at concerts and even on the radio through shows like “Tendenz Hard bis Heavy” on DT64.

Moshing Against the Regime: How Heavy Metal Defied the SED in East Germany

However, enjoying heavy metal in East Germany wasn’t all fun and games since the government considered any presence of Western influence to be a threat to the communist regime.

This exhibit doesn’t shy away from the challenges these “metalheads” faced under the watchful eye of the SED regime.

The Stasi, East Germany’s secret police, monitored, kept track of them, and harassed them whenever possible, seeing their love for heavy metal as a potential threat. Despite these problems, the scene grew stronger, and they found ways to express themselves and gain acceptance.

But What Happened After the Wall Fell?

One of the most intriguing parts of this exhibition is how it explores what happened to Heavy Metal in the GDR scene after the Berlin Wall fell in 1989. It traces the ups and downs, the disappearance of concert venues, the extreme moments, and the surprising revivals this music scene has experienced in the decades since. Through interviews and images, you will see how heavy metal in East Germany evolved and continues to influence music and culture today.

I found it fascinating to draw parallels between my experience as a heavy metal fan in Brazil and the East German scene. Both countries faced similar issues, and it was exciting to see how many bands blossomed out of those challenges despite feeling destined to fail.

Also, one of the exhibition’s highlights is that you can listen to most of the bands presented in it. And I loved the trip back in time that it provided since you can clearly hear the references they were using at the time. I loved it.

From Leather Jackets to Reunification: Berlin Exhibit Explores HEAVY METAL IN THE GDR

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