Die Toten Hosen discography
This discography provides an overview of the musical works of the German rock band Die Toten Hosen, as well as their pseudonyms such as Die Roten Rosen and Tangobrüder. According to sources, the band has sold more than 18 million records. Based on certified sales alone, they have sold over 14.5 million units in Germany, making them one of the country’s best-selling music acts. Their most successful release is the first compilation album Reich & sexy, which has sold over 1.1 million copies. Both this compilation and their ninth studio album Opium fürs Volk became million-sellers in Germany, ranking among the best-selling albums of the 1990s in the country. In addition, the video album Nur zu Besuch: Unplugged im Wiener Burgtheater, with over 100,000 copies sold, is one of the best-selling video albums in Germany.
By September 2023, the band had released 15 studio albums and eight live albums. In addition, nine compilation albums were issued, three of which were produced for international markets. Among these, Love, Peace & Money and Crash-Landing are collections of the band’s songs featuring newly written English lyrics. Beyond the listed albums, the band has released more than 70 singles and two EPs. The members have also contributed to albums by other artists and appeared on numerous compilations, as well as in radio, television, and film productions as guest musicians or extras. Eight songbooks containing sheet music and lyrics have also been published. By December 2017, the band had released a total of 365 original compositions and over 168 cover versions.
To mark their 30th anniversary, the studio album Ballast der Republik was released in May 2012. It immediately reached number one in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In May 2017, the band achieved their tenth number-one album in Germany with Laune der Natur; by now, that number has risen to twelve, making them one of the most successful musicians in the German-speaking world. The band’s first charting album was released in 1987 under the pseudonym Die Roten Rosen, titled Never Mind The Hosen – Here’s Die Roten Rosen. In 1990, Auf dem Kreuzzug ins Glück became their first studio album to reach number one in the German charts. With Auswärtsspiel in 2002, the band topped the Austrian charts for the first time as well. Their most commercially successful single until 2012 was Zehn kleine Jägermeister, which reached number one in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and was certified platinum in Germany for over 500,000 sales. In 2012, the single Tage wie diese reached number one on the German Singles Chart and sold more than 990,000 copies across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Since their formation in 1982, Die Toten Hosen have maintained almost the same lineup: Campino on vocals, Andreas von Holst and Michael Breitkopf on guitars, and Andreas Meurer on bass. There was one drummer change in 1986, when founding member Trini Trimpop was replaced by Wolfgang Rohde. Rohde remained with the band until 1999, alternating with Vom Ritchie on the album Unsterblich, where he appears on only four tracks. Vom Ritchie then took over permanently as the group’s drummer. All albums from 1982 to 2005 were produced by Jon Caffery, except for Never Mind The Hosen – Here’s Die Roten Rosen, which the band produced themselves. Starting with the album In aller Stille in 2008, Vincent Sorg has been responsible for producing their music.
Die Toten Hosen produced their first two singles and debut album Opel-Gang on their own label, Totenkopf. The independent label was managed by Jochen Hülder and Trini Trimpop. Hülder remained the band’s manager until his death in 2015. In 1983, the band signed with EMI, which financed the video for Eisgekühlter Bommerlunder and a concert tour. However, they switched to Virgin Records in 1984 with the release of Unter falscher Flagge, remaining with the label until 1995. Since the expiration of their contract with Virgin and the release of Opium fürs Volk, the band has issued all their releases through their own label, JKP.