Rock gegen Rechts
Rock gegen Rechts is the motto of concerts and festivals held irregularly against far-right politics as a form of political demonstration in Germany and Austria. Udo Lindenberg called his events Rock gegen rechte Gewalt. Other names for such events have included Wir sind mehr in Chemnitz in 2018.
History
Frankfurt, 1979
The first Rock gegen Rechts festival was held on 16 June 1979 in Frankfurt in response to a Germany-wide event of the Nationaldemokratische Partei Deutschlands. It was inspired by the British Rock Against Racism.The festival took place at the, a former airport, organized by the Communist League. It was directed against a meeting and demonstration of the NPD, planned for the same day, similar to one which had attracted 3,000 people to march through the centre of Frankfurt the previous year. The festival was permitted, while a demonstration initiated by the DGB was forbidden. However, 40,000 people ignored the ban and demonstrated, which was tolerated by the police and went peacefully. Visitors reached the festival in a, a demonstration march from different starting points. 50,000 people listened to music by the Bots from the Netherlands, Schmetterlinge from Vienna, Misty from England, Guru Guru, Octopus, the Michael Sagmeister Trio, Strassenjungs and Missus Beastly, among others.
The festival's success led to further concerts throughout Germany. A second festival was held at the same location a year later on 16 and 17 June 1980. Beginning in the 1990s, the motto "Rock gegen Rechts" was also used for smaller political festivals. Udo Lindenberg named his events Rock gegen rechte Gewalt.