The Year 1985
"Immediately cash!"
In order to fill out the void in the band's empty account, the Toten Hosen accepted an offer from the film director Wolfgang Bueld ("Punk in London") to take part in his next film. The film was entitled "Formula One" and saw the band members all too obviously scurrying in and out of camera, dressed alternately as a mexican quintet, a heavy metal band and zulu-rappers. It soon became apparent that the director was by no means in top form, so too his supporting actors from Duesseldorf. Nevertheless they released their musical contribution to the film as an EP. "Battle of the Bands" was for some "the apocalyptic vision of musical liberty" whereas for others it was simply "a complete joke".
The "Unter Falscher Flagge" tour commenced that May. The band's internal database reveals that out of 38 concerts, 28 resulted in trouble of one sort or another. Fights, cancellations, bans, the usual madness, but this time not isolated instances, but continuous series. As a follow-up, there was a flying visit to Hungary at a time when the term "Eastern Bloc" stood for the Enemy. Apart from the terrible roads, non-functioning telephones, smeggy pillows and prehistoric PAs, the Hosen had as good a time as any on this adventure holiday in the East.
Towards the end of the year Trini left the band to take up position in the managemnt dug-out, so to speak. Meanwhile in the Duesseldorf distict court, there was a debate in progress as to whether the "true Heino" could retain his name or not. The Toten Hosen turned up replete with Heino look-alike blonde wigs and dark glasses, but to no avail. Norbert Haehnel was still ordered to pay a 10,000 DM fine.
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