The Year 2000
No sooner was the second single-release and album title track "Unsterblich" in the shops, than the Hosen-caravan was on the move again, this time in search of snow. Together with friends, fans and prize winners, the band spent the fifth season of the year away from the Rhineland: the "Four Days - Four Countries Tour" went from Germany to Austria, Italy and Switzerland and was a veritable marathon of endurance, taking place by turns on the broad ski slopes and in the more confined club venues. It was skiing by day, concerts in small local clubs by night. Taking part in the expedition: TV Smith.
Prior to this peripatetic ski-extravaganza, the Hosen recorded football-related bonus tracks for their Bayern single. The accompanying video clip was directed by Peter Thorwarth (Bang Boom Bang) on local turf, namely on the hallowed pitch of Alemania 08 in Duesseldorf-Flingern, literally right on the doorstep. There were plenty of friends and fans there to support the band as they chased the ball up and down the park. All in all, a remarkable achievement, on account of the pouring rain and numerous, compelling distractions, such as Bratwurst, " Alt" beer and Jaegermeister.
The fourth single to be taken from the album "Unsterblich" was entitled "Warum werde ich nicht satt?" The band was delighted to have one of their favourite film directors shoot the accompanying video clip, none other than Wim Wenders (Paris - Texas, Buena Vista Social Club, The Million Dollar Hotel, Wings of Desire). As if that wasn't honour enough, the Korean pioneer of video art Nam June Paik, used the song "Hier kommt Alex" for an installation in the New York Guggenheim Museum.
Under the assumed name of "Essen auf Raedern" ("Meals on Wheels"), the Hosen played a few Magical Mystery gigs in small clubs - and in doing so reunited with the Aerzte (aka "Die Zu Spaeten " - " The Late Comers") to play side by side after a long intermission. March saw the Hosen reconnoitering new, uncharted terrain in South America, namely in Uruguay and Paraguay. The mood in Asuncion was one of general rapture, "10 Kleine Jaegermeister" and "Guantanamera" in particular sending everybody into delirium. The Hosen didn't get the jitters though, even when the stage collapsed beneath them whilst in Argentina. The concert was rescheduled for the next day.
What followed was the great "Unsterblich" Tour, which was to take in Germany, Hungary, Austria and Switzerland. Alas, the Hosen 2000 were on the road for a much shorter period than they had initially envisaged. It got off to a promising start between the 10th and 12th of May, but when Campino leaped on to the stage at the start of the Whitsun Rock am Ring concert, he sustained a serious injury.
Diagnosis: Torn crucial ligaments. Tour abandoned.
Campino, shortly after the operation on the abrupt cancellation of the tour: "It wasn't easy for us to abandon the 70 concerts planned for the second half of the year at the drop of a hat. Above all, Andi, Breiti, Kuddel and Vom had to get used to being sumpremely patient, as they couldn't do anything other than sit tight and wait. We resolved not to waste the intervening months, but rather to begin writing new material straight away."
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