East meets West: Music and identity at the taz Panther Prize in Bochum!

East meets West: Music and identity at the taz Panther Prize in Bochum!

July 6, 2025 will be dedicated to the discussion about the cultural differences between East and West Germany. As part of the taz Panther Prize ceremony in Bochum, Dennis Chiponda moderated a lively discussion with the artists Simon Klemp, a rock musician from Bonn, and Johannes Prautzsch, the guitarist and singer of the post-hardcore band Kind Kaputt. The theme is: “Unity of East and West in the German music scene”. Loud taz.de Burning questions are discussed: Are the similarities greater than the differences? How do musicians reflect their identity in their works?

Both guests bring interesting perspectives. Simon Klemp, known as the “Klaus Kinski of stadium rock”, grew up in Bonn and went through an unusual career in music, characterized by acting and studying literature and philosophy. In contrast to this is Johannes Prautzsch, who grew up in Leipzig. His musical education was encouraged by his grandmother, who encouraged him to practice piano. He reflects on the clichéd attributions he was confronted with in the West and says that he was often previously unaware of these aspects of his East German origins.

Cultural identity and challenges

Prautzsch is also in focus when it comes to the perception of East German identity in music. He denied his own origins for a long time and admits to feeling ashamed about the association with “Nazi Saxons”. In his efforts to write music that doesn't sound East German, he tries to escape pressure from West German musicians who urged him to speak "East German." Klemp, on the other hand, sees the regional differences as clearer than the categories East and West and criticizes social isolation and a lack of political commitment, especially in the context of the climate crisis.

The discussion also takes on socio-political dimensions. Chiponda draws attention to the derogatory experiences that many East Germans have. Prautzsch says that he sees Germany's desire for unity as positive, also in the European context. This is in line with the current discourse about the meaning and perception of East Germany in the Federal Republic. After all, electoral successes of right-wing extremist parties in Saxony, Brandenburg and Thuringia in autumn 2019 have revived interest in this region, as the Federal Agency for Civic Education reports ( bpb.de ).

Social diversity and perspectives

The confrontation with East German identity is particularly important for the youth generated after reunification. According to a study by the Otto Brenner Foundation, only 20% of young East Germans feel like they are “East Germans”, while 65% are of the opinion that their origins play a role in everyday life. This ambivalent self-perception and the social challenges illustrate how much the sense of identity has changed over the last three decades. Young East Germans reject “Ostalgic” perspectives while recognizing the complexity of their history.

The discussions in the podcast “Wall Echo – East Meets West”, which airs weekly on Sundays taz.de and other platforms provide an important impulse to reflect on these topics and to seek a common identity without negating the differences. The dialogue between East and West Germans remains crucial, not only for the music scene, but for the entire society.