Nina Hagen turns 70: A legend between punk and spirituality!

Nina Hagen turns 70: A legend between punk and spirituality!

Nina Hagen, the shrill icon of German punk, celebrated her 70th birthday on March 11, 2025. Born in East Berlin on March 11, 1955, she demonstrated her musical talent early on. In the GDR she became famous with the hit "You forgot the color film". However, this early career was only the beginning of a remarkable career, which she led to the West in 1976, where she fled together with her mother and her foster father due to political conflicts from the GDR.

The singer is often referred to as the "Godmother of Punk" and is considered one of the first punk singers in Germany. With her unique four-octave voice and provocative texts, she revolutionized the music scene of the late 1970s. Her debut album "Nina Hagen Band", which was published in 1978, is viewed as a milestone in German music history. The band quickly led them to international fame, especially in the 1980s with albums such as "Nunsexmonkrock" (1982) and "fearless" (1983).

artistic diversity and controversy

Hagen is known for her eccentric and often controversial appearances, including provocative discussions about social issues and drug policy in talk shows. Your style is a unique mix of punk, radio and opera, which makes it unmistakable. Their appearances are particularly striking, where she is not afraid of a topic and always reinvents herself. Minister of Culture Claudia Roth referred to her on the occasion of her anniversary as "the female rock tube of Germany".

Your influence extends beyond music. As a feminist icon, she is actively involved in social projects and fights against social grievances. In addition to her music career, Hagen is committed to animal welfare and hospice work. Her last album "Unity" from 2022 addresses social issues and is a tribute to movements like Black Lives Matter.

personal life and legacy

Nina Hagen grew up as the daughter of actress Eva-Maria Hagen and the screenwriter Hans Oliva-Hagen and was faced with the art and the challenges of public life early on. Her childhood was shaped by the surveillance by state security. Although her application for acting training in the GDR was rejected, she found her way to music. Hagen lived in several relationships, including with the musician Herman Brood.

Although she discussed the public in public in the 2000s, mainly because of her views on the AIDS theme, her artistic heritage remains undisputed. They made their versatility and commitment one of the most important figures in German culture, which is recognized in England as "Germany's most important contribution to pop culture since Brecht".

Nina Hagen, who never actively searched for fame, remains a fascinating phenomenon of German music history. Her lasting influence is not only evident in her music, but also in her tireless commitment to social and political issues. Even after 70 years, she continues the legacy of a generation of artists and fighters.