Nina Hagen

Nina Hagen, born on March eleventh, nineteen fifty-five, is a multifaceted German artist renowned for her powerful theatrical vocals and her significant influence during the punk and Neue Deutsche Welle movements of the late seventies and early eighties. Often referred to as 'The Godmother of German Punk', Hagen's artistic journey began in East Berlin, where she was raised in the German Democratic Republic. Her early career as an actress saw her appearing in several German films alongside her mother, Eva-Maria Hagen.

Hagen's musical career took off when she joined the band Automobil, releasing the schlager single 'Du hast den Farbfilm vergessen'. Following her stepfather Wolf Biermann's withdrawal of East German citizenship in nineteen seventy-six, she relocated to Hamburg, where she quickly secured a record deal with CBS Records. This led to the formation of the Nina Hagen Band, whose self-titled debut album was released in late nineteen seventy-eight, achieving critical acclaim and selling over two hundred fifty thousand copies. The band released one more album, 'Unbehagen', before disbanding in nineteen seventy-nine.

In nineteen eighty-two, Hagen embarked on a solo career with her debut album 'NunSexMonkRock', marking her first entry into the U.S. music charts. She followed this success with two additional albums, 'Fearless' in nineteen eighty-three and 'Nina Hagen in Ekstasy' in nineteen eighty-five, before her contract with CBS was not renewed. In nineteen eighty-nine, she signed with Mercury Records, releasing three albums: 'Nina Hagen' in nineteen eighty-nine, 'Street' in nineteen ninety-one, and 'Revolution Ballroom' in nineteen ninety-three, although these did not achieve significant commercial success. Her musical comeback came in two thousand with the release of 'Return of the Mother'.

Beyond her music, Hagen is also recognized for her work as a voice-over actress and has authored three autobiographies: 'Ich bin ein Berliner' in nineteen eighty-eight, 'Nina Hagen: That's Why the Lady Is a Punk' in two thousand three, and 'Bekenntnisse' in two thousand ten. Additionally, she is an outspoken advocate for human and animal rights, further showcasing her diverse talents and passions.