Sunday, 15 January 2012

How a punk band stepped up to rescue financially struggling hockey team

You may know Die Toten Hosen from such German punk hits as "Ich bin die Sehnsucht in dir" and "Zehn kleine Jägermeister". Although probably not.

Here's how you'll know them, going forward: As the band that stepped up to try and save its favorite pro local hockey team, DEG in Düsseldorf, which is in a precarious financial situation.

From The Local:

Singer Campino (Andreas Frege) and guitarist Breiti (Michael Breitkopf) will unveil their plans to help out the DEG club at a press conference on Monday. The band will unveil a special Toten Hosen team jersey, which will include their trademark skull and star logo.

The band, which formed in Düsseldorf in 1982, has already helped out local football team Fortuna. They sponsored the team for two years and released a Toten Hosen team jersey that gained cult status, selling 30,000 items.

DEG will be hoping for a similar merchandising shot in the arm. The ice hockey team is struggling to stay in Germany's top hockey league after major sponsors Metro withdrew their €2 million backing for the team.

Along with the jersey unveiling, the Die Torten Hosen publicity stunt will also be used to launch a sponsorship campaign for both private citizens and corporations. If those sponsorships come rolling in, and if DEG can provide a workable financial plan by May, the city of Düsseldorf has approved a €450,000 grant to the eight-time champions.

All in all, an inspiring story about local musicians stepping up to rescue the local pro hockey team from financial hardship. OK, now which musicians with Newark ties saves the NJ Devils? My Chemical Romance? Queen Latifah? Redman?



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