This is what the city sounds like

The Sound of Düsseldorf

The electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk and the Toten Hosen from the punk scene are the most well-known bands of the city. “The Sound of Düsseldorf” is a pop music tour on which you can get to know the most important music venues.

Musicians, artists and other creative minds have been gathering in the Altstadt (Old Town) for the last 50 years, where they have started up bands and influenced each other. Düsseldorf was and is a place of inspiration for many innovative artists, not only for painters, photographers and sculptors, but also for musicians. The Düsseldorf band NEU!, which was formed in the Kunsthalle (art hall), has among its influences, David Bowie, Blur, Placebo, Sonic Youth and Stereolab. Kraftwerk, one of the most influential bands in pop history, held their first concerts at Creamcheese, where the regular guests included the artists Joseph Beuys, Anatol Herzfeld and Günther Uecker.

“Things will always continue. Music, a medium for ideas” - Kraftwerk sent out this message from Düsseldorf to the world. “No time to stop, history is being made”, sang Fehlfarben, a nationwide, influential band who also got together in Düsseldorf. Campino wrote lyrics about his hometown for the Toten Hosen in the song “Tage wie diese” ("Days like these"): “Along the alleys, to the Rhine terraces/over the bridges, to music”.