Ton Steine Scherben was a ground-breaking German rock band of the 1970s and '80s whose explicitly leftist music (they were fervent supporters of the German anarchist movement and outspoken environmental activists) and willingness to separate themselves from the mainstream music industry (the group lived communally and formed its own label to release its albums) set the standard for other maverick artists to follow. After attempting a comeback in the early '80s, the group broke up in 1985, and lead singer Rio Reiser passed away in 1996 after a successful solo career. Der Traum Ist Aus is a documentary that examines the history of Ton Steine Scherben through interviews with surviving members of the band and vintage performance footage; the film also features a number of contemporary German rock musicians discussing the group's continuing influence (both as musicians and activists) and performing several of their songs.
by Mark Deming
synopsis
