Hamburg was obsessed with Swiss punk, no sursprise that plenty of records made their way to Hamburg and some records got either re-released (like Crazy’s 1980 LP “No Chance” was put out for Germany by Tom Meyer’s Moderne Music Lable) or even soley released. Also plenty of personal contacts between people from Hamburg and punks mainly from Zurich.
Crazy where not “first generation punks”, started in 1979 but made it to THE key event in Swiss Punk history: “Swiss Punk Now!” in Nov 1979 in Emmen and burned quickly – just after finishing their 12″ EP they called it a day after feeling that hardcore punk was no longer them. But they made a clear stand, mixing high energy hardcore punk with outspoken vocals.
The verdict:
1977 – yes, yes, yes – early Swiss Punk definitly was 1977!
published by a cool lable – self produced, self issued, self marketed – that is DIY Punk!
found in a cool shop – Konneckschen, where else?
catching sound – Yes, back then so much better than german bands! Great driving chorus underpinned by pressing drums!
The lyrics – one of the biggest assets of Crazy, also not shy to theme homosexuality or eg. the death of punk as such!
The lyrics are in German (with a play of words on “Rechtsstaat” (state of law) and “Rechts Staat” (right(wing) state)) – so you need a translation, mate:
polizeilich, sagte man zu mir wir leben frei, frei, wir unsere stimmen and der urne zählen viele projekte dürfen wir wählen und doch tun sie gewaltätig klagen wenn linke ihre meinung sagen schaut nach zürich schaut nach bern solche freiheit habt ihr gern frei frei freiheit im rechts staat (c) 1981 Crazy
For my english friends it roughly translates to:
by the police i have been advised we live free, free, we our votes count at the polls many projects we may choose and yet they do complain violently when the left expresses their opinion look to Zurich look to Bern such freedom you do like free free freedom in the right state (c) 1981 Crazy
Make sure you crank up your audio:
See some rare live footage on one of their own DIY videos rescued through times:
When i was a young punk in 1981 this stage pic from Crazy burned itself into my brain as “that’s where i want to be” (and susequently i tried to play bass but failed):
Update 12/2022:
A cool re-release of the first Crazy LP (not this 12″) is out now with additional live songs added. Included is a massive (and massively great) 52 page booklet. Limited to 500 – be quick! Available from Static Shock in Berlin, click below!
