Dritte Wahl

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Dritte Wahl

| image = Dritte Wahl 20091023-DSCF5479.jpg

| caption = Dritte Wahl at a concert in Kiel in 2009

| image_size = 250

| origin = Rostock, East Germany

| genre = German punk, Crossover

| years_active = 1988–present

| label =

| associated_acts =

| website = [http://www.dritte-wahl.de/ www.dritte-wahl.de]

| current_members = Gunnar Schröder (vocals, guitar)
Stefan Ladwig (bass, vocals, since 2005)
Jörn "Krel" Schröder (drums)
Holger H. (keyboard, guitar, since 2015)

| past_members = Marko "Busch’n" Busch (vocals,† 2005)
Holm (Toralf Bornhöft) (bass, until 1991)

}}

Dritte Wahl ({{IPA|de|ˈdʁɪtə ˈvaːl}}), also written 3. Wahl (English translation: "Third Choice") is a German punk rock band from Rostock in Germany. Their music is classified as Deutschpunk and displays clear metal influences.{{cite web |url=http://www.graswurzel.net/318/3wahl.shtml |title="Der Zaun muss weg!" DDR, Punk, Antifa und G8. Ein Interview mit Gunnar, dem Sänger von Dritte Wahl|author= Bernd Drücke and Friederike Buning |date=2007-04-01 |access-date=2018-07-18 |publisher=Graswurzel Revolution Magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718234632/http://www.graswurzel.net/318/3wahl.shtml |archive-date=2018-07-18 |language=de}} Dritte Wahl’s lyrics are in German and are very direct, politically motivated, and left-leaning. As a German punk band, and particularly as a punk band formed in the former East Germany under the communist state, their songs handle common themes. In the song Macht die Augen auf (English translation: "Open your eyes") they took on the subject of the 1992 anti-immigrant Rostock-Lichtenhagen riots. In their song Mainzer Straße, Dritte Wahl describe the Battle of Mainzer Straße that took place in East Berlin in 1990 when the city decided to clear the squatted houses. In their song Bad K., Dritte Wahl describe the contested circumstances of the death of Wolfgang Grams, a member of the far-left Red Army Faction.

Dritte Wahl have toured extensively in Germany. They toured Europe with the Exploited in 2003, including The Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Croatia, Slovakia and Hungary.{{cite web |url=https://www.ox-fanzine.de/review/tooth-for-tooth-cd-lp-39412 |title=REVIEWS: DRITTE WAHL: Tooth For Tooth CD/LP |author= Lars Koch |date=2004-09-01 |access-date=2022-07-16 |publisher=Ox Fanzine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220716161126/https://www.ox-fanzine.de/review/tooth-for-tooth-cd-lp-39412 |archive-date=2022-07-16 |language=de}} In 2010 Dritte Wahl played concerts in Cuba.

History

The Rostock-based punk band Dritte Wahl formed in 1986, after a 15 year old Gunnar Schröder was gifted with a guitar; he formed the band together with his brother (Jörn "Krel" Schroeder) and a friend from school (Marko "Busch’n" Busch). The band performed for the first time in May 1988 in their school cafeteria in Rostock-Evershagen, where they covered a number of songs from the Toten Hosen.{{cite web |url=https://www.pressure-magazine.de/news/dritte-wahl-im-interview-ueber-20-jahren-bandgeschichte-5944/ |title=Dritte Wahl im Interview über 20 Jahren Bandgeschichte |date=2010-04-08 |access-date=2023-05-30 |publisher=Pressure Magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530204820/https://www.pressure-magazine.de/news/dritte-wahl-im-interview-ueber-20-jahren-bandgeschichte-5944/ |archive-date=2023-05-30 |language=de}} In the band’s original line-up, Marko "Busch’n" Busch was the front-man and Toralf "Holm" Bornhöft played bass. However Bornhöft left the band in 1991. Dritte Wahl achieved national recognition and success in the German punk scene as a 3-piece band; the line-up was: Busch’n (vocals, bass), Gunnar Schroeder (guitar, vocals), and Jörn "Krel" Schroeder (drums, vocals).{{cite web |url=https://www.ox-fanzine.de/interview/joern-krel-schroeder-dritte-wahl-8365 |title=INTERVIEWS: JÖRN "KREL" SCHRÖDER (DRITTE WAHL): My Little Drummer Boy Folge 58 |author= Christoph Lampert |date=2020-12-01 |access-date=2023-07-05 |publisher=Ox Fanzine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705021346/https://www.ox-fanzine.de/interview/joern-krel-schroeder-dritte-wahl-8365 |archive-date=2023-07-05 |language=de}}

Gunnar Schröder cites Judas Priest, AC/DC, Iron Maiden, Accept, Freygang, Ton Steine Scherben, Slime, Hass, and the Toten Hosen as early musical influences for the band.

In 1998 the band formed their own record label named Rausch Records, which was later renamed Dritte Wahl Records.{{cite web |url=https://www.ox-fanzine.de/interview/dritte-wahl-106 |title=INTERVIEWS: DRITTE WAHL |author= Torsten Felter |date=2001-03-01 |access-date=2022-07-16 |publisher=Ox Fanzine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220716161126/https://www.ox-fanzine.de/interview/dritte-wahl-106 |archive-date=2022-07-16 |language=de}} All of the band’s later releases have appeared on this label. That includes 10 official studio albums, as well as three Live albums, three compilation albums, and four live videos on dvd.{{cite web |url=https://www.discogs.com/de/artist/137167-Dritte-Wahl |title= Dritte Wahl |publisher= Discogs |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230704144609/https://www.discogs.com/de/artist/137167-Dritte-Wahl |access-date=2023-06-05 |archive-date= 2023-07-04 |language=en}}

On January 17, 2005, Busch’n died from stomach cancer at age 35. The remaining band members did not want to dissolve the band, and Busch’n also had not wanted that. Since April 2005, Stefan Ladwig joined the band on bass.{{cite web |url=https://www.ox-fanzine.de/interview/dritte-wahl-2157 |title=INTERVIEWS:DRITTE WAHL: Klare Worte aus dem Norden |author= Christoph Lampert |date=2006-06-01 |access-date=2023-02-03 |publisher=Ox Fanzine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203204257/https://www.ox-fanzine.de/interview/dritte-wahl-2157 |archive-date=2023-02-03 |language=de}}

On January 31, 2015, Dritte Wahl released their ninth studio album Geblitzdingst, which was their first album that made it into the German Charts.{{cite web |url=https://germancharts.de/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Dritte+Wahl&order=year |title= DRITTE WAHL |publisher= germancharts.com |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230704150414/https://germancharts.de/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Dritte+Wahl&order=year |access-date=2023-07-04 |archive-date= 2023-07-04 |language=de}} Holger H. joined the band as guitarist and keyboard player.

On September 1, Dritte Wahl released their tenth studio album titled 10, which reached place 12 in the German album charts.{{cite web |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/album-details-339419 |title=DRITTE WAHL 10 ALBUM|publisher= Offizielle Deutsche Charts |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704145939/https://www.offiziellecharts.de/album-details-339419 |access-date=2023-07-04 |archive-date=2023-07-04 |language=de}} This album includes the song

25 Cent about how retirees who cannot make ends meet collect used bottles for the recycling value.{{cite web |url=https://www.ox-fanzine.de/review/dritte-wahl-10-108494 |title=REVIEWS: DRITTE WAHL: 10 |author= Fabi Schulenkorf |date=2017-08-01 |access-date=2023-07-05 |publisher=Ox Fanzine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705015526/https://www.ox-fanzine.de/review/dritte-wahl-10-108494 |archive-date=2023-07-05 |language=de}}

On September 18, 2020, Dritte Wahl released the album 3D{{cite web |url=https://www.ox-fanzine.de/interview/dritte-wahl-8006 |title=INTERVIEWS: DRITTE WAHL: Wenn sogar Bela B verwirrt ist |author= Fabi Schulenkorf |date=2020-10-01 |access-date=2022-07-16 |publisher=Ox Fanzine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220716161131/https://www.ox-fanzine.de/interview/dritte-wahl-8006 |archive-date=2022-07-16 |language=de}} which reached place 6 on the German album charts.{{cite web |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/album-details-432441 |title= DRITTE WAHL 3D ALBUM|publisher= Offizielle Deutsche Charts |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230704150228/https://www.offiziellecharts.de/album-details-432441|access-date=2023-07-04 |archive-date= 2023-07-04|language=de}}

Gallery

Dritte Wahl With Full Force 2018 06.jpg|Singer Gunnar Schröder

Dritte Wahl With Full Force 2018 02.jpg|Bassist Stefan Ladwig

Dritte Wahl With Full Force 2018 07.jpg|Drummer Jörn "Krell" Schröder

Dritte Wahl With Full Force 2018 05.jpg|Guitarist and Keyboarder Holger H.

Discography

= Albums =

Studio albums

1992: Fasching in Bonn (Amöbenklang)
1994: Auge um Auge (Amöbenklang)
1996: Nimm drei (Amöbenklang)
1998: Strahlen (Dritte Wahl Records)
1999: Delikat (11 Jahre Bühnenjubiläum ’88–’99) (Dritte Wahl Records)
2001: Halt mich fest (Rausch Records)
2005: Fortschritt (Dritte Wahl Records)
2010: Gib Acht! (Dritte Wahl Records){{cite web|url=https://www.ox-fanzine.de/review/dritte-wahl-gib-acht-74525 |title=REVIEWS: DRITTE WAHL: Gib Acht! |author= Lars Weigelt |date=2011-02-01 |access-date=2023-07-05 |publisher=Ox Fanzine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705015146/https://www.ox-fanzine.de/review/dritte-wahl-gib-acht-74525 |archive-date=2023-07-05 |language=de}}
2015: Geblitzdingst (Dritte Wahl Records)
2017: 10 (Dritte Wahl Records)
2020: 3D (Dritte Wahl Records){{cite web |url=https://www.awayfromlife.com/dritte-wahl-3d-review-2020/ |title=DRITTE WAHL – 3D ::: REVIEW (2020) |date=2020-09-18 |access-date=2022-09-24 |publisher=Away From Life |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924191645/https://www.awayfromlife.com/dritte-wahl-3d-review-2020/ |archive-date=2022-09-24 |language=de}}
2023: Urlaub in der Bredouille (Dritte Wahl Records){{cite web |url=https://www.awayfromlife.com/dritte-wahl-urlaub-in-der-bredouille-review-2023/ |title=DRITTE WAHL – URLAUB IN DER BREDOUILLE ::: REVIEW (2023) |author=Marcell |date=2023-12-14 |publisher=Away from Life |language=de |access-date=2023-12-26 |archive-date=2023-12-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231226162157/https://www.awayfromlife.com/dritte-wahl-urlaub-in-der-bredouille-review-2023/ |url-status=bot: unknown }}