Molotow Club
{{Short description|Music venue in Hamburg, Germany}}
{{coord|53.549|-9.959|display=title|region:GB_scale:5000}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = Molotow
| image = Molotow Hamburg 2016 01.jpg
| image_caption = Molotow Club (Nobistor location, 2016)
| nickname =
| address = Reeperbahn 136
| city = 20359 Hamburg
| country = Germany
| coordinates =
| type = Live Music Venue
| genre = rock 'n' roll, punk rock, indie rock, alternative rock
| broke_ground =
| built =
| opened = August 1990
| renovated = 2014
| expanded =
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner = privately owned
| former_names =
| seating_type = Standing
| seating_capacity = 350
| website = [http://www.molotowclub.com Molotow's official website]
}}
Molotow, also known as Molotow Club or Molotow Music Club is one of the most famous and popular live music venues in Germany.{{cite web | url=https://www.welt.de/print/die_welt/hamburg/article113096818/Der-beste-Club-heisst-Molotow.html | title=Der beste Club heißt Molotow - WELT | date=24 January 2013 }} It is located on the Reeperbahn, in St. Pauli, Hamburg.
The Molotow won numerous "Club of the year"[http://www.abendblatt.de/daten/2007/03/01/698548.html Hamburg Clubs rewarded] Setlist{{Cite web |date=2024-01-26 |title=clubaward 2023: Das Molotow ist Hamburgs Lieblingsclub des Jahres |url=https://szene-hamburg.com/clubkombinat-clubaward-voting-lieblingsclub/ |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=Szene Hamburg}} and "Best National live music Venue" awards.Heinrich Oehmsen: [http://www.abendblatt.de/daten/2008/06/27/899338.html Nur schnelle Hilfe kann noch retten] in Hamburger Abendblatt, 27. Juni 2008{{Cite web|url=http://www.indiepedia.de/index.php/Clubguide_Top_50_(Visions%2C_2005)|title=Clubguide Top 50 (Visions, 2005)}} Intro magazine has the Molotow in their Best Club-Top 5 list regularly.Intro Nr. 157, Februar 2008 Biggest German music paper Musikexpress named it third best club.
History
File:2007 11 02vampire weekend.jpg
The Molotow is internationally acknowledged and has established a reputation{{cite web | url=https://www.vice.com/de/article/legendare-clubs-ohne-das-molotow-ware-der-rock-in-hamburg-langst-verloren/|title=German Vice Magazine article|date=30 November 2017 }} for showcasing new talent and hosting many well-known bands' first shows at the beginning of their careers such as The Killers,{{Cite web|url=https://www.setlisting.com/setlists/the-killers-molotow-hamburg-germany-2004-07-01|title=The Killers concert setlist at Molotow, Hamburg, Germany on July 1st, 2004|website=www.setlisting.com}} The White Stripes,{{Cite web|url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-white-stripes/2001/molotow-hamburg-germany-43f4a7b3.html|title=The White Stripes Setlist at Molotow, Hamburg|website=setlist.fm}} {{Cite web|url=https://guestpectacular.com/artists/the-killers/events/country/germany|title=The Killers concerts in Germany - Guestpectacular}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.concertarchives.org/concerts/the-killers-2e5477ca-e8ff-4411-bf91-e70e7595a386|title=Jul 01, 2007: The Killers at Molotow Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany | Concert Archives}} The Black Keyshttps://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-black-keys/2004/molotow-hamburg-germany-1bde0184.html Setlist or Mumford & Sons{{Cite web|url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/mumford-and-sons/2009/molotow-hamburg-germany-33d72855.html|title=Mumford & Sons Setlist at Molotow, Hamburg|website=setlist.fm}}{{cite web | url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/concert-news/4283252656/ | title=Mumford & Sons live @ Molotow | date=18 November 2009 }} and is noted for being a stepping stone for bands before they get famous.
Others who have played gigs at Molotow early in their careers include Vampire Weekend,https://www.concertarchives.org/concerts/vampire-weekend-bf7cbc97-814d-4f03-96d8-ef33d609f2b9 Setlist{{cite web | url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/vampire-weekend-2/ | title=Vampire Weekend & Ghostface Killah - albums, Tour Dates | date=9 November 2007 }} Biffy Clyro,https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/biffy-clyro/2005/molotow-hamburg-germany-5bde3fd8.html Setlist Idles,{{Cite web|url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/idles/2017/molotow-hamburg-germany-23e01427.html|title=IDLES Setlist at Molotow, Hamburg|website=setlist.fm}} The Hives, LCD Soundsystem,{{Cite web|url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/lcd-soundsystem/2005/molotow-hamburg-germany-73f06269.html|title=LCD Soundsystem Setlist at Molotow, Hamburg|website=setlist.fm}} St. Vincent,{{Cite web|url=https://www.last.fm/event/335617+St.+Vincent+at+Molotow+on+04+December+2007/lineup|title=Line-up for St. Vincent at Molotow (Hamburg) on 4 Dec 2007|website=Last.fm}} The National{{Cite web|url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-national/2003/molotow-hamburg-germany-3bfb5040.html|title=The National Setlist at Molotow, Hamburg|website=setlist.fm}} and Imagine Dragons.{{cite web | url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/imagine-dragons/2012/molotow-hamburg-germany-7bdafe5c.html | title=Imagine Dragons Setlist at Molotow, Hamburg | website=setlist.fm }} Vice magazine wrote: 'Without the Molotow Rock'n'Roll in Hamburg would be lost long ago."{{cite web | url=https://www.vice.com/de/article/legendare-clubs-ohne-das-molotow-ware-der-rock-in-hamburg-langst-verloren/|title=German Vice Magazine article|date=30 November 2017 }}
The Molotow was a hot spot for a 90s German indie rock movement going by the name of "Hamburger Schule". One of those bands, "Muff Potter", recorded a tribute song about the club entitled “Wir sitzen so vorm Molotow”[http://www.popfrontal.de/news/entries/4314.html Muff Potter: Wir retten so das Molotow] auf pop-frontal.de{{cite web | url=https://www.songtexte.com/songtext/muff-potter/wir-sitzen-so-vorm-molotow-4bc2a73e.html | title=Muff potter. - Wir sitzen so vorm Molotow Songtext }} which means "We're just hanging in front of the Molotow".
Hellacopters frontman Nicke Andersson said in 2005 when asked why he played at a small location like Molotow: "Rock 'n' roll is not made to be viewed with binoculars from a great distance, or on large screens".{{cite journal |last1=Kruska |first1=Nils Robin |title=The Hellacopters Nicke Andersson, Kopf der Hellacopters, im Gespräch |journal=Bizarre Radio |date=27 June 2005 |url=http://www.bizarre-radio.de/interview/the-hellacopters-nicke-andersson-kopf-der-hellacopters-im-gespr |access-date=14 December 2023 |trans-title=The Hellacopters Nicke Andersson, head of the Hellacopters, in an interview |language=de |quote=Rock´nroll wird nicht gemacht, um sich den mit Ferngläsern aus großer Distanz anzuschauen, oder mit großen Monitoren.}}
In 2013 the building where the club was located got demolished and the Molotow moved to the other end of the Reeperbahn at the intersection of Grosse Freiheit next to the Beatles-Platz.{{cite web | url=https://www.focus.de/regional/hamburg/hamburg-hamburger-partyszene-politik-will-beliebten-club-an-den-spielbudenplatz-zurueckbringen_id_11616445.html | title=Molotow - Politicians want to bring legendary club back }}
In 2016 a book about the Molotow by Sebastian Meissner was published by Junius Verlag.{{Cite web|url=https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/das-molotow-st-pauli-kult-club-bekommt-ein-buch-geschenkt-100.html|title=Das "Molotow" - St.Pauli-Kult-Club bekommt ein Buch geschenkt|website=Deutschlandfunk}}{{cite web | url=https://www.flight13.com/sebastian-meissner-molotow-das-buch/119875 | title=SEBASTIAN MEISSNER – molotow das buch (Papier) – Flight 13 Records }}{{Cite news|url=https://www.spiegel.de/kultur/musik/reeperbahn-festival-2014-livestream-vom-kiez-mit-geheimkonzert-a-991922.html|title=Reeperbahn Festival 2014: Livestream vom Kiez mit Geheimkonzert|newspaper=Der Spiegel |date=September 17, 2014|via=www.spiegel.de}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.trust-zine.de/molotow-das-buch-sebastian-meissner/|title=TRUST Fanzine » Molotow das Buch, Sebastian Meißner}}
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 Frank Turner played an exclusive online stream show to help the Molotow during the crisis.{{Cite web|url=https://aino.hamburg/s/frank-turner-widmet-seine-liveshow-dem-molotow/|title=Frank Turner widmet seine Liveshow dem Molotow.|date=May 7, 2020}}
In December 2023, the Molotow received notice of termination from the location's tenant and presumably have to vacate it by 30 June 2024 at the latest.{{cite journal |last1=Zuschlag |first1=André |title=Club-Sterben in Hamburg: Dem Molotow droht das Aus |journal=Die Tageszeitung |date=23 December 2023 |url=https://taz.de/Club-Sterben-in-Hamburg/!5981482/ |access-date=23 December 2023 |trans-title=Dying clubs in Hamburg: Molotow threatened with demise |language=de}}{{Update inline|date=October 2024}} There was a solidarity demonstration, also covered by nationwide #1 evening news show Tagesschau, to support the Molotow on December 30th 2023 with several thousand people in front of the club.{{cite web | url=https://www.abendblatt.de/hamburg/kultur/article240898386/Fuer-s-Molotow-Heute-demonstriert-die-Hamburger-Clubkultur.html | title=Molotow muss bleiben: Heute demonstriert die Hamburger Clubkultur mit Liveacts | date=January 2024 |trans-title=Molotow must stay: Hamburg's club culture demonstrates today with live acts |language=de}}{{cite journal|title=Bezirk-Mitte will weniger Hotelneubauten auf dem Kiez |journal=Tagesschau|url=https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/regional/hamburg/ndr-nach-molotow-bezirk-mitte-will-weniger-hotelneubauten-auf-dem-kiez-100.html|trans-title=The Mitte district wants fewer new hotel buildings on the Kiez |language=de}}
In March 2025 the club moved to the old Top Ten Club location.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.molotowclub.com/ Official website]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20161116035958/https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/hamburg/Molotow-Wo-der-Schweiss-von-der-Decke-tropft,molotow207.htmlNightflow] Norddeutscher Rundfunk television article
- [https://www.nightflow.com/molotow-club-hamburg/ Nightflow review page ]
- [https://www.hamburg-travel.com/shopping-enjoying/the-nightlife-scene/molotow/ Hamburg nightlife Molotow]
- [https://thesykesstory.blogspot.com/2009/05/rock-solid-molotow.html Sykes Story Rock solid: Molotow]
- [https://www.vice.com/de/article/vbzg4j/legendare-clubs-ohne-das-molotow-ware-der-rock-in-hamburg-langst-verloren/German Vice Magazine article]{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
Category:Music venues in Germany
Category:Nightclubs in Hamburg
Category:Music venues completed in 1990
Category:Demolished buildings and structures in Germany