Days like these: On June 20, 2026, Die Toten Hosen will be gracing the Letzigrund stadium in Zurich and are guaranteed to bringthe place to a boilwith their sing-along anthems . If you like loud guitars, honest lyrics and a good dose of punk, you should mark this date in your diary.
Die Toten Hosen have been on the road since 1982 - and with an energy that makes many younger bands look old. They started out in Düsseldorf, in the middle of the wild punk scene. What began as a chaotic bunch developed into one of the most successful and long-lived rock bands in the German-speaking world. With songs such as "Hier kommt Alex", "Zehn kleine Jägermeister" and "Tage wie diese", they have long since written music history. And this despite the fact that hardly anyone thought they would have a long career in the beginning and, according to their own statements, they can neither read nor write music.
The striking band name was chosen with a wink. As is well known, "Tote Hose" stands for yawning emptiness. And that's exactly what they say was the case at their first concerts: not much going on, hardly any audience. The boys found this so funny that they quickly renamed themselves "Die Toten Hosen". Irony and self-irony are still their trademark to this day.
Campino, whose real name is Andreas Frege, has been at the heart of the band since day one. The man is a bundle of energy, known for his wild stage shows, his clear announcements and for occasionally jumping off the stage or climbing on stage constructions. Campino is more than just the band's singer - he is a mouthpiece, ramp sow and popular figure all in one.
Over the last few decades, fans have been able to see Andi, Breiti, Campino, Kuddel and Vom on Swiss stages time and again - whether at major festivals or at their own concerts. Most of the time, the boys have sold out houses or stadiums. At their last major live performance in 2022, they celebrated their 40th anniversary as a band at Letzigrund, and in 2023, one of their last ever concerts took place at The Hall in Dübendorf.
At the beginning of this year, the musicians announced: "Since our last concerts in August '23 in Blackpool and Zurich, we have recharged our batteries and written songs. Now the hunger for concerts is so great again that we're hitting the road this summer." The program includes several European capitals - all of which are sold out. Once again, the Toten Hosen are proving that punk rock is not a thing of the past, even after more than four decades.
In 2026, the tour "Trink Aus! Wir Müssen Gehen" tour enters the next round. Let's hope that the guys don't say goodbye forever with this title. Either way, if you fancy an evening full of sing-along anthems and honest rock music, you know where to be on June 20: right in the middle of the action when Die Hosen get the Letzi rocking. Advance tickets for the Swiss concert go on sale on May 14, 2025 at 6 pm.
In 2022, Die Toten Hosen played at various venues in Switzerland. This video shows a compilation:
To sing along - the 10 greatest hits of the Toten Hosen: