DIE KNAPPEN - GERMANY

Auf Kohle Geboren - 2010 - Sunny Bastards

Die Knappen image
  
 
Members
Vocals
Sodom, Dezperadoz, Bassinvaders, Onkel Tom Angelripper>>Tom Angelripper [Thomas Such]>>Sodom, Dezperadoz, Bassinvaders, Onkel Tom Angelripper

Guitar
DETLEF "MAGIC" LAUSTER

Bass
The Wizard, Wortmord>>Ralf "Schiri" Schieritz>>Wortmord

Drums
Feebles, Wortmord>>STEFAN "SYS" SCHLÜTER>>Feebles, Wortmord




History & Biography
Singer and bassist Thomas “Angelripper” of Sodom and his friend Detlef “Magic” Lauster had a new punk heavy metal band called Die Knappen as of 2007. The monicker was a nickname for the Schalke-04 football club and the early songs and lyrics were about the team. In fact, a cover version of a club song was recorded and went unpublished. Moreover, the club rejected the band's music for its arena and the idea of the music being released through a Schalke-related imprint never happened when the club ended up not winning the football league hoped. The band name meant ’miner’ in local German as well. Tom’s father was a miner and he was going in that direction in his early years. Lauster too had a similar background.

Glück Auf! was a 2008 single. Tom Angelripper sang, Lauster played the guitar, Ralf "Schiri" Schieritz played the bass and Stefan Schlüter drummed. A full-length appeared in late 2010. The title translated into 'Born On Coal.' Ralf would switch to vocals after Angelripper's departure. Bassist Reiner Totzek would join in, but no more releases were forthcoming. The band was booked for Monster Festival in 2017. Onkel Tom was also billed there.

Germany-based heavy metal act Die Knappen announced that its singer and bassist Ralf "Schiri" Schieritz has died in 2025. He was 61.


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