A rock band can be defined as primarily a criminal organisation, the German Bundesgerichtshof (Federal Court of Justice) confirmed today. In order to be officially condemned in this fashion, a band´s lyrics need to encourage criminal activity such as hate of foreigners, or act as "propoganda" for anti-constitutional groups.
This opens up an amazingly wide field for potential lyrical crimes, the blog´s musical correspondent reckons, and it´s not too difficult a brief for new bands looking for a cheap shot of controversial "defenders of free speech" type publicity either.
The case in question concerned a skinhead band called Landser, whose lead singer and songwriter, Michael Regener, was sentenced to 3 years and 4 months for his musical crimes.
(The link is to the Press Office of the Bundesgerichtshof and is in German only.Der Bundesgerichtshof)
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