The Nina Hagen Band was a groundbreaking German punk and new wave group formed in 1977, fronted by the eccentric and operatically-trained Nina Hagen, who had recently left East Germany. Backed by members from the progressive rock band Lokomotive Kreuzberg, they fused punk’s raw energy with theatrical flair, releasing two influential albums—Nina Hagen Band (1978) and Unbehagen (1979)—before disbanding. Their sound was wild, eclectic, and politically charged, with Hagen’s voice soaring from guttural growls to soprano trills. Though short-lived, the band launched Hagen’s solo career and laid the foundation for her status as a punk icon.
