Singer
Because of Ukraine: Campino doubts conscientious objection
Campino has changed some of his views – on military service, for example – since the Ukraine war. Photo: Britta Pedersen/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
He refused military service at the time, but has a different opinion today: because of the war in Ukraine, rock singer Campino has changed his position on certain issues – and speaks of a “tragedy”.
In view of the Ukraine war, rock singer Campino (59, “Days like these”) currently has a feeling “as if the world is collapsing on us” – and is therefore putting old principles to the test.
For example, the question of service with a weapon: “I personally refused military service in 1983. I probably wouldn’t do that today, under these circumstances, if I got my draft now,” said the frontman of the band Die Toten Hosen in an interview with the German Press Agency in Berlin.
“We can’t afford to be completely defenseless”
“Right now we are learning impressively why an identity as Europeans is so important and why we have to be a community of values,” said the musician with the real name Andreas Frege, who is politically left and as a voter with the Greens. “Unfortunately, that also has something to do with rearmament. We cannot afford to be completely defenseless against despots like Putin, who lives out old fantasies of power. You can only stop a man like that if he has respect for the other side.”
At the same time, this is “a dramatic tragedy, because all this money that we will spend on armaments in the future, we could damn well use for our social system, daycare centers, schools, public infrastructure and last but not least the fight against climate change”. The singer admitted to being at a loss because of the world situation, but also emphasized: “We can all allow ourselves to be unsure. Even the smartest people can’t give us a prescription for how to proceed at the moment.”
“Maintain mental health” despite the crisis
His mission as a musician is clear: “Despite the tense social situation, it is important that we humans maintain mental health and find moments of happiness,” said Campino, whose punk rock group – one of the most successful in Germany – celebrated its 40th anniversary from the end of May with a new record and tour. “And I hope that as a band we can contribute to creating such moments with our music.”