Herne 3 is considered one of the most successful German rock bands from Germany. This CD/DVD features their spectacular performance at Rockpalast.

Herne 3 - Live at Rockpalast 1983 captures a pivotal moment in the history of one of the Ruhr region’s most distinctive and culturally resonant rock bands, presenting their full September 17, 1983 performance at the legendary Rockpalast festival at Gut Opherdicke for the first time in its entirety. Blending sharp wit, regional identity, and socially aware lyricism, Herne 3 emerged in the early 1980s as a uniquely local yet widely relatable voice within the German rock landscape, transforming their origins in the industrial Ruhrgebiet into a defining element of their artistic identity.

Formed in 1981, the band quickly built a grassroots following through relentless touring across music venues, youth centers, and cultural spaces throughout the region. Their breakthrough came with the independently produced 1982 single “Immer wieder aufsteh’n,” which became a regional hit and remained in the Top 10 of WDR’s influential “Schlagerrallye” for over three months. This success propelled them into national visibility, leading to a string of television appearances including “Aktuelle Stunde,” “Teleillustrierte,” “Landesspiegel,” “Direkt,” “So isses,” “Popkarton,” and even the “Tagesschau,” an unusual crossover that underscored their growing cultural impact.

The Rockpalast performance documented here occurred at a crucial turning point in the band’s career, following their signing to a major label in 1983 and the release of their second album Gute Unterhaltung. Sharing the stage at the festival with acts such as the Climax Blues Band and an early-career Bryan Adams, Herne 3 delivered a performance that encapsulates their raw energy, humor, and connection to their audience. Their identity—summed up in their oft-repeated explanation of their name referencing the municipal restructuring of Herne and Wanne-Eickel—became both a running joke and a statement of independence, resonating with audiences far beyond their hometown.

This 2-disc CD/DVD set presents the complete live recording alongside the full video performance, offering both an audio and visual document of the band at their peak. The performance itself highlights their blend of rock, satire, and regional storytelling, with songs that reflect both everyday life in the Ruhr area and broader social observations. By 1988, the band had released four LPs, numerous singles, and performed over 500 concerts, cementing their reputation as one of the most successful rock acts to emerge from the region.

In addition to preserving a historically significant concert, this release also reflects the contributions of bassist and songwriter Wolfgang Berke, a respected German journalist and author who was a member of Herne 3 from 1982 to 1986 and played a key role in shaping the band’s lyrical voice. As part of the Made In Germany Music Rockpalast archive series, Herne 3 - Live at Rockpalast 1983 stands as both a cultural document and a celebration of a band whose regional roots translated into enduring national appeal, capturing a moment when German rock intersected with television, youth culture, and identity in a uniquely authentic way.

Media

Track Listing

Disc 1:

• Kalkulation Nr. 1
• Wofür?
• Faschistenpack
• Langeweile
• Immer wieder aufstehn
• Wie siehst denn du aus?
• Disneyland
• Wieder kein Geld
• Dann wird's Zeit
• Ruhrpott
• Rock'n Roll Fantasie

Additional Details

Label: Made In Germany Music

Genre: Pop/Rock

Language: English

Run Time: 62:25 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 09/04/26

UPC: 885513911025