The East Lives On – Still!?

A guest at the DDR Museum for an evening of musical history in Weißensee.

The »Peace Week of Berlin Youth« in 1988 and the »Rock Poets Tour« in 1989 in Weißensee show that music history sometimes begins in places where you least expect it.

Between global stars and everyday household objects, questions arise such as what a hairdryer has to do with James Brown and Dirk Zöllner, or why Gordon von Godin can no longer get on board with the song »I Feel Good«. The music takes him back to the moment when, as an 18-year-old, he saw James Brown live in Weißensee on 17 June 1988.

Petra Schwarz shares her experiences as a music journalist at youth radio DT64 in the 1980s. Together with Dirk Zöllner, anecdotes are told that show that GDR music history was not only written on large stages, but also through small, surprising encounters.

Dirk Zöllner accompanies the evening musically, and a light-hearted GDR quiz with Simone Uthleb ensures that not only memories are revived, but knowledge is tested as well.

An event in cooperation with the Weißensee Summer of Culture.

Facts

When: 9 September, 7 pm
Where: C*Space | Langhansstraße 86, 13086 Berlin

Who:
Gordon von Godin, Director of the DDR Museum
Petra Schwarz, journalist and presenter
Simone Uthleb, press officer at the DDR Museum
Dirk Zöllner, musician

Admission is free.

9 September 2026, 6 pm

Conference room DDR Museum
Sankt Wolfgang-Str. 2
10178 Berlin

Here you can see the location.

The event will take place in German.