The Bates

The Bates - German punk rock band

Group from Germany

Genres: punk, punk rock, german, rock, alternative

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About The Bates

The Bates were an Eschwege, Germany based Punk Rock band. They were primarily known for their self-styled "Bubblegum Trash" and for numerous cover versions. The group's name refers to the person Norman Bates from Hitchcock's movie Psycho. They existed from 1987 until 2001 and were "founded at a time in which it was said that punk rock is dead, remaining always faithful to their style" (Trini Trimpop, Power Vision Festival in October 1995.) The band's Punk rock attitude is often pure, although the lyrics are about love, pain, solitude, and longing. Alongside their original compositions, the Bates always published at least two cover versions on each of their albums. Due to the fact that the cover versions were received very well, the band also released an album that only included foreign compositions of different styles in 2000, which were presented in a completely new, Bates typical style - by the Beatles (Helter Skelter) and the Rolling Stones (Out of Time) or Sailor (Glass of Champagne) and Aneka (Japanese Boy) to Eiffel 65 (Blue). The highest chart placement of a single was number 10 in Switzerland for the Michael Jackson cover version of "Billie Jean". In 2001, the band broke up, allegedly over disputes over the consumption of alcohol by singer / bassist and frontman Markus "Zimbl" Zimmer . Zimbl continued to record two solo albums and a side project until his death. These were released unprofessionally and in small quantities and are consequently long out of print. Zimbl died in his apartment in Kassel on 18 June 2006. His death caused by a circulatory collapse likely linked to long-standing alcohol and drug addiction. In December 2006, the 3-CD compilation "A Tribute to Zimbl - Rocking on heaven's door" was released as an obituary. The proceeds of this tribute CD went to foundations dedicated to the fight against drugs. The band, as well as family and friends of Zimmer organized an honoray concert for him on 28 December 2006, the so-called Zimbl tribute "Rocking on heaven's door". This is also where the filming of the documentary "Zimbl - a real cool time" by Sascha Nölke took place. Again, the entrance fees were used by the organization "Global care" to make a donation.

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