Live: Nina Hagen @ O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London.

by | Sep 25, 2016

Nina Hagen hasn’t played in the UK for a full 14 years, apparently, so there is tangible anticipation amongst the crowd tonight for this rarely seen and curious artist.
Nina Hagen at O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire in London on 24 September 2016. (Imelda Michalczyk)

Nina Hagen at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London on 24 September 2016. (Imelda Michalczyk)

Trying to pinpoint Nina Hagen’s role and legacy in the musical vista, on this, her 45th anniversary tour, is something of a conundrum. Descriptions of Nina span the spectrum from the whispered reverence devoted to the iconic Godmother of Punk, to opera singer with a spiritual message, to teenage actress turned controversially opinionated cult celebrity. Whether it’s her startling fashion style or her musical talent, her genre-traversing career or her distinctive humour, there’s much to be intrigued by as we await her arrival on stage.

Nina Hagen at O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire in London on 24 September 2016. (Imelda Michalczyk)

Nina Hagen at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London on 24 September 2016. (Imelda Michalczyk)

When she appears, she’s glamorous and animated, switching between playing her guitar whilst perched on a stool and dancing at the microphone. A melting pot of covers, classics and tributes tumble out through the night. The set list, which I’d been lucky enough to take a peek at before the show, turned out to be more of a meandering general guide. The songs appeared in a completely different order, peppered with tantalising omissions and additions – although with some songs barely touched upon for more than a couple of lines, and others abandoned part way through due to her dissatisfaction, it wasn’t always easy to tell.

Nina Hagen at O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire in London on 24 September 2016. (Imelda Michalczyk)

Nina Hagen at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London on 24 September 2016. (Imelda Michalczyk)

Nina’s social/political views were, as ever, transparent throughout. Early 80s single Smack Jack reminds us of her anti-drugs stance, whilst many of the covers veer towards her religious and philosophical position. Bob Dylan’s Gotta Serve Somebody (and a quick gasp of Blowin’ In The Wind), the protest song We Shall Overcome (sung in honour of those killed in last year’s Paris terrorist attacks which, she tells us, happened a week after her French tour), Norman Greenbaum’s Spirit in the Sky and folk standard All My Trials.

Nina Hagen at O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire in London on 24 September 2016. (Imelda Michalczyk)

Nina Hagen at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London on 24 September 2016. (Imelda Michalczyk)

Special guest Lene Lovich was called to the stage for three songs, including their mid-80s collaboration, the vegetarian-supporting Don’t Kill The Animals, and a Rammstein cover. There seemed a genuine warmth of friendship between the two in the way they interacted on stage, Nina’s insistence on drawing out details of Lene’s next solo show to encourage attendance and a kiss from Nina on the cheek whilst singing.

Nina Hagen at O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire in London on 24 September 2016. (Imelda Michalczyk)

Nina Hagen at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London on 24 September 2016. (Imelda Michalczyk)

Nina chatted informally and at length between songs, which was welcomed by the crowd, who frequently greeted these musical pauses with declarations of love for the singer. Her stories include how Frank Zappa convinced her to sing in English, how Ari Up of The Slits showed her around Shepherd’s Bush’s basement reggae parties and how a UFO sighting was, she now realises, something to do with mermaids (yes, I know, but this what it sounded like to me!). She also hints heavily, but mysteriously, at an ongoing legal case that has consumed her last three years and will soon be made public.

 

Nina Hagen at O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire in London on 24 September 2016. (Imelda Michalczyk)

Nina Hagen at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London on 24 September 2016. (Imelda Michalczyk)

The evening’s ramble through punk, rock and roll, country, big band, folk and a distinctly cabaret feel to some elements of the show, kept the performance unpredictable and enjoyable.

Woody Guthrie’s All You Fascists Bound To Lose and Gershwin’s Summertime were rolled out later in the show, before an encore with second special guest of the evening Adamski for a rendition of his track Killer.

Nina Hagen at O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire in London on 24 September 2016. (Imelda Michalczyk)

Nina Hagen at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London on 24 September 2016. (Imelda Michalczyk)

By the end of the show she was still energetic yet relaxed. She thanked London for the invitation to perform and told us she hopes she’ll see us in Berlin soon – hopefully not a sign of another 14 year wait until her next UK appearance!

One of the songs on her set list tonight that didn’t get an airing in the end was her version of My Way. It would have been good to hear but, regardless, she certainly did it her way tonight.

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000zeh74UcqsyM” g_name=”Nina-Hagen” f_show_caption=”t” f_show_slidenum=”t” img_title=”casc” pho_credit=”iptc” f_link=”t” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”t” f_fullscreen=”t” f_smooth=”t” f_up=”t” f_topbar=”t” f_show_watermark=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_mtrx=”t” fsvis=”f” width=”740″ height=”555″ f_constrain=”t” bgcolor=”#ffffff” bgtrans=”t” btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” crop=”f” twoup=”t” trans=”flip” tbs=”4000″ f_ap=”t” linkdest=”c” f_bbar=”f” f_bbarbig=”” target=”_self” ]

Nina Hagen @ O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London on September 24, 2016
Photography & Words by Imelda Michalczyk

Imelda has her own website here: www.rebeladelica.com

Pet Needs (Vanessa Söllner)

Pet Needs Are Primetime Entertainment At The Old Church

It’s lunchtime in sunny Stoke Newington, the part of London that really feels like a village. Most of the crowd lined up outside the historic Old Church are making this the first stop on their weekend, and as they mingle among the old tombstones with beers in hand, the anticipation is fizzing in the air. For the fourth year in a row, Pet Needs are about to kick off their Fractured Party weekender, and we’ve so far beyond ready for it.

Alice Phoebe Lou @ Roundhouse (Sam Eve)

Alice Phoebe Lou Enchants London At The Roundhouse

On Friday, 2nd May, 2025, the Roundhouse in London played host to a spellbinding performance by South African-born...
Lizzie Esau @ The Grace (Kalpesh Patel

Lizzie Esau Unleashes Explosive New Single ‘Bugs’ — A Dark, Defiant Step Forward From A Rockshot Favourite

Rockshot Magazine favourite Lizzie Esau continues her rapid ascent through the UK’s alt-rock landscape with the release of her most accomplished single to date, Bugs. A darkly euphoric track filled with emotional grit and lyrical nuance, Bugs sees the 25-year-old Newcastle native confront the chaos of creative self-doubt with ferocity — and catharsis.

EMMMA (João Viegas)

EMMMA Finds Power In Heartache With Stirring New Single ‘Wednesday’s Child’

EMMMA is no stranger to vulnerability — but with her latest single, Wednesday’s Child, the rising UK-based alt-pop artist turns raw emotion into a seismic act of self-empowerment. Released as the next step toward her second EP, the track is a defining moment in her artistic evolution: darker, bolder, and more emotionally fearless than anything she’s released before.

Jon Allen (Michael Walker)

Jon Allen Unearths Gritty Past Of 18th Century London With Immersive New Album ‘Seven Dials’

British singer-songwriter Jon Allen invites listeners into the fog-shrouded streets and shadowy corners of 18th century London with his latest album, Seven Dials. Known for his earthy blend of folk, blues, and Americana, Allen trades modern-day themes for a haunting historical portrait that’s as cinematic as it is emotionally raw.

Josh Groban (Sami Drasin)

Josh Groban Shines Bright With New Career-Spanning Album ‘Gems’

Josh Groban is entering a new era of reflection and celebration with the release of Gems, a deeply personal,...
Sophie Grey (Maximilian Stafford)

Sophie Grey Is Not Waiting Anymore — She’s Putting You ‘On Hold’

Rising electro-pop artist Sophie Grey. is back with a brooding new single, On Hold, and it’s everything we’ve come to expect from the multi-talented producer, performer, and provocateur — shimmering synths, bold visuals, and an anthem for the digitally disenchanted. Out now with an equally cinematic music video, On Hold is a hypnotic blend of retro-futurism and raw emotion, delivered with Grey’s signature flair and fiercely independent spirit.

Lorde (Thistle Brown)

Lorde’s Rebirth: ‘Virgin’ Ushers In A Raw, Unfiltered New Era

In an industry that thrives on reinvention, Lorde has always moved to the beat of her own creation. Now, four years after the sun-soaked introspection of Solar Power, the enigmatic New Zealander has announced her fourth studio album, Virgin, due out on 27th June — a project that promises to be her most emotionally exposed and artistically unguarded work to date.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing