D.A.F. (Deutsch-Amerikanische Freundschaft) is an influential German electropunk/NDW band from Düsseldorf, formed in 1978 featuring Gabriel "Gabi" Delgado-López (vocals), Robert Görl (drums, percussion, electronic instruments), Kurt "Pyrolator" Dahlke (electronic instruments), Michael Kemner (bass-guitar) and Wolfgang Spelmans (guitar). Kurt Dahlke was replaced by Chrislo Haas (electronic instruments, bass-guitar, saxophone) in 1979.

The name Deutsch-Amerikanische Freundschaft - literally, German-American Friendship - is a satirical reference to the DSF, the East German Deutsch-Sowjetische Freundschaft (German-Soviet Friendship Organization).

D.A.F.'s most famous songs are "Kebabträume" and the grimly sarcastic "Der Mussolini" from the album "Alles ist gut", a pulsing dance song featuring the lyrics "Dance the Mussolini, move your behind, clap your hands, and now the Adolf Hitler, and now the Jesus Christ, and now the communism ...". The song caused a scandal amongst the more humorless elements of German liberal society. There have been rumours that the group's name is really a tribute to the Deutsche Arbeitsfront (a Nazi labour organization); however, D.A.F.'s style is arguably anti-political, possibly even nihilistic, and most of their lyrics concern more physical matters. At best, they are referenced as a punk band advancing into electronic music.

In interviews they claimed to not target anything or anyone specific while creating lyrics to be taken as a parody of words and phrases floating around in the public media. "Sato-Sato" and "Der Mussolini" are both examples of songs written around Delgado-López's fascination with the sound of a particular word. A few months before the 2003 invasion of Iraq D.A.F. released "The Sheriff (An Anti-American Song)" criticizing American imperialism.

quote:

"I don't believe in anything, so I'm free to play with anything I want. We take all that we want and play with it."

Discography

Albums

* 1979 Ein Produkt der Deutsch-Amerikanischen Freundschaft, LP
* 1980 Die Kleinen und die Bösen, LP
* 1981 Alles ist gut, LP
* 1981 Gold und Liebe, LP
* 1982 Für immer, CD
* 1986 1st Step to Heaven, CD/LP
* 2003 Fünfzehn neue D.A.F-Lieder, 2x12"/CD

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