Ratinger Hof Düsseldorf

The Ratinger Hof sits on a corner in the Altstadt, marked by a simple, unassuming gray facade that gives little away to the casual passerby. In the late nineteen seventies, this space transformed from a standard tavern into the epicenter of German punk rock. Bands like D.A.F. and Die Toten Hosen played here when the scene was still finding its footing. The bar manager at the time famously let musicians play for free, provided they brought their own instruments and enough beer to keep the crowd moving.