Rabble Rousers

A treat at the distillery. The Rabble Rousers, back on the road as a full band this year, will be playing in the time-honored walls of the Schnoor-Destille on Saturday, August 15.

Bill Collins, American singer, guitarist and songwriter, ex-member of legendary US punk bands such as MDC, FANG, VERBAL ABUSE, INTENSIFIED CHAOS, SPECIAL FORCES or the rockabilly/country-oriented band The SWAGGERTS and Michael "Elf" Mayer, guitarist with SLIME and Die MIMMI's, recorded the album "New Hard Times" in 2008 under the name RABBLE ROUSERS, together with Andy Merck and Ray de Vario from VELVETONE in Bremen, featuring workers' songs and protest songs.

After the election of Donald Trump in 2016, Bill decided to leave Berkley in California and move to Bremen, where he has had several friends since the 1980s. Bill and Elf have been performing as a duo since 2017, playing a mix of Irish folk, punk rock, country and rock'n roll, with influences ranging from Johnny Cash and Woodie Guthrie to the Pogues and The Clash. Two or three SLIME songs in acoustic versions are on the setlist and also on the acoustic album "Fightin Words" released in 2019.

RABBLE ROUSERS have been back as a full band since May 2026. Including Steff Ulrich on drums and Andy Merck on bass. Both were members of VELVETONE and DIMPLE MINDS, among others, and are currently also on tour with KNIPP GUMBO from Bremen. Live they will perform songs from the album "Fightin Words", the first album "New Hard Times" and also some brand new compositions.