Biography
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Years Active
1991 – 2017 (26 years)
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Founded In
München, Bayern, Germany
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Members
- Rudy Ratzinger (1991 – present)
:wumpscut: (stylised as ":wumpscut:" or ":w:") is a German gothic-influenced electro-industrial music project. It was founded in May 1991 by Bavarian disc jockey Rudolf "Rudy" Ratzinger (born 1966). By 2016, Ratzinger had released seventeen studio albums, along with various compilations, demo material, remix releases and reissues of previously deleted singles and EPs.
Ratzinger is the sole member of Wumpscut, although he has occasionally worked with guest contributors such as Aleta Welling, P·A·L and Selene. These collaborations were generally limited in scope. He has cited Leæther Strip as an influence on his decision to move from DJing to producing his own music, stating that his experience as a DJ and exposure to early Leæther Strip releases encouraged him to begin creating music himself.
Wumpscut's earliest material dates to the early 1990s, when Ratzinger performed in clubs in Bavaria and southern Germany. In a 1997 interview, he stated that "Pornography" and "War Combattery" were among his first electronic body music compositions. Both tracks appeared on "Defcon", the project's first demo, released in late 1991. "Pornography" was later included on "Blutkind", while a remix of "War Combattery" appeared on a reissue EP. Ratzinger reported that "War Combattery" received strong club play in southern Germany during this period.
The first full-length album, "Music for a Slaughtering Tribe", was released in 1993. It included the track "Soylent Green", which takes its title from the 1973 film of the same name and incorporates samples from the German-dubbed version of the film. The track contributed to the project's early recognition and received play in gothic and industrial club scenes in Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States.
In 1994, Wumpscut released two EPs, "Dried Blood" and "Gomorra". The latter references Operation Gomorrah, the Allied bombing campaign of Hamburg during the Second World War. The second studio album, "Bunkertor 7", followed in 1995.
The 1997 album "Embryodead" reached number 20 on the CMJ RPM chart in the United States. In 1999, "Boeses Junges Fleisch" ("Evil Young Flesh") was released, a concept album loosely based on aspects of the life of German serial killer Fritz Haarmann and broader themes including violence, desire and alienation. It reached number 25 on the CMJ RPM chart in the United States and number 17 on the German Alternative Charts.
The 2000 release "Blutkind" ("Blood Child") reached number 5 on the German DAC Top 50 Albums of 2000 and number 17 on the CMJ RPM chart. In 2001, "Wreath of Barbs" reached number 13 on the CMJ RPM chart. Around its release, Ratzinger organised a remix competition for the title track, providing source material online and inviting submissions for possible inclusion on a subsequent release. He described this as an attempt to give lesser-known artists exposure beyond established remix networks.
From "Bunkertor 7" onwards, Wumpscut releases frequently appeared in elaborate box set editions, sometimes including bonus tracks and additional merchandise such as posters, pins, clothing items and novelty products. Albums were also reissued with different artwork, remastering and altered track listings, and standalone merchandise was made available.
The sixteenth studio album, "Wüterich", was released on 25 March 2016 via Metropolis Records. A compilation titled "Innerfire" followed on 5 May 2017. Around the same period, Ratzinger announced that Wumpscut would cease producing new music, according to statements made on social media.
In November 2020, a new album titled "Fledermavs 303" was announced following the release of a preview track on Bandcamp. The album was released on 2 April 2021, followed by "For Those About to Starve" in 2022.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wumpscut
Studio albums
Music for a Slaughtering Tribe (1993)
Bunkertor 7 (1995, aka Bunker Gate Seven)
The Mesner Tracks (1996)
Embryodead (1997)
Boeses Junges Fleisch (1999)
Wreath of Barbs (2001)
Bone Peeler (2004)
Evoke (2004)
Cannibal Anthem (2006)
Body Census (2007)
Schädling (2008)
Fuckit (2009)
Siamese (2010)
Schrekk und Grauss (2011)
Women and Satan First (2012)
Madman Szpital (2013)
Bulwark Bazooka (2014)
Blutspuker Tavern (2015)
Wüterich (2016)
Fledermavs :303: (2021)
For Those About to Starve (2022)
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