Die Kreuzen

Die Kreuzen is a rock band that originated in Rockford, Illinois in 1981 before relocating to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The group, whose name translates loosely as “the crosses” in incorrect German, began as a hardcore punk outfit and later moved into post-punk and alternative rock. Their sound developed across the 1980s and early 1990s, pushing into experimental territory while still maintaining a raw, aggressive edge.

How the Band Got Started

The group initially performed under the name “The Stellas” with Dan Kubinski on vocals, Brian Egeness on guitar, Keith Brammer on bass, and Erik Tunison on drums. After contributing tracks to punk compilations like Charred Remains and The Master Tape, they released their debut EP, Cows and Beer. In 1984 they followed up with their 21-song debut album Die Kreuzen, which included re-recorded versions of earlier tracks. Their 1986 album October File marked a move away from straight hardcore punk into slower, more atmospheric music, while Century Days (1988) expanded further with piano and horn arrangements.

Later Years and Side Projects

By the early 1990s, the members began exploring side projects. Brammer joined Wreck, while Kubinski and Egeness played in a Cheap Trick tribute band called Chick Treat. In 1992, guitarist Brian Egeness departed, and the remaining members formed a short-lived project called Chainfall. Kubinski and Tunison later performed in Fuckface, while Brammer joined the Carnival Strippers. Kubinski would go on to front multiple other projects including Decapitado, The Crosses, and a solo acoustic project called DeadFinger. Egeness pursued film scoring, contributing music to several independent films. Their records during this period were largely produced by Butch Vig, who later worked with Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins.

Reunion and Recognition

In 2005, a tribute album titled Lean Into It – A Tribute to Die Kreuzen was released, featuring contributions from Napalm Death, Mike Watt, and Voivod. In 2011, the band was inducted into the Wisconsin Area Music Industry Hall of Fame. They returned to live performance in 2012 with a sold-out show at Turner Hall in Milwaukee, followed by appearances at Roadburn Festival in the Netherlands and other U.S. dates. A forthcoming oral history of the band, Don’t Say Please: The Oral History of Die Kreuzen, is set for release in 2025.

Musical Style

Die Kreuzen began as a hardcore punk band but soon incorporated elements of heavy metal, gothic rock, shoegaze, and alternative rock. Their sound has been described as ahead of its time, anticipating aspects of 1990s grunge while pushing lyrical and musical boundaries beyond the traditional punk framework. Critics in the 1980s praised them for reshaping heavy music into something uniquely intense and forward-looking.

Discography

• Albums
  • Die Kreuzen (1984)
  • October File (1986, CD included first album)
  • Century Days (1988)
  • Cement (1991)
  • Internal (1993, promo-only)
• EPs
  • Cows and Beer (1982)
  • Gone Away (1989)
• Singles
  • “Gone Away” / “Different Ways” (Live) (1989)
  • “Pink Flag” / “Land of Treason” (1990)
  • “Big Bad Days” / “Gone Away” (Acoustic) (1991)