Quick Links<\/h4>\n
\u00bb News<\/a> \u00bb Go to Chat<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The Bates described their musical style as Bubblegum Trash. If you like to think in categories, the guys belong to the Punk genre. Their lyrics mostly revolved around love, pain, longing – but also sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll. The Bates released at least two cover versions on each of their albums alongside their original compositions.<\/p>\n The band became well-known in the 90s, particularly for their punk cover version of Michael Jackson’s song “Billie Jean.” This song reached number 10 on the charts in 1995 and was the biggest (commercial) success of The Bates. Some of the fans’ favorite songs include “It\u2019s Getting Dark,” “Say It Isn\u2019t So,” “A Real Cool Time,” “Bitter End,” “I Don\u2019t Wanna Love You,” and “Keine ist wie Du.” Besides their music, the guys were popular because they remained down-to-earth and always sought contact with their fans.<\/p>\n The Bates played their last concert in October 2000. In 2001, the band officially parted ways.<\/p>\n On June 18, 2006, the singer and frontman of The Bates, Markus Zimmer, died at the age of 41 in his Kassel apartment. To honor him, the band, along with Zimbl’s family and friends, organized the Zimbl-Tribute \u201cRocking on heaven\u2019s door\u201d on December 28, 2006. A 3-CD compilation \u201cA tribute to Zimbl \u2013 Rocking on heaven\u2019s door\u201d was released as a tribute. On this night, Klube, Reb, Pogo, Dully, and Armin took the stage together and played Bates songs for about 30 minutes. It was their first performance after a 5-year live hiatus. The proceeds from the tribute and the tribute CD were entirely donated to foundations fighting drugs.<\/p>\n The idea grew that they could occasionally perform together for a good cause. They did so in 2007 at the “A Trip To Zimbl Festival” in Frieda (near Eschwege), in 2009 at “Bates & Friends” in Kassel, in 2011 at “Bates & Friends” in Eschwege, and in 2012 at the “Fanr\u00e4ume-Festival” of FC St. Pauli in Hamburg.<\/p>\n At the 2009 event \u201cBates & Friends \u2013 Welcome To The Bates Motel,\u201d the CD \u201cWelcome To The Bates Motel\u201d was released, containing rare old Bates versions and a live recording of the concert at Kassel’s Spot in 1990. In 2014, Universal-Music released the 3-CD sampler “The Bates Collection.”<\/p>\n In 2018, Klube’s book “Klube & The Bates,” written together with author Christof D\u00f6rr, was published.<\/p>\n In 2020, the label Glitterhouse Records re-released the live album “The Bates – Unfucked Live” as a vinyl record with new artwork.<\/p>\n In 2024, the tribute album “What you leave behind” was released for Zimbl’s 60th birthday, featuring numerous bands and musicians who have shared the stage with the Bates in the past. The remaining Bates musicians are also included, either with their current bands or as guest musicians.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Premiere: 06.02.2026 – 8:15 pm<\/p>\n In a motel between Eschwege and Phoenix: Strange guests step into the Bates Motel on a stormy night: a drummer, damaged in a car accident, a priest with a mysterious suitcase, a mysterious businesswoman on the run. What do they want from the shy receptionist? And who is the strange woman with the knife…? Alfred Hitchcock’s film Psycho was the inspiration for the name of the band that the young Zimbl and his friends Klube, Armin and Pogo – who were later joined by Reb and Dully – founded.<\/p>\n 20 years after Zimbl’s death, director Dominique Schnizer is staging and writing a theatre evening about Zimbl, with memories of his friends and companions and the immortal music of the Bates. The band’s fictional namesake also makes an appearance. United in their loneliness, Norman Bates and Zimbl confront their inner demons. In a motel somewhere between Eschwege, Hesse and Phoenix, Arizona, they relive the decisive moments of their own complicated history.<\/p>\n \u00bb more info<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Bates! The 90s \u2026 What a time, so many memories. A successful band with a charismatic singer and his untouchable voice. \u201cBubblegum Trash Forever\u201d To remember the songs, a band from Northern Hesse passionately tries to contribute to the legacy<\/p>\n \u00bb to the Facebook page<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Podcast report about THE BATES with interview excerpts. The story of the punk band from Eschwege is told by the band itself, friends, companions, and fans<\/p>\n \u00bb to the Facebook page<\/a> Many thanks to Sascha. You can now watch the complete gig of the Bates Allstars on YouTube.<\/p>\n
\n\u00bb Social Media<\/a>
\n\u00bb Newsletter<\/a>
\n\u00bb Chat<\/a>
\n\u00bb Guestbook<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nBates Chat<\/h4>\nThe next Bates Chat is on Monday - 01.06.2026<\/strong> - from 7pm till open end.\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.the-bates.de\/tb-data\/uploads\/band_index.jpg\")
The Bates is a band formed in 1987 in Eschwege, Hesse, a small town near Kassel. The band named itself after the psychotic killer “Norman Bates” from Alfred Hitchcock’s cult film “Psycho.”<\/p>\nNews<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n
Welcome to the BATES MOTEL (UA)
\nStaatstheater Kassel – 2026<\/h4>\n![\"news](\"https:\/\/www.the-bates.de\/tb-data\/uploads\/news_theater_kassel_welcome_to_the_bates_motel.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe Psycho Juniors
\nLive<\/h4>\n![\"Psycho](\"https:\/\/www.the-bates.de\/tb-data\/uploads\/pj_news_eschwege_08_25.jpg\")
<\/p>\nMach dunkel M\u00e4uschen – Bates Podcast<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.the-bates.de\/tb-data\/uploads\/mdm_bates_podcast_news.jpg\")
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\n\u00bb to Let’s Cast page<\/a>
\n\u00bb to the YouTube channel<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nThe Bates Allstars
\nA Tribute to Zimbl 2006<\/h4>\n![\"Bates](\"https:\/\/www.the-bates.de\/tb-data\/uploads\/batestribute2006-fullconcert-vid-news.jpg\")
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