freedom fighter

freedom fighter happened in Hamburg, Germany near Reeperbahn in St. Pauli, the world famous redlight district. The exact location is on a side street, named Grosse Freiheit, Grand Freedom. Grosse Freiheit used to be home to numerous clubs, including the legendary Star Club on number 39 where the Beatles had their first big appearance April 13, 1962 - the opening night of the Club. Other legends performing in Star Club were Jimmy Hendrix, Cream, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Ray Charles, The Animals, Everly Brothers and more. Must have been a super cool place at the time.

Today Grosse Freiheit still hosts a number of more or less entertaining etablissements, not all so cool. In fact the area is now a very touristic hotspot where busloads of curious visitors gather every evening to experience some wannabe adventure. Their curiosity is channeled by some professional dragqueen tour guides who tell anecdotes of past and present. The clubs have adapted to their paying audience, some now offer pizzas and kebab rather than avantgarde rock music.

Our freedom fighter poses right at the entrance of Grosse Freiheit like a gatekeeper, adding some exotic flavour to the scenery. There is not much to fight or gatekeep about though, as tourist crowds usually prefer to behave properly. So freedom fighter is essentially a friendly photo motive.

Miss Moët in the background seems to enjoy the scenery, ready ro invite love-seeling sailors to a drink they would normally not be able to afford. Grosse Freiheit however has always been making things possible...