"Hier kommt Alex" (Here comes Alex) is a song by German punk band Die Toten Hosen. It is the first single and the first track from the album Ein kleines bisschen Horrorschau. The song in concept introduces Alex, who is the central character on the concept album, a reference to Alex, the protagonist of Anthony Burgess' novel A Clockwork Orange.
"Hier kommt Alex" is structurally and musically similar to the last track from the album, "Bye, Bye Alex".
It is included in the European release of the game Rock Band, and as a downloadable track on the American version. Due to licensing issues, the song was taken down from DLC services in 2013.[1] The song was available for re-download in Rock Band 4 for those who purchased it prior to this date.
Cover versions
The song has been covered by many artists, among them Samsas Traum on Endstation.Eden, Gatos Sucios on Punto limite, Thomas Baldischwyler for the compilation Pudel Produkte 8, Sonnenbrandt, Scala & Kolacny Brothers on the album Grenzenlos. British punk band UK Subs covered it in English as "Here Comes Alex". In 2020, German medieval rock band Feuerschwanz covered the song with a medieval composition.[2]
Czech rock band Tři sestry covered the song as Já jsem Aleš (I am Aleš).
According to an interview, Die Ärzte had spontaneously played the song on a benefit concert to attract more crowd, because people were leaving after a bad band.[3]
There's also an English version of the song, titled "The Return of Alex". This was released as a promo single for UK from the all-English album Love, Peace & Money.
Music video
The video was directed by René Eller and shows the band performing in a black-and-white TV-set.
Track listing
"The Return of Alex" (Meurer/Frege, Dangerfield) − 4:29
"So Long - Good Bye" − 3:13 (English version of "Schönen Gruß, auf Wiederseh'n")
