The Idiots

The Idiots were founded in Dortmund, Germany in 1978 and are among the oldest German punk bands. The band started out playing slow Oi! punk, evolved into hardcore punk in the mid-1980s, and later incorporated thrash metal influences. After splitting up in 1992, they reunited in 2012 with a new lineup around founder and singer Sir Hannes Schmidt. Schmidt also runs the Dortmund-based record store and label Idiots Records, through which the band releases its music.