Der Eiserne Vorhang

Der Eiserne Vorhang was an Austrian new wave band from Niederösterreich that issued a single apiece in 1981 on Panza-Platte and Philips, followed by the 1982 album Ohne Ausweg on Ariola.

Members: Fred Cornet (trumpet), Ronald Fleischmann (vocals), Michael Jürs (drums), Thomas Rabitsch (keyboard)

Background

Der Eiserne Vorhang (The Iron Curtain) formed in Vienna in 1981 when singer Ronald Fleischmann assembled a new-wave group with keyboardist Thomas Rabitsch, drummer Michael Jürs, and trumpeter Fred Cornet.

Fleischmann, also known as Ronald Exzess, operated the Danger clothing shop in the Vienna Judengasse, a meeting place for the local punk scene. He partnered with fanzine publisher Panza to establish the independent label Panza-Platte, which issued the 1981 EP Es lebe hoch die Perversion by Pöbel. Fleischmann also arranged and produced the debut single by Die Böslinge, cut during a one-hour session at a four-track studio.

Rabitsch played keyboards in Antipasta from 1974 and joined Hallucination Company three years later. In 1978, he entered Drahdiwaberl, the experimental rock ensemble led by Stefan Weber. Rabitsch also played synthesizer, piano, and percussion on the 1980 Harri Stojka album Off the Bone and participated in the 1981 Drahdiwaberl release Psychoterror.

Der Eiserne Vorhang debuted in 1981 with the Panza-Platte single “Franzi” (b/w “Ohne Ausweg”), followed by “Fernsehen” (b/w “Mann in Schwarz”) on Philips. Fleischmann adapted “Franzi” from the XTC song “Making Plans for Nigel” with lyrics in Viennese dialect. The group subsequently expanded its recording personnel with associates from the local punk and rock circuit, including Chuzpe bassist Christian Brandl, singer Hansi Lang, and guitarist Karl Ratzer. Album sessions commenced at Tonstudio Reinhard in Vienna.

Discography:

• Ohne Ausweg (1982)

References and notes

• SR-Archiv — Der Eiserne Vorhang. Vienna formation in 1981, core quartet, guest musicians, and original singles. (SR-Archiv)
• Trash Rock Archives — Punk in Österreich, Part 1 (2009). Identifies Ronald Exzess as Fleischmann and documents his partnership with Panza in the independent label. (Evolver)
• Wien Museum — Buch über Punk um 1980 (2026). Fleischmann and the Danger shop in Judengasse, including its role in the Vienna punk network. (Wien Museum)
• FM4 — Die Böslinge interview (December 12, 2024). First-person confirmation that Fleischmann arranged the 1981 four-track recording session. (ORF FM4)
• SR-Archiv — Thomas Rabitsch. Antipasta, Hallucination Company, Drahdiwaberl, and early Stojka credits. (SR-Archiv)
• Goethe-Institut — Anarchy in Austria. Identifies “Franzi” as a Viennese adaptation of the XTC song “Making Plans for Nigel.” (Goethe-Institut)
• German Charts — Franzi. Original 1981 Panza-Platte single, catalog 119 270, with “Ohne Ausweg” on the reverse. (German Charts)
• SR-Archiv — Ohne Ausweg. Original Ariola catalog, writing credits, guest personnel, and production by Rabitsch and Edith Fleischmann. (SR-Archiv)
• Original LP documentation — Ohne Ausweg. Tonstudio Reinhard location, full album credits, and 1982 pressing details. (Musicbase)