In spring 2023 Justus had a simple idea: Why not start a Folk Punk band with a maritime theme in Hamburg!? The first line-up of Whistling on Deck came together shortly after. Already on board: Simone. As things sometimes happen, this initial line-up didn’t survive the winter of 2023/24, except for Justus and Simone, who were keen to carry on. And it didn’t take them long to find new crew members in the form of Matze, Dani and Kai.
In winter 2024/25, we started recording some songs for the ‘Messmates’ EP, released by Whistling on Deck in June 2025. Later that year we hit the stage for the first time. The journey continues!
Dani: Bass, Vocals, Kazoo
I always wanted to be an actress! Sadly I failed, so I became a musician (even though my only CD is “Livealbum of Death” by Farin Urlaub).
Justus: Banjo, Vocals, Harmonica
According to my mother my first word was something like “ship” (in German). Musically, I used to be a Metal guy for ages, always with a soft spot for all things folky. Beyond the wide range of traditionals, artists like The Pogues, The Dreadnoughts, The Men They Couldn’t Hang, Bad Religion, Thees Uhlmann, Hannes Wader and many more may have influenced my ideas for Whistling on Deck.
Kai: Mandolin, Guitar, Backing Vocals
Musically speaking I listen to a lot of different stuff. Most important for my part in Whistling on Deck are perhaps Nirvana, The Levellers and my experiences from my previous bands.
I can’t really exist without music.
Matze: Drums & Percussion
My first love for music was the bass drum of the marching band of the Ochtmissen volunteer fire department. It got deeper with the power of Queen, the diversity of the Exile on Main Street album, the melancholy of Tom Waits, the anger of Johnny Cash, the snottiness of the Pogues, the speed of the Ramones, and the sheer power of rock music.
Simone: Accordion, Guitar, Vocals
After some twenty years of drumming, a voice in my head told me I should play accordion … or it was Justus’ voice!
My music influences are mostly in grunge rock and Italian singer-songwriters, but Queen was my real first love. They taught me there are no limits on how many music genres you can mix.