With an impressive 50,000 copies sold per week in Germany, the Fischer-Z album "Red Skies Over Paradise" once enjoyed great success. Now the band, led by John Watts, an ambitious and unusual release with "PUNKT!"
The new Fischer-Z album is far more than just a collection of music. PUNKT! presents itself as a multidimensional art project comprising ten audio tracks, ten artworks, and a short film in ten chapters—all interconnected into an overall concept.
Particularly interesting: The release dates are based on multiples and fractions of 70, which corresponds to John Watts' age in that year. The first release was a limited edition of 70 numbered 7" singles titled "2 Sides of PUNKT!" "2 More Sides of PUNKT!" on July 14, 2025 , before the complete album finally releases digitally on all platforms on September 19, 2025. Art lovers can also experience the works during an art gallery tour in Germany from September 22 to October 2, 2025.
How PUNKT! was born: The creative new beginning
Photographed by Toddevision. This photo was kindly provided to us. All rights remain with the artist and photographer.
The creation process of the new Fischer-Z album began with a significant decision by John Watts.
PERIOD! means full stop",
explains the seasoned stage artist. "It marks the end of something, the old way of working." With this concept, he not only created a new music album, but also heralded a creative new beginning.
The idea behind the album title
The play on words "punk" and "dot" encapsulates Watts' art form. The title symbolizes a clear break with previous methods and ways of thinking. At the same time, it underscores the project's versatility—a powerful statement that perfectly captures the character of the album. At a time when creatives are expressing considerable concern about the threat posed by AI to their art, John wants to emphasize the value of music and art. Therefore, he chooses an "art" model to create a limited number of custom vinyl artifacts.
A new beginning after a difficult time
. This photo was kindly provided to us. All rights remain with the artist and photographer.
For John Watts, "PUNKT!" represents the 26th album of his career and also marks the second year of his five-year plan to revive his name in areas that have largely forgotten him.
The question I get asked most often here in the UK is, 'Why have I never heard of you?' I want to change that in the coming years,"
explains Watts.
A new wave of inspiration has prompted Watts to shift his focus and see if he can make a more significant impact in his home country. His intention is clear:
I love this new project, PERIOD! But it's just one brick in a huge wall. I want the people of Great Britain, Australia, and America to know that I built this wall."
Collaboration with Tony McAnaney
Particularly noteworthy is Watts' new approach to the creative process. "PUNKT!" was written, arranged, and recorded with producer Tony McAnaney . Watts describes this as his "first real creative collaboration since the early days as a band .
"I've always had complete artistic control," he admits. "It was the only way I could work. But PERIOD! was my first real creative collaboration since starting out in a band. And I loved it. That's how I want to work from now on—bringing talents together to create something neither of us expects."
An album that is more than music
“PUNKT!” sets new standards for the concept of a music album.
John Watts consciously abolished the boundaries between different art forms and created a Gesamtkunstwerk that is unique in its form."
10 songs, 10 works of art, 1 short film
The new Fischer-Z album is released as a collection of ten audio tracks, ten artworks, and a short film in ten chapters. All components are thematically connected—the album music forms the soundtrack to the film, while the artwork explores the same themes.
This photo was kindly provided to us. All rights remain with the artist.
The full album will be released digitally on all channels on September 19, 2025.
Why vinyl was chosen as an art object
At a time when AI threatens music and everything else, vinyl is an artifact; it's real, you can't copy it, and I want to talk about the value of music."
explains John Watts. He further emphasizes in his statement:
While creatives express great concern about the threat AI poses to their art and livelihoods, I want to highlight the value of music and art by choosing an 'art' model to create a limited number of custom vinyl artifacts."
. This photo was kindly provided to us. All rights remain with the artist and photographer.
The role of the art gallery tour
From September 22 to October 2, 2025, John Watts will present his project on a gallery tour through Germany. At these exclusive events, visitors can experience the following:
- A private viewing of the ten PUNKT! artworks
- A 5-minute PUNKT! film loop
- A 40-minute acoustic live performance of the “essence of PUNKT!”
The exhibitions will take place in Hamburg, Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin, and Bonn, among other locations. In particular, the galleries offer a unique opportunity to acquire John's art and limited-edition PUNKT! vinyl records, while also hearing some of his PUNKT! songs up close in their most essential acoustic form.
Here are the full tour dates :
- Monday, 22 September 2025: Hamburg, Galerie StadtLandKunst
- Tuesday, September 23, 2025: Frankfurt, Massif Central
- Wednesday, September 24, 2025: Munich, Pasinger Fabrik
- Thursday, September 25, 2025: Schorndorf / near Stuttgart, Bech Art Gallery
- Friday, September 26, 2025: Day off / Press and Radio
- Saturday, 27 September 2025: Kaarst near Düsseldorf, Kulturscheune
- Sunday, 28 September 2025: Bonn-Bad Godesberg, Bonn Ice Age
- Monday, September 29, 2025: Essen, S-Art Gallery
- Tuesday, September 30, 2025: Day Off / Press and Radio
- Wednesday, October 1, 2025: Berlin, BUNKER WEST
- Wednesday, October 2, 2025: Hamburg, StadtLandKunst Gallery
The Fischer-Z Tour newsletter can be found here.
The topics of PUNKT! : Between politics and emotion
Most artists are driven to express their view of the world via their art form. My main one is writing songs and putting out recordings. I still have as great a desire as ever to write about all the things in the world that move me.”
Such is the original quote from John Watts , founder and frontman of Fischer-Z, who is considered by many art critics to be one of the most influential post-punk and new wave artists from Great Britain.
In terms of content, the new Fischer-Z album oscillates between pointed social criticism and emotional depth . The album's ten tracks address a wide range of topics that mirrors .
In this video, the artist explains his new album project in his own words:
Social criticism in »Conclusion«
The song "Conclusion" directly addresses the state of the world, continuing the political tradition for which Fischer-Z has always been known. Watts, who once studied clinical psychology and worked in psychiatric clinics, expresses his left-wing political leanings in the lyrics. In earlier works such as "Red Skies Over Paradise," he addressed social injustices and the Cold War—topics that seem frighteningly relevant today.
Surreal love in the title track »PUNKT!«
The title track, "PUNKT!" , unfolds a surreal, dystopian love story. This showcases Watts' ability to shift between political statements and personal emotions. The combination of catchy melodies with profound lyrics has always been a hallmark of his work— "the idea of sparking a revolution with a beautiful melody .
Influences from Motown, Funk and Punk
Musically, the album combines a variety of influences. While the title alludes to the band's punk roots, the arrangements also incorporate elements of Motown and funk . This stylistic diversity underscores the ambitious nature of the project.
How personal experiences mirrors in the texts
The pandemic has profoundly changed Watts' perspective: "The coronavirus restrictions made me look at life differently. Music and songwriting used to be my top priority. Now I've learned that being happy with your loved ones is the most important thing ." This new perspective on life flows into the lyrics, as does his recently diagnosed ADHD, which may have influenced both his difficulties in the music business and his distinctive performance style.
What struck me personally when listening to the new album
Without knowing exactly what the actual sources of inspiration were, while listening to John Watts' 10 new tracks I experienced a very personal reminiscence of the songs "Dreamer" by Ozzy Osbourne, "Soul Love" and "Lazarus" by David Bowie, "Hurt" by Johnny Cash and "Dancing Barefoot" by Patti Smith, both atmospherically, lyrically and musically.
Fischer-Z's stylistic diversity on their new album "PUNKT!" not only seemed to me like a nod to the band's punk roots, but also revealed John Watts' remarkable ability to connect different musical worlds. The integration of punk, pop, rock, Motown, and funk elements creates a vibrant soundscape that feels both nostalgic and contemporary.
I was surprised by my spontaneous association with classics like Bowie's "Soul Love" and "Lazarus" – two works that, like Fischer-Z's new compositions, blend different musical eras. The fact that, for reasons that aren't entirely clear, I also heard Johnny Cash's "Hurt" and Patti Smith's "Dancing Barefoot" speaks to the album's emotional depth and stylistic range.
Watts' artistic development is particularly evident in this release. As is so often the case with long-time musicians, his work has become a kind of "living autobiography" —and yet the irrepressible creative urge of a full-blooded artist who continues to redefine himself in relation to his environment is striking.
When listening, do you get the impression that Watts deliberately incorporated these musical references, or do these associations arise more by chance through the universal language of certain timbres and arrangements?
The ten new tracks appear to form a sonically coherent, yet stylistically diverse unit – an ambitious undertaking that not every band with such a long history can achieve.
What DOT! means to John Watts and Fischer-Z
When I stopped Fischer-Z in 1981, EMI were desperate, they wanted me to keep going with it. We’d sold two million albums by then.”
— John Watts,
For 70-year-old John Watts, "POINT!" represents far more than just a new release. It marks a decisive turning point in his long-running career.
Farewell to old ways of working
, "PUNKT!" symbolizes a departure from his usual working method. While he previously always retained complete artistic control, the new album was created in close collaboration with producer Tony McAnaney.
Looking back at Fischer-Z's career
While 2025 is all about "PUNKT!" , 2026 will mark a special anniversary: 50 years since the band was founded at Brunel University and their first performances in the autumn of 1976. Despite numerous albums such as "This is My Universe" (2015) and "Building Bridges" (2017), their success in the English-speaking world has so far remained limited.
Why the English-speaking audience is important now
However, Watts finds it "absolutely frustrating not to be able to work as much as he would like in the UK and all English-speaking countries." He would like to close this perception gap in the future.
Future plans and new works
Fischer-Z is also planning an extensive anniversary tour through Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Spain, Portugal, Australia and Great Britain in 2026.
I am 70, but I intend to produce work in the coming years that is as good as anything I have ever done,”
Watts emphasizes this with unwavering enthusiasm. A sample of the new album is available on the official website .
Owner and managing director of Kunstplaza . Publicist, editor and passionate blogger in the field of art, design and creativity since 2011. Successful conclusion in web design as part of a university degree (2008). Further development of creativity techniques through courses in free drawing, expression painting and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market through many years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with actors/institutions from art and culture.
