Donots (DE)

About

Also known as: Donats, Donot, The Donots

Few German punk rock bands have had the kind of ride the Donots have pulled off. Formed in Ibbenbüren in 1993, they spent years grinding through the local circuit before landing a major label deal and scoring a genuine mainstream hit with "Whatever Happened to the 80s", which cracked the German charts. Their cover of Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It" pushed even higher, reaching number 33 in Germany and becoming one of their signature tracks. Things got properly international when "Saccharine Smile" turned up in Burnout 3: Takedown and the Konami rhythm game series, helping Amplify the Good Times hit number 10 on Japan's international album chart. After parting ways with their major label over creative differences, they set up their own imprint, Solitary Man Records, and came back swinging with Coma Chameleon in 2008, a noticeably heavier record that landed the radio hit "Stop the Clocks". Supporting Green Day on their German 21st Century Breakdown dates gave them another big visibility boost, and they followed it up with The Long Way Home and its singles "Calling" and "Forever Ends Today". They even recorded a track with Frank Turner, showing a knack for collaborating beyond their usual scene.