Illegal 2001 is a German pop-rock group formed in 1988 in Schleswig-Holstein; its founding members hail from Bad Bramstedt, Eckernförde, Neumünster, Kiel and Tappendorf, and the band’s collective identity is emphasized over individual birth dates. The group debuted with the single "A7" and the album Skandal (1993), establishing a regional following that led to a contract with a local label and a nomination for the R.SH-Gold award. In 1994 the band released Auweia, and their Echo Award for National Newcomer of the Year was secured in 1994, not tied to a 1995 release. The band followed with the studio album Ich kaufe ein 'V' (2001), which continued their established style and catalogue; earlier tracks such as "Nie wieder Alkohol" and "Dosenbier" appeared on prior releases. Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s Illegal 2001 toured extensively across Germany, sharing stages with acts like Status Quo, Elton John and Joe Cocker, and performed at the Jübek Open Air as a headliner in 2010. The group contributed to the Peter-Timm film Dumm gelaufen in 1997 and participated in the national Eurovision pre-selection in 2000, finishing fifth. After a period of sporadic live performances, the band resumed a club tour in 2007 and continued to release live recordings, maintaining a presence in the German rock scene without further studio albums.
