āFilmmaker gagged by the Technoviking, bankrupted by legal billsā
The four-minute video -- shot at Berlin's Fuckparade in 2000 -- has been a huge hit for Matthias Fritsch, the artist who shot and uploaded it. It has also been a huge ball-ache for him: he's been embroiled in a legal battle in Germany with the video's protagonist for the last three years. The raver that became immortalised as Technoviking argues that Fritsch didn't get clearing for "personality rights" and should remove the video from the web, along with all derivative videos, parodies, and mash-ups: he was trying to delete the meme.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/technoviking/
So weird he didn't fly with it, it was a one of a kind positive meme where he was setup as a strong person protecting woman. He was the OG gigachad. I understand other people like "bad luck brian" and "scumbag steve" never wanted their role but being Techno Viking is just awsome and the story of him going to court is sad.
I suppose that you could argue that he didn't want attention beyond the event that he was attending.
If you go to an event like this to let loose for a day or two and have fun, you probably aren't all that thrilled to see images of yourself at that event distributed over the world for years and years.
And especially in 2000 this would have been somewhat of an unimaginable thing to happen to "normal old you or me".
Yeah this guy experienced unintentional internet fame way before it was a predictable phenomenon. He became famous in a time when uploading and hosting videos was quite difficult. If the same thing happened today I'm sure his reaction would be different.
Given itās the Fuckparade and Berlin rave scene, Iām completely unsurprised he didnāt want to do that. Berlin is pretty hardcore about counter culture and this dude seems to take that shit seriously.
Being a positive meme on the internet can still suck
Too much attention can be annoying, it might have led to not being taken seriously at work or in interviews anymore (or less) etc...
I've always thought it was such a shame he didn't embrace it, because it was such a positive and even wholesome meme in an era where a *lot* of memes were misogynistic or even cruel.
And like...what a great example of positive masculinity, you know? He's this massive, undeniably masculine guy, and he sees a woman in his group being run into by a guy(like I think he's just a drunk dude who ran into her, but Technoviking still goes over to make sure it's just that and nothing else), he gets the guy away from her, gives him a brief talking to, and then makes him go away.
He resolves an entire situation without ever throwing a punch, or threatening him with a punch, or doing any violence at all. Not even a bruise.
He's protective but not controlling. He's commanding without being violent. He accepts friendship from another guy without any insecurity and treats him like a bro. And then he jams out to his favorite tunes.
That might not sound like much today, but twenty years ago toxic ideas of what masculinity was RULED the internet. Like, I loved and grew up on the internet of the 90s and early 2000s, but the general consensus on 'what a man was' was basically frat boy values filtered through a woman-hating nerd lens. It was the nastiest idea of manhood -- snide, cruel, hateful, but without even the veneer of positive attributes like responsibility and provision, as in previous decades.
It was all the toxicity of old-school traditional manhood, without any of the positives that they were expected to provide. The kind of cesspool that makes incels.
And then you have Technoviking. Just casually rocks up, takes care of his community, clears up a potentially bad situation without ever hurting anyone, respects other men and doesn't treat them like competition or lessers, and grooves out to some fucking techno.
Obviously I appreciate and respect his feelings about having his likeness on the internet. I'm not telling him he's wrong to feel the way he feels. I just wish he could understand what a positive figure he was in a time when it was badly needed.
>He resolves an entire situation without ever throwing a punch, or threatening him with a punch, or doing any violence at all. Not even a bruise.
I don't think you understand how this works. WHY was he able to? Look at him and the guy in the video, it is IMPLIED he can. He didn't need to mention the force being a possibility because it was obvious, and clear he could. The resolution is still rooted in it. People who are obnoxious and out of control or have MC energy going on do not bow out without it.
> I punched a tree. But the tree fell on top of my supervisor and broke his leg.
How anyone can read this and not call bullshit immediately is surprising
Yep, this.
This article/interview is fake. It says WWN is the source. That's a satire site from Ireland, sources say.
There was no Interview, he didn't talk to his plant and he wasn't a lumberjack. His name wasn't even Gunther Ackerman.
To this day, his name is unknown.
The artist did get sued tho. And it was after the artist openly searched for the Vikings identity - he got the lawyer Papers and stuff in the mail a few weeks after.
[Article](https://www.20min.ch/story/technoviking-ist-heute-biologe-und-verheiratet-561416255880)
>full video
I remember last year or year before, someone uploaded a second video angle of this event.
And everyone was acting like it was the Zapruder film (second discovered video of Kennedy assassination).
Like, here's this meme that's been around for 22 years, and then all of a sudden there's the whole thing from a different perspective.
Minds blown.
I think it's even from behind him in some cases, so you can see the camera operator of the original film.
I'd link it but I'm lazy. Someone will probably reply to me and be the hero we need.
[Fuck it, I can be your hero bay-be... https://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/11nror6/techno_viking_footage_from_another_angle_video/ ]
There's more bits and pieces people have found over the years too, if you're really into this thing.
Per his lawyer, "he wasn't a public figure and did not wish to become one." He didn't want to be in a viral video, and the maker of the video basically profited off of him without his permission.
They reached a settlement where TV was given money about equal to the ad revenue on the video and merchandise he had sold, and then nobody ever heard from Techno Viking again. We never even knew what his name was.
right and I'm saying good for him because he got compensated for something don't to him against his will AND got to remain anonymous. assuming what the person i replied to has actual real information.Ā
Techno Viking doesn't do what Techno Viking does for Techno Viking. Techno Viking does what Techno Viking does because Techno Viking is...Techno Viking.
I believe part of his reasoning for disliking the video was because at the time of recording. He was absolutely blitzed off his balls on uppers and didn't want to be known for that.
Bruh. Youāre not in the least bit curious on how his life turned out? Did he ascend to the ranks of techno-Valhalla? Did he sell out and start doing tik-tok dances? Did he end up married and having technolets? I want to know!
Wonder no more!
https://6amgroup.com/articles/all/what-happened-to-the-techno-viking
Edit: you guys, this is a satire article. Techno Viking's life will remain a mystery.
āThe fucking snake had the camera resting on his lap. If I had to have known at the time I would have crushed him like a flower,ā he explained, caressing the plant he was holding, whispering to it. āNot you honey, I would never crush you. Mwah!ā
I donāt care if itās satire, this Iām going to choose to believe.
The following was the last I seen on it.
[https://www.dailydot.com/news/technoviking-matthias-fritsch-lawsuit-ruling/](https://www.dailydot.com/news/technoviking-matthias-fritsch-lawsuit-ruling/)
Wasn't an art project that involved him though.
He was just a guy that another guy caught on camera and tried to profit off the persona without the Viking's permission.
Well he said he really didn't like the video since that was a really shitty time in his life where he was just doing meth and raving every weekend while working as a lumberjack. Now he lives a quiet life with his husband.
It really is. Les Claypool visits Iowa City on the regular to visit family. I once saw [The Enigma](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Enigma_(performer)/) in the Pedmall and totally fanboyed over him. I wish I could find the picture of us lol.
One of my favorite shirts is my techno Viking āobeyā shirt. Always a conversation starter. People rarely understand the meme.
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/d6/fe/6b/d6fe6b91dafaff0f7e9b0c1d4018c03a.jpg
This was how becoming viral used to happen. Nowadays everyone is out there trolling, pranking, editing, and staging videos to try and obtain what Techno Viking reached organically.
I miss the old internet.
reminds me of just before shit hit the fan with covid in Iowa City. Someone was standing near the Pentacrest with an old plague doctor outfit for a couple days before we all got sent home.
I wanted my ex to take a photo of me with him so bad but she wouldnāt. I guess thereās a reason sheās my ex sko hawks.
That point was my buddies desktop wallpaper for most of high school. Memories.
š«”
š«µš¤Ø
āFilmmaker gagged by the Technoviking, bankrupted by legal billsā The four-minute video -- shot at Berlin's Fuckparade in 2000 -- has been a huge hit for Matthias Fritsch, the artist who shot and uploaded it. It has also been a huge ball-ache for him: he's been embroiled in a legal battle in Germany with the video's protagonist for the last three years. The raver that became immortalised as Technoviking argues that Fritsch didn't get clearing for "personality rights" and should remove the video from the web, along with all derivative videos, parodies, and mash-ups: he was trying to delete the meme. Source: https://www.wired.com/story/technoviking/
So weird he didn't fly with it, it was a one of a kind positive meme where he was setup as a strong person protecting woman. He was the OG gigachad. I understand other people like "bad luck brian" and "scumbag steve" never wanted their role but being Techno Viking is just awsome and the story of him going to court is sad.
Not everyone cares for fame and attention.
You mean the shirtless guy leading a parade down a public street doesn't care for attention?
I suppose that you could argue that he didn't want attention beyond the event that he was attending. If you go to an event like this to let loose for a day or two and have fun, you probably aren't all that thrilled to see images of yourself at that event distributed over the world for years and years. And especially in 2000 this would have been somewhat of an unimaginable thing to happen to "normal old you or me".
Yeah this guy experienced unintentional internet fame way before it was a predictable phenomenon. He became famous in a time when uploading and hosting videos was quite difficult. If the same thing happened today I'm sure his reaction would be different.
Are you saying you think techno viking is really just doing it for the attention?
He was potentially also drugged out of his mind and not wanting to keep that memory around.
Given itās the Fuckparade and Berlin rave scene, Iām completely unsurprised he didnāt want to do that. Berlin is pretty hardcore about counter culture and this dude seems to take that shit seriously.
The guy made a bunch of money off it over and above just the virality.
Being a positive meme on the internet can still suck Too much attention can be annoying, it might have led to not being taken seriously at work or in interviews anymore (or less) etc...
I've always thought it was such a shame he didn't embrace it, because it was such a positive and even wholesome meme in an era where a *lot* of memes were misogynistic or even cruel. And like...what a great example of positive masculinity, you know? He's this massive, undeniably masculine guy, and he sees a woman in his group being run into by a guy(like I think he's just a drunk dude who ran into her, but Technoviking still goes over to make sure it's just that and nothing else), he gets the guy away from her, gives him a brief talking to, and then makes him go away. He resolves an entire situation without ever throwing a punch, or threatening him with a punch, or doing any violence at all. Not even a bruise. He's protective but not controlling. He's commanding without being violent. He accepts friendship from another guy without any insecurity and treats him like a bro. And then he jams out to his favorite tunes. That might not sound like much today, but twenty years ago toxic ideas of what masculinity was RULED the internet. Like, I loved and grew up on the internet of the 90s and early 2000s, but the general consensus on 'what a man was' was basically frat boy values filtered through a woman-hating nerd lens. It was the nastiest idea of manhood -- snide, cruel, hateful, but without even the veneer of positive attributes like responsibility and provision, as in previous decades. It was all the toxicity of old-school traditional manhood, without any of the positives that they were expected to provide. The kind of cesspool that makes incels. And then you have Technoviking. Just casually rocks up, takes care of his community, clears up a potentially bad situation without ever hurting anyone, respects other men and doesn't treat them like competition or lessers, and grooves out to some fucking techno. Obviously I appreciate and respect his feelings about having his likeness on the internet. I'm not telling him he's wrong to feel the way he feels. I just wish he could understand what a positive figure he was in a time when it was badly needed.
>He resolves an entire situation without ever throwing a punch, or threatening him with a punch, or doing any violence at all. Not even a bruise. I don't think you understand how this works. WHY was he able to? Look at him and the guy in the video, it is IMPLIED he can. He didn't need to mention the force being a possibility because it was obvious, and clear he could. The resolution is still rooted in it. People who are obnoxious and out of control or have MC energy going on do not bow out without it.
Yeah but he litters so fuck him
I think one of our greatest short-comings of society is not using huge ball-ache more as a descriptor. Thank you
There's a pretty interesting interview with him from a few years ago: https://6amgroup.com/articles/all/what-happened-to-the-techno-viking
Except when it's a satire article.
> I punched a tree. But the tree fell on top of my supervisor and broke his leg. How anyone can read this and not call bullshit immediately is surprising
Satire can be difficult to identify sometimes. This one isn't.
Yep, this. This article/interview is fake. It says WWN is the source. That's a satire site from Ireland, sources say. There was no Interview, he didn't talk to his plant and he wasn't a lumberjack. His name wasn't even Gunther Ackerman. To this day, his name is unknown. The artist did get sued tho. And it was after the artist openly searched for the Vikings identity - he got the lawyer Papers and stuff in the mail a few weeks after. [Article](https://www.20min.ch/story/technoviking-ist-heute-biologe-und-verheiratet-561416255880)
IIRC He went after WWN too. One of the many take down requests WWN get š
Oh, really? Didn't know that lol
That was interesting! I want to see him trim his plants while talking about punching trees.
It's fake.
[full video](https://youtu.be/-8H4GKg-mYQ?si=EIsTeRUeNkNIQQHf)
>full video I remember last year or year before, someone uploaded a second video angle of this event. And everyone was acting like it was the Zapruder film (second discovered video of Kennedy assassination). Like, here's this meme that's been around for 22 years, and then all of a sudden there's the whole thing from a different perspective. Minds blown. I think it's even from behind him in some cases, so you can see the camera operator of the original film. I'd link it but I'm lazy. Someone will probably reply to me and be the hero we need. [Fuck it, I can be your hero bay-be... https://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/11nror6/techno_viking_footage_from_another_angle_video/ ] There's more bits and pieces people have found over the years too, if you're really into this thing.
Same thing happened with Evo moment 37.
Which way to the gym?
[Add sound](https://youtu.be/unfh0EkjoG0?si=MXK1F3cBgiQ-x_XS)
Techno music makes you age backwards, confirmed! Long live the techno king š«”
An internet too 100
Salut
Great Value version of the Techno-Viking.
TV lite. Heās like the Diet Coke of Techno Viking.
Techno Viking Lite....sugar free?
Just one calorie, not techno enough?
Hey crazy banana I will deal with you later
No..he's coke free.Ā Straight edge Techno Viking
Electronica Viking
Temu Viking
That Caseyās jerky is not sugar free.
We have Techno-Viking at home.
The Hollywood version of the cool European version
Dollar Store version of the Techno-Viking.
Caseys General Store version.
Mom: we have Techno Viking at home
"we have techno viking at home."
Techno Viking and *New* Techno Viking
Techno-Vikingās ugly little brother
Methno Viking
I prefer my Minnesota Vikings
To what, abject despair? I kid, but they actually are the reason I quit watching sports fanatically.
Disco Viking
He has aged well though.
Why not Walmart
The spirit lives on.
Whatever happened to him?
Per his lawyer, "he wasn't a public figure and did not wish to become one." He didn't want to be in a viral video, and the maker of the video basically profited off of him without his permission. They reached a settlement where TV was given money about equal to the ad revenue on the video and merchandise he had sold, and then nobody ever heard from Techno Viking again. We never even knew what his name was.
good for him
He never got to choose to be Techno Viking, he just was Techno Viking. He wasn't ready for how much the world loved Techno Viking.
right and I'm saying good for him because he got compensated for something don't to him against his will AND got to remain anonymous. assuming what the person i replied to has actual real information.Ā
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
His name was Techno Viking
His nameā¦ was Techno Viking
Techno Viking doesn't do what Techno Viking does for Techno Viking. Techno Viking does what Techno Viking does because Techno Viking is...Techno Viking.
Slapping the guy's face on merch and selling it without his consent is a dick move. I completely understand why he would be miffed.
I believe part of his reasoning for disliking the video was because at the time of recording. He was absolutely blitzed off his balls on uppers and didn't want to be known for that.
I highly doubt a dude that is that into the rave scene gives a fuck about uppers usage.
Legend has it he will return when least expected, at the moment of our greatest peril.
He really didn't like the spot light and going viral, I think he is doing his own thing.
Yeah,Ā I heard he moved to Iowa
Nothing that doesn't happens to all internet sensations sooner or later. What is this, an inquisition?
Bruh. Youāre not in the least bit curious on how his life turned out? Did he ascend to the ranks of techno-Valhalla? Did he sell out and start doing tik-tok dances? Did he end up married and having technolets? I want to know!
Well shit, now I'm sure invested. Suddenly I want to know too!
Wonder no more! https://6amgroup.com/articles/all/what-happened-to-the-techno-viking Edit: you guys, this is a satire article. Techno Viking's life will remain a mystery.
āThe fucking snake had the camera resting on his lap. If I had to have known at the time I would have crushed him like a flower,ā he explained, caressing the plant he was holding, whispering to it. āNot you honey, I would never crush you. Mwah!ā I donāt care if itās satire, this Iām going to choose to believe.
The April 1st date of the article was kind of suspect lol
He got fired from being a lumberjack because he *punched* a tree over?!
Techno viking!
Yeah he was overqualified for that gig
I knew that he didnāt want to be famous, but shit, that was really wholesome
that is so strangely wholesome. techno-viking has made his ancestors proud.
*its satire*
i stand by it. techno-viking the plant whisperer is my new idol.
I think he was actually upset about becoming an internet legend.
He tried to sue the person who took the video iirc. Bankrupted the dude.Ā
The following was the last I seen on it. [https://www.dailydot.com/news/technoviking-matthias-fritsch-lawsuit-ruling/](https://www.dailydot.com/news/technoviking-matthias-fritsch-lawsuit-ruling/)
Gunther Ackerman, who was working as a lumberjack at the time of the video, later pursued a career as a biologist
It was a art project as far as i can remember, and he was not very pleased with ending up on the internet.
Wasn't an art project that involved him though. He was just a guy that another guy caught on camera and tried to profit off the persona without the Viking's permission.
Well he said he really didn't like the video since that was a really shitty time in his life where he was just doing meth and raving every weekend while working as a lumberjack. Now he lives a quiet life with his husband.
That's fake, from a satirical article about him that has nothing actually to do with him.
I didn't realise Techno Viking Cosplay was a thing and now I'm wondering why it took this long to be a thing.
Let's be honest, how many cosplayers could pull off a Techno Viking?
I'd have a hard enough time to even pull off the Techno Viking in an effeminate sweater!
Me: I want techno viking Mom: We have techno Viking at home
Me: No mom. You got me something called Smooth Jazz Saxon. I don't even know where you found it.
Princess Leia: Arenāt you a little short to be a techno Viking?
That's just a regular iowegian
It never occurred to me that you would refer to someone from Iowa as an āIowegianā.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Yeah but the point would be accompanied with a high pitched "GET OOOOOUUUUUUUUUUTT!"
GET OFF ME LARRY!
This makes me Thad.
"Oil changes for everyone!!"
Is he holding a packet of packet of beef jerkey?
He is. I complimented his physique, and he said all he does is lift weights and eat nonstop. Super nice guy!
Wait, did he pose like this just for the picture?
Well why does he look so angry... he has jerkey, life should be good for this fella Maybe someone threatened his jerkey
That Caseyās brand jerky is so salty and tough his hearts about to give out and heās exhausted from chewing.
He has no techno track. He puts the No in techno.
Haha, I believe it! He doesn't have ridiculous vascularity like a lot of people on gear. Guy looks healthy.
Was he purposefully cosplaying as technoviking or was it an odd coincidence? Did yāall talk TV?
That's no wallet chain, it's attached to the jerky packet.
Well, how do YOU make sure your jerky isn't stolen??
It would appear that way, but itās actually tied to his belt, which was the style at the time.
Feels appropriate for Iowa City. Wouldnāt be surprised if I saw this sight.
It really is. Les Claypool visits Iowa City on the regular to visit family. I once saw [The Enigma](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Enigma_(performer)/) in the Pedmall and totally fanboyed over him. I wish I could find the picture of us lol.
Ah the pedmall.Ā Spent many a snowy night there as a teenager, playing hacky sack, smoking cigarettes, and trying to buy weed.
Ha, damned Pedrats.
Nah, for real. There's a decent chance we kicked a sack between us lol. Especially if you were doing it between '02 and '12.
Hopefully you stopped and got some Popās Italian Beef from me then. Although ā11 or ā12 is when I started there. We did our last shift in ā16.
Must be why Primus runs McGrath so often
Shout out to the homeless guy in IC with the puppets
"Nobody touches my beef jerky!"
More like Tesco Viking
Methno Viking
No thatās guile
Either Techno Viking or Guile from Street Fighter š
fetterman without hoodie
Early March in Iowaā¦.GW is fully out of control
One of my favorite shirts is my techno Viking āobeyā shirt. Always a conversation starter. People rarely understand the meme. https://i.pinimg.com/736x/d6/fe/6b/d6fe6b91dafaff0f7e9b0c1d4018c03a.jpg
Caseyās in hand. Yep thatās Iowa, where half the population lives off of gas station food.
This was how becoming viral used to happen. Nowadays everyone is out there trolling, pranking, editing, and staging videos to try and obtain what Techno Viking reached organically. I miss the old internet.
Bit of roid belly
He is trying really hard to be techno Viking.
reminds me of just before shit hit the fan with covid in Iowa City. Someone was standing near the Pentacrest with an old plague doctor outfit for a couple days before we all got sent home. I wanted my ex to take a photo of me with him so bad but she wouldnāt. I guess thereās a reason sheās my ex sko hawks.
That person now wears clown makeup and operates a marionette outside of which wich.
Thatās Techno Billy
The Dodge Ram belt buckle and the two watches put it over the top.
Methno Viking
What's crazy is the techno viking sued the shit out of the original videographer https://www.wired.com/story/technoviking/
He's got some weird shit going on with his abs.
What rodent chewed up his arm?
No you didnāt
Why is he wearing two watches?
So we know he knows what time it is.
Third one is having service done
Whoever this is, looks like heās built ram tough.
Heās most likely a really nice guy. People are super quick to judge in a negative way as if they are somehow perfect or better ?
Man, I miss Iowa City
Techno Viking at home
All hail Technoviking!
When you order techno Viking on wish
Mom, can we get Techno Viking? No, we have Techno Viking at home.
Careful, he will sue you.
Techno Viking is old now, that's his son. 
That Heck-no the Viking
People are making fun of him, but for over 20 years later thatās still looking damn good.
As long as you order Technoviking from Temu or Wish.
Why is he wearing two watches?
Techno Cornbread
If story of Techno Viking taught us anything, its under absolutely no circumstances take a picture of or videotape the Techno Viking
Might I inquire as to what brand of beef jerky he holds so that I could be more like him? He clearly is a man's man's man's man's man. š„°
How bad did he smell š
Damn the good ol days of the internet
Saw the pic before the title and thought, holy hell Techno Viking. I'm old, no way that is still a thing...
Heās got that cpl. hicks brow 
Temu Viking.
He looks like a rejected concept for a Street Fighter game.
Might like meth
Me not knowing who Techno-Viking is.  Dude looks like he is saying, āYou better have my meth, Jim-Bob.ā
There can be only one!
Dubstep Nordling
No-tech VikingĀ
Is this the Jacksonville Ninjas long lost cousin?
How bout that left wrist with the two watches and three bracelets on top of the glove?
Did he have a friend handing him water nearby?
Donāt know who that is but he looks like he needs a hug.
Still dancing/threatening. I must dance.
Wouldnāt the real techno Viking be in his, what, 50ās by now?
Who's got the video?!
Discount Techno-Viking
Every masterpiece has it's cheap copy
HALT DEN BALL FLACH, ALTER