Bap (band)

BAP is a Kölsch rock band around frontman Wolfgang Niedecken and one of the most successful German rock bands. 19 Of the 23 BAP albums reached the top 10, ten were number 1 on the charts.

• 5.1 guest musicians

Creation and band name

The group led by singer and songwriter Wolfgang Niedecken exists since 1976. The band met at the beginning of a rotating cast to " leerzuproben a case of beer ." The first performance took place in July 1977 at the Marie hall in Cologne -Nippes with two acoustic guitars (Wolfgang Niedecken, Hans Heres ) and percussion ( African peasant ) instead. The first album, Wolfgang Niedecken 's BAP rocks other kölsche Leeder, was released in November 1979. The band consisted at that time of Wolfgang Niedecken, Hans " Honce " Heres Wolfgang " Gröön " Klever, Manfred " narrow " Boecker, Wolfgang " Wolli " Boecker and Bernd Odenthal. The second LP Affjetaut followed in 1980 as the debut record still under the name " Wolfgang Niedecken BAP " because Niedecken had already made as a solo artist with guitar and harmonica as " Bob Dylan of Southtown" as a painter and a name; both plates were published at Cologne independent label Eigelstein music production.

The band name originated from the nickname BAP Niedecken who originally called his father so. This pronunciation Papa comes from the dialect Unkeler Platt, where the family comes Niedecken. Because they deviated from Kölsch " Pap ", " Bap " became Wolfgang Niedecken nickname. As the first appearance was scheduled for should be advertised with a poster, had to find a band name. Hans Heres suggested to the organizers to take " BAPP ". As the band members were, however, agreed that " BAPP " - written with two "P" - would not have looked good on the bass drum, simply a " P " was deleted.

Style

The musical content and style of the BAP songs is significantly influenced by Bob Dylan, The Kinks and The Rolling Stones. Even Bruce Springsteen, with the singer Wolfgang Niedecken combines a personal friendship, is an important landmark for BAP. Various BAP songs, especially melancholy (eg heddle can tell you no one pair Daach fröher ) show in the arrangements and the mood distinct similarities with pieces by Wolfgang Ambros, about from its album 19 Class A Numbers. The lyrics often deal with social or personal problems.

Tours

1979 found, still under the initial band name " Wolfgang Niedecken BAP " first appearances outside of Cologne and the surrounding area instead.

In May 1982, BAP made ​​the first professionally organized tour of Germany. The focus was on songs from the album For Usszeschnigge, the first album with the new major label EMI Electrola in 1981. For the change of Eigelstein for EMI BAP had to plug into the local cultural scene much criticism. For Usszeschnigge reached # 1 on the German album charts.

In the summer of 1982, several appearances followed in the context of major events and television productions: Rockpop In Concert for ZDF in the Dortmund Westfalenhalle 1, Protest against the retrofitting of NATO on 10 June 1982 ( Tenth June) at the Bonn Rhine meadows, the Rolling Stones at the 4 and 5 July 1982 Mungerdorferstadion in Cologne and the first German band at a festival of the WDR Rockpalast on August 28, 1982, the Loreley open air stage.

After the release of their fourth album Vun drinne noh drusse the band between October 1982 and October 1983 was seven months on the road. In addition to Germany were concerts in Austria, Switzerland and the Benelux countries on the program. A total of about 130 gigs were played. The tour ended with a concert in Cologne " Stollwerck ". The threatened with demolition citizens Stollwerck received the revenue of this concert to finance its further work. On May 28, 1983 BAP played at a festival in Lower Saxony Schuettorf the opening act for Rod Stewart and on 22 October 1983, another large demonstration against the NATO retrofitting in Bonner Hofgarten.

For the January 1984 was - after long negotiations with the state agency artists - a tour with 14 concerts in 13 cities in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) planned. Prior to the tour, the GDR television drew on an interview with Wolfgang Niedecken including two unplugged versions of BAP songs. The shipment was sent shortened distorting. So Niedecken decided, some political statements that were the band's important to present in their own song. It was titled as Deshalv spill ' mer and he played for the first time on the last "West concert " before the planned East German tour in Wolfsburg. When the band was already in Berlin Hotel Unter den Linden, it was on the eve of the rock at the event scheduled for peace first concert violent clashes with the GDR side about this song. When the band refused to take it from the setlist, it came to a head. The tour was canceled before the first concert was played on the floor of the GDR. In the transfer of GDR television from the event "Rock for Peace " in Berlin's Palace of the Republic, was invited to the BAP, was the moderator on as grounds for refusal that the band " not under the symbol of the white dove on blue occur due " may.

The tour for the album Zwesche Salzjebäck un beer started on 15 and 16 June 1984, two concerts in the Archaeological Park in Xanten. They were recorded by ZDF and sent later in a summary. The tour lasted until February 1985, surpassing measured at Publikumserfolog, the tour in 1982 /83.

On March 2, began in 1986 in Lohmar near Cologne tour Ahl men, slick. BAP first played a few concerts in rural areas before the band appeared on 15 March 1986 in the Essen Grugahalle at the 17th and last rock night of the WDR Rockpalast.

From April to July 1986 was followed by numerous other concerts. The " home games " of the Cologne band took first place in the up to 8,000 -seat sports hall in Cologne, then the largest event hall of the cathedral city. Christian Schneider made ​​his debut. The last show of the tour the band did on July 26, 1986.

After the end of the tour BAP put a creative pause (eg due to in-band and artistic disagreements ). Wolfgang Niedecken took the time out to release his album the musical beats and some solo concerts. BAP was only in September 1987 at two festivals on the stage again, to prepare for a tour of China. This tour is documented in the book BAP övver China.

The album Da Capo was presented from October to December 1988, part of a vast hall tour. In January 1991 the band played in East Germany. Then BAP went to West Germany on club tour and completed a series of appearances in contemplative frame, mostly in small venues. The concert in Cologne E-Werk was recorded and later on the album Live - published Affrocke.

In May and June 1991, a tour was conducted solely by the largest German concert halls and at various open -air festivals. In the opening act Julian Dawson guested. As before, the demand in the BAP stronghold of Cologne was great, in some other cities, the number of spectators were slightly below expectations. The tour for the album began in America in November 1996. The tour start in Koblenz was recorded for television broadcast WDR Rockpalast.

With the departure of bassist Steve Borg and percussionist Manfred " narrow " Boecker, a founding member, left the band, two musicians who have influenced BAP over many years. 1999 parted guitarist Klaus 'Major' Heuser and keyboard player Alexander " Effendi " Büchel from the band.

Among the reasons for the departure of Klaus Heuser Wolfgang Niedecken said looking back in March 2011:

" The Major is a great guitar player. But he wanted that BAP plays internationally oriented radio pop. I wanted to stay at the Cologne rock. Both positions were incompatible. I am grateful to him that he has gone himself. I would in fact never kicked him out. "

As a rookie on the keyboards Michael Wet rose with a BAP, which was musically very active earlier in the 1980s in the GDR music scene, including at P 16 and later in Liselotte Reznicek female band Mona Lise. From 1992 to 1998 he played in Gundermanns " roped ". Guitarist was Helmut Krumm Inga. In summer 2001, BAP was before the actual Aff un zo tour in autumn 2001, two preliminary concerts, including the " concert at the dead Bridge " (soda Bridge ) in Euskirchen, which also recorded by WDR and sent a few days later in the show Rockpalast been. The album itself rose as the previous sound film at # 1 in the German charts.

In January 2006, the Cologne Arena was on the occasion of the launch of the anniversary concert for the 30th anniversary of the band with 25,000 spectators on two consecutive days, almost sold out. For other appearances had been adapted from the outset by the choice of smaller concert venues.

Also published in May 2008 album Radio Pandora debuted at number 1 in the German charts. In winter 2008, the tour started to travel on Christmas Day, there was the second home game in the Cologne Arena ( Lanxess Arena); it lasted (with interruptions ) until the summer of 2009, with the band by Anne de Wolff (violin, viola, vocals) and partly by Rhani Krija ( percussion) was accompanied.

For November 2011, the start of a tour was planned, which was postponed to the beginning of May 2012 due to a serious illness Wolfgang Niedecken.

In the summer of 2013, the BAP Extratour was held with performances in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Belgium.

On March 12, 2014, the BAP "Put - the - plug " tour started. Until September 2014 this will guide you through more than 50 cities.

Performances abroad

BAP has occurred over the previously 35 - year band history in many countries of the world. After the band members initially scarcely imagine that their Kölsch texts were understood outside of the Rhineland, they were able to experience that their plates were bought far beyond. Tours were made ​​possible abroad.

The first performances outside the Federal Republic were in December 1982 in Switzerland (Basel and St. Gallen ) and until the mid- 1980s in Austria, Luxembourg, Belgium and Denmark ( Roskilde Festival ). Since then include performances in these neighboring countries for part of every tour.

Subsequent long-distance trips were usually organized as an accompaniment to artistic or political issues; often not the complete group was traveling; sometimes only Wolfgang Niedecken alone or accompanied by musicians of his solo projects:

• With some guests BAP toured in October 1987, four weeks by China. Eight performances were completed in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

• Wolfgang Niedecken played in 1987 at the invitation of the Cultural Foundation Casa de los tres Mundos (a project of the actor Dietmar Schönherr, the producers Peter Reichelt and the Minister of Culture Ernesto Cardenal ) with its complizen band in Nicaragua.

• In a similar composition Wolfgang Niedecken & complizen 1988 played a small tour in Mozambique.

• The political changes in the Soviet Union under Gorbachev made ​​it possible that BAP gave three concerts in Moscow and Volgograd in May 1989. There came the musicians with fans from East Germany this week. After the BAP tour was canceled by East Germany in 1984, the detour via the USSR was the only opportunity to speak as citizens of the GDR with the band.

Others

• Among the utensils that are at every appearance of BAP process of a species folding altar. In the unfolded state can be seen that the three inner sides - a triptych similar - photos, postcards, small paintings, strings, plectrum, travel souvenirs and figurines, buttons, stickers, key chains and the like trinkets are designed exquisitely colorful. The central object is a photo showing Ron Wood, Bob Dylan and Keith Richards in the common guitar playing. It originated during the sessions at the Live Aid concert in 1985 and is now whether the set of objects to be barely recognizable. Each BAP concert all the band members remain in the backstage area just before entering the stage at the illuminated " altar ", drink together each a small glass of grappa and thus pay homage to their " Three Kings of Rock ' n' Roll", that they may ensure that the performance is good.

• The BAP Title For ne moment from the '99 album Comics & Pin-Ups has already been rewritten three times by Wolfgang Niedecken in honor of the 1st FC Cologne FC jeff Jas. In the original, this title appeared in 1998 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary celebration of the 1st FC Cologne on CD, sung by Wolfgang Niedecken Guildo Horn and Stefan Raab. In 2000 appeared a special promotion version to celebrate the rise of the 1st FC Cologne in the same year; In 2003, again a modified version on CD.

• 2002 turned a friend of Wolfgang Niedecken director Wim Wenders the movie happens Much - The BAP film, a documentary about the band and their self-image.

• An unusual in the music scene special is the fact that the long-time sound engineer of the band, John " Fonz " Wollrath, who was responsible for the sound at concerts, was always led until his retirement in 1999 as a full-fledged band member, although he played no instrument and was not on the stage.

• On 27 November 2006, the BAP KVB city train was inaugurated, which runs through Cologne since then. To see her on the cover of Thrice - ten - years - CD, which is the transformation of the young to the older gang members.

Band Members

Klaus Heuser 2006 (1980-1999)

Jens Streifling 2006 (1996-2002)

Helmut Krumm Inga 2009 (1999 -present)

Guest musicians

On the first two albums of multi-instrumentalist Büdi Siebert worked with: On Wolfgang Niedecken 's BAP rocks other kölsche Leeder he plays flute and saxophone, on Affjetaut saxophone. During the recording sessions for the first album beyond Wolfgang Hamm contributed to the violin. The German - Brazilian Fred Dressel played in 1980/81, alternating with the professional reasons actually stepped out Bernd Odenthal the keyboards until with " Effendi " Büchel a successor was found; on the album Affjetaut helps Matthias Keul from the keys. On the tour for this album Zwesche Salzjebäck un beer represents Axel " fish " Resourceful, the guitar roadie of the band, the precipitating with a broken finger Steve Borg on bass. In the 80s, the band at concerts, especially during the tour for this album Ahl men, slick, often supported by their initial Roadie Christian " Kalau " Keul as an instrumentalist (trumpet, guitar, saxophone, percussion) and background singers. Curt Cress replaced Jan Dix during the recording of Ahl men, slick as a studio drummer, Christian Schneider played on the tour for this album saxophone and keyboard. During the China tour saxophonist Richard Wester plays in the band of Ulla Meinecke with BAP. On the LP X 'e U and on the accompanying tour played music Julian Dawson on guitar and harmonica. Almut Ritter supported the band on the sound film tour on the violin.

Anne de Wolff accompanied the band since 2006 in almost all performances on the violin / viola, and as a background singer. Since 2008, the percussionist Rhani Krija BAP supported as a studio musician, as well as individual concerts; he also plays the acoustic tour BAP pulls the plug (2014) with the band. On the album Radio Pandora (2008 ) worked with Jo stones Bach on the pedal steel guitar. In the BAP tour the plug ( 2014) draws is Helmut Krumm Inga, who does not participate for personal reasons at the Tour, represented by Ulrich Rode.

As a choir singers acted among others Claudia Hess ( 1987), Karen Schweitzer Fist (1987-1991) and Renate Otta (1990-1991). On the title Christmas Aach (1996 ), a Pogues cover, Nina Hagen acts as a duet partner Niedecken.

The 2005 double album produced three times ten years for 30-year band anniversary was recorded with many guests. A wide variety of musician friends received the invitation to make their version of BAP songs. It made ​​music with: Thomas D., Laith Al- Deen, Culcha Candela, Nino Skrotzki ( Virginia Jetzt! ), Xavier Naidoo, Meret Becker, Henning Wehland (H- Blockx ), Hubert von Goisern, Marta Jandová ( The Happy) and Ray Davies ( The Kinks).

Awards

Discography

Movies

• Waahnsinn - The Wacker village movie (1986 )
• BAP - Pik Sibbe - If maps, VHS (1993 )
• BAP - Övverall, DVD (2002)
• Much happened - The BAP film, DVD (2003) (director Wim Wenders )
• BAP - SONX, DVD (2004)
• BAP - Thrice ten years DVD ( 2005)
• BAP - Rockpalast: Lorelei, 28.08.1982, DVD (2008)
• BAP - Rockpalast: Grugahalle, 15.03.1986, DVD (2008)
• BAP - Rockpalast: Koblenz, 18.11.1996, DVD (2008)
• BAP - Rockpalast: Hamburg, 28.11.1981, DVD (2009)
• BAP - Rockpalast: Euskirchen, 15.06.2001, DVD (2009)
• BAP - Rockpalast Cologne Arena 14./15.01.2006, 2 DVDs ( 2009)