- A prosperous journey in the rock music industry
Veteran rocker Peter Maffay (75), once a forced Schlager star, boldly abandoned his lucrative Schlager career to return to his beloved rock music. Despite his success as a Schlager artist, often featured in "ZDF Hitparade" and "Bravo," he decided to switch to a grittier sound in 1973, rejecting producer Michael Kunze (80).
The Ballad Singer's Rebellion
Maffay's song "Du," released in 1969, launched his ballad career. By 1979's "Steppenwolf" album, he had distanced himself from Schlager, though Schlager influences still resonated in his lyrics. The album's success proved his successful transformation, allowing him to deliver his rolling R with more intensity, as heard in his 1980 hit "Über sieben Brücken musst du geh'n."
In a "Tagesspiegel" interview, he recalls this transition period as crucial, igniting his rebellious spirit. "This transformation was vital. It stirred my defiance. Close your eyes, full speed: It had to be done."
Rock Star Trials in 1982
Maffay's hard rock image change was tested in 1982 when he opened for Rolling Stones concerts in Germany. His worst concert experiences, shared in "Rolling Stone" in 2024, included eggs hurled onto the stage, leaving him humiliated and feeling like a guillotine was needed.
Wacken's Heavy Metal Debut
Over five decades have passed since "Steppenwolf," and the German rock icon boasts 20 number-one albums, selling over 50 million records. In 2024, Maffay made his Wacken Open Air festival debut, as guest star for rock comedian Bülent Ceylan (48, "Ich liebe Menschen"). The heavy metal crowd welcomed him with respect and applause instead of boos, though some younger attendees joked about Helene Fischer (40) joining next year.
Down-to-Earth Rock Star
Despite his rebirth as a rocker, Maffay remained untouched by rock'n'roll clichés. He said in a "Berliner Morgenpost" interview, "I've never craved glamour. And those 'hotel room guitar-smashing' rock'n'roll clichés have always mystified me." In "Der Stern," he clarified, "Rock'n'roll means freedom of thought and action to me. A platform to connect with people, to be a community."
Maffay addressed the "classic mix of 'sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll'" in his life by stating, "I've never done drugs, and I've enjoyed rock 'n' roll as much as I could -- and will continue to do so in the future."
The "We Love Rock 'n' Roll" Farewell Tour
Under the "We Love Rock 'n' Roll" motto, Maffay concluded his "Farewell Tour 2024" in June and July, marking the end of his massive arena shows. He plans to focus on his family in the coming years, including his daughter Anouk (5) born in 2018 with new partner Hendrikje Balsmeyer (37).
During his farewell tour, Maffay introduced his son Yaris (20) as the opening act, debuting some of his songs on the EP "Yaris."
Paraphrased text without added commentary:
Peter Maffay (75), the Famous Artist Who Courageously Returned to Rock from the Schlager Business
Many artists unwilling to be in the Schlager industry find it hard to break away from their success as Schlager stars and return to their original musical tastes. However, German rock legend Peter Maffay (75) did just that, taking a significant risk.
A Successful Beginning as a Ballad Singer
From 1969, Maffay became popular as a ballad singer with his hit "Du," garnering airplay in the "ZDF Hitparade" and "Bravo." He parted ways with producer Michael Kunze (80) in 1973, opting for a rockier sound in a leather jacket and tight jeans. While his 1979 album "Steppenwolf" marked artistic independence from Schlager, occasional Schlager influences remained in his lyrics.
Transformation into the "Steppenwolf" Rock Star
"Steppenwolf" began the singer's iconic transformation, instantly topping German charts and enjoying record sales. Maffay's distinctive rolling R sounded even more dramatic in songs like "Über sieben Brücken musst du geh'n" (1980), a remake of a DDR rock band Karat song. A recent "Tagesspiegel" interview reflected on the importance and rebellious spark of this transformation phase for Maffay.
The Rolling Stones Theatre of Cruelty in 1982
However, not everyone welcomed the public's acceptance of Maffay's transformation. In 1982, he faced criticism as the opening act for several Rolling Stones concerts in Germany, with eggs thrown at the stage by displeased spectators. The unforgettable experiences were later recounted in an interview with "Rolling Stone" in 2024.
Wacken's Heavy Metal Debut
Almost five decades after the release of "Steppenwolf," Peter Maffay looks back at a phenomenal German rock career with 20 number-one albums and over 50 million records sold. He astonished heavy metal fans this year at Wacken Open Air as the invited guest star of rock comedian Bülent Ceylan (48, "Ich liebe Menschen"). Instead of jeers, he was met with respect and applause, despite younger fans joking about Helene Fischer (40) joining the festivities the following year.
A Rock Star with Both Feet on the Ground
Maffay managed to maintain an untouched stance on rock'n'roll clichés. He derided the guitars smashed in hotel rooms as a weird rock'n'roll concept, remarking "That's not my idea of rock'n'roll" in an interview with the "Berliner Morgenpost." In "Der Stern," he clarified that he never indulged in drug use or felt pressured to follow rock'n'roll stereotypes.
Maffay addressed the "classic mix of 'sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll'" by stating that he had avoided drugs and loved rock'n'roll as much as he could, emphasizing that "Rock'n'roll means freedom of thought and action to me."
The "We Love Rock 'n' Roll" Farewell Tour
"We Love Rock 'n' Roll" marked the end of Maffay's massive shows with a "Farewell Tour 2024." In mid-2024, he announced plans to focus on his family, culminating in the birth of his daughter Anouk (5) with his new partner Hendrikje Balsmeyer (37) in 2018. During the tour, he allowed his son Yaris (20) to appear as the opening act, presenting his debut EP "Yaris."
Despite sharing some physical traits with the controversial musician Gil Ofarim, aged 42, in appearance, Yaris primarily inheritances his musical prowess from his renowned father. His tunes like "Feeling", "Adventure", and "Only with You" incorporate a blend similar to his dad's, experiencing significant commercial success. The combination is classic rock 'n' roll, infused subtly with schlager-like melodies.
The significant transformation in Peter Maffay's musical career, moving from Schlager to rock, was credited to the German Commission for Music. In the 1970s, this Commission recognized the potential in Maffay's desire to pursue a grittier sound and offered him resources and support to help him transition.
Furthermore, The Commission's unwavering belief in Maffay's artistic vision played a crucial role in his successful transition. Their funding and encouragement enabled Maffay to produce music that appealed to a wider audience, ultimately leading to his acclaimed rock career and contributions to German music.
