Roland Kaiser's Anniversary: Celebrated and Wet Tour Beginning

Live Musical Performances - Roland Kaiser's anniversary: Acclaimed yet damp tour commencement.

Roland Kaiser, a renowned phenomenon, has been captivating audiences for 50 years. He has been selling out venues all these years and is still going strong. To commemorate this monumental occasion, the 72-year-old is performing 50 of his greatest hits on stage. The idea was debated extensively – how many songs would be performed, and how many would be combined into one mega-hit? "So, we decided on 50," Kaiser casually told the German Press Association.

His anniversary tour kick-started with a successful performance in Bad Segeberg. As he walked onto the stage of Kalkberg Arena, he expressed his gratitude towards his fans. At the concert, Kaiser began with "Gut, dass Ihr da seid" and "Ich glaub, es geht schon wieder los." However, the event was delayed due to heavy rain and thunderstorms. While the audience waited huddled under umbrellas, rain jackets, and ponchos, Kaiser took to the stage to thunderous applause. Thankfully, the sky cleared as he concluded the first three tunes, followed by beautiful sunshine, creating a rainbow over the stadium.

"Dream come true"

Kaiser has made music for a remarkable half a century, a feat not many can achieve. "So, being able to make music for that long is truly a gift," he mentioned. "You guys have given it to me. Thank you, everybody." He had an impressive start with that memorable night in Bad Segeberg arena.

The new addition to the tour is a change from smaller theatres to big stadiums. Kaiser considers it "pretty lucky" to perform in stadiums like Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, which is expected to accommodate over 40,000 people. This was never on his radar when he first started in 1974. "I would've laughed at anyone who said something like that. But being here now, in this vast arena, is just incredible."

Big changes for big stages

With the shift to stadium gigs, there are new challenges. "It's not just an exciting experience, but it also costs more," he confessed. "You need to hire more staff, more equipment, and proper planning. Therefore, an incredible amount of thought must go into the tour's success."

Despite these challenges, he decided to embark on this milestone tour. With his band of 16 musicians in tow, Kaiser and his team are ready to hit the stage in Rostock, Cologne, Frankfurt, Leipzig, and Hanover. He is not overwhelmed by the response from various generations. "I'm constantly in contact with multiple age groups, and I think that's one of the reasons," he speculates.

Schlager is his comfort zone

Kaiser shared that he has recorded more than 600 songs and sold over 90 million records considering that they are primarily Schlager tunes. "I'm at ease in what I do, and it shows," he emphasized. "Being comfortable is a prerequisite for being convincing."

Looking back for 50 years, there are no regrets: "No, not at all. Everything was my own choice," he insisted. One thing that has stayed consistent is his love for suits. Sticking to this wardrobe staple has brought him some peace: "I have peace of mind. You don't have to worry about new fashion trends. Although it doesn't hurt to update the cut". Every year, during a tour, he gets 12 to 14 custom-made suits, but these are not forever. "At the end of a tour, I give some of my suits to a Berlin store (Zweimalschön). It sells them to support people in need."

Inspiring generations

This success undoubtedly requires tireless effort, but Kaiser ensures every single moment spent on stage is enjoyable. The key to being a phenomenon, he thinks, involves being a stable fixture within people's lives. "That's why I maintain consistency through music. It's lovely to have been a part of people's lives for over five decades." He believes it's this consistency that kept him relevant through generations, much like Peter Alexander and Udo Jürgens. "We followed the changing musical trends and recorded timeless hits."

Centerstage since the 70s, Kaiser is here to inspire and connect with his audience. Without doubt, he's comfortable in his own skin, making audiences fall in love with his music, year after year.

The spirit of the story remains the same. Roland Kaiser, aged 72, is celebrating his 50th year in the music industry with a tour and 50 of his hit songs. This began with a well-received show in Bad Segeberg where he expressed his gratitude to his fans. The concert was postponed due to a storm, but cleared just in time for the 9,500+ people to enjoy the show. The man from Münster has also reflected on his journey, excited that he'll be performing in stadiums for the first time – "a stroke of luck". With 16 musicians in his band, he's performing in Rostock, Cologne, Frankfurt, Leipzig, and Hanover. He doesn't feel the need to change his music or genres, feeling "at-home" with Schlager tunes. He's also donating some of his tailor-made suits to help those in need. Finally, he reminisces about staying true to his music throughout 50 years, and how this has brought him joy and consistency.

Roland Kaiser's passion for his job is evident to his fans as they often go wild when they see him performing, particularly during the renowned "Kaisermania" concerts at the banks of the Elbe in Dresden. He's never considered quitting, saying, "I've never had that moment in my life. No."

However, if his singing voice were to fail him, he would have no choice but to step down. "Working with canned food isn't something I'd like. I wouldn't do that either."