Westernhagen releases birthday album
For his birthday on December 6, Marius Müller-Westernhagen is giving his fans a present: he is releasing a collection of his 75 greatest hits. He also wants to go on tour with the album next year - and perform on the big stages again for the first time in 25 years.
Udo Lindenberg had to turn 76 for his first number one hit, Herbert Grönemeyer is still trying to reinvent himself at the age of 67. And Marius Müller-Westernhagen? The third of the great German rock stars has become a steward of his rich legacy. He is using his 75th birthday on Wednesday to release a collection of 75 hits.
Lindenberg, Grönemeyer and Westernhagen have shaped German rock music over the past decades. But while Lindenberg has only now achieved his greatest successes and Grönemeyer's creativity remains unbroken, Westernhagen has repeatedly disappointed his fans in recent years. He still regularly releases new music, but he no longer captivates his fans like he used to.
He released his debut album in 1975
Westernhagen was born in Düsseldorf on December 6, 1948. He grew up in German high culture, his father Hans was a gifted actor and took his son to the movies as a child. However, Westernhagen's father, who was seriously ill with alcoholism, died when his son was 14 years old.
In his early 20s, he moved to Hamburg and lived in an artists' flat-share with Lindenberg and Otto Waalkes, among others. "I never paid rent, I always slept in a spare bed," Westernhagen once recalled in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
The young creative minds fueled each other's ambition. In 1975, Westernhagen released his debut album "Das erste Mal". It contained two songs, "Wir waren noch Kinder" and, above all, "Taximann", which became two of the most popular songs among Westernhagen fans.
A brief foray into acting
At first, Westernhagen didn't seem quite sure whether he wanted to be a musician or an actor. In 1976, he made a critically acclaimed film, "Aufforderung zum Tanz", which was followed by the box office hit of the year in 1980, "Theo gegen den Rest der Welt".
However, by this time Westernhagen had long since become the German rock star par excellence. The Rolling Stones fan released the album "Mit Pfefferminz bin ich dein Prinz" in 1978. The title track, plus the song "Mit 18" with the longing line "Ich will zurück auf die Straße" (I want to go back on the road) and the controversial song "Dicke" (Fat) made the album one of the most famous German rock albums of all time.
He phased out his acting career in the course of the 80s and made the switch from the chummy Marius to "Westernhagen". He swapped jeans for a suit for the album of the same name, released in 1987, and created a classic with the anthem "Freiheit".
Idolized by his fans
Westernhagen was suddenly regarded as an "Armani rocker". But his most successful times began during this phase. The albums "Halleluja", "Jaja", "Affentheater" and "Radio Maria" sold millions of copies. And the Borussia Dortmund fan was the first German singer to fill the biggest soccer stadiums in Germany.
This affection had long since mutated into a kind of idolization. Westernhagen described this to Der Spiegel years later: "I never believed that I was this holy man that everyone saw in me back then - it was already the case that mothers handed their children up to me on stage."
To some, however, Westernhagen was increasingly seen as aloof. He also sought proximity to politics, with SPD politician Gerhard Schröder forming a - now broken - friendship with him during his chancellorship.
Birthday tour next year
But in 1999, Westernhagen put an end to his gigantic concerts and, intentionally or unintentionally, heralded the late phase of his career at the age of just over 50. None of the albums that have followed to this day have been as successful as the 90s albums.
Next year, the singer, who has lived in Berlin for a long time and is married to South African singer Lindiwe Suttle, plans to go on a birthday tour. Back on stage once again - and out of administrator mode and back to live music.
Read also:
After releasing his successful debut album "Das erste Mal" in 1975, Westernhagen continued to make a name for himself in the world of rock music. His album "Mit Pfefferminz bin ich dein Prinz" from 1978, with hits like "Mit 18" and "Dicke," cemented his status as a German rock icon.
Now, as he celebrates his 75th birthday, Westernhagen is showing no signs of slowing down. He is releasing a collection of his greatest hits and planning a tour for next year, eager to perform live music once again after a 25-year absence from the big stages.
Source: www.ntv.de
