Udo Lindenberg

Udo Lindenberg (born May 17 1946 in Gronau) is a German rock musician and composer.

Early years

During Lindenberg’s childhood he developed a feel for rhythm. Taking every opportunity to drum, Lindenberg used petrol cans in lieu of a drum kit. Later he obtained his first real drum kit and in 1962 he began a period of journeying in order to learn his craft. His wandering took him to northern Germany and Gunter Hampel after which he travelled to France, Tripoli and onwards to the Music Academy at Münster. 1968 found Lindenberg in Hamburg where he decided against a career at sea and joined a troupe of folk musicians. In 1969 he was the drummer for City Preachers, Germany’s first folk-rock-band.

In October 1983, the West German rock star was surprisingly permitted to perform in concert at the Palast der Republik in East Germany. At the concert, Lindenberg sang one of his best-known songs (adapting the tune of "Chattanooga Choo Choo"), "Sonderzug nach Pankow" ("Special Train To Pankow"), which satirized East German leader Erich Honecker, and which he had been asked not to play. The East German government immediately revoked his permission to complete his scheduled East German concert tour, after he had spent months begging them for permission to perform there. (Lyrics: [http://www.magistrix.de/lyrics/Udo%20Lindenberg/Sonderzug-Nach-Pankow-28591.html] .)

Lindenberg as a personality

Udo Lindenberg is a political and religious person. He professes social democratic beliefs and appeared at the birthday party of former German Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schröder. Lindenberg has engaged in activism including the raising of funds for aid to Africa and the writing of a song against the Berlin Wall. In 2000 he founded the project, Rock against right-wing violence.

Lindenberg has worked collaboratively with various local and international artists (Eric Burdon, Helen Schneider, David Bowie, Keith Forsey, Gianna Nannini, and Nena) on a number of projects. He currently lives in Hamburg in the Hotel Atlantic (for several years now). His raw voice is the result of too much alcohol and cigarettes. In 1989 he survived a heart attack.

Audio sample

ingles and albums in the charts

ingles

D — Germany, A — Austria, CH — Switzerland

¹Udo Lindenberg & Pascal
²Freundeskreis feat. Udo Lindenberg
³Nena & Friends (Udo Lindenberg, Sasha, Ben, ...)

Albums

D — Germany, A — Austria, CH — Switzerland

¹ Udo Lindenberg & Panikorchester
² Udo Lindenberg & Das Deutsche Filmorchester Babelsberg

External links

* [http://www.udo-lindenberg.de/ Official web site]
* [http://www.galerie-europapassage.de/ "Udo Lindenberg & more" art gallery]
*PND|118573179
*imdb name|id=0511665|name=Udo Lindenberg