Joerg Deisinger
Encyclopedia
Joerg Deisinger is the former bassist and a founding member of the German ‘80s melodic rock band, Bonfire
.
, Germany
on April 23, 1966. His pre-teen obsession with learning how to play guitar eventually became a full fledged pursuit of becoming a rock star. When it became clear he had a genuine chance of realizing his dream, Deisinger quit his apprenticeship as an electrician to devote himself to music full time.
Deisinger joined German hard rock band as a bassist Cacumen in 1985, which would change its name to Bonfire in May 1986 in the interest of having a catchier moniker to push their new album, Don't Touch the Light
. The name was suggested by Deisinger and after some consideration replaced Cacumen. He recorded four albums with the band – Don't Touch the Light
(1986), Fireworks
(1987), Point Blank
(1989), and Knock Out
(1991). During his time with the band touring Europe extensively with acts such as Victory
, Krokus
, ZZ Top
and Judas Priest
. They sold almost 750,000 albums over a four year period even though the North American market failed to embrace Bonfire as Europe had. Deisinger played his last show with Bonfire on July 29, 1994.
On July 3, 1996, a one-time one-payment offer was made by Claus Lessmann
and original Bonfire guitarist Hans Ziller
to buy the band name back from Deisinger, guitarist Angel Schleifer and drummer Edgar Patrik, as the trio had no desire to resurrect Bonfire.
singer Tommy Heart, and while the band’s 2001 self-titled debut held promise, the 2003 follow-up, Systems Go Wild, suffered from creative differences between Deisinger and Heart. Following its release, Deisinger left the band in April 2003.
In 2003 Deisinger received a Gold record
for Bonfire's Fireworks album, which had officially sold 250,000 copies in Germany alone, since its 1987 release.
Deisinger relocated to Thailand
in 2004. In addition to doing occasional live gigs as a session player, he opened an English school in Sichon
with his girlfriend. In December of that year, the last minute cancellation of a planned Christmas vacation to Koh Phi Phi Don ultimately saved Deisinger’s life; the tsunami that decimated parts of Thailand, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia on December 26, 2004 laid waste to the resort where he was supposed to be staying.
On March 17, 2005 Deisinger returned to Nuremberg, Germany and started working as a freelance photographer, eventually founding Deisinger Photography, which specializes in wedding, travel and event photographs and portfolios.
about co-writing his memoirs, which focused on his Bonfire career. The project, eventually dubbed Fire And Fame
by Carl, wrapped up in late 2007 and was released independently in August 2008.
Bonfire (band)
Bonfire is a German heavy metal band, founded in Ingolstadt, Germany in 1972. Bonfire has a unique history. Currently there are two bands who have held the name. The original group started out as Cacumen, became Bonfire and ended in 2011 as Charade...
.
Early Life and Bonfire
Deisinger was born in NurembergNuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
on April 23, 1966. His pre-teen obsession with learning how to play guitar eventually became a full fledged pursuit of becoming a rock star. When it became clear he had a genuine chance of realizing his dream, Deisinger quit his apprenticeship as an electrician to devote himself to music full time.
Deisinger joined German hard rock band as a bassist Cacumen in 1985, which would change its name to Bonfire in May 1986 in the interest of having a catchier moniker to push their new album, Don't Touch the Light
Don't Touch the Light
Don't Touch the Light is the first album by the hard rock band Bonfire after the band changed its name from Cacumen. It was released in 1986 on RCA Records.-Track listing:-Band members:*Claus Lessmann - lead & backing vocals...
. The name was suggested by Deisinger and after some consideration replaced Cacumen. He recorded four albums with the band – Don't Touch the Light
Don't Touch the Light
Don't Touch the Light is the first album by the hard rock band Bonfire after the band changed its name from Cacumen. It was released in 1986 on RCA Records.-Track listing:-Band members:*Claus Lessmann - lead & backing vocals...
(1986), Fireworks
Fireworks (Bonfire album)
Fireworks is the second album by the hard rock band Bonfire. It was released in 1987 on the label BMG International with two different covers, the worldwide one had a patterned similar to a decorated vault door while the North American version was simply four pictures of each band member in each...
(1987), Point Blank
Point Blank (Bonfire album)
Point Blank is the third album by the hard rock band Bonfire. It was released in 1989 on the label BMG International. During the recording sessions of this album, Hans Ziller was fired from the band, but the album features 10 songs written by him as well as 3 that feature him playing...
(1989), and Knock Out
Knock Out (Bonfire album)
Knock Out is the fourth album by the hard rock band Bonfire. It was released in 1991 on the label BMG International. It is the band's least selling release.-Track listing:-Band members:*Claus Lessmann - lead & backing vocals, acoustic guitar...
(1991). During his time with the band touring Europe extensively with acts such as Victory
Victory (band)
Victory was a German Heavy Metal and hard rock band from Hanover, most successful in the 1980s. With extensive tours and radio airplay, the band also made a breakthrough in North America.-Emergence:...
, Krokus
Krokus (band)
Krokus is a hard rock/heavy metal band from Switzerland. They enjoyed moderate success in North America during the 1980s.Krokus was founded in Solothurn in 1974 by bassist Chris von Rohr and guitarist Tommy Kiefer...
, ZZ Top
ZZ Top
ZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969...
and Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
. They sold almost 750,000 albums over a four year period even though the North American market failed to embrace Bonfire as Europe had. Deisinger played his last show with Bonfire on July 29, 1994.
On July 3, 1996, a one-time one-payment offer was made by Claus Lessmann
Claus Lessmann
Claus Leßmann is the lead singer and guitarist of the German heavy metal band Bonfire. He is the only member and the only singer of Bonfire to have appeared on all of the band's albums. Leßmann is also one of the only remaining original members of the band, the other being lead guitarist Hans Ziller...
and original Bonfire guitarist Hans Ziller
Hans Ziller
Hans Ziller is the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and primary composer of the German 1980s melodic hard rock band Bonfire. He founded the band called Cacumen as a teenager in 1972. He has appeared on all of the band's albums, except Knock Out...
to buy the band name back from Deisinger, guitarist Angel Schleifer and drummer Edgar Patrik, as the trio had no desire to resurrect Bonfire.
After Bonfire
Deisinger went on to record two albums with Paul Sabu (self-titled – 1996, Between The Light – 1998). In 1999 he formed Soul Doctor with Fair WarningFair Warning (band)
Fair Warning is a German hard rock band founded in 1991 by former V2 vocalist Tommy Heart and former Zeno bassist Ule W. Ritgen. The band was rounded out by guitarists Helge Engelke, Andy Malecek and drummer Jurgen 'C.C.' Behrens.-Studio albums:...
singer Tommy Heart, and while the band’s 2001 self-titled debut held promise, the 2003 follow-up, Systems Go Wild, suffered from creative differences between Deisinger and Heart. Following its release, Deisinger left the band in April 2003.
In 2003 Deisinger received a Gold record
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
for Bonfire's Fireworks album, which had officially sold 250,000 copies in Germany alone, since its 1987 release.
Deisinger relocated to Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
in 2004. In addition to doing occasional live gigs as a session player, he opened an English school in Sichon
Amphoe Sichon
Sichon is a district of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, southern Thailand.-Geography:The district is located in the northern part of the province. Neighboring districts are Tha Sala and Nopphitam of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Kanchanadit and Don Sak of Surat Thani Province, and Khanom of Nakhon...
with his girlfriend. In December of that year, the last minute cancellation of a planned Christmas vacation to Koh Phi Phi Don ultimately saved Deisinger’s life; the tsunami that decimated parts of Thailand, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia on December 26, 2004 laid waste to the resort where he was supposed to be staying.
On March 17, 2005 Deisinger returned to Nuremberg, Germany and started working as a freelance photographer, eventually founding Deisinger Photography, which specializes in wedding, travel and event photographs and portfolios.
Fire And Fame
In 2005 Deisinger approached Canadian music journalist and writer Carl BegaiCarl Begai
- Life :Begai was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He attended York University in Toronto and received a B.A. in History in 1993.Begai currently lives in Germany.- Career :...
about co-writing his memoirs, which focused on his Bonfire career. The project, eventually dubbed Fire And Fame
Fire And Fame
Fire And Fame is a memoir co-written by Joerg Deisinger, former bassist and founding member of the German hard rock band Bonfire, and Carl Begai, a Canadian writer and music journalist....
by Carl, wrapped up in late 2007 and was released independently in August 2008.
Albums
- 1986: Don't Touch the LightDon't Touch the LightDon't Touch the Light is the first album by the hard rock band Bonfire after the band changed its name from Cacumen. It was released in 1986 on RCA Records.-Track listing:-Band members:*Claus Lessmann - lead & backing vocals...
- 1987: FireworksFireworks (Bonfire album)Fireworks is the second album by the hard rock band Bonfire. It was released in 1987 on the label BMG International with two different covers, the worldwide one had a patterned similar to a decorated vault door while the North American version was simply four pictures of each band member in each...
- 1989: Point BlankPoint Blank (Bonfire album)Point Blank is the third album by the hard rock band Bonfire. It was released in 1989 on the label BMG International. During the recording sessions of this album, Hans Ziller was fired from the band, but the album features 10 songs written by him as well as 3 that feature him playing...
- 1991: Knock OutKnock Out (Bonfire album)Knock Out is the fourth album by the hard rock band Bonfire. It was released in 1991 on the label BMG International. It is the band's least selling release.-Track listing:-Band members:*Claus Lessmann - lead & backing vocals, acoustic guitar...
- 1993: Live...The BestLive The BestLive...The Best is the first live album by the hard rock band Bonfire. It was released in 1993 on the label RCA Records. It is a live concert recording done in Germany from the Point Blank Tour in 1989 and 1990. Michael Voss was a guest musician, as well as Andreas Knote, for the on stage...
External links
- fireandfame.com - official website of the book "Fire And Fame"
- www.joergdeisinger.com - Deisinger Photography (German)