Konstantin Wecker
Encyclopedia
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
) is one of the best-known German singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
s ("Liedermacher"); he also works as a composer, author, and actor.
Life and work
One of his first works as a songwriter was at Munich's cabaret "Münchner Lach- und Schießgesellschaft" in 1973. His breakthrough as a singer came in 1977 with the LP Genug ist nicht genug ("Enough Is Not Enough"), which includes the popular talking blues "Willy," about a man and presumably close friend of Wecker´s who was slain by drunken Nazis.In the 1980s and again in the 1990s Wecker had problems with drugs, especially cocaine. He worked up these problems in some songs and books.
Wecker has released more than forty albums, and has also composed music for film, theater, and children's musicals.
In 2003, Wecker became a public opponent of the U.S-government-led war in Iraq, joining his leftist Liedermacher colleagues Hannes Wader
Hannes Wader
Hannes Wader is a German singer-songwriter . He was an important figure in German leftist circles from the 1970s on, with his songs covering such themes as socialist and communist resistance to oppression in Europe and other places like Latin America...
and Reinhard Mey
Reinhard Mey
Reinhard Friedrich Michael Mey is a German singer-songwriter, known to fans as "Liedermacher". In France he is known as Frédérik Mey....
. He is connected to the far-left party Die Linke (The Left).
In March 2006 Wecker was forced to cancel a scheduled performance in the small town of Halberstadt
Halberstadt
Halberstadt is a town in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt and the capital of the district of Harz. It is located on the German Half-Timbered House Road and the Magdeburg–Thale railway....
, Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt is a landlocked state of Germany. Its capital is Magdeburg and it is surrounded by the German states of Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, Saxony, and Thuringia.Saxony-Anhalt covers an area of...
. This came after the far-right National Democratic Party
National Democratic Party of Germany
The National Democratic Party of Germany – The People's Union , is a far right German nationalist party. It was founded in 1964 a successor to the German Reich Party . Party statements self-identify as Germany's "only significant patriotic force"...
(NPD) pressured local authorities and threatened to forcibly disrupt the concert. Wecker had pledged to return to Halberstadt in the summer of 2006. He eventually performed in Halberstadt on 17 June 2006, accompanied by fellow singer-songwriter Hannes Wader
Hannes Wader
Hannes Wader is a German singer-songwriter . He was an important figure in German leftist circles from the 1970s on, with his songs covering such themes as socialist and communist resistance to oppression in Europe and other places like Latin America...
and Afghan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
percussionist Hakim Ludin.
Albums
- 1972: Die sadopoetischen Gesänge des Konstantin Amadeus Wecker (later renamed as: Konstantin's Erste)
- 1974: Ich lebe immer am Strand
- 1977: Genug ist nicht genug
- 1978: Eiie ganze Menge Leben
- 1979: Live
- 1980: Liederbuch
- 1981: Live in München
- 1982: Das macht mir Mut
- 1984: Inwendig warm
- 1987: Wieder dahoam - Live in Austria
- 1989: Stilles Glück, trautes Heim
- 1993: Uferlos
- 1996: Gamsig
- 1998: Brecht
- 2001: Vaterland
- 2005: Am Flußufer
- 2006: Politische Lieder
- 2007: Alles das und mehr (DVD music video)
- 2011: Wut und Zärtlichkeit
Collaborations
- 1988: Joan BaezJoan BaezJoan Chandos Baez is an American folk singer, songwriter, musician and a prominent activist in the fields of human rights, peace and environmental justice....
/ Konstantin Wecker / Mercedes SosaMercedes SosaHaydée Mercedes Sosa, known as La Negra, was an Argentine singer who was popular throughout South America and some countries outside the continent. With her roots in Argentine folk music, Sosa became one of the preeminent exponents of nueva canción. She gave voice to songs written by both...
: Three worlds, three voices, one vision - 1999: Jutta RichterJutta RichterJutta Richter is a German author of children's and youth literature.Richter spent her youth in the Ruhr and Sauerland and at the age of 15 she spent a year in Detroit...
/ Konstantin Wecker: Es lebte ein Kind auf den Bäumen // book and CD - 2001: Konstantin Wecker / Hannes Wader: Was für eine Nacht
- 2003: Reinhard MeyReinhard MeyReinhard Friedrich Michael Mey is a German singer-songwriter, known to fans as "Liedermacher". In France he is known as Frédérik Mey....
/ Hannes WaderHannes WaderHannes Wader is a German singer-songwriter . He was an important figure in German leftist circles from the 1970s on, with his songs covering such themes as socialist and communist resistance to oppression in Europe and other places like Latin America...
/ Konstantin Wecker: Das Konzert - 2010: Konstantin Wecker / Hannes Wader: Kein Ende in Sicht
Movies
- Mein ganzes Herz ist voll Musik, BR Deutschland 1959, Musikfilm (Mitwirkung und Soloauftritt im Rudolf Lamy Kinderchor)
- Die Autozentauren, BR Deutschland 1972, TV-Film (Darsteller)
- Liebe in drei Dimensionen, BR Deutschland 1973, 93 min., Sexfilm, (Rudi)
- Der OstfriesenFrieslandFriesland is a province in the north of the Netherlands and part of the ancient region of Frisia.Until the end of 1996, the province bore Friesland as its official name. In 1997 this Dutch name lost its official status to the Frisian Fryslân...
-Report: O mei, haben die Ostfriesen Riesen, BR Deutschland, 1973, 80 min., Komödie / Sexfilm (Hinnerk) - Unterm DirndlDirndlA dirndl [ˈdɪʁndl̩] is a type of traditional dress worn in Bavaria, Liechtenstein, Austria, and South Tyrol, based on the historical costume of Alpine peasants. Dresses that are loosely based on the dirndl are known as Landhausmode.-Description:...
wird gejodelt, BR Deutschland 1973, Sexfilm (Florian) - Geilermanns Töchter – Wenn Mädchen mündig werden, BR Deutschland 1973, SexfilmSoftcoreSoftcore pornography is a form of filmic or photographic pornography or erotica that is less sexually explicit than hardcore pornography. It is intended to tickle and arouse men and women. Softcore pornography depicts nude and semi-nude performers engaging in casual social nudity or non-graphic...
(Stefan) - Liebesmarkt – Matratzen-Horchdienst, BR Deutschland 1973, Sexfilm (Tom)
- Beim Jodeln juckt die LederhoseLederhosenLederhosen are breeches made of leather; they may be either short or knee-length. The longer ones are generally called Bundhosen....
, BR Deutschland 1974, Sexfilm (Sepp) - Schwestern oder Die Balance des Glücks, BR Deutschland 1979, 95 min., Frauenfilm / Drama (Robert Edelschneider)
- Die weiße Rose, BR Deutschland, 1982, 123 min., Politthriller / Biografie
- Peppermint Frieden, BR Deutschland 1982, 110 min., Drama / Jugendfilm (Schreiner Lustig)
- Sag nein, BR Deutschland 1983, 98 min., Dokumentarfilm (Konzertausschnitt)
- Ende der Freiheit, BR Deutschland 1983, 85 min., Dokumentarfilm (Konzertausschnitt)
- Is' was, Kanzler!?!, BR Deutschland 1984, 92 min., Komödie (Straßenmusikant)
- Atemnot, Österreich 1983 / 84, 95 min., Drama (Konzertauftritt mit Sigi Maron und Konstantin)
- Martha Dubronski, Schweiz 1984, 96 min., Literaturverfilmung / Drama (Fleischhauer)
- Stinkwut, BR Deutschland 1986, TV-Spiel (Sänger Titellied mit Zither)
- Kir RoyalKir RoyalKir Roayl is a german TV-series from 1986. It played in Munich and it shows the live of rich people how live in Munich. They've made 6 episodes in 1 season. Music by Konstantin Wecker. Producer: Helmut Dietl....
, BR Deutschland 1986, TV-Serie (Studiomusiker, 6.Folge) - Spaltprozesse, BR Deutschland 1987, Dokumentarfilm (Konzertausschnitt mit Konstantin Wecker)
- Dreifacher Rittberger, BR Deutschland 1987, TV-Comedyserie (Klavierträger, 4.Folge)
- Der Geisterwald – Blutbuche und Rabenrache, Deutschland 1988, TV-Serie (Rabe)
- Deutsche Redensarten und ihr Ursprung – Jemandem einen Korb geben, Deutschland 1989, TV-Kurzfilm (Spielmann)
- Die Republikaner, Deutschland 1990, Dokumentarfilm (Konzertausschnitt)
- TatortTatortTatort is a long-running German/Austrian/Swiss , crime television series set in various parts of these countries. The show is broadcast on the channels of ARD in Germany, ORF 2 in Austria and SF1 in Switzerland...
- Blue Lady, Deutschland 1990 (Rainer Seifert) - Go TrabiTrabantThe Trabant is a car that was produced by former East German auto maker VEB Sachsenring Automobilwerke Zwickau in Zwickau, Sachsen. It was the most common vehicle in East Germany, and was also exported to countries both inside and outside the communist bloc...
Go, Deutschland, 1991, Filmkomödie (Playboy) - Ein Mann für jede Tonart, Deutschland 1992, 92 min., Komödie (Barpianist)
- Lilien in der Bank, Deutschland 1992, 104 min. (Turnlehrer)
- Das Babylon Komplott, Österreich 1993, TV-Film (Thomas)
- 1945, Österreich 1994, TV-Film (Bauer Mühlberger)
- Ärzte: Dr. Schwarz und Dr. Martin, Deutschland 1994 / 1996, TV-Serie in 8 Folgen (Franzl Unterrainer)
- Für mich soll's rote Rosen regnen, Deutschland 1995, Dokumentation über Hildegard KnefHildegard KnefHildegard Frieda Albertine Knef was a German actress, singer and writer. She was billed in some English language films as Hildegard Neff or Hildegarde Neff.-Early years:...
(Gesprächsausschnitt mit K. Wecker) - Kriminaltango, Deutschland 1995, TV-Krimiserie (Mischa König, Folge 6 „Münchner FreiheitMünchner FreiheitThe Münchner Freiheit is a square in Munich's Schwabing, near the English Garden. It is a popular tourist attraction, especially during winter when one of Munich's largest Christmas markets takes place....
“) - SOKO 5113SOKO 5113SOKO 5113 is a long running German police television series. It was first aired in 1978 on 2 January. SOKO is an abbreviation of the term "Sonderkommission" in German.-Longest serving cast:...
: Tommy, Deutschland 1999, Folge aus der TV-Krimireihe (Manfred Brunnhorst) - Mit 50 küssen Männer anders, Deutschland 1999, TV-Film (Bildhauer Gerd)
- Dunkle Tage, Deutschland 1999, TV-Film (Herr Rinser)
- Ein lasterhaftes Pärchen, Deutschland 2000, TV-Film (Frank)
- Alles mit Besteck, Deutschland 2001, Kurzfilm (Pianist)
- Edelweiß, Österreich 2000 (Paul Richter)
- In der Mitte eines Lebens, Deutschland 2003, TV-Dreiteiler (Tom Hochreiter)
- Apollonia, Deutschland 2005, TV-Zweiteiler (Müller Vinz)
- Wer früher stirbt, ist länger tot, Deutschland 2006