WestBam
Encyclopedia
WestBam, real name Maximilian Lenz (born 4 March 1965, Münster
, Westphalia
, Germany
), is techno DJ
s in Germany
. His brother is Fabian Lenz, also known as DJ Dick.
The origin of his moniker is a homage
to Afrika Bambaataa
, thus "Westphalia Bambaataa". He started his career as a DJ in 1983 in his birth city Münster. In 1984 he moved to Berlin
where he released his first record called "17 - This Is Not a Boris Becker Song", which was coproduced by Klaus Jankuhn. He played at the first Love Parade
rave party in 1989 at Ku'damm
Berlin. Around that time, the DJ culture made a breakthrough in Germany. After several records he released his first album
named The Cabinet. In 1991, he organised the first Mayday
rave in Berlin. With over 5000 people, it was the biggest techno party in Germany at the time. Since then, Mayday has been vital to the German techno scene. Westbam is still an organiser of the party, and he is also a part of Members of Mayday
, the producer of the Mayday-Anthems.
In 1993, he played a number of rave events in the United Kingdom
including Obsession Passion at the Sanctuary in Milton Keynes
.
In 1997, he released his first book, titled Mixes, Cuts & Scratches. It dealt with the art, the work and the life of a DJ.
He is the founder of the record label
Low Spirit
. In 2005, he released an album Do You Believe In the Westworld, with the first single being "Bang The Loop".
Münster
Münster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also capital of the local government region Münsterland...
, Westphalia
Westphalia
Westphalia is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Minden and Münster.Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers Rhine and Weser, located north and south of the Ruhr River. No exact definition of borders can be given, because the name "Westphalia"...
, 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...
), is techno DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
s in 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...
. His brother is Fabian Lenz, also known as DJ Dick.
The origin of his moniker is a homage
Homage
Homage is a show or demonstration of respect or dedication to someone or something, sometimes by simple declaration but often by some more oblique reference, artistic or poetic....
to Afrika Bambaataa
Afrika Bambaataa
Afrika Bambaataa is an American DJ from the South Bronx, New York who was instrumental in the early development of hip hop throughout the 1980s. Afrika Bambaataa is one of the three originators of break-beat deejaying, and is respectfully known as the "Grandfather" and the Amen Ra of Universal...
, thus "Westphalia Bambaataa". He started his career as a DJ in 1983 in his birth city Münster. In 1984 he moved to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
where he released his first record called "17 - This Is Not a Boris Becker Song", which was coproduced by Klaus Jankuhn. He played at the first Love Parade
Love Parade
The Love Parade was a popular electronic dance music festival and parade that originated in 1989 in West Berlin, Germany. It was held in Germany annually between 1989 and 2003 in Berlin, and then from 2006 to 2010 in the Ruhr region...
rave party in 1989 at Ku'damm
Kurfürstendamm
The Kurfürstendamm, known locally as the Ku'damm, is one of the most famous avenues in Berlin. The street takes its name from the former Kurfürsten of Brandenburg. This very broad, long boulevard can be considered the Champs-Élysées of Berlin — full of shops, houses, hotels and restaurants...
Berlin. Around that time, the DJ culture made a breakthrough in Germany. After several records he released his first album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
named The Cabinet. In 1991, he organised the first Mayday
Mayday (music)
Mayday, like the former Love Parade, is one of the oldest and most reputed electronic music festivals in Germany, having its debut on 1991. Despite the name, Mayday festivals date oscilates between 30 April and December...
rave in Berlin. With over 5000 people, it was the biggest techno party in Germany at the time. Since then, Mayday has been vital to the German techno scene. Westbam is still an organiser of the party, and he is also a part of Members of Mayday
Members of Mayday
Members of Mayday is a music project by Klaus Jankuhn and Maximilian Lenz . Every year since 1991 the Members of Mayday create the official hymn of the annual Mayday Rave that takes place from April 30 to May 1 at Westfalenhallen in Dortmund...
, the producer of the Mayday-Anthems.
In 1993, he played a number of rave events in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
including Obsession Passion at the Sanctuary in Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes , sometimes abbreviated MK, is a large town in Buckinghamshire, in the south east of England, about north-west of London. It is the administrative centre of the Borough of Milton Keynes...
.
In 1997, he released his first book, titled Mixes, Cuts & Scratches. It dealt with the art, the work and the life of a DJ.
He is the founder of the record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
Low Spirit
Low Spirit
Low Spirit Recordings was a German Techno Record Label. It wasfounded in 1986 by Maximilian Lenz , Fabian Lenz, William Röttger and Klaus Jankuhn.-Artists:*CIRC*DJ Dick*Eastbam*Genlog*Hardy Hard*Lexy & K-Paul*Marc de Clarq*Mark 'Oh*Marusha...
. In 2005, he released an album Do You Believe In the Westworld, with the first single being "Bang The Loop".
Albums
- In Seoul (1988)
- The Cabinet (1989)
- The Roof Is On Fire (1991)
- A Practising Maniac At Work (1991)
- BamBamBam (1994)
- We´ll Never Stop Living This Way (1997)
- Right On (2002)
- Do You Believe In the Westworld (2005)
Singles
- "17 - This Is Not a Boris Becker Song"
- "The Roof Is On Fire" (1989/1991/1999)
- "And Party..." (1989)
- "Monkey Say Monkey Do"
- "Disco Deutschland"
- "Der Bundespräsidenten Mix"
- "No More Freakin' Rock'n'Roll"
- "The Mayday Anthem"
- "Celebration Generation"
- "Raving Society"
- "Love Missile F1-11Love Missile F1-11"Love Missile F1-11" is a song by British synthpop band Sigue Sigue Sputnik released in March 1986 as the first single from their debut album Flaunt It. It was the band's biggest hit, reaching #3 on the UK Singles Chart...
" - "Sunshine" (with Dr.Motte)
- "Sonic Empire" (Members Of MaydayMayday (music)Mayday, like the former Love Parade, is one of the oldest and most reputed electronic music festivals in Germany, having its debut on 1991. Despite the name, Mayday festivals date oscilates between 30 April and December...
) - "Wizards of the SonicWizards of the Sonic"Wizards of the Sonic" is a song by WestBam. The theme song was taken from the Dr. Robotnik fight scenes on Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for the Sega Mega Drive...
" (1998, with Red JerryRed JerryJerry Dickens, better known by his stage name Red Jerry, is an English DJ, music producer and remixer of trance music.He was also of a member of Lost Tribe along with Matt Darey. He was founder of the recently resurrected Hooj Choons. His remixes can be found on numerous DJ compilations and mixes...
) - "Beatbox Rocker" (1999)
- "Der blaue Planet" (2003) (Karat Cover on the Power from the EastsidePower from the Eastside-Credits:*Tracks 1, 3, 5, 10 published by Harth Musikverlag*Track 12 published by Harth Musikverlag / Echo Musikverlag*Track 7 published by PlatinSong Musikverlag*Track 8 published by Lied der Zeit Musikverlag...
compilation) - "Oldschool, Baby" (with NenaNenaGabriele Susanne Kerner , better known by her stage name Nena, is a German singer and actress. She rose to international fame in 1983 with the New German Wave song "99 Luftballons". In 1984, she re-recorded this song in English as "99 Red Balloons". Nena was also the name of the band with whom she...
) - "Dancing With the Rebels" (with Afrika IslamAfrika IslamAfrika Islam also known as the "Son of Bambaataa", is an American hip-hop producer.-Life:He started his carrer in 1977 joining Rock Steady Crew. He was 10 years old back then...
) - "Bang the Loop" (2005)
- "United States of Love" (with The Love Committee) (2006)
- "Love Is Everywhere (New Location)" (2007)
- "Highway To Love" (with The Love Committee) (2008)
- "Hard Times"
External links
- WestBam.de (in German)
- WestBam Profile on Fantazia
- WestBam Profile on Obsession
- WestBam's comprehensive discography at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...