Capital: € 35 million
Age: 73
Born: May 17, 1946
Country of origin: Germany
Source of wealth: Singer
Last updated: 2024

Short introduction

Udo Lindenberg, born in 1946 in Gronau in Westphalia, is one of the most successful German singers. First he played drums in various bands before changing to the role of singer. It was also special at the time when his career as a front man began that he sang in German. He became particularly known in the 1980s because he took care of appearances in and approaching the GDR. He is still successful in Germany with his pieces. He also started a career as a painter from the 1990s.

Early life

Born in Gronau, he taught himself how to play the drums. After his school days, which ended at the age of 15, he began training as a waiter in Düsseldorf. During this time he already appeared with various bands. At 17, he played in a US military club in Libya for a year. He then began studying music, did his military service and went to Hamburg in 1968, where he continued to work on his career as a musician. Working with various artists made it possible for him to make a living, but he was initially not able to achieve greater success.

Career

In 1971 he released his first LP, on which he still sang in English. This was followed by the first LP in German, which did not produce any success either, with the exception of the single “Hoch im Norden”, which was released as a radio hit in northern Germany.

With the following album “Andrea Doria” Udo Lindenberg finally made his breakthrough. Over 100,000 copies sold brought him the first German musician to win a million-dollar contract with a record label. In his songs he invented numerous art figures such as Bodo Ballermann or Rudi Ratlos.

The following years brought further great successes and Udo Lindenberg published his first book. In the 1980s he received immense attention for his piece “Special Train to Pankow”, in which he addressed the GDR directly and wished to be able to perform there. This did not happen, however, with the exception of a concert in front of a selected audience in the Palace of the Republic.

Nevertheless, Udo Lindenberg had given a clear signal that he always saw himself as a political artist.

In the 1990s, he remained highly productive, but his records no longer had the success of previous years. That changed in 2002 with a revue on German songs from the first half of the 20th century. His next regular album was only released in 2010, but in the meantime he was involved in various productions and had also made a name for himself as a painter.

In 2011 his musical “Hinterm Horizont” had its premiere in the theater on Potsdamer Platz, as well as other major TV appearances and other successful singles. This ultimately resulted in the fact that he toured the large stadiums of Germany for the first time, with great approval from his fans and critics.

Since 1996 he has again been accompanied by the original line-up of his “Panic Orchestra”, which was founded in 1973, but then found different ways. In the meantime, the “Panic Orchestra” is often supported by real orchestras during Udo Lindenberg’s performances.

Career highlights

The “special train to Pankow”, actually a cover version of an American jazz piece, is probably his biggest hit. Nevertheless, he also achieved huge successes in the late phase of his career, especially in 2016, when he completed a sold-out stadium tour throughout Germany.

The Federal Cross of Merit should be considered the highest distinction, for which he received numerous other awards. Including the “Echo” and the Order of Merit of the State of Berlin several times.

Famous quotes

“Of course drugs can fuel artistic work, as we know from Goethe, Freud, Bukowski and many others. But they also followed the rule: write in a frenzy, read soberly. ”

“For me, a doctor wanted to get to the sinuses, so I said, no, just don’t do anything. My sound is worth its weight in gold. ”

“The panties they throw on the stage get a little wider.”

“I wish peace to the people and the people. I myself need inner restlessness, inner awakening. Panic unrest, because that also means: creative chaos. Like Vasco da Gama. Always facing new continents. ”

Amazing facts

Udo Lindenberg is an avowed social democrat. In the course of this he also appeared at Chancellor Gerhard Schröder’s birthday party.

He lives permanently in the hotel “Atlantic Kempinski” in Hamburg. There he also runs his own studio, where he works as a painter.

In 1989 he received the Federal Cross of Merit for his efforts to move closer to the GDR.

At the age of 22, Udo Lindenberg almost became a seaman, but then decided differently.

He is an avowed fan of the ARD soap “Rote Rosen”.

In his early years in Hamburg he lived in a shared apartment, in which Marius Müller-Westernhagen and Otto Waalkes also lived at times.

Udo Lindenberg plays the drums in the title melody of the “crime scene”, at least in the version that was used in the first eight years.

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