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Colognian-German-dialect rock music group (formed 1976)

BAP in 2018
BAP in 2018
Background information
OriginCologne, Germany
GenresRock
Years active1976–present
LabelsEMI, Capitol
MembersWolfgang Niedecken
Werner Kopal
Michael Nass
Anne de Wolff [de]
Ulrich Rode
Sönke Reich
Axel Müller
F. Johannes Goltz
Benny Brown [de]
Past membersSee below
Websitebap.de

BAP (German pronunciation: [bap]) is a German rock band. With thirteen albums reaching the number one in the German record charts, BAP is one of the most successful rock acts in their home country.

Nearly all of BAP's lyrics are written in Kölsch, the dialect of Cologne. Or more precisely in a Kölsch-influenced derivation of Eifelplatt, a regional variant of the Ripuarian language spoken in the nearby rural Eifel. Niedecken's most prominent musical influences, "especially early in his career," were Bob Dylan, the Kinks, Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones and Wolfgang Ambros.

History

Wolfgang Niedecken, 1984
BAP in Aachen, 1980

The group was founded in 1976 under the name Wolfgang Niedecken's BAP in Cologne by Wolfgang Niedecken and Hans Heres. In 1981, they released their most famous song "Verdamp lang her" (Damn long time ago), in which Niedecken describes regrets he has about his relationship with his then recently deceased father. The band's name "BAP" derived from "BAPP", both, a play-on-words on the Kölsch word "Papp" (related to the German word dad), but pronounced differently. And Niedecken's then-nickname.

Niedecken translated a collection of Bob Dylan's lyrics to German for his 1995 solo album Leopardefell.

Band members

Zelt-Musik-Festival 2016 in Freiburg, Germany

Current members

(Information valid for 2024)

  • Wolfgang "Maître" Niedecken – singer (1976–present)
  • Werner Kopal – bass (1996–present)
  • Michael Nass – keyboards (1999–present)
  • Ulrich "Uli" Rode – guitar (2014–present)
  • Sönke Reich – drums (2014–present)
  • Anne de Wolff [de] – violin, viola, cello, percussion, guitar, trombone (2014–present, as guest 2006–2014)
  • Axel Müller – saxophone, guitar, duduk, flutes (2018–present)
  • Franz Johannes Goltz – trombone (2018–present)
  • Benjamin "Benny" Brown [de] – trumpet, flügelhorn (2022–present)

Former members

  • "Afro" Bauermann – percussion (1976–1977)
  • Rainer "Saxello" Gulich – saxophone (1976–1977)
  • Hans "Honçe" Heres – guitar (1976–1980)
  • Klaus Hogrefe – bass (1976–1978)
  • Wolfgang "Wolli" Boecker – drums (1976–1983)
  • Manfred "Schmal" Boecker – percussion (1976–1995)
  • Wolfgang "Gröön" Klever – bass (1978–1980)
  • Bernd Odenthal – keyboards (1978–1980)
  • Fritz Kullmann – saxophone (1980)
  • "Steve Borg" (Stephan Kriegeskorte) – bass (1980–1995)
  • Klaus "Major" Heuser – guitar (1980–1999)
  • Hans "Fonz" Wollrath – sounds (1980–1999)
  • Alexander (Axel) "Tschaikägo" "Effendi" Büchel – keyboards (1981–1999)
  • Jan Dix – drums (1983–1985)
  • Pete King – drums (1986)
  • Jürgen Zöller [de] – drums (1987–2014)
  • Mario Argandoña [es] – percussion (1996–1997)
  • Jens Streifling [de] – saxophone (1996–2002)
  • Sheryl Hackett [de] – percussion (1999–2003)
  • Helmut Krumminga [de] – guitar (1999–2014)
  • Rhani Krija [de] – percussion (2014–2016, as guest 2008–2014)
  • Christoph Moschberger [de] – trumpet (2018–2022)

Albums

Singles

  • 1980: "Chauvi Rock" ※ / "Wahnsinn" ※
  • 1981: "Jupp" ※ / "Frau, ich freu mich" ※
  • 1981: "Verdamp lang her" ※ / "Waschsalon" ※
  • 1982: "Kristallnaach" ※ / "Wellenreiter" ※
  • 1982: "Do kanns zaubre" ※
  • 1983: "Nemm mich met" ※ / "Ahn' ner Leitplank" ※
  • 1984: "Drei Wünsch frei" ※ / "Sendeschluss" ※
  • 1984: "Alexandra, nit nur do" ※ / "Zofall un e janz klei bessje Glöck" ※
  • 1985: "Bunte Trümmer" ※ / "Lisa"
  • 1986: "Endlich allein" ※ / "Almanya" ※
  • 1986: "Time Is Cash, Time Is Money" / "Vun mir uss Kitsch (live)" ※
  • 1988: "Fortsetzung folgt" ※ / "Sandino"
  • 1988: "Saison der Container" ※
  • 1988: "Dat däät joot" ※ / "Op dä Deckel vum Clown" ※
  • 1989: "Shanghai" / "Rääts un links vum Bahndamm" ※
  • 1990: "Alles em Lot" ※ / "Domohls" ※
  • 1991: "Vis à Vis" ※ / "Griefbar noh" ※
  • 1991: "Sie määt süchtig" ※ / "Happy End"
  • 1991: "Verdamp lang her (Live)" ※ / "Ne schöne Jrooß (Live)" ※
  • 1993: "Widderlich" ※ / "Blonde Mohikaner" ※
  • 1993: "Wie die Sichel vum Mohnd" ※
  • 1993: "Paar Daach fröher" ※
  • 1995: "Ich danz met dir" ※
  • 1996: "Lass se doch reden" ※
  • 1996: "Nix wie bessher" ※
  • 1996: "Weihnachtnaach (feat. Nina Hagen)" ※ (This is a German-language version of Fairytale of New York by The Pogues)
  • 1998: "Lena"
  • 1999: "Ahnunfürsich" ※
  • 1999: "Rita"
  • 1999: "Mayday"
  • 2000: "FC, jeff Jas! (Aufstiegsversion)" ※
  • 2001: "Aff un zo" ※
  • 2001: "Shoeshine"
  • 2002: "Schluss, aus, okay" ※
  • 2003: "FC, jeff Jas! (Die dritte Version)" ※
  • 2004: "Wann immer du nit wiggerweiss" ※
  • 2004: "Für Maria" ※
  • 2005: "Frau, ich freu mich" ※
  • 2006: "Verdamp lang her (Die verdammt lange Single)" ※
  • 2006: "Time Is Cash, Time Is Money (feat. Culcha Candela)"
  • 2008: "Morje fröh doheim" ※
  • 2011: "Halv su wild" ※
  • 2012: "All die Augenblicke ※" ※

Related projects

  • 1983: Book BAP övver BAP
  • 1987: Album Schlagzeiten ※ (Wolfgang Niedecken solo-album)
  • 1989: Book BAP övver China (about their Chinese tour)
  • 1992: Album Arsch huh, Zäng ussenander ※ (various bands from Cologne, live concert against racism and neo-fascism)
  • 1995: Album Leopardefell ※ (Wolfgang Niedecken solo-album with translated Dylan lyrics)
  • 2002: Film Vill passiert ※ (film by Wim Wenders about BAP)
  • 2011: Book Für 'ne Moment ※ (autobiography by Wolfgang Niedecken & Oliver Kobold)
  • 2022: Album Dylanreise ※ (Wolfgang Niedecken solo-album)

See also

References

  1. ^ Duffy, Thom (1997-05-24). "BMG Ariola Documents Dylan's Int'l Presence". International. Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 21. BMG Communications Inc. p. 52. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2024-06-01.

Further reading

External links

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