Impressive bike tour to Johnny Cash: music and history on the Lech!

Impressive bike tour to Johnny Cash: music and history on the Lech!

A very special occasion is coming up: On August 11, 2025, the “Cash am Lech” tour will take place in Landsberg, which will bring the traces of the legendary Johnny Cash to life in a special way. The event begins at the train station in Kaufering and promises both musical and historical highlights.

Moderated by the well-known Achim “Sechzig” Bogdahn, texts by the author Franz Dobler will be read out, which deal with the life of the “Man in Black”. This takes place against the impressive backdrop of the former Kaufering VII subcamp, where texts by historian Edith Raim on Landsberg's role in National Socialism are also included. The tour is attended by around 25 participants, some of whom have traveled from cities such as Augsburg, Hamburg and Munich.

Johnny Cash's connection to Landsberg

Johnny Cash was stationed in Landsberg as a soldier in the US Air Force from 1951 to 1954. He lived here during his time as a Morse code specialist during the Korean War, which shaped not only his military skills but also his passion for music. The shy young man, who was initially lonely on the base, quickly bought a guitar and began writing his first songs, including those that later became famous such as “Folsom Prison Blues” and “I Walk the Line”. During this time he founded the “Landsberg Barbarians”, his first band, and performed enthusiastically in local officer clubs.

The event will feature musical accompaniment by Philip Bradatsch and Markus “Don Marco” Naegele, who will perform Cash songs such as “Ring of Fire” and “Blue Suede Shoes”. The special “Cash am Lech” beer will also provide a festive atmosphere.

A deep look into Cash's legacy

The tour ends at the Discy record store in Landsberg, where Edmund Epple talks about the legacy of Johnny Cash. Epple has set up a special Johnny Cash corner in the store where various materials and interviews can be found. A letter from Johnny Cash to his German fans will also be read out for the tour, which shows how much his time in Germany influenced him. Cash, who often remembered his homeland when looking at the impressive landscape of Landsberg, left a lasting impression there.

The “Cash am Lech” tour is a journey into the past and will continue with another tour on September 13th. Those interested can register via the Mathilde Westend Theater website. An experience that not only brings music history to life, but also illuminates an important part of local history.

For further information about Johnny Cash's work in Landsberg and about the Bayern History app, which served the students of the Ignaz-Kögler-Gymnasium as a basis for their research, see the detailed reports from Mercury and Bavarian Radio brought to attention. The historical background to Cash's time in Landsberg is also over Stripes to read.