Wolfgang Niedecken: With optimism against populism!

Wolfgang Niedecken: With optimism against populism!

Wolfgang Niedecken, the charismatic frontman of the Cologne band BAP, looks back on a remarkable career while describing himself as a “purpose optimist”. Despite the tense political world situation, the 74-year-old does not want to lose his optimism. “I force myself to be a source of hope for my children and grandchildren,” explains Niedecken in an interview. Many people of the same age appear resigned, but Niedecken sees an obligation to offer younger people a positive perspective. This is reported by the courier.

The band BAP, which Niedecken founded in 1976, is celebrating its 50th anniversary next year. Over the decades, the group has developed into one of the most successful music projects in Germany. The breakthrough came in 1979 with the LP “Wolfgang Niedecken’s BAP rocks other Cologne Leeders”. BAP is still very popular today, the tour under the title “The Finish Line” starts in November 2023 and will, among other things, take you to the Wiener Stadthalle on December 4th, 2023. He will be 75 years old on March 30th, so an exciting time full of new challenges lies ahead.

A life for music and society

Wolfgang Niedecken was born in Cologne in 1951 and began his musical career while still at school. After the first record recording in 1969, the path to the founding of BAP was paved. The band developed from song recitals and jams without any major career goals into a German rock phenomenon. Niedecken describes long-term success through passion and discipline, complemented by adaptability. These strengths are also reflected in its political activities, an aspect that characterized BAP from the beginning. The song “Stell dir vüür” is an example of Niedecken’s politically committed approach.

“I have decided in favor of conscientious objection and advocate for general compulsory service – socially or with the federal government,” emphasizes Niedecken, who was also actively involved in the peace movement in the 1980s. His perspective on global conflicts was greatly influenced by travels to Nicaragua and Africa. “Fit for battle, yes – fit for war, no,” the musician sums up his view. At the same time, he shows respect for the courage of the people in Ukraine, takes a clear stance against the rise of populist movements and warns against the AfD.

The look into the future

Despite health challenges, including a stroke in 2011, Niedecken never lost faith in his music and in the people around him. In a conversation he says: “Music has the power to bring people together and make them think.” With BAP he wants to continue to set an example and take his fans on a musical journey through five decades of band history. This upcoming tour is not a farewell tour, but an opportunity to celebrate the love of music together and face the challenges of the times.

For an artist like Wolfgang Niedecken, who is both musically and politically active, the future remains exciting. His message remains relevant and we can't wait to see what awaits us during the tour and beyond. Information about this can be found on the website of World and the ARD media library.