German Music:

Marius Müller-Westernhagen

Music style: Rock
Dates: born 1948 in Düsseldorf

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Following in the footsteps of his father and to the consternation of his mother, Westernhagen started his career in acting at the age of 14. His father Hans, who was a member of the famous Gründgens theater ensemble, secured the teenager his first role in Wilhelm Semmelroth's 1962 film "Die höhere Schule." During the 1960s, which witnessed the advent of rock-n-roll, the Beatles craze, and the rise of the Rolling Stones, the teenager's love of music blossomed. He played in a hometown band called Harakiri Whoom and met with local fame. He also made time to finish trade school to satisfy his mother's wishes.

During the first decades of his career, Westernhagen worked in various jobs as an actor, singer songwriter, and journalist. He played leading roles in more than two dozen films over a twenty-five year period. In the early 70s, he left his hometown of Düsseldorf to live in Hamburg with his girlfriend, actress Katrin Schaake. Soon thereafter he signed a contract with Warner Deutschland and produced his debut LP Das erste Mal. Two more albums followed soon thereafter, each showing more of the singer's talent. For his fourth album, Westernhagen demanded more creative freedom. Mit Pfefferminz bin ich dein Prinz brought Marius his first gold record in 1979. The following year, he played the starring role in the most successful film at the time since World War II, Theo gegen den Rest der Welt. Both as a musician and on the silver screen, Westernhagen was forging his way as a superstar.

Westernhagens musical productions and film work of the early 80s demonstrated his diversity. The new sounds were joyously accepted by his fans who turned Die Sonne so rot (1984) and Westernhagen (1987) into bestsellers and songs like "Lass' uns leben" and "Freiheit" into classics. His 1984 film "Der Schneemann" was a box office hit.

As his career flourished, the mid-80s brought several personal changes. His long-term relationship with Katrin Schaake broke off and he fathered a daughter, Sarah, with Polly Eltes. In 1988, he married supermodel Romney Williams. And if he was successful before, now he would become a megastar. His 1989 album Halleluja skyrocketed onto the charts at Number 1. With a mix of touching and invigorating songs like "Weil ich dich liebe" and "Sexy", the record went double platinum and the concert tour sold out. In 1990, Westernhagen repeated his success when his double LP Westernhagen Live album entered the German album charts at Number 1.

During the 1990s, Marius Westernhagen ruled the German music scene. He had songs among the Top Ten on the Media Control Charts for 111 weeks during that decade and held Number 1 position for 28 of those weeks. Album after album rose to the top of the music charts and his tours continued to sell out. He began performing in soccer stadiums, something no other German musician had ever done, to accomodate the crowds of fans. Westernhagen also attracted more media attention than had been afforded any other German star.

After 20 albums, many of which went gold or platinum, in 1999 Westernhagen took a break from touring. He nonetheless continued to produce albums, including So weit (2000), a "best of" album, and In den Wahnsinn (2003). In 2004, he unexpectedly announced a new tour, which promptly sold out. And the 2005 release of the LP Nahaufnahme marked the sixth time the musician has released an album directly into the Number 1 spot on the German LP charts.

Westernhagen was recognized in 2001 with the Germany's highest civilian honor, the Bundesverdienstkreuz, for his numerous years of socio-political involvement and contributions to the nation. He continues to live up to the spirit of the award as one of Germany's greatest and well-known performers in modern times.

Marius-Müller Westernhagen CDs
	Nahaufnahme (2005) Buy CD at AMAZON
	In den Wahnsinn (2002) \| LISTEN Buy CD at AMAZON
	So weit (Best of) (2000) \|\| LISTEN Buy CD at AMAZON
	Radio Maria (1998) \| LISTEN Buy CD at AMAZON
	Keine Zeit (Soundtrack) (1996) \| LISTEN Buy CD at AMAZON
	Affentheater (1994) \| LISTEN Buy CD at AMAZON
	Ja Ja (1992) \| LISTEN Buy CD at AMAZON
	Westernhagen Live (1990) \| 2 CDS Buy CD at AMAZON
	Halleluja (1989) \| Buy CD at AMAZON
	Lausige Zeiten (1986) \| LISTEN Buy CD at AMAZON
	Laß uns Leben (1985) \| LISTEN Buy CD at AMAZON
	Die Sonne so rot (1984) \| LISTEN Buy CD at AMAZON
	Geiler is' schon (1983) \| LISTEN Buy CD at AMAZON
	Das Herz eines Boxers (1982) \| LISTEN Buy CD at AMAZON
	Stinker (1981) \|\| LISTEN Buy CD at AMAZON
	Sekt oder Selters (1980) \| LISTEN Buy CD at AMAZON
	Mit Pfefferminz bin ich dein Prinz (1978) \| LISTEN Buy CD at AMAZON
	Ganz allein krieg' ich's nicht hin (1977) \| LISTEN Buy CD at AMAZON
	Bittersüß (1976) \| LISTEN Buy CD at AMAZON
	Das erste Mal (1975) \| LISTEN Buy CD at AMAZON