Gerhard Rüdiger Gundermann, who generally performed as simply Gundermann (February 21, 1955 – June 21, 1998), was a German singer-songwriter and rock musician. A skilled excavator operator, his musical career began in the former East Germany, where he became known for his clever, often melancholic lyrics imbued with social commentary. After German reunification, he became especially popular among former East Germans who felt alienated and marginalized in the reunited country.
Born in Weimar, Gundermann moved with his family to Hoyerswerda in 1967. After completing his secondary education, he studied for a year at the military academy in Löbau, but was expelled in 1975, after which he was forced to seek work in the coal mining area of the Spreetal (in today's Saxony). In 1976 he began evening school, and was recruited by the East German domestic intelligence service, the Stasi, as unofficial collaborator (codename "Grigori"). In 1977 he applied to join the ruling party, the SED, but was asked to leave the following year (after uttering contrary opinions), although this was reduced to a "strong rebuke" after he appealed. In 1983 he married Conny. The following year he was again expelled from the party and also from the Stasi.
Gundermann's first appearances as a singer-songwriter came in 1986, and a year later he won the grand prize and a recording contract in the East German national song contest. His first LP Männer, Frauen und Maschinen (Men, Women, and Machines) appeared in 1988, but in contrast to his solo acoustic performances it was a rock record album with a backing band, with uptempo numbers like "Halte durch" ("Hang in there!"). It included a song of praise for his hometown Hoyerswerda, "Hoy Woy."
After the Fall of the Wall, Gundermann ran unsuccessfully for a parliamentary seat in the Volkskammer in the March 1990 elections as a candidate for the leftist alliance Aktionsbündnis Vereinigte Linke.
Gundermann lived an ascetic lifestyle, eschewing alcohol,[1] drugs, and smoking,[2] and was a committed vegetarian.[1] However, he was a workaholic; besides a full recording and performing schedule, Gundermann continued to work operating a rotary excavator, digging up seams of brown coal. He was worried that his music would lose its authenticity if it became his sole way of life. Perhaps because of overwork exhaustion, Gundermann died of an apoplexy on June 21, 1998, at the age of 43 at his home in Spreetal. He left behind a wife and four children. His decease followed that of his friend and co-musician Tamara Danz, also gone at an age of 43 years, by less than two years.
In 2018, a biographical movie by director Andreas Dresen, Gundermann. Gundermann was personated by actor Alexander Scheer. The biographical film feature film was awarded six German Movie Awards (Deutscher Filmpreis) in 2019 of 10 nominations, among them the "German Oscars" for the Best Film, Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best Screenplay (Laila Stieler [arz; de; fr; ru]) and Best Director.
Discographyedit
1988 Männer, Frauen und Maschinen (Men, Women, and Machines)
1992 Einsame Spitze (One of a Kind)
1993 Der 7te Samurai (The Seventh Samurai)
1995 Frühstück für immer (Breakfast For Ever)
1997 Engel über dem Revier (Angel Above the Coalfield)
2000 Live-Stücke I (currently unavailable due to a legal dispute)
2004 Werkstücke II. Die Wilderer
2005 Torero... Werkstücke III (Solo/live)
2005 Oma Else. Werkstücke IV
2008 Alle oder Keiner. Auswahl I
Referencesedit
^ ab"Sänger ohne Schutzengel". Der Spiegel (in German). June 29, 1998. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
^. Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
Sourcesedit
Gerhard Gundermann. Rockpoet und Baggerfahrer. Gespräche mit Hans-Dieter Schütt. Schwarzkopf & Schwarzkopf Verlag, 1996 and 1999. ISBN3-89602-055-2
Mario Ferraro. Das Liederbuch. (42 Gundermann song lyrics with annotations.) Buschfunk Musikverlag. ISBN3-931925-34-X; Part 2: ISBN3-931925-35-8
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gerhard Gundermann.
Die Seilschaft (Official site of Gundermanns original Band in German)
Gundermanns Seilschaft eV. Fan site in German
April 12, 2024
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Gundermann redirects here For other uses see Gundermann disambiguation Not to be confused with Gunderman New South Wales Gerhard Rudiger Gundermann who generally performed as simply Gundermann February 21 1955 June 21 1998 was a German singer songwriter and rock musician A skilled excavator operator his musical career began in the former East Germany where he became known for his clever often melancholic lyrics imbued with social commentary After German reunification he became especially popular among former East Germans who felt alienated and marginalized in the reunited country Gerhard GundermannGundermann in 1994Background informationBirth nameGerhard Rudiger GundermannAlso known asGundermannBorn 1955 02 21 February 21 1955Weimar Bezirk Erfurt East GermanyOriginHoyerswerda East GermanyDiedJune 21 1998 1998 06 21 aged 43 SpreetalGenresRock folkOccupation s Bucket wheel excavator operator joinerInstrument s GuitarYears active1986 1998LabelsSPVWebsitemembers wbr aol wbr com wbr seilschaft wbr index2 wbr htm Contents 1 Career 2 Discography 3 References 4 Sources 5 External linksCareer editBorn in Weimar Gundermann moved with his family to Hoyerswerda in 1967 After completing his secondary education he studied for a year at the military academy in Lobau but was expelled in 1975 after which he was forced to seek work in the coal mining area of the Spreetal in today s Saxony In 1976 he began evening school and was recruited by the East German domestic intelligence service the Stasi as unofficial collaborator codename Grigori In 1977 he applied to join the ruling party the SED but was asked to leave the following year after uttering contrary opinions although this was reduced to a strong rebuke after he appealed In 1983 he married Conny The following year he was again expelled from the party and also from the Stasi Gundermann s first appearances as a singer songwriter came in 1986 and a year later he won the grand prize and a recording contract in the East German national song contest His first LP Manner Frauen und Maschinen Men Women and Machines appeared in 1988 but in contrast to his solo acoustic performances it was a rock record album with a backing band with uptempo numbers like Halte durch Hang in there It included a song of praise for his hometown Hoyerswerda Hoy Woy After the Fall of the Wall Gundermann ran unsuccessfully for a parliamentary seat in the Volkskammer in the March 1990 elections as a candidate for the leftist alliance Aktionsbundnis Vereinigte Linke Gundermann lived an ascetic lifestyle eschewing alcohol 1 drugs and smoking 2 and was a committed vegetarian 1 However he was a workaholic besides a full recording and performing schedule Gundermann continued to work operating a rotary excavator digging up seams of brown coal He was worried that his music would lose its authenticity if it became his sole way of life Perhaps because of overwork exhaustion Gundermann died of an apoplexy on June 21 1998 at the age of 43 at his home in Spreetal He left behind a wife and four children His decease followed that of his friend and co musician Tamara Danz also gone at an age of 43 years by less than two years In 2018 a biographical movie by director Andreas Dresen Gundermann Gundermann was personated by actor Alexander Scheer The biographical film feature film was awarded six German Movie Awards Deutscher Filmpreis in 2019 of 10 nominations among them the German Oscars for the Best Film Best Actor in a Leading Role Best Screenplay Laila Stieler arz de fr ru and Best Director Discography edit1988 Manner Frauen und Maschinen Men Women and Machines 1992 Einsame Spitze One of a Kind 1993 Der 7te Samurai The Seventh Samurai 1995 Fruhstuck fur immer Breakfast For Ever 1997 Engel uber dem Revier Angel Above the Coalfield 1998 Krams Das letzte Konzert 1999 Unplugged Silly Gundermann amp Seilschaft 2000 Live Stucke I currently unavailable due to a legal dispute 2004 Werkstucke II Die Wilderer 2005 Torero Werkstucke III Solo live 2005 Oma Else Werkstucke IV 2008 Alle oder Keiner Auswahl IReferences edit a b Sanger ohne Schutzengel Der Spiegel in German June 29 1998 Retrieved May 20 2016 Andreas Dresen verfilmt Leben von DDR Sanger Gerhard Gundermann klatsch tratsch de Archived from the original on March 3 2020 Retrieved March 3 2020 Sources editGerhard Gundermann Rockpoet und Baggerfahrer Gesprache mit Hans Dieter Schutt Schwarzkopf amp Schwarzkopf Verlag 1996 and 1999 ISBN 3 89602 055 2 Mario Ferraro Das Liederbuch 42 Gundermann song lyrics with annotations Buschfunk Musikverlag ISBN 3 931925 34 X Part 2 ISBN 3 931925 35 8External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gerhard Gundermann Die Seilschaft Official site of Gundermanns original Band in German Gundermanns Seilschaft Frozen site from 1998 in German Gundermanns Seilschaft eV Fan site in German Lyrics in German Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gerhard Gundermann amp oldid 1208766093, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
