In 1976, singer and songwriter Wolfgang Niedecken gathered a few amateur musicians from the Cologne-Bonn area around him. After their first gigs in 1977, the resulting band BAP quickly became a major player in Kölsch rock. Since then, the group has toured regularly with a changing line-up, since 2014 under the name Niedeckens BAP.
The beginnings of the cult band BAP lie in the year of the 1976 European Football Championships. Various amateur musicians from Cologne-Bonn arranged to meet in the cradle house of the Hersel sand-lime brick factory to make music together. By their own account, the rehearsals were always over as soon as the band had emptied a crate of beer. Already the following year, BAP can claim their first gig in the Mariensaal in Cologne-Nippes.
The band's name comes from the term "Dä Bapp" - the pronunciation of "Papa" originating from the Unkeler Platt and also the nickname of Wolfgang Niedecken. But since the musicians agree that the inscription "BAPP" on the drums would not look good, the name is changed to Wolfgang Niedecken's BAP, and from 1981 simply to BAP. Since 2014, old and new band members have been performing under the name Niedeckens BAP.
Niedeckens BAP: From Cologne to the stages of the world
In 1979, the first album is released. At that time, the musicians were mainly known in their native Cologne and the surrounding area. This soon changed, however, because just one year later Niedeckens BAP became known nationwide through a show on WDR.
The band's third album already reached number one in the German album charts in 1981. But the record is not alone, because a total of nine Niedeckens BAP albums make it to the pole position of the charts.
- In 1981: "Für usszeschnigge!"
- 1982: "Vun drinne noh drusse"
- 1984: "Zwesche Salzjebäck un Bier"
- 1986: "Ahl Männer, aalglatt"
- 1988: "Da Capo"
- 1990: "X für 'e U"
- 1999: "Comics & Pin-Ups"
- 2001: "Aff un zo"
- 2008: "Radio Pandora"
After the first professionally organised tour of Germany in 1982, Niedeckens BAP is also able to attract international artists. In the following years, for example, the band played as support acts for the legendary Rolling Stones and rock singer Rod Stewart.
Even though the band members initially found it hard to believe that their Cologne lyrics were also well received outside the Rhineland, over time they performed more and more frequently abroad - in Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg, Belgium and Denmark, among other countries. In 1987 Niedeckens BAP even toured China for four weeks.
Niedeckens BAP doesn't let itself be bent
The fact that the band is also politically active costs the musicians an entire tour in 1984. That year Niedecken's BAP was allowed to tour the former GDR. Wolfgang Niedecken incorporates some political statements that are important to the group into his own song. However, the song caused trouble in the GDR. When the musicians refused to take the song off the set list, the tour was cut short before the first concert.
Over the years, there have been changes in the band's line-up from time to time. One point of contention is the musical style. For example, former guitarist Klaus "Major" Heuser wants the band to play radio pop. Wolfgang Niedecken, however, insists on Kölsch rock - Heuser then leaves the group. Niedecken remains the head of the group as singer and songwriter.
Over 40 years of success: Niedeckens BAP
The success proves Niedecken right: for the anniversary in 2006, the tickets for Niedeckens BAP concert in the Kölnarena are almost sold out on two consecutive days. Ten years later there is another anniversary tour to mark the 40th anniversary. In the meantime, the group can look back on a career spanning more than 45 years and thrills both young and young-at-heart fans at their shows.
