Andreas Gabalier: What makes the most popular folk rocker tick

Morning ritual

"After waking up, I turn on the radio and then I usually do a few push-ups. Seven times40 at intervals, for about half an hour. This gets my circulation going and warms me up. I'm really awake afterwards and feel fit. But if I don't have any appointments, I also like to sleep in for a long time."

Motorcycle

"My BMW R 1200 is already nine years old. We're always tinkering with it with an old buddy who has a workshop. I love taking the bike on tours when it gets warmer. I know the Swiss passes very well, and it's wonderful to ride down to Lake Maggiore."

Studies

"I once started to study law, but then music got in the way. If I had the choice again now, I would choose architecture. I like drawing and I've already renovated my second house."

Favorite drink

"An ice-cold bottle of beer! When I go into certain bars in Graz, they already know and put the beer in the freezer. At home, I put the beer in my fridge and cool it down to one or two degrees."

Trademark

"I associate lederhosen with my childhood. We all had a pair back then. And we wore them quite often in the countryside. More for family celebrations and birthdays, of course. Now I wear them to concerts and bring back all the good memories."

My partner Silvia Schneider

"She very rarely attends concerts. As a presenter, she has a lot to do herself, and that's a good thing. A celebrity life in which we constantly tell the public what we're cooking, where we're going on vacation and what else we're doing wouldn't suit me."

Origin

"The name Gabalier comes from a soldier who got stuck in Austria in 1796 during Napoleon's Italian campaign. I can definitely still feel the warrior in me. I can bite. My success didn't just happen, it was earned with hard work."

Luxury

"I like to eat well and like to order a steak or fish. And that costs money. But good food means quality of life for me. Other luxury goods are not so important to me. I ordered the jacket I'm wearing online for 20 euros."

Favorite book

"My first book back then was 'The Neverending Story'. That probably influenced me in terms of creativity and imagination. But it was already a big book with 1,200 pages - just after I had learned to read."

Favorite film

"Definitely 'Forrest Gump'. This story with Tom Hanks was very moving for me.

Social media

"This has already become an important factor for me. I have more than 700,000 fans on Facebook. It's pretty amazing what you can achieve there. I can quickly reach around three million people with one post. I also read the comments, and people are really happy when I write something myself."

Negative comments

"Criticism is hard to take, it should be there. And I understand that my music isn't everyone's cup of tea. It shouldn't be. Success is only possible if you polarize in some way. If nobody cared much about what I do or sing, I wouldn't be able to pick people up emotionally. But the sad thing these days is the tone. Especially on social networks. You can criticize people very harshly anonymously, but nobody would say it to your face."

MTV unplugged CD

"This is a huge dream come true. This myth of MTV unplugged has been with me since childhood. Back then, I dubbed the recordings of Nirvana and their ilk onto cassettes so that I could listen to them on my Walkman on the way to school. And now I'm probably the most atypical MTV unplugged candidate to date."

ANDREAS GABALIER
Fri March 31, KKL Lucerne
Sun April 9, Snowpenair Kleine Scheidegg BE
Fri June 16, Kybunpark St. Gallen
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