BAP (German band)

BAP
BAP performing in 2018
BAP performing in 2018
Background information
OriginCologne, Germany
GenreRock
Years active1976–present
LabelsEMI, Capitol
MembersWolfgang Niedecken
Werner Kopal
Michael Nass
Anne de Wolff [de]
Ulrich Rode
Sönke Reich
Axel Müller
F. Johannes Goltz
Benny Brown [de]
Past membersSee below
Websitebap.de

BAP (German pronunciation: [bap]) is a German rock band. With thirteen albums reaching the number one in the German record charts, BAP is one of the most successful rock acts in their home country.

Nearly all of BAP's lyrics are written in Kölsch, the dialect of Cologne, or more precisely in a Kölsch-influenced derivation of Eifelplatt, a regional variant of the Ripuarian language spoken in the nearby rural Eifel. Niedecken's most prominent musical influences, especially early in his career, were Bob Dylan, the Kinks, Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones and Wolfgang Ambros.

History

Wolfgang Niedecken, 1984
BAP in Aachen, 1980

The group was founded in 1976 under the name Wolfgang Niedecken's BAP in Cologne by Wolfgang Niedecken and Hans Heres. In 1981, they released their most famous song "Verdamp lang her" (Damn long time ago), in which Niedecken describes regrets he has about his relationship with his then recently deceased father. The band's name "BAP" derived from "BAPP", both, a play-on-words on the Kölsch word "Papp" (related to the German word dad), but pronounced differently, and Niedecken's then-nickname.

Niedecken translated a collection of Bob Dylan's lyrics to German for his 1995 solo album Leopardefell.

Band members

Zelt-Musik-Festival 2016 in Freiburg, Germany

Current members

(Information valid for 2024)

Former members

Albums

Singles

See also

References

  1. ↑ Duffy, Thom (1997-05-24). "BMG Ariola Documents Dylan's Int'l Presence". International. Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 21. BMG Communications Inc. p. 52. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2024-06-01.

Further reading