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Thomas Anders: "It was infuriating when they talked about our sexual orientation"

Thomas Anders: "It was infuriating when they talked about our sexual orientation"

His first visit to Moscow was a real natural disaster for the police. People spent the night on the steps of the "Olympic", and during the day they maimed each other in a monstrous crush at the ticket offices. The walls of the sports complex were literally covered with declarations of love for Thomas. They were washed, but the next day, fans painted the gray building with coal again ...

Almost 30 years have passed since then. Passions for Thomas have long subsided, and the next visits of the former idol remain almost unnoticed. And yet, the concerts of disco stars are still gathering full houses. Especially when he is the headliner - Thomas Anders.

"EVERYONE HAD PERSONAL LIFE"

- Thomas, you come to Moscow almost every year. What does this constancy mean?

I just love to come to you. I am very glad that fans in Russia remain loyal to me to this day. And the first time I visited Russia back in October 1987. Since then, of course, much has changed in your country. And for the best.

Do you remember the first visit to Moscow. How did it all start? When did the boy's musical abilities come to light, whose name was not yet Thomas Anders, but Bernd Weidung?

Yes of course. I was five years old when my mother gave me my first guitar for Christmas. I did not let her go for a minute, even at night I laid her next to my bed. And in the morning he sat down in full view of everyone, struck the strings with his fingers and shouted at the whole house. Mom no longer knew what to do with herself, plugged her ears - she probably regretted that she had given me such a gift. But my uncle, burgomaster of the neighboring region, was only moved by such a sight. And he decided to engage me. At the grand opening of the Silver Gala, I sang ... for four hours in a row! This is how my first performance took place.

Then I began to take part in competitions for young talents. At one of these, the Radio Luxembourg competition, I met my first producer. We recorded three singles, I did a TV show. Then there was a big tour of Germany. My God, how worried I was when I first stepped on the professional stage in front of thousands of spectators at the Tom Tip Rock Show! Probably, I would not have been able to overcome my shyness if someone had not given me one stupid piece of advice: "Just imagine that the whole audience ... is in underpants." You know, oddly enough, it helped. Well, then the "Modern Talking" era began, and I didn't need other people's advice.

- "Modern Talking" broke up in 1987, 11 years later it unexpectedly resurrected, and in 2003 it just as suddenly ceased to exist again. Why?

Oh, Dieter Bohlen and I are so different people! They really achieved success in creativity, but everyone had their own personal life. Let's work out the concert - and scatter in different directions. When I started my solo career, I immediately felt much better.

You know, many were sure that you and Dieter ... How to put it mildly ... of non-traditional sexual orientation. How did you react to those rumors?

Yes, many thought so about me. Because I am not very tall, not too strong, I dressed extravagantly, and I also liked to wear jewelry. I hate it when they say that, but it doesn't hurt my dignity. Let them talk! Gossip and rumors are inevitable costs of our profession.

- But then you cut your hair, began to dress discreetly, removed the jewelry ...

Just one fine morning I realized that this image is no longer for me. I have changed not only externally, but also internally.

"I WAS ALWAYS SHY WITH GIRLS"

- Thomas, did you have what is called star fever?

In my opinion, narcissism is an unenviable disease. I am the same person as everyone else. Star problems are not for me! Over the years, I have developed the principles of the "theory of positive thinking", which now I am guided. They are simple.

Trust God - he is wiser than us and knows what he is doing. Do not think that you have been forgotten and there is no place for you in this life - God helps both the weak and the strong, he cares about the unfortunate, but loves more those who know how to enjoy life. Be able to hear and recognize the signs of fate. If you are haunted by failures today, if you are in a black streak, you should understand that this is a test, a warning, a test of strength. And if you have learned a lesson, then a white stripe will surely follow.

So you create a light aura around yourself that protects you from evil people, decadent thoughts, misfortunes. Sometimes events in life do not happen the way we want them to. This seems unfair to us. But from each, it would seem, the most negative situation, we can take out something positive for ourselves.

- Thomas, is it true that your first love was unhappy?

Not really ... You know, my favorite childhood toy was a Barbie doll with long golden hair. I dreamed of falling in love with the same girl. And when I turned 18, my dream materialized.

Her name was Stephanie, she was 21 years old. I was invited to a party in my hometown of Koblenz as a singer and pianist. Stephie first saw me in my father's big car. And then she heard me sing. A few weeks later we met at a disco in Bonn. I invited her to ride around the capital, then we went out in the city park. I loved walking hand in hand with her. It seemed uncomfortable to Stephie - she was much taller than me. But I took her hand so tightly that she had to submit.

Actually, I was always shy with girls. Never said "I love you!" But he always wrote about it in letters and on records. Well, my "doll" Stefi then met an older and more experienced man, and we parted.

"NORA FORBIDDEN ME TO HAIR"

“However, you did not suffer for a long time. After all, Nora soon appeared in your life, or rather, Eleanor, or, more precisely, Isabel Balling. And everything began so beautifully for you ...

Nora became my wife when I was 21 and she was 20. The wedding was magnificent. When we left the church, on the street we met a whole crowd of people with dozens of small dogs of our favorite Yorkshire Terrier breed, each of which had white bows tied on their fur.

As we drove to the restaurant, the song You re My Heart sounded all over the neighborhood. And our wedding night was spent at the Solnechnaya Alley hotel on Pig Hill. All night long we showered flowers in vases and sorted out gifts: a machine that makes a kilo of ice cream in 20 minutes, rings with the seal of the Balling family, a golden treble clef, silver champagne glasses ...

When we went on a honeymoon trip to the Canary Islands, Nora took with her 18 pairs of shoes and a myriad of clothes to wear new every day. We carried nine suitcases and two dogs with us: Mickey and Daisy. Early in the morning we wandered along the deserted beach, and in the evening we drank cocktails in the bar. At night I had to wrap the telephone receiver in a towel, as the machine rang every minute. So my fans were having fun. During the day, they had to flee from them.

- Nora is a very beautiful woman. You probably also had a lot of rivals?

My main "rival" was the subject who won back his right ... to sleep in our bed. Nero the cat always dozed on the satin bedspread. We even jokingly called him "beloved and desired friend in bed."

There are different stories about your relationship with Nora. Many years have passed since your divorce. What can you say about your first spouse now?

What can I say ... I was impressed by her business qualities, her ability to bang her fist on the table at the right moment. It seemed to me that we complement each other perfectly, that together we are strength. Now I prefer a few other qualities in a woman - such as calmness, restraint, diplomacy.

Nora is really beautiful, but very wayward. For example, she always said that I had stunningly beautiful hair, and in no case would she let me cut it. Once we lived in a hotel in Munich. Nora forgot shampoo at home and ordered it over the phone.

A few minutes later there was a knock on the door. My wife stayed in the bathroom, and I quickly put on my robe and opened the door for the concierge. The guy apologized for a long time that they did not have the shampoo that we ordered. However, for some reason he called me all the time ... "Frau Anders"! In the end, I got tired of it, and I ... opened my robe. Under which, naturally, there was nothing. The concierge, poor fellow, could only say: "Oh God!"

"WITH CLAUDIA I HAVE QUIET AND RELIABLY"

- Why did you break up with Nora?

She was very tenacious and jealous. I'm just tired of it. We got married at the end of 1984, and a month later "Modern Talking" took first places in all charts. In Nora's imagination, show business looked like this: everyone was having fun with "light" girls and swimming in champagne.

Nora decided that women would be safe for her only if she herself would drive them away from me. When on one TV show, a charming girl was supposed to announce our performance, my wife even tried to forbid me to go on stage ...

After parting with Nora, I often fell in love. True, most often women reacted like this: “With him? Never! He could have any! "

Your personal life has developed in a very original way. You had millions of fans in all countries of the world, and you met your current spouse Claudia in your hometown of Koblenz. How did this happen?

We met by chance. Although the truth is said that all accidents are natural. Once with my friends I went to a cafe and saw a pretty girl there. She had such a sad look that I wanted to cheer her up. I went up to her and asked: "Hi, where are you from?" It turned out that Claudia lives in my hometown.

We got to talking. Then she didn't even show that she knew me. This is exactly what I liked. A modest girl, a linguist, she worked in a computer company. I was glad that Claudia had nothing to do with the artistic environment. Soon we got married (the wedding was arranged in an old castle), Claudia quit her job and began to deal with my business. We went on tour together until our son was born ...

Of course, I'm happy when I'm on stage. But the most joyful moments in my life are precisely those that I spend with my family. After all, by nature I am a domestic person. In the evenings we sit in the living room by the fireplace, sort out fan letters, read them. It was about such an idyll that I dreamed. With Claudia, I'm calm and safe.

- Thomas, can you call yourself lucky?

Judge for yourself. I have experienced many disasters and one severe accident in 1983, when my first wife's parents died. In all the alterations, I remained safe and sound. Everyone knows the story of the Titanic: one person was unable to buy a ticket as they were already sold out. In such a situation I would have resigned myself and said: "Not destiny!" But he acted differently - he bought a ticket from one passenger for a lot of money. And with this "lucky" ticket he drowned.

- Prefer a quiet haven? Is not boring?

I cannot surpass myself on the stage. I understand that very well. Maybe there are still “storms” awaiting me, but only in some other area ...

Thomas Anders (Bernd Weidung) is a famous German pop singer, composer and actor. He gained immense popularity when he was a soloist in the now cult group Modern Talking. As part of his solo career, he released 11 albums, one of which, "Strong", was certified platinum. The singer performed over fifty singles, many of which turned out to be a notable event in the musical life of the planet. Anders played several roles in films and wrote a number of popular soundtracks.

Biography

Thomas Anders was born on March 1, 1963 in the German town of Münstermeifeld. From early childhood he became interested in music and sang in the choir at the church for a long time. In parallel with this, the boy mastered the piano and comprehended playing the guitar. Even then, Berndt was sure that a professional career awaited him and he would perform on stage. However, the parents saw their son in a completely different role and dreamed that he would become a builder. Therefore, the father often forced the son to help in the construction of a house being built for his older brother. Internally protesting against such violence, the future pop star came in a suit, tie and in this form drove cars with cement.

Already in adolescence, Berndt stood out against the background of his peers with the ability to dress stylishly and play with Barbie dolls. It was with a girl of this type that the young musician fell in love. The first serious success came to him in 1980, when he won the show of M. Shants and the single "Judy" was released. After that, the young man was advised to come up with a pseudonym, and, without hesitation, he chose the first surname of the telephone directory - Anders, and the name Thomas was taken as the most international, pronounced the same in different languages.

In 1983, fate brings the singer to Dieter Bohlen, after which they decided to try to work as a duet. Their joint song "Wovon Traumst Du Denn" received a good rating from the audience, becoming the 16th in the national charts. Soon the group Modern Talking was created, whose hit "Youre My Heart, Youre My Soul" did not leave the top of European music ratings for about a year and a half. In the wake of widespread fame, 6 albums were recorded, which sold a total circulation of more than 42 million copies.

In 1987, the joint project ceased to exist, and Thomas Anders set out on an independent voyage. He began touring the countries of the Old World, after which he began recording his own album "Different", in which he was helped by Mark Cassandra, known for his work with Elton John. It went on sale in 1989, but did not receive much recognition. Perhaps because Anders moved away from the usual style, defining the genre of his product as high-guality-pop.

In the future, Thomas Anders did not give up and continued to actively create musical material, collaborating with many well-known producers and record companies. Several albums and soundtracks for films were released, in one of which ("Stockholm Marathon") the musician even played in person. Giving all his strength to the field of creativity, during the recording of the album "Souled" Anders even fainted.

The second half of the 90s was marked by Anders's participation in several dance projects and his passion for jazz, which resulted in the appearance of an album and a jazz concert with the participation of L. Thornton's jazz band. In 1998, there was an unexpected revival of the half-forgotten Modern Talking. Together with Dieter Bohlen, they released several remixes and covered a number of past hits, but they did not gain their former glory. After 5 years, the duo broke up, but this did not affect the career of Anders, who by that time had a rich experience of creative interaction with No Angels, T-Seven and many other musicians.

Then Thomas Anders continued solo performances in Europe and the USA, released the successful album "This time" (2004) and recorded an acoustic version with the Warsaw Orchestra (2006). Having worked actively in the Novy Svet, the singer turns his eyes to Russia, creating especially for the domestic listener the album "Strong", songs for which were written by the composer S. Revyakin. In support of the album, a large-scale tour of 20 cities of the country was organized. In 2014, Anders will be awarded a Platinum Award for his record sales.

In 2011-2012, Thomas collaborated with compatriot Uwe Fahrenkrog, releasing a new album “Two” in a duet with him. Uwe also wrote the song "No ordinary love", which Thomas sang along with the Ukrainian vocalist Kamaliya. A year later, he performed the single "We Are One" with Iranian singer Omid.

In 2015, Thomas Anders gave two successful concerts in the United States - in Los Angeles and New York. In 2016, the singer released another studio album, "History", in the same year, Anders performed at the Moscow Crocus City Hall.

And in 2017, the singer released the album "Pures Leben", consisting of new songs recorded in German. For Anders's fans, as well as for the performer himself, the release was an event, because until that moment Thomas Anders had only released singles in German, and those even before Modern Talking.

Personal life

The first wife of the German singer was Nora Balling, with whom he fell in love at a young age. They got married back in 1984 at the dawn of the spouse's stellar career. From the very beginning, their relationship began to be dominated by a strong character Nora, who intervened in the creative process. It got to the point that the obstinate wife worked on the image of Thomas and selected the repertoire. That is why he appeared on stage with lipstick tinted and at times looked languidly at Dieter Bohlen's partner, which gave rise to rumors about his unconventional orientation. In 1992, they stopped living together after Nora announced the appearance of a new passion in her life.

After a difficult parting, the singer fell into depression, from which Claudia Hess, who worked as a professional translator, brought him out. They met in 1996 in a small cafe "Faust". Then the shy Anders decided to come up and meet a beautiful blonde. Soon, a relationship began, smoothly flowing into strong feelings. The wedding took place in 2000. Two years later, Claudia gave Thomas a son, Alexander Mink.

Thomas was born in the town of Münstermeifeld near Koblenz. His father was a burgomaster and encouraged his son to study music. Thomas sang in the church choir, took piano lessons for almost ten years and learned to play the guitar himself. After leaving school, he studied Germanic studies (German language and literature) and musicology in Mainz. In 1979 he won the Radio Luxembourg competition. In 1980 his first single, Judy, was released. It was then that the record company advises Bernd to take the pseudonym Thomas Anders, with whom he enters the big stage. After the release of the single, Thomas toured Germany with other young performers for a 15-day tour. In 1981, he made his television debut in the Michael Schanz show. In 1983, while recording a cover version of F.R. David's song, he met the novice producer and composer Dieter Bohlen. This is followed by a few more collaborations in German, as well as the English-language composition Catch Me I’m Falling (a cover of a song by the Australian band Real Life), released as the Headliner project. The single Wovon Traumst Du Denn reaches number 16 on the German hit parade.

In October 1984, Thomas and Dieter teamed up to form the Modern Talking duo and released the single You’re My Heart, You’re My Soul, which became number one in Europe. This single lasted six months on the European popularity lists. Over the next three years, Modern Talking recorded 6 albums and 9 singles, 5 of which were number one in the charts. The duo have sold over 60 million sound carriers and have received 40 Platinum and over 200 Gold awards. In 1987 Modern Talking ceased to exist due to the expiration of the contract and the reluctance of both parties to renew it. Thomas as "The Thomas Anders Show" embarks on a world tour of great success.

After the duo disbanded (1987), Thomas collaborated with the MAN-X trio, which supported the artist during the world tour, and produced, with his wife Nora (Nora Isabelle Balling), their singles Wating So Long and I Believe. In 1988, Anders, in collaboration with Marc Cassandra and under the direction of producer Jack White, wrote for the famous performer Engelbert Humperdink the composition I Can Never Let Me Go, which is included in his album In Liebe.

In 1989, Anders released his first solo album, Different, produced and engineered by Gus Dudgeon, best known for his work with David Bowie and Paul McCartney.

In 1990, Anders (together with SBK Music Publishing) created his own music publishing house “Thomas Anders Music”, which in January 2000, with the participation of two partners Thomas Christian Geller and Guido Karp, was transformed into the music publishing house KA.GB Music GmbH, in cooperation with SONY / ATV Music Publishing (Germany) GmbH.

In 1991 in London, Anders, together with producers Paul Muggleton and Mike Paxman, known for working with Nick Kamen, began work on the second album "Whispers", which was released in Germany, France, Taiwan, Korea, South Africa and other countries. Backing vocals on the album were performed by English singer Judie Tzuke. The first single from this album, "The Sweet Hello, The Sad Goodbye", was gifted to Anders by the duo Roxette; the second single, "Can't Give You Anything (But My Love)", was recorded in both English and Spanish.

In 1992, Anders switched to POLYDOR (now Universal) and recorded the album Down On Sunset in the United States with renowned producers Christian de Walden (Amanda Lear) and Ralf Stemmann (Ricky Martin). One of the songs included in the album, Thomas sang a duet with Glenn Medeiros, known for his cover of "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You".

In 1993, Anders gained new experience by playing a role in the Swedish film Stockholm Marathon. He also wrote the title track for this film.

Best of the day

For the next album, the manager introduced Thomas to the hit of the seventies "When Will I See You Again" from THE THREE DEGREES. This song topped the new album, giving it its name. The musicians decided to invite her original performers. Thus, for the twentieth anniversary of the song, Thomas Anders re-performed the ageless hit "When Will I See You Again" with THE THREE DEGREES. This short-term project developed into further cooperation. Thomas gave Three Degrees a new start by writing a few songs for their highly acclaimed album Out The Past Into The Future.

In 1994, Anders released the Spanish-language album Barcos de Cristal in the United States for the Latin American market. In Argentina, the album reached the top spot on the charts; Thomas also wrote the title song for an Argentinean television series and "Tal Vez" for Marta Sánchez, which became a number one hit in Mexico.

While working in the USA, Thomas met producer Peter Wolf, known for his work with Frank Zappa, and in 1995 they recorded and released the album Souled, which included a duet with POINTER SISTERS.

In 1996 Thomas Anders, hiding under the pseudonym "Phantomas", Thomas took part in the dance project of the same name and, together with producers Ramon Zenker (FRAGMA), Andreas Schneider (KOSMONOVA) and Olaf Dickman (AQUAGEN), recorded a couple of singles: "Our House" (cover of the hit group MADNESS), and "No Doubt About It".

Another dance project in which Thomas Anders took part was called CHAIN \u200b\u200bREACTION. The only single "Every Word You Said" was released in 1997 in collaboration with producer Axel Breitung (DJ BOBO).

Following the success of the Stockholm Marathon, Thomas starred in the German short film Phantomschmerz and sang the song for that film.

Developing as a musician and creative person, Thomas Anders found an additional stimulus for himself in his work, playing jazz. In early 1997 he released a live album on which he performed well-known jazz standards.

In the spring of 1998, there was a sudden revival of the duo Modern Talking, which disbanded more than ten years ago. Thomas Anders and Dieter Bohlen record an album of remixes and old hits of the group (Back For Good) and go on a concert tour together. However, after 5 years (in 2003), the history of the duo again ends no less unexpectedly.

During the existence of the revived Modern Talking, Thomas does not leave work on projects with other stars for which he writes songs and participates in their production. Among them, one can note cooperation with No Angels, T-Seven (a project of the former soloist of the popular band Mr. President in the mid-90s of the last century), Marta Sanchez, Isabel Varell, It G! Rls.

The singer's personal life also does not stand still - after an offer made on Christmas in 1999, on July 15, 2000 in Stromburg, Thomas Anders is married to Claudia Hess. Two years later, Anders becomes a father - on June 27, 2002, his son Alexander Mick Weidung was born.

On May 31 and June 1, 2003, Thomas gave two concerts for the first time in the USA (Atlantic City, New Jersey and Chicago), and in September 2003, together with the Scorpions, he played a grandiose concert in Moscow on Red Square.

In 2004, Anders's 19th solo album "This time" was released, which brought him the highest places in the charts in the history of his solo career. With the first single "Independent Girl" Thomas instantly took the 17th place in the German hit parade and 6th in Russia. Recording the album, Thomas brought in an international production team that had previously worked with Britney Spears.

Thomas Anders has written the official anthem for the Guinness World Record Ice Ballet Holiday On Ice. Thomas' ballad "Just Dream" became the main theme song for two programs - "Fantasy" and "Diamond Dreams", which were included in the "Dream Tour 2004-2005".

On April 16 and 17, 2005, Thomas Anders gave two more concerts in the USA (in New York and Chicago), and from October 27 to 29, 2006 - three more: in Chicago, Irvington (New Jersey) and New Britain.

In March 2006, Thomas realized his long-held dream and recorded an acoustic album with orchestral accompaniment, inviting the Warsaw Symphony Orchestra and the Babelsberg Film Studio Orchestra for this purpose. The album Songs Forever, produced by Peter Rees (N'Sync), brings together the most popular songs of the eighties, re-arranged in a swing style. And in April, The DVD Collection was released, following in the footsteps of Songs Forever; this DVD includes twenty videotapes of Thomas, shot during his entire creative career.

In 2009, the duet of Thomas Anders and the star of the 80s singer Sandra "The Night Is still Young" was released as a single. A year later, the premiere of the album "Strong", which was created especially for the Russian fans of the singer, took place.

A number of pop songs "Why do you cry?", "Stay with me", "My Angel", "Sorry, Baby" provided the disc with double platinum status and second place in the Russian rating of pop singers. In support of the album, Thomas Anders conducted a large tour of the cities of Russia Strong Tour. In 2012, the singer released the collection "Christmas for You", which consists of 4 new compositions and a number of cover versions of hits on Christmas theme.

In 2016, Thomas Anders delighted fans with the release of the disc "History", which, in addition to the hits of past years, included two new songs "Lunatic" and "Take the Chance", recorded in the style of Modern Talking. The Russian premiere of the album took place in Moscow in the Crocus City Hall Big Hall. Online broadcast of the performance of the idol of the 80s took place on the radio "Retro-FM".

In 2017, the artist released another album "Рures Leben", all songs of which were sung in German. In the same year, a video clip for the hit "Der Beste Tag Meines Lebens" was released.

THE SUMMER HAS BEEN HOT FOR THE SINGER. FORMER MODERN TALKING SOLOIST PERFORMES IN CZECH REPUBLIC, POLAND AND HUNGARY, PLAYS CHARITABLE FOOTBALL MATCHES TO HELP SICK CHILDREN, AND IN AUGUST A GREAT YALK IS GOING TO VISIT A CONCERN. Eve THOMAS ANDERS FRIENDLY TOLD ABOUT WHAT HAS BEEN AND ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN HIS LIFE NOW.

THOMAS ANDERS BIOGRAPHY: WE GONE AT THE PEAK OF GLORY

Thomas Anders, many years have passed since the collapse of Modern Talking. Do you miss those times?
- It's basically not in my rules to grieve about the days gone by. I try to enjoy the present day.
If the Modern Talking project were alive ... As they say, history does not tolerate the subjunctive mood. I think, even if we had not made the decision to part ways, interest in us would have died out soon. And even for the best that we left at the peak of fame.
An absolutely unforgettable feeling when you sing in a huge stadium full of enthusiastic people. And I, of course, am grateful to fate that this tremendous success was in my life. Only a few can survive this. Although now the audience welcomes me very warmly.

Surprisingly, Modern Talking still has a lot of fans. And among them not only people "over thirty".
- Initially, Dieter Bohlen and I are completely different. But everyone brought their own into the project, and all together created the magic that fascinates people to this day. We had a clear division of responsibilities: he is a composer and producer, I am a voice. He liked spending time in the studio more, but I love the stage, I love performing. Modern Talking is both of us. We are halves of one whole. But the gap was inevitable, and each of us asked ourselves only one question: when will this happen.
As for the fans, it was a complete surprise for them. They could not understand why, due to some disagreements, they would be left without their favorite music. We were planning to start a new tour then, and the break meant the complete collapse of all plans. But to be honest, I felt relieved. A big and important stage in my life was over.

THOMAS ANDERS AND NORA: I WAS BETWEEN TWO FIRE

Thomas Anders, there was talk that Modern Talking broke up because of your first wife, Nora.
- As a matter of fact. Dieter cannot get along with anyone, he never disagreed with anyone in an amicable way: neither with his women, nor with colleagues. So our break was a foregone conclusion. Nora saw through and through Dieter and reacted sharply to the manifestations of his egocentrism. Of course he didn't like it. I was between two fires. In fact, my wife tried to protect me, since I did not want to go into open conflict - I had enough stress associated with touring and performing.

In an interview, you say that Dieter has always been a person who tends to put pressure on others.
- He communicates with people in his characteristic harsh manner. It was a real pain in the ass! When we first met, Dieter was quite normal. But gradually everything that was heard from him came down to "me": "My song became number 1, I broke the air on television, me, me, me." And so on without end. The merit of other people did not exist for him. In 2011 I recorded the album Two in a duet with Uwe Fahrenkrog Petersen. And after one of the first joint performances, Uwe even claimed that I still flinch if I see a blonde next to me on stage.

When was the last time you saw Dieter Bohlen, what did you talk about?
- About nothing. We recently bumped into at the airport, but Dieter pretended not to notice me. So we didn't even say hello.

THOMAS ANDERS CLAUDIA'S WIFE: A GENTLEMAN OF MUSIC

Thomas Anders, you are a handsome man and a faithful husband. How do these two properties get along in one person, who also has so many female fans?
- When I got married (and this happened twice in my life), I did not go blind and did not cease to be a man. Of course, I pay attention to beautiful women, it gives me aesthetic pleasure. Fans are attracted by my stage image, but there is also an ordinary life where I am married, happily married, and I value this relationship too much to test it with casual hobbies.


- Your second wife Claudia looks like Nora ...
- I like blondes, but this is where the similarities between Nora and Claudia, perhaps, end. Nora is a spoiled girl who demanded the immediate fulfillment of her desires. And Claudia is a very light, positive person.

Does your ten-year-old son Alexander like Modern Talking songs?
- He doesn't listen to my songs on purpose. Alexander has abilities, and he is studying music, but his interest in it is much less than I was in his years. Of course, my son knows about Modern Talking and my work in general. Once he even went on stage with me! But much more he likes it when dad is at home and we can talk or go somewhere together. I think Alexander is my biggest hit. Although I spend a lot of time on the road, and Claudia is mainly involved in his upbringing. But when I'm on tour, we keep calling each other.

They love you very much in the CIS. Do you interact with fans outside of concerts?
- Oh, I have a fresh story on this score! On March 1st, my 50th birthday, someone rang the doorbell. Behind it was a bouquet of white roses, so huge that it was impossible to see the person holding it. I could not understand who sent such a treasure. But the messenger remembered that he had a postcard in his car. I ran after her, and I read: "To the gentleman of music with love from Russian fans." It was a pleasant surprise. I really love flowers, especially white ones.
In general, I must say that now I live on the sunny side of the street and try to enjoy every day. When at home, I am happy that my loved ones are nearby. When on tour, I am glad to meet the audience. In general, I am a very happy person!
Initially, Bohlen and I are completely different. But everyone brought their own into the project, and all together created the magic that fascinates people to this day.

Thomas Anders is a German musician and singer, formerly the lead singer of the pop group Modern Talking. Personal life, musical career, backstage scandals - all this interests his many fans and, especially, female fans. There are few people who have not heard the songs of the super popular group.

The birth of a star

Fans are often interested in information about how old Thomas Anders is. This fact is known and fully accessible to the public.

On March 1, 1963, in the German town of Münstermeifeld, located near Koblenz, Peter and Helga Weidung had birth second baby Bernd. It will take about twenty years and first Germany, and then the whole world will recognize him as a famous singer. Father Peter Weidung was burgomaster of Münstermeifeld, and mother Helga ran a small business.

Older brother Achim was a noisy and restless boy, so Helga dreamed of being the next child in their family became a girl. Little Bernd was the opposite of his brother - quiet and calm. He had a gentle feminine face, so that part of his mother's wish was fulfilled.

Of all the toys, Bernd loved the Barbie doll the most. Subsequently, both women he married will be blonde with blue eyes. Their type, similar to the famous toy, is probably not accidental.

Childhood and youth

The first fame came to Bernd Weidung at the age of six. His parents rented a small cafe where Helga was in charge. It was here that her little son began his public appearances. The residents of Münstermeifeld appreciated his talent and even presented him with a guitar, on which he immediately began to learn to play.

At the age of seven, the boy went to school and began to sing in the church choir. At the same time, his younger sister Tanya-Katrin was born. Young Bernd Weidung continues his training in guitar and piano. He also begins to take vocal lessons. At such an early age, he was already firmly convinced that a career as a professional musician and singer awaited him.

Upon completion of schooling, the young man goes to Mainz to study German language and literature, as well as musicology.

Professional scene

In 1979, Bernd wins a music competition on Radio Luxembourg. Then, in 1980, the single Judy was released, after which a contract was signed with CBS. It was at this time that the transformation of Bernd Weidung into Thomas Anders takes place. The age of the young star by that time had not reached 18 years old.

After recording the song, he embarks on his first tour of Germany. In 1981 he made his debut in the television program Michael Schantz "Do you have time for us today?"

Modern talking

In 1983, a historic the acquaintance of young Thomas and the promising composer and producer Dieter Bohlen... Several joint compositions in German were recorded, one of which took 16th place in the national charts.

The success in Germany for the young group was not a bad result, but Thomas and Dieter wanted much more. It became clear that songs in English were needed for an international breakthrough.

On October 29, 1984, the single "You 're My Heart, You' re My Soule" by the new musical duo Modern Talking was released. This song was not very popular after its release. But on January 21, 1985, the team performed on the Formula 1 television program, and from that moment on, the composition burst into the German and then European charts.

Then the group's first album was released, which was a great success. In September 1985, the musicians received 75 platinum and gold discs on the Peter ’s Pop Show.

Between 1984 and 1987 the duo released six LPs. The musicians of Modern Talking set a personal popularity record that no one has managed to surpass until now: the release of five number 1 singles one after the other in the German charts. In just three years, the duo received 40 platinum and 200 gold discs.

European musical life at that time was impossible to imagine without such hits as "Cheri, Cheri Lady", Brother Louie, Atlantis Is Calling and "Geronimo's Cadillac". The musical group enjoyed fantastic popularity in the territory of the former USSR. Several albums were released at the Melodiya record label, which quickly became platinum.

Despite such a tremendous success, in 1987 the duo suspended their activities at the mutual request of the participants. There are various reasons for this.:

1. Mutual dislike of the duet members.
2. Dieter's selfish and arrogant behavior towards Thomas.
3. Copyright dispute.
4. The constant interference of Anders' wife Nora Balling in the affairs of the group.

Solo activity

After the collapse of Modern Talking, the singer embarks on a tour called The Thomas Anders Show, which was a major success. In 1987 Thomas Anders and Nora Balling moved to Los Angeles. In 1988 Thomas wrote the composition I Can Never Let You Go for the world famous singer Engelbert Humperdinck.

Six discs were released between 1989 and 1995, including a Spanish-language album that peaked at number one in Argentina, but they did not have the same success as a duo. In 1990, Anders created his own music publishing house Thomas Anders Music, later transformed into KA. G. B. Music GmbhH ".

In 1993, the singer made his film debut. In the movie Stockholm Marathon, he starred in one of the main roles, and also wrote the soundtrack called Marathon Of Life.

In 1994, a change of image took place, radically different from the image of Thomas Anders in his youth: the hairstyle was noticeably shortened, the style of clothing changed, from multi-colored shiny suits to strict dark tones.

Revival of the duo

In March 1998, a press conference was held at the Marriot Hotel in Frankfurt during which the reunification of Modern Talking was announced. Then the duet performed live on the TV show "We bet what?" Several old songs were presented in modern arrangements.

At the same time, the album Back For Good was released, which went platinum in Germany and other European countries. In total, 26 million copies have been sold worldwide. This result surpassed the duo's success in the eighties.

The band's style has transformed from Eurodisco to Eurodance. Initially, the lineup included rap artist Eric Singleton, but this experiment drew criticism from the duo's old fans. Since 2001, the musicians have started performing and recording in the same format.

A total of five albums were recorded from 1999 to 2003, many of which went platinum. Despite this, on June 7, 2003, at a concert in the German city of Rostock, the final breakup of the duo was announced. The final concert of the famous band in Berlin was played on June 21.

Among the reasons for the final closure of the project were official and unofficial versions:

1. Anders solo tour in the USA in summer 2003 with German singer CC Catch.
2. The fall in the duo's album sales.
3. Dieter Bohlen's desire to engage in the German television show "Germany is looking for a superstar".

Continuing your own creativity

After the dissolution of the duo, Thomas Anders in September 2003, together with the Scorpions, gives a triumphant concert in Moscow on Red Square. In 2004, the singer's album This Time was released, which became the most successful throughout his solo career.

In 2010, the album Strong was released, intended for Russian fans. In one month, he acquired gold status. In his support, a large tour of the cities of Russia was held. This disc goes platinum in March 2012.

The singer continues his active creative work, recording new songs.... Concert activities cover different cities and countries.

First marriage

The singer's first wife was Nora-Isabelle Balling. She was born on July 31, 1964 in the German city of Koblenz. Also known as Nora Anders, she was the third child of wealthy parents.

Their acquaintance happened in 1981, when Thomas was still Bernd Weidung. At that time, Nora received a diploma as a make-up artist-cosmetologist, and was also engaged in painting. A distinctive feature of her character was stubbornness and incontinence.

Anders and Nora were married on December 28, 1984, and on July 27, 1985, they were married in the Catholic Church in Koblenz. The couple took each other's last names and Thomas was now recorded in the passport as Bernd Weidung-Balling.

At the time of the active activity of the group, Nora was the personal manager and creator of the image of Anders. Thanks to her advice, Thomas appeared on stage with tinted lips and languidly looked at his duet partner, which gave rise to rumors about the singer's unconventional orientation.

Dieter Bohlen could hardly bear the explosive nature of Anders' wife and, according to one version, it was Nora who was the real cause of the conflict between Dieter and Thomas.

After the duo broke up in 1987, the couple moved to California. They performed together under the banner of Modern Talking, which caused bewilderment among fans.

In the future, Anders was forced to spend more time in Europe, since in America it was not possible to achieve success in the nineties. At first, Thomas regularly visited his wife in Los Angeles, but since 1994 he stopped doing this.

On February 21, 1999, Anders and Nora Balling officially divorced. Now her family leads a secluded life in a resort town near Koblenz. Nora is sometimes seen attending veteran golf tournaments in which her sister competes.

New relationship

Soon after parting with Nora, which Thomas was very upset, he met Claudia Hess, who became his translator. Unlike the first wife, the character of the new girl was light and cheerful, exactly what Anders needed.

Young people started dating, and in 2000 Thomas Anders and Claudia Hess got married. In 2002, they had a son, Alexander Mik Vaidung.

Interesting facts about the singer:

1. Thomas is the owner of a Michael Jackson hat that Michael has signed for him.
2. Anders is the author of the anthem for the ballet Holiday On Ice, which was entered in the Guinness Book of Records.
3. During the release of the first Modern Talking album in the USSR at the Melodiya recording company, the singer was named Thomas Peters.

Now the singer and musician is completely satisfied with his life and in interviews calls himself a happy person. It is easy to believe in looking at his family photos.

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