BAP | ZEITREISE / SOMMER '25

In the organizer's words:

For more than 40 years, Wolfgang Niedecken's BAP has been a true rock institution in the German music scene - as well as an inexplicable phenomenon. The band thrills fans all over Germany and even in German-speaking countries far beyond the borders of the Rhineland. They celebrate successes that were not thought possible, astonishing the media and critics alike and
and, as a matter of course, unhinges many a golden rule of the music biz. In the early 1980s, they were "pop stars of almost unbelievable greatness" (Rolling Stone / 2023) and their songs had a lasting impact on people's musical tastes, especially in this decade. Hits such as "Verdamp lang her", "Kristallnaach" and, of course, "Do kanns Zaubere" burn themselves irrevocably into the ears and hearts of their fans. In 2024, BAP will embark on a musical ZEITREISE, where they will play all the songs from the two double platinum albums from 81/82, with which they became nationally known and which have been at the top of the fans' wish list ever since, as part of the tour of the same name through Germany, Switzerland and the Benelux countries.

The ZEITREISE 81/82 tour continues an idea that developed during the SCHLIESSLICH UNENDLICH tour for the last studio album ALLES FLIESST. Although an above-average number of new songs were played on this tour, there were also some legendary rarities - songs that had not been on the setlist for more than 30 years. The reaction of the audience was phenomenal. The band had not expected such an overwhelming reaction to these songs. So it was only natural that Niedecken gave more and more space to the idea of playing a few concerts exclusively with the songs from the two breakthrough albums "für usszeschnigge" (1981) & "vun drinne noh drusse" (1982).
If you take a closer look at those two career-defining Million-
sellers, you get an idea of why they were so hugely successful: The thematic breadth of the lyrics is enormous and reflects everything that moved young people at the time. The generation of the time was searching for newly defined values, a new self-confidence and independence. It was the time of the peace movement, the anti-nuclear movement and a
new musical direction - one in which the songs of BAP played an essential role.
And so, of course, the ZEITREISE 81/82 - Tour 2024 will also reflect this wide range, because all the songs from this era will definitely be played.
In December of last year, Niedeckens BAP recorded their album ZEITREISE/LIVE IM SARTORY in Cologne's tradition-steeped Sartory on four evenings and immediately took over the number 1 spot in the German album charts in May. On their thirteenth No. 1 album, the band impressively proved that they were able to preserve the magic of the songs through the new, careful arrangements played with the necessary respect, which is why they have lost none of their original impact.

For Wolfgang Niedecken, it was a top priority to preserve the soul and quintessence of the very songs that for so many people are the soundtrack to their youth, irrevocably linked to their very personal, formative experiences, feelings and also historical events. Although none of the songs played on the tour
played on the tour will be younger than 40 years, there is no danger of BAP running out of repertoire. If necessary, they will fall back on material from their first two albums.
For example, "Anna", "Ne schöne Jrooß", "Wahnsinn" and "Stell dir vüür". The term Ü-40 PARTY needs to be completely redefined.

Most of the 34 ZEITREISE shows this fall and winter have long been sold out, which is why the tour will continue next summer with open-air concerts. This time, the repertoire can even be expanded to include some songs from the "Zwesche Salzjebäck un Bier" album without breaking the rules: Because "Salzjebäck un Bier" also has 40 years under its belt by now.