Maffay + Oerding

Peter Maffay and Johannes Oerding are coming to Cologne-Deutz together: On Friday, April 23, 2027, the two artists will take the stage at the LANXESS arena. They’re bringing a special joint project with them: Their duet album “Nashville” will be released on October 2, 2026, and serves as the musical foundation for a collaboration that brings together two defining voices of the German music scene.

With “Ein Leben lang ist nicht lang,” Maffay + Oerding are releasing the first single from their joint album “Nashville.” It’s a reminder that the time we have is precious and finite—and that it’s not worth waiting for the right moment when it’s actually already here. Of course, life doesn’t always go smoothly, and sometimes you might even get knocked off your feet. The important thing is to get back up, brush the dust off your knees, and keep going.

“Ein Leben lang ist nicht lang” draws its power not only from its message but also from the two very special voices of Peter Maffay and Johannes Oerding, who draw strength from one another. Carried by guitars and drums, with a driving and warm sound, the song is exactly what it sounds like: confident, rousing, and encouraging. With a title that sums it up perfectly: A lifetime isn’t long—so we’d better get started right away.

The single also serves as a first taste of “Nashville,” the collaborative album by Peter Maffay and Johannes Oerding—two kindred spirits whose connection extends far beyond individual joint performances. Their first points of contact arose in connection with Peter Maffay’s MTV Unplugged project; later, the two met again and again both on and off stage—including during their duet “Wenn wir uns wiedersehen” and on Maffay’s big farewell tour in 2024, which Oerding accompanied.

A joint album was never part of the plan: It wasn’t until they talked that the two realized they shared the same rock ’n’ roll core—rhythm and blues, country rock, and a love for handcrafted, narrative music. Those initial demos became “Nashville”: recorded live last year at the renowned Blackbird Studio in Nashville in just five days—eleven songs, a complete duet album on which both artists perform together on every single track.

With 21 number-one albums on the Official German Charts,Peter Maffay is the record holder—more than any other artist in the national album charts worldwide. He has sold over 50 million records, has been one of the country’s most successful live performers for more than five decades, and, as the creator of Tabaluga, is one of the defining figures of German music and pop culture. With three number-one albums, gold and platinum certifications, over a million records sold, and sold-out arena concerts, Johannes Oerding is one of the most successful and influential German pop artists of his generation.