Munich, 2003.
It's June, high summer in the Olympiapark. An 8-year-old, shy little boy sets out with his parents to the nearest big city to see his favorite band live for the first time. Unaware that this night will change his life forever.
«Good evening, Munich. It’s good to be back. I guarantee you: you’re in for the long haul tonight, baby.» (1)
We stood in the stands directly across from that massive stage, in line with the distinctive white microphone stand. Although at least 120 meters separated us, I could perceive every detail so clearly. I was captivated from then on. My mom still tells the story of how I sat down the next day with a large paper sheet and colored pencils, sketching the entire scene of this three-hour mammoth concert; with many details that, according to her, she wouldn't even have noticed.
The night of June 13th changed my life forever. Not only did I get to see my favorite band live for the first time at such a young age. It also sealed my inseparable connection to music. And so, my dream persists to this day, to one day perform on such a huge stage myself.
Admiring one's idol is one thing; for many, it provides a reason to exist, an anchor in life. What drives me is something different: I don't want to chase after my idols and follow them every step of the way. I want to be like them. Not for the sake of money or fame; the monetary aspect of a successful musician's life never charmed me.
I want to feel free and boundless. Like a bird gliding effortlessly and letting itself be carried by the wind. The melody is my wind. Its sounds are my driving force. You close your eyes, raise your voice, the audience joins in - and you just feel free.
Pictures taken from Google. All rights reserved to the owner.
«Here I am, this is me. There's nowhere else on earth I'd rather be.» (2)
Hi, my name is André.
I am a singer, guitarist, drummer and artist known as theandiller.
And today, 20 years later, I'm sitting here, eager to share with you my love for music.
My biological father was essentially a professional musician, as was his father, my grandfather. While the former was more at home in the world of 70s/80s rock like Queen and Toto, the latter even toured the United States with a brass band. Music was practically instilled in me from the cradle, as the saying goes. It's not surprising that there are pictures of me sitting on my biological father's lap, holding drumsticks, at around one year old.
At the age of four, I received my first drum set, which I taught myself to play. Side note: I play open-handed (for those not familiar with drumming: most people are right-handed. Since the time-keeping hi-hat cymbal on a drum kit is traditionally placed on the left side, we often see most drummers playing with crossed hands, the typical posture. As a left-hander, one would set up the drum kit in a mirrored fashion to play with crossed hands). Because they set up the drum kit for me like a right-hander and I never had a proper lesson, I played intuitively with my left hand - a playing style known as open-handed, as I found out shortly afterward. It soon came to know to me that my father's great idol was the drummer Simon Phillips (known for TOTO, The Who, Judas Priest, and many more) - a pioneer of the open-handed playing style. I could have converted my drum set and played as a left-hander with crossed hands; however, I liked Phillips' style so much that I kept it as mine.
Around the same time, the guitarist in my father's band gave me a classical guitar as a gift. Shortly after my first concert experience, my grandfather bought me an electric guitar (an Ibanez GRG121DX-BKF) along with a 15-watt Marshall amplifier and funded my guitar lessons for five years - for which I am incredibly grateful. My guitar teacher was not only a musical virtuoso (playing more than 5 instruments and writing arrangements for various ensemble configurations) but also had a keen sense of what his students needed. Due to my four years of drumming experience, I brought along a sophisticated sense of rhythm. Soon, simple music sheets like the single-note "Ode to Joy" or "Schnappi, the little crocodile" (Yes, that was "in" back then) became boring. How about some AC/DC, Guns 'N Roses, or Iron Maiden? Within just a year, I mastered reading tabulature almost flawlessly.
My talent was quickly recognized by the music teachers at my school, and as a result, I participated in all of the school's music productions since the sixth grade. Starting on drums, I eventually took on the role of the guitarist and then progressed to become the frontman. I discovered my voice a few years later when I regularly celebrated "The Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor on my sister's karaoke machine for my mom. Around the age of 13, I formed my first band, and various other formations and projects followed in the later years. At around 16 or 17, I took singing lessons for the first time. Various teachers, especially from classical backgrounds, have been accompanying me ever since.
Currently, I am working as a singer for weddings under the slogan "Der Soundtrack für euren großen Tag."
For the future, I plan to establish a permanent band, write original music, bring it to the stage and share it with like-minded individuals.
Note As a wedding singer, I only perform in German-speaking regions.
You're from Germany and getting married? Reach out NOW — your date might still be available!
«Passion comes with the right attitude. Passion is momentum that drives the engine. Passion eliminates time.» (3)
At my home, radio was on all around the clock.
97.1 FM ... for breakfast, when I came home from school, during homework sessions, and into the late evening hours. ALL the hits of the 80s, 90s, and the current 00s. From heavy metal to glam hair metal, to lighter pop tunes, to the modern post-grunge era, I'd soak it all in. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, around 10 pm, there were often special shows featuring entire albums or specific live recordings.
Yes, kids, I grew up in a time when you had to wait for an album to be released on CD; and often, there were special editions, usually in non-European markets, with bonus songs. I will never forget the Fridays when I strolled into the nearest store after school to get the latest record and spent the entire weekend listening to it at full volume (thanks for enduring it, Mom!). Thus, the first 15 years of my life were shaped by the melodies of the greatest bands - two of them stood out in particular: Bryan Adams and Bon Jovi.
«Music can shoot through the musician like lightning through the sky if that music is unobstructed by thoughts.» (4)
Everybody remembers moments from their life, even though (several) decades have passed. I can still see it vividly as if it were today when my biological father handed me the album "Crush" by Bon Jovi after a health resort stay. Or when people patted me on the shoulder and smiled because apparently, I was the only eight-year-old at this huge rock concert who could sing along with the lyrics. Or when I waited for one of my biggest idols at the backstage door after the concert to have him sign my guitar. Like playing on stage with a childhood hero and expressing my gratitude for his inspiration. When I bought a record at the beginning of summer holidays and the musical style was completely different from what I was used to from the band, yet I couldn't do anything else but listen to this record all summer long (by the way, this album is still one of my favorite albums and one of the best by the band). There was Demi Lovato, who, in a camp with much cooler people, knew where she belonged; or Zac Efron, who had to figure it out screaming just before his prom. We wanted to be like them.
The father of my then-girlfriend, who was equally passionate about music and a father figure to me, regularly invited me to vinyl record nights, and we exchanged our enthusiasm for music. When I released my first song on Youtube and Facebook I was incredibly proud, even though the recording quality resembled that of a tin can. When, at the age of 14, I played a gig in front of about 600 people, belting out the last song "Woah, we're half way there..." with a hoarse voice, raising the microphone into the air, and letting the audience carry the song away.
The beauty of music is that it accompanies us through every aspect of life. I recall entire albums that suddenly seemed like a complete concept, as if each of the twelve songs were written about me. Or songs that made heartache more bearable because you could immerse yourself in them again and again. Melodies that stop the heart and, in the same second, prompt it to beat. Songs written for eternity. Music videos whose tabs are still open in your brain today, ready to be played at any moment. Or one particular music video that changes your life.
«The music doesn't come from us. It just flows through us, and we shape it into a form. The channel is always open, so all we need to do is open ourselves.» (5)
As a young adult, around the year 2012, I discovered somewhat belatedly another supergroup by chance on YouTube.
There was this guy with shoulder-length hair, a black beanie, tank top, tattoos, and boots. He sat down with just his acoustic guitar in front of a huge crowd at a rock festival and played an acoustic version of an obviously well-known song by the band. But something was different; it wasn't the typical screaming voice, occasional off-key notes, or the strained expression here and there. No, his voice was light yet commanding, seemingly effortlessly carrying itself across the entire venue without even the slightest hint of audible effort.
I’m talking about none other than Myles Kennedy, the lead singer of Alter Bridge, frontman for supergroup Slash feat. Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators, and now also a highly successful solo artist. I can't remember how many hours I spent that night sitting at my laptop, watching one live performance after another, captivated by the musical talent of this man and his band. I recall that my then-girlfriend came home from training with a torn ACL, and I didn't even stop by (if you're reading this: sorry for that!). During this time, I made an interesting observation: the music of this group was significantly harder than anything else I liked in music until then; I could only listen to the softer pieces from heavy metal bands of the 80s. However, as I delved into the world of Alter Bridge with a more pop-oriented track, it seemed like I was gradually getting used to it - today I understand why hard rock bands often release radio-friendly songs as singles first.
After nights of research, I found out that Alter Bridge emerged from the ashes of the immensely successful band Creed. Additionally, I remembered that a fellow musician, significantly older than me (I played in the band of my then-girlfriend's father), pointed out to me about 2-3 years earlier that I should "definitely listen to this Myles Kennedy who's touring the world with Slash." Well, fortunately, I didn't come too late and discovered him at exactly the time when he was just beginning to showcase his true greatness (which, by the way, continues to this day).
The discovery of Myles Kennedy* drastically changed my musical development and has taught me primarily two things since then: studying vocal technique brings artistic freedom in the studio and on stage. Artistic freedom is all about the space - once you step on stage, you should aim to immerse yourself in a world. The space, the zone, whatever you may call it. Nothing can take you out of that zone. It is the ultimate state from which you can draw infinitely. Everything is possible.
That is what I like to call the “Beauty of Music."
*Those who have attended one of his concerts know what I'm talking about. He has an incredibly effortless presence, the way he stands, the way he moves. You can practically feel his energy.
«Like a fine wine - it just keeps getting better.» (6)
Today, I can say that my musical influences are more diverse than ever.
Admittedly, as a young teenager, I was far too closed-minded towards other music groups. My love and curiosity only opened up through the door that Myles Kennedy paved for me. Nowadays, I attend concerts of all genres primarily to learn. I am infinitely grateful for how I grew up. I wouldn't be the same man if I hadn't fallen head over heels for the fantastic stage presence of Jon Bon Jovi, the songwriting skills of Bryan Adams, the memorable melodies of 80s rock ballads, the impactful lyrics of the 00s, the incredible solos of Steve Lukather, the kick drum sound of Simon Phillips, or the art of making a stadium freak out with just one raised hand (Freddie Mercury).
This is my story. Yet, my love for music is far from being fully told.
I warmly invite you to accompany me on my journey. Dive into my world and discover everything about the things that move me: albums, songs, concerts, books and all things music.
Now it's your turn: When did you have your first encounters with music? What are your musical influences? What was the musical discovery of the year for you? What excites you but has nothing to do with music? Let me know in the comments!
Stay tuned!
-A
Listen to the full story in this podcast episode of OBSESSION CHRONICLES.
(1) Jon Bon Jovi. Welcoming the audience at the Olympic Stadium in Munich. 2003.
(2) Bryan Adams, Gretchen Peters, Hans Zimmer. "Here I Am". Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (Soundtrack). A&M, 2002.
(3) Steve Vai.
(4) Kenny Werner. Effortless Mastery: Liberating the Master Musician within. Aebersold, 1996.
(5) Rick Rubin. The Creative Act: A Way of Being. Barth O.W., 2023.
(6) Jon Bon Jovi. Introduction of the song “Just Older” during a show.
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