BAP

A German institution, the rock band Bap were formed in 1976 by the Cologne-based singer/songwriter/activist <a href="spotify:artist:4BYOgYuivLhqjZncELZ22K">Wolfgang Niedecken</a>. <a href="spotify:artist:4BYOgYuivLhqjZncELZ22K">Niedecken</a> was already well-known as Cologne's answer to <a href="spotify:artist:74ASZWbe4lXaubB36ztrGX">Bob Dylan</a> before he began Bap, partly because of his acoustic guitar and harmonica, but mostly because of his poignant, socially aware lyrics. Listening to <a href="spotify:artist:22bE4uQ6baNwSHPVcDxLCe">the Rolling Stones</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:1SQRv42e4PjEYfPhS0Tk9E">the Kinks</a> influenced him to form a band. He named the band Bap after a nickname he took to avoid using his father's surname. <a href="spotify:artist:4BYOgYuivLhqjZncELZ22K">Niedecken</a>'s turbulent relationship with his father lasted up until his father was on his deathbed. Their bittersweet reconciliation would become the topic of Bap's defining song, "Verdamp Lang Her," a staple of the group's live set that featured a <a href="spotify:artist:3eqjTLE0HfPfh78zjh6TqT">Bruce Springsteen</a>-styled monologue that would change a little each night. A single with 11 different versions of the song culled from live recordings over the years was released in 2005 (<a href="spotify:artist:3eqjTLE0HfPfh78zjh6TqT">Springsteen</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:4BYOgYuivLhqjZncELZ22K">Niedecken</a> had met in the '80s, eventually becoming good friends). In 2002 revered director Wim Wenders made Viel Passiert -- Der BAP Film, a documentary about Bap in the style of his earlier film Buena Vista Social Club. In 2006, a new Bap with <a href="spotify:artist:4BYOgYuivLhqjZncELZ22K">Niedecken</a> as the only original member finished their "greatest hits tour" by performing three sold-out nights in their hometown of Cologne. In 2008 they released Radio Pandora, a collection of their hits recorded "unplugged" and "plugged" and continuing with the live releases, the album Live und in Farbe (Live and in Color) was released in 2009. A long-awaited studio album - Halv su wild (Half as Wild) - was released in 2011. ~ David Jeffries