Bela B.

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Bela B.

Background information
Birth name Dirk Felsenheimer
Also known as Bela B., Bela B. Felsenheimer
Born December 14, 1962 (1962-12-14) (age 45)
Origin Berlin-Spandau, Germany
Genre(s) Rock
Punk Rock
Instrument(s) Drums
Vocals
Guitar
Label(s) Hot Action Records, BPX 1992, Sony BMG
Associated acts Die Ärzte, Depp Jones,
Website www.bela-b.de

Dirk Felsenheimer (born 14 December 1962 in Berlin-Spandau), better known under his stage name Bela B., is a German musician, singer and songwriter. He is best known for being the drummer and one of the singers of Die Ärzte. In 2006 he released his first solo album Bingo. Bela B. is also an actor and has done several voice overs for television and film.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Dirk Felsenheimer was born in Berlin-Spandau, the westernmost borough of Berlin. He has a twin sister named Diana. His parents separated when he was five years old. Felsenheimer graduated from secondary school "Carlo-Schmid-Oberschule". Afterwards he started at Policeschool but quit soon after. Later he began a 3-year-apprenticeship as a decorator.

Dirk Felsenheimer got his stage name from Dracula actor Bela Lugosi, whom he admired a long time ago. The B is believed to stand for Barney, the German name of fictional The Flinstones character Barney Rubble is "Barney Geröllheimer" and because of the similarity to "Felsenheimer" he was nicknamed after him.

[edit] Musical career

[edit] Die Ärzte

Main article: Die Ärzte

Bela B. first played in the short-lived Soilent Grün before co-founding Die Ärzte in 1982 with singer/guitarist Farin Urlaub and bassist Hans Runge. The group soon appeared on the 20 Überschäumende Stimmungshits compilation, and after winning an amateur band-contest they spent their winnings on their 1983 debut EP, Uns geht's prima.... They signed a record deal with Columbia Records, which issued the band's debut LP, Debil, in 1984. After releasing several albums the band broke up in 1988 and reunited in 1993.

[edit] Depp Jones

He soon formed a new band, Depp Jones, named after a character in the German version of the comic book series Lucky Luke. Their 1990 debut LP, Return to Caramba!, failed to capitalise on the popularity of Die Ärzte, and its follow-ups Welcome to Hell and At 2012 A.D. did even worse. Farin Urlaub's new band, King Køng, also struggled, and in 1993 he and Bela B. agreed to reunite. Former Depp Jones guitarist Rodrigo Gonzàlez took over on bass.

[edit] Solo

In 2006 Bela released hist first solo album Bingo. The record combines many different music styles such as country, rockabilly, beat music and traditional rock elements. Bela's love for Horror can be heard in many songs of the album. He worked with Country-Legend Lee Hazelwood and in return guested on his album Cake or Death. The record reached number two at the German Top 100 and number five in Austria. A follow up record is already planned.

[edit] Single Chart Positions

Year Name Album Chartposition
DE AT CH
2006 "Tag mit Schutzumschlag" Bingo 13 21 –
2006 "1. 2. 3. ..." Bingo 16 – 95
2006 "Sie hat was vermisst" Bingo 47 – –

[edit] Discography

[edit] Die Ärzte

Further information: Die Ärzte discography

[edit] Solo Artist

[edit] Album

[edit] Singles

[edit] Audiobooks

  • Die Nixe / The Mermaid (Christa Fast) (1992)
  • Die Brautprinzessin (2002)
  • The KLF der schnelle weg zum Nr. 1 Hit (2003)
  • Gabriel Burns - Folge 6, Die Totenmaschine (as Barkeeper) (2004)
  • Thomas D vs. Bela B - Faust vs. Mephisto (2004)
  • Venus im Pelz (2005)
  • Böse Nacht Geschichten (2005)
  • Captain Berlin vs. Dracula (from Jörg Buttgereit) (2006)

[edit] Filmography

  • Manne - the Muwi (1981)
  • Captain Berlin - Retter der Welt (1982)
  • Richy Guitar (1985)
  • Der Todesking (1989)
  • Over the Rainbow (1998)
  • Nass (1999)
  • Salamander (1999)
  • Laila - Unsterblich verliebt (2000)
  • Kaliber Deluxe (2000)
  • Ein göttlicher Job (2000)
  • Nachts im Park (2001)
  • Puzzle Punk (2002)
  • Totentanz (Tatort) (2002)
  • The Killer Barbies Versus Dracula (2002)
  • Kinder der Nacht 2 (2002)
  • Honey Baby (2002)
  • Space Wolf (2002)
  • Höhenluft (2002)
  • Kunstfabrik (Tatort) (2002)
  • Garden of Love (2003)
  • Nikos (2003)
  • Operation Dance Sensation (2003)
  • Kampfansage - Der letzte Schüler (2003)
  • Kein Blut. Nirgends. Eine romantische Axtmördergeschichte (2003)
  • Alarm für Cobra 11 - Die Autobahnpolizei (2004)
  • Edelweißpiraten (2004)
  • No Snow (2005)
  • Kingz (2005)
  • Sportsman Of The Centur (2005)
  • Vineta (2005)
  • Wilsberg: Todesengel (2005)
  • Terkel in Trouble (2005), Voiceover for every Character of the film, all songs in German version
  • Voiceover for Clay in MTVs Free For All (German).
  • Deich King (2006)
  • Kein Bock auf Nazis (2006)
  • Dittsche - Das wirklich wahre Leben (2006)
  • Nachtschicht (2007)

[edit] External links


Persondata
NAME Felsenheimer, Dirk
ALTERNATIVE NAMES B., Bela (stage name)
SHORT DESCRIPTION
DATE OF BIRTH 1962-12-14
PLACE OF BIRTH Berlin-Spandau, Germany
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH