Stephan Weidner
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| Stephan Weidner | |
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 Stephan Weidner 2005 at Vaya Con Tioz, Klettwitz, Germany.
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | Der W |
| Born | May 29, 1963  Alsfeld, Hesse |
| Genre(s) | Hard Rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, Songwriter, Bass player, Producer |
| Instrument(s) | E-Bass, Vocals |
| Years active | 1980- |
| Label(s) | Rule23 Recordings |
| Associated acts | Böhse Onkelz Nordend Antistars |
| Website | der-w.de |
Stephan Weidner (* 29th May 1963 in Alsfeld near Kassel), often called "Der W" (The W), is a music producer and was the bassist, songwriter and the head of the German hard-rock band Böhse Onkelz, which existed from 25th November 1980 until 18th June 2005. He was also the singer of Nordend Antistars, a project of him with Sub7even singer Daniel Wirtz. Currently he is preparing a solo album in cooperation with the American metal band Pro-Pain. According to his website it'll be released on 25th April 2008.
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[edit] Youth
Weidner grew up in a family with two half brothers and two sisters in restrained financial conditions. During his school career he was one times palpable against the school's principal - in consequence , he was banned from school and wasn't taken up by another school in Hesse. Then he moved with his father Tex to Hösbach near Aschaffenburg in Bavaria, where he became acquainted with the other members of the first line-up of the Onkelz. But also at the Hösbach school he wasn't successful and left without graduating. After school he didn't start an apprenticeship - he worked in different jobs, e.g. as a barkeeper in a tavern, which was connected to his father's brothel
[edit] Musical career
[edit] Böhse Onkelz
In 1980 the 17 year old Weidner founded the band Böhse Onkelz with Kevin Russell and Peter "Pe" Schorowsky. Stephan first played the electric guitar, after Matthias "Gonzo" Röhr came to the band, he played the bass. The band understands itself as a punk band in tradition of Slime or Abwärts. Especially Stephan felt a connection to the Oi!-Punk and the first unpolitical Skinhead- and Hooligan-culture, which move came from England to Germany at the beginning of the 80ies. That expressed also in his songs, which often glorified force. Conflicts with Turks and the increasing right-wing-drift of the scene, which also the band gone through, let him develop texts which are xenophibic and justified the doubtful "fame" of the band.
In 1983 Stephan was married and holds itself with opportunity jobs over water. Also on the first commercial releases he earned hardly something. The first Album "Der nette Mann" was embargoed and for "Böse Menschen - Böse Lieder" the band never saw money. In this time it came ever more to the break with the skinhead-scene. Dresscodes and other regulations contradicts the feeling of freedom of the former punks. Also in his songs Stephan developed himself further. In the song "Erinnerung" he processed his past. But the call as a "right-wing skinhead rocker" remains existing. The critics accused to them, that they hadn't itself distanced from the scene clearly enough.
In 1993 Stephan discussed peacefully with Campino from the band Die Toten Hosen at MTV's "Free your mind" about xenophobia and the influence, which bands can have to its fans. The skepticism in the public remained, what couldn't stop the increasing success.
After the gig with the Rolling Stones at Hanover in 2003 Weidner explained, that he wouldn't spend his old age on the stage. In 2005 the band split.
[edit] Guest player / singer
Weidner took part in several songs for the bands Dance 2 Trance (Bass on "Remember Exxon Valdez", 1992), Pro-Pain (Background vocals on "Godspeed", 2004) and Sub7even (Background vocals for the entire album "LOVECHAINSNROCKETS", 2006)
[edit] Der W
On 25 April 2008 he released his first album "Schneller, höher, Weidner" (Faster, Higher, Weidner), for which he recorded some songs together with Pro-Pain.
[edit] Producer
Beside from most of the Böhse Onkelz albums he produced:
- 2000: Suprasod: Suprasod
- 2006: Nordend Antistars: "Unser Stadion, unsere Regeln" (Single)
- 2006: Sub7even: "LOVECHAINSNROCKETS"
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- 2008 - Schneller, höher, Weidner (Faster, Higher, Weidner)
[edit] Singles
- 2008 - Geschichtenhasser (Story Hater)
[edit] Other projects
Beside his music projects Stephan Weidner is designing clothes. He aims to create fashion with subtle messages, that helps its wearer to express his own style as well. The clothes are sold through an online store named W Couture. Criticism: The W Couture products are very expensive in comparison with similar clothes.
[edit] Attitude
Weidners living standard, to remain faithful himself and his own way, independently from outside influences, he represented as the front man of the band consistently in his texts and interviews. This attitude often led to conflicts with the press. So the refusal to rename the band was rated as sign, that the Onkelz had not distanced from their right-wing past. The conflict with the media culminated in many songs like "Meister der Lügen" (Master of lies) or "Danke für nichts" (Thanks for nothing), in the refusal to give interviews outside of the music press and it is in the meantime a part of the "mythos Onkelz".
[edit] External links
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