Klaus Voormann : Biography

BIOGRAPHY

CURRENT NEWS

May 2013

TENERIFE

After Nicolás Lemus invited me to become the Presidente Honorifico del 50 Aniversario de Los Beatles en Tenerife I decided to celebrate my 75. anniversary on the Teide, Spains biggest mountain and third biggest vulcano on earth. My wife Christina and our kids Ruscha and Maximilian joined me.

Exactly 50 years ago I celebrated with 3 dear friends. Same time, same place. George, Paul and Ringo were young musicians in an english group called THE BEATLES. For nearly 2 weeks they were my guests and stayed with me in our house at La Montaneta. They brought me their first album called PLEASE PLEASE ME. With us our beloved friend Astrid Kirchherr.

It was a time where we were still able to roam unrecognized through romantic alleyways. We were lying full length in black lava sand, catching sunburn on our noses, viewing the world from the top of a vulcano.

>>Los Beatles que? Beatles? Who is this? <<, asked a young island beauty after a flirting George Harrison tried to explain who he is pointing his finger at the album cover.

After they left the Canarian island the worldwide Beatlemania has started and nothing was anymore like before.

Now, after so many years, I came back to this island which always had a special place in my heart. It was a journey back which brought up many good memories. Meeting again Chicho who was my guitar teacher 1963 was an important moment for me. It was touching my heart in a very deep way.

We’ll never forget the tour through the World Heritage Las Canadas del Teide with our fantastic guide Idaira Gonzalez Dorta who showed us breathtaking areas. The nativeness of this powerful landscape catapulted us in another cosmos. It was difficult for us to come back to the >>real<< world.

John Beckman‘s presentation at the Teide-Observatorium (IAC-Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias) was thrilling and fascinating. He is an admirable astrophysicist.

Now we are back again in Germany and we are still overwhelmed of this extraordinairy week. We didn‘t expect such a wonderful time and warmhearted hospitality.

MUCHAS GRACIAS

In deep graditude my family and I won‘t miss to give credit to all these wonderful people who enabled this amazing week. First of all a big hug to my friend Nicolás Lemus (>>the father of crime<< ) and his lovely wife Maria Jesus. Nicolás, you did a great job!

Thanks to the president of Instituto de Estudios Hispanicos de Canarias Nicolás Rodriguez Münzenmaier and his beautiful daughter Vanessa Rodriguez Cárdenes.

It was a privileged honor to sit next to Verónica Rodríguez González (Culture Office), Ricardo Melchior Navarro (El President of Cabildo de Tenerife) and Salvador García Llanos (Government Representative).

MUCHAS GRACIAS TO HOTEL TIGAIGA Tenerife for hosting us (Ursula was a wonderful translater). We enjoyed staying there a lot!

We were eating delicious food at the restaurants Régulo‘s, Mario‘s, El Jardin Secreto and Richard Etherington‘s culinaric paradise at Hotel Rural Victoria.

It was a pleasure to meet Carmen Dolores Padilla Ríos (Oficina de Información Turística), Adrian McGrath from Liverpool, one-upon-a-time-friend Mara and her nephew Victorio Davies.

Thanks to Lilian Ferral Martinez and the terrific Parador de Las Canadas del Teide. What a birthday gift!

Gracias to FAST and Vanessa’s presentation. Now we know all about bananas, sorry: plántanos!

To learn all about the wine tradition of Bodega Tafuriaste was a pleasure. We are grateful for the invitation to drink their very (very) good wine and having a wonderful canarian lunch.

October 2012

VOORMANN CAR & ART

Klaus Voormann has painted a white VW New Beetle in his grammy awarded Revolver artwork design of THE BEATLES REVOLVER album cover. The car was the center piece of his anniversary exhibition HOMMAGE TO KLAUS VOORMANN - REMEMBER REVOLVER in Berlin 2008 sponsored by VOLKSWAGEN AG.

The painted New Beetle is also part of Klaus Voormann’s filmportrait ALL YOU NEED IS KLAUS produced by Kickfilm Munich in colaboration with Bavarian Public Broadcasting TV, arte tv and German Film/TV-Fonds.

Klaus Voormann donates the car to a charity project based on the German Strategy for Preservation of Biological Diversity which has been adopted by Council of Ministers in April 2008 when Germany was the host of the 9th UN Conference on Environment the Convention on Biological Diversity.

VOORMANN CHARITY & BIODIVERSITY

The Biodiversity project BERNRIEDER VORSPRUNG - ANCIENT TREES, NATURE HERI- TAGE AND BIODIVERSITY has been initiated by Klaus and Christina Voormann.

This core area of very old trees belongs to the Ba varian community Bernried (Starnberger Lake). It is one of the most important European deadwood reserves with spectacular endangered beetle varieties.

It is a collaboration project of Christina & Klaus Voormann, Bavarian State Ministry for Environment, Public Health & Customer Protec- tion, Upper Bavarian Government/ Department for Nature & Wild Life Protection, State Association for Nature Conservation, Community of Bernried,Weilheim-Schongau-County,Wilhel- mina Busch-Woods Foundation.

CONTACT: Christina Voormann • voormann@t-online.de

February 2011

RINGO AND LEGENDARY FRIENDS PAY TRIBUTE TO KLAUS VOORMANN

On Saturday, February 12, Klaus and his album, "A Sideman's Journey," were celebrated in a downtown L.A. ceremony at the Biltmore Hotel. The event brought together some of album's participants, including Ringo Starr, Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh and legendary artists like Van Dyke Parks, Jim Keltner, Albert Lee and Trevor Lawrence. Klaus himself couldn't attend due to injuries suffered in a recent fall. They all gathered to pay tribute to Klaus who was Grammy nominated for his LIMITED EDITION SUPER DELUXE BOX SET, A SIDEMAN'S JOURNEY.

Co-nominee and friend Daniel Reiss with Ringo Starr

Ringo Starr, Jim Keltner, Joe Walsh, Van Dyke Parks and co-nominee Daniel Reiss formed a panel of friends and colleagues who were interviewed by Chris Carter, the host of the XM/Sirius radio show “Breakfast with the Beatles”. It was a wonderful evening with stories spanning the time from when Klaus first met Ringo back in 1960, to more current events and the making of Klaus's first own album project ‘A Sideman’s Journey’.

L-R: Daniel Reiss, Joe Walsh, Van Dyke Parks, Ringo Starr, Jim Keltner, Chris Carter

REVOLVER ALBUM ARTWORK LOST AND FOUND

After 45 years the original Revolver artwork was shown to the public for the first time. It was on display and of much interest to the media people and guests. Joe Walsh relayed the story of how he came to be the owner.

Joe Walsh with the original Revolver artwork

August 2010

2010 FEST FOR BEATLES FANS - CHICAGO

Klaus Voormann was a guest at the 2010 Chicago Fest for Beatles Fans August 13, 14 & 15. He had a busy weekend with autograph sessions, interviews with Chicago DJ and Fest MC Terri Hemmert, as well as presenting his own album project “A Sideman’s Journey” and a small exhibition in collaboration with John Rauch and Rockstore. Klaus also played bass on stage with his friend Gary Wright on keyboards, along with Liverpool and some of the other musical guests. They performed two songs Klaus and Gary had played on originally for Ringo—Back Off Boogaloo and It Don’t Come Easy. The cheering crowd enjoyed the performance and it was fun for Klaus and Gary to play together again after so many years.

On stage with Gary Wright and Liverpool.

Fans in line for Klaus's autograph.

The 'Together Again' interview with Klaus and Gary Wright

Photos by Tory O'Brien

April 2010

BRAND NEW SHOP ITEM AVAILABLE APRIL 2010

KLAUS VOORMANN DRAWINGS & MORE

KLAUS VOORMANN

DRAWINGS & MORE

Drawings • Illustrations

Graphic • Fotos • Stories

Signed and numbered

by Klaus Voormann

LIMITED CATALOGUE OF 500

Dual language English & German

• DIN A 4 • HIGH QUALITY OFFSET PRINT • 69 PAGES • 4 c/c

Price 45 €

>>Talking was never my forte. My favourite forms of expression have always been a pencil and a piece of paper. And this has remained so until today. I always have a sketching pad and a pencil in my pocket, ever ready to capture the moment that my eye finds to be of importance.<< (Klaus Voormann April 2010)

www.voormann.com

March 2010

Klaus performed on stage with Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon, Eric Clapton and Jim Keltner on February 16th at BAM in New York.

Klaus at rehearsal

L-R: Jim Keltner, Eric Clapton, Klaus Voormann, Yoko Ono

Klaus in NYC, February 2010

January 2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM CHRISTINA AND KLAUS!

2009 was a very exciting year for Christina and me. It was the year of a sideman named Klaus and the spectacular release of my first album project: A SIDEMAN’S JOURNEY

The year started in January with a big surprise named Yusuf who offered to support our project. The recording session with him and his great team brought back a lot of "Georgie-emories". Yusuf’s versions of the two Harrison songs are so brilliant and unique. He is an extraordinary man, such a special friend.

Through the whole year we’ve gotten amazing support from wonderful people. I’ve worked with so many talented and gifted people like Bonnie, Don and the whole session crew in Memphis.

Developing the graphic design and artwork together with our colleagues and friends from Eat, Sleep and Design was really fun and the result still makes me happy and proud. I also have to thank our partners from Universal Germany who helped to fulfill a dream of mine.

With the first Voormann & Friends funds Christina was able to start a big water testing program for Lakota private well owners. It is another step in our charity project SAFE WATER IS A HUMAN RIGHT in aid of Lakota families of Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

The Sideman’s Journey sessions started with Paul McCartney at his studio in East Sussex in May 08 and the Sideman's Journey 2009 activities ended with Paul's concert in Hamburg, December 09.

Meeting Paul in Hamburg where he started his European tour was a very special moment for me and touched my heart. Beside the fact that Christina and I enjoyed his concert a lot, this visit brought back so many memories. Hamburg is the town where everything started for Paul, John, George, Ringo and me.

When he mentioned my name on stage in front of thousands of people many flashback images filled my head: Top Ten Club, sweet little Georgie boy, John screaming his emotions into the microphone, Stuart, Astrid and good old Jürgen. I see a clear picture in front of my eyes: Georgie and John playing guitar, Paul, still the piano player of the band, singing: "Yes, it’s me and I’m in love again" and a boy named Klaus sitting down in the shadow of the stage holding Stuart’s bass in his hands, accompanying a band called The Beatles.

The old year 2009 has said goodbye and the new one 2010 just entered the door.

Another 12 exciting months are waiting for us.

Joy and peace to all of you.

Klaus Voormann

January 2009

A SIDEMAN'S JOURNEY

Klaus Voormann has nearly finished his first album, a musical journey which began 46 years ago. The journey takes him through his career, visiting people and locations that changed his life, meeting friends and colleagues—some he hasn’t seen for years, singing and sharing old stories, making music and having fun playing new versions of old songs he participated in.

Klaus with The Manfreds, Summer 2008
L-R: Paul Jones, Klaus, Mike d'Abo, Tom McGuinness, Mike Hugg, Rob Townsend
Photo © Uwe Bendixen

It was October 2007 when Klaus's wife Christina had this idea. It was April 2008 when A SIDEMAN’S JOURNEY began, a journey that is very special, including spectacular recording and filming sessions with legends of rock and popular music.

‘A Sideman’s Journey’ was recorded and filmed in Los Angeles, London, Hamburg, East Sussex and Munich. The final sessions will take place in Memphis. Produced by Christina and Klaus Voormann, it will be published and distributed by Universal Music Germany in late Spring 2009. Christina and Klaus will donate part of the proceeds to their Environment & Health Charity Project on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation of the Oglala Sioux.

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