Konstantin Wecker

Konstantin Alexander Wecker (born June 1, 1947, Munich) is one of the best-known German singer-songwriters ("Liedermacher"); he also works as a composer, author, and actor.

Classically educated at the Wilhelmsgymnasium, Wecker got one of his first jobs as a songwriter at Munich's cabaret "Münchner Lach- und Schießgesellschaft" in 1973. His breakthrough as a singer came in 1977 with the record Genug ist nicht genug ("Enough Is Not Enough"), which includes the popular talking blues "Willy," about a presumably close friend of Wecker's who was slain by drunken Nazis.

Wecker has released more than forty albums, and has also composed music for film, theater, and children's musicals.

In 2003, Wecker became a public opponent of the Iraq War, joining his leftist Liedermacher colleagues Hannes Wader and Reinhard Mey. He is connected to the left-wing party Die Linke (The Left).

In March 2006, Wecker was forced to cancel a scheduled performance in the small town of Halberstadt, Saxony-Anhalt. This came after the far-right National Democratic Party (NPD) pressured local authorities and threatened to forcibly disrupt the concert. Wecker pledged to return to Halberstadt in the summer of 2006, and eventually performed in Halberstadt on 17 June 2006, accompanied by fellow singer-songwriter Hannes Wader and Afghan percussionist Hakim Ludin.

Albums

• 1972: Die sadopoetischen Gesänge des Konstantin Amadeus Wecker (later renamed as: Konstantin's Erste)
• 1974: Ich lebe immer am Strand
• 1977: Genug ist nicht genug
• 1978: Eine ganze Menge Leben
• 1979: Live
• 1980: Liederbuch
• 1981: Live in München
• 1982: Das macht mir Mut
• 1984: Inwendig warm
• 1987: Wieder dahoam – Live in Austria
• 1989: Stilles Glück, trautes Heim
• 1993: Uferlos
• 1996: Gamsig
• 1998: Brecht
• 2001: Vaterland
• 2005: Am Flußufer
• 2006: Politische Lieder
• 2007: Alles das und mehr (DVD music video)
• 2011: Wut und Zärtlichkeit
• 2012: Wut und Zärtlichkeit (live)
• 2015: Ohne Warum
• 2017: Poesie und Widerstand
• 2018: Sage Nein! Antifaschistische Lieder 1978 bis heute

Collaborations

• 1988: Joan Baez / Konstantin Wecker / Mercedes Sosa: Three worlds, three voices, one vision
• 1999: Jutta Richter / Konstantin Wecker: Es lebte ein Kind auf den Bäumen // book and CD
• 2001: Konstantin Wecker / Hannes Wader: Was für eine Nacht
• 2003: Reinhard Mey / Hannes Wader / Konstantin Wecker: Das Konzert
• 2010: Konstantin Wecker / Hannes Wader: Kein Ende in Sicht