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BAP boss Wolfgang Niedecken
Photo:
Andreas Fechner / laif
SPIEGEL:
Do you remember your first salary?
Niedecken:
No, we just wanted to play.
At first it was about performing at all.
We actually preferred to stay in our rehearsal room.
Stepping out of the rehearsal room onto a stage was about having the courage - and the opportunity;
We only thought about money when the beer had to be paid for at the end of the evening.
SPIEGEL:
And who paid?
Niedecken:
The one who had it.
Later the usual arrangement was: 200 marks, a case of beer and sandwiches.
We slept where there was free: in the changing room, if available, on the billiard table of the bar, in free shared rooms of concert-goers, in the car.
Nevertheless, we didn't feel poor, but rather gifted, because we were doing exactly what we wanted.
And already the band name was based on thrift.
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SPIEGEL:
Why is that?
Niedecken:
My father was a very frugal person.
He kept the money together and supported the family with his small grocery store.
I had often told my bandmates about the thrift of my "Bapp".
"Bapp" was the name for "father" in Unkel, where he came from.
Before our first appearance, we needed a catchy name to put on posters.
One said: "Write Bap on it, but leave out the second P, it looks like shit."
That's it: BAP.
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