Translated by Alexandra Nechiporenko

 

“My Bernd is totally different” The interview of generations with MT-Star and his mother, November 1998  
He began to sing very early. He was singing on family's every holiday. The way has been prescribed to him evidently.
When Thomas was born...
and his name was Bernd and his mother, Helga Weidung, had a little restaurant with food shop in Munstermeinfild when on Thursday evening on the 1.03.1963, a little bit later than 6 o’clock the second baby appeared, owing to this, his father had to treat to all people in the restaurant and one more inhabitant was added to 175 souls of little town.
Thomas has a brother, Ahim, and a sister, Tanya. Ahim is 6 years older than Thomas and he’s a financial employee. Tanya is 7 years younger than Thomas and she is working at one advertising agency in Koblenz.
What kind of child was he?
“The tender little boy with black hair in one centimeter” – mother tells. Punctuality he waked up at two a.m. and demanded a bottle of sweet milk. Poor mother had to get up every night.
His earliest memories about mother...
“I am plying across the village, sitting in a little baby carriage with big wheels as in a throne among selected by color white-blue pillows.”
How did he bring up?
“Quite normally and not strict at all” –  mother thinks.
Were the slaps?
“Once” –  son tells. “That time I was playing in space ship and was stealing by the house. When I was hiding on tiptoe behind the corner, mother was coming around at this moment, she was frightened so much that she stroked me.
Who gave the sexual upbringing?
Neither mother, nor brother. It was the magazine “Bravo” –  smiling Thomas says.
What things did his mother teach him? 
“She taught me discipline, fairness and to be tolerant.”
What thing made you nervous most of all?
“There is nothing in mother” – the son laughs, - “I just would wanted, that she would take  the things easier sometimes.”
 

Translated by Alexandra Nechiporenko

"The Pop-singer Thomas Anders and his mother Helga tell about rattled basses"           There is an irreproachable penthouse with view on city Koblenz - only graffiti in the lift are reminding, that the celebrity lives on the upper floor: «Where are you, Thomas?» - children's handwriting asks the beautiful dark-hair man from Modern Talking. The fanatical teenagers cut forever in his metallic door the love oaths: “We love you!”
        Overhead, among pillows, near white doggy Quichi the woman sits, which one knows the girls’ favorite as nobody else: it is Helga Weidung - Thomas Anders’ mother. However, where is Thomas (35)? He’s standing and singing in a design kitchen, serving lakritsy on a Hermes-tray, disemboweling the white roses on the move, trimming «love verses» by Gete and, eventually, making a surprise for the mother (63) with champagne in cooled glasses. «Oh, this Bernd, he is always the same», - mother sighs (“Thomas Anders” is his creative pseudonym). «He helped me about house, baked pies and cooked as a real gentleman».
        Old family films show a gentle boy («When we went for a walk along the village, the people sighed: He looks like an angel from the heaven»), how he opens the door to adults, how he serves coffee and how he sings. «It was the first thing, this child has learned», - the proud mother explains.
When did he have no conception about English and French yet, he imitated, for example, Vicki Leandros, sang «Apres ta» under a track. And he played the guitar...
        «My first official appearance was at the age of seven, on Christmas in the village», - Thomas reminds. He stood on a chair, that all could see him, and sang «Hidshi Bumbidshi». He sang so pathetically, that hearts were broken up...
        His earnings were packet of chips and bar of chocolate. «Maybe, - the mother says thoughtfully, - he has put a first stone in his today's career in that moment...» In general, Bernd declared about himself at each friend case: «I shall become a singer someday!» «Yes, kid, - the mother told to him, winking each time, when he, sitting near the tape recorder, imitated Barry Manilow, having turned on volume so, that all house was rattled from basses. «Even the neighbors, to my great astonishment, endured this all» - Frau Weidung considers. «Oh, this Bernd, he’s singing again!» - they spoke.
Bernd visited lessons of a piano and even more often acted on national holidays in the front of audience: «If I can earn money by the favorite hobby, - the ascending young singer spoke, - this is just excellent!»
At that time the father Peter was mayor of Koblenz (now he’s 8 years on pension), permanently reminded to the son, that the solid education is necessary for any profession, even of the singer. «Make in any case Abitur (to become entrant)», - he advised to son. «And as I have concluded my first agreement with musical studio in 15, I knew, what the double load means». He was slightly lazy pupil and his parents were reconciled to this - he occupied with music better. At that, neither his father, nor mother could sing especially good. «The talent - Frau Weidung explains, - he has inherited from the grandfather and grandfather’s brother Tony».
        Bernd put singing on the foreground, even before football and bustle. «I always hated it, because didn’t like to be soiled». «My son, - mother tells, taking a view of his irreproachable black outfit, - always was the aesthete».
        His first money Thomas spent on different knickknacks: dark green costumes, white tuxedos, hussar costumes for a carnival. «And as soon as they became out-of-dated, he gave them to poor children». With such young man, to whom very important, how he looks, any mother manages to avoid a heap of troubles in a juvenile age! «Bernd never would think of changing himself. He didn’t touch a cigarette, excepting, certainly, wine...»
        After obtaining Abitur Bernd has moved to Koblenz, begun to study germanistics and music, and has met Nora. It was that woman, which one has done so much turmoil (now divorce is decided). Frau Weidung for a while becomes silent and does not want to start the first. «Well certainly, - she speaks then, - any mother stands by the son’s side. Thus, it would be always then, when such woman tries to attach the son on a golden chain. When Bernd get acquainted with Dieter Bohlen in 1983, he calls himself “Thomas Anders” and records with Bohlen the first plate, Nora does not lag behind him. She wanted to render the influencing, that brought very many troubles. «You My Heart, You My Soul» becomes a super-successful hit, and after «Cheri, Cheri Lady» both singers become the most successful duet of all times (60 million sold plates). If there was not Nora, there would be no many reasons, because of which ones Modern Talking, despite of world success, broken up in quarrel.
        How the mother managed it to go through?
        «She perceives all very close to heart», - the son sighs. «The parents perceive anything in another way, - mother utters silently, - more emotionally...»
There are own laws in this ruthless business, - son permanently repeated. But all the same he could not make mother to change her mind to do not worry. «We could only put him on his legs, - she spoke, - but he should go himself».
        Then he went to the USA, where he started the solo career. «Then I did not see him five months» - the mother recalls. Four years ago joint life with Nora was interrupted. It was the second quarrel for him after Bohlen. In the meantime, Thomas and Dieter were reconciled. As well as in old times, they assaulted tops of charts; they want to become ABBA of 2000 year. «So they are together again now, everything should be in harmony», - the mother hopes. «Both of us became more adult, - son calms her, - and any woman can not spoil our career once more. We are the same exotic pair, as Jack Lemmon and Walter Mattau».
        The Thomas Anders’ woman’s name is Claudia, assistant in administration of one Koblenz building materials firm. She does not interfere with problems of Thomas career. Both of them want to have children. «In second time, - the mother considers, - everything results much better».
        «About me, - Bernd speaks, so he is called by the mother, despite of world notoriety, - it is not necessary to trouble, that something will fail. Because the mother has given me with myself in life, it is possible to call as great happiness in life: harmonic, happy childhood. Like a pillow, in which one it is possible to fall, even if everything will fall...»
Though at all it does not look so same - feeling is impossible to pay.