The early years and something about his native town.

        Dieter Bohlen was born on February, on the 7th of 1954. His parents were Hans and Edith. He was the oldest son and lived in Oldenburg (Germany); about 40 km to the east of Oldenburg is Bremen situated. In the west you have the Dutch border, and in the south you find Dortmund and the Ruhrgebied. (For those who know nothing of Germany: you find these cities in the north-west of Germany) Dieter's father was hydraulic engineer and had also a business in constructions. His dream was that Dieter on a day would co-operate with him.
        Oldenburg was a city that couldn't offer Dieter much. The streets were narrow, even somewhat creepy, with high walls. Variety was there hardly and there was surely nothing of any interest for the youth. Television wasn't available yet in that time and the consequence was that the youth wasn't informed about the outside world. Up to the greatest events belong: the summer city festival, in October the old junk market and around Christmas the Lamberti-market. There weren't anymore possibilities, for those who lived in the city. Those who wanted to make something of their life, didn't stay in Oldenburg.
        Farmers characterized the north of Oldenburg. The south was totally different; there you have even the greatest "Mercedes-density".
        Besides this, Oldenburg was really a city with museum and sights. But the youth wasn't interested in this too ... They didn't like to live in a museum or the fact that old people led their life. The more they felt narrow-minded, the more they became impulsive. They wanted to do something with their life and stand on their own legs. Also Dieter Bohlen belonged to this group. Already in his early years, you saw two character-traits, which are typical for Aquarius: to strive after freedom and curiosity to the new and to the strange. When Dieter was forced to do something, the result was that he only offered resistance. He would to be independent. When he felt oppressed, he didn't control the situation anymore, but the situation controlled him instead. Many times, when everyone was against him and they called him crazy, he offered resistance and carried on his own opinion. On the other hand, he developed an unusual strength and did (apparent) the impossible, when he followed his own ideas, his ideas what he considered as right. He surprised often his surroundings with his sudden solutions. If you consider Dieters point of view, it's easy to understand that he couldn't work in his father's business. When Dieter had followed his father's wish, it's clear he wouldn't have only a physical break down, but his father's business would go smash.
        This doesn't surely mean that Dieter Bohlen has found his way as a musician and on a day will be buried as a musician. You never know with Dieter. It could be that on a fine day, he would start with something new, when he has enough of studios, success or even music. The only condition is that it comes straight from his heart. Nobody or external factors will have their influence on his discussion.
        This idea arose already when he was at primary school. Everything went very good in his first two years, but from the third year on, he caused a lot of problems, specially with the teachers. They saw in him a spoiled boy, who wanted put up with it; always carried on his own ideas and somebody who didn't adapt himself to his classmates. Dieter's performances at school were getting worse and worse and finally Dieter had to leave the school, because his teachers were at a loss what to do with him. From verbal standpoint, Dieter knew no mercy and said always his point of view directly and without discretion to his teachers. You have to know Dieter went to school in the fifties. On the one hand, you had the old fashioned, severe teachers and on the other hand, you had the rebellious youth. An example of what is ridiculous in our eyes, is the fact that the teachers forced a left-handed to become a right-handed pupil. This happened with Dieter too. Naturally, Dieter is left-handed. Nowadays, he's still writing with his right hand, but he plays tennis with his other hand. The reason is easy: he learned playing tennis after his school days.
        Slow but sure, his parents were also at the end of their Latin: Dieter was a hopeless case! If his uncle, Heinz Giszas, hadn't helped him, Dieter was certainly going his undoing. His uncle was in that time chief of the harbor of Hamburg and it was exactly the authority, which Dieter respected. He admired his uncle nearly a little bit. His uncle took care of Dieter, so he developed again ambition and got again good results on school. Sudden, Dieter became a modelstudent for all his classmates! You could almost say it was a miracle: Dieter went from primary to grammar school! After this promotion, his parents had again good hopes. Nevertheless, it was false hope. The old problems turned up again: Dieter couldn't agree with his new teachers too. These years, Dieter experimented also with soft drugs due to bad influence of older students. When there were joints, Dieter was there too. His curiosity was much too great to reject. The consequence is that Dieter had to leave the grammar school, but he was admitted to a new one. But it was again the same story: problems. His father found it was enough now and decided to make consequences. Consequences which Dieter will not like at all!
        Dieter turned up a boarding school in Wersen, situated in Osnabrueck (about 100 km to the south of Oldenburg). At this school, he had practical no free time. The pupils were nothing allowed, as longs as they didn't ask for it. Even just reading a book or writing a letter to their parents was only allowed, if a responsible person agreed. It isn't difficult to understand that Dieter saw the boarding-school as a prison. He couldn't bear the continual supervision and the restrictions. It was very hard for him, but eventually, he was speaking with his father. And Dieter could convince his father: he might go back to Oldenburg, where he was allowed again to the grammar school. Dieter learned a lot in the boarding school. He discovered that the time of playing games was over. Dieter developed his skills and his ambition exceeded everything. Dieter went even so far, he might omit the tenth class. And even in the eleventh, he was in practical all the subjects the best. When he was seventeen years old, he did the examinations and went with honor to the university!

        1964 was for Dieter a year where his live took an important change. In this year, the Beatles were hot. When he was ten years old, he started already playing their music. Soon, Dieter was composing his own songs. His first song was called "Viele Bomben fallen". (Many bombs fall) Dieter competed in contests, but his songs weren't a success near the general public. Next to playing the guitar, Dieter learned also to play keyboards. At this age, Dieter was already certain he would become a musician!!!

       1970
       His years at university

        After Dieter passed the examinations with success; his parents found (obviously) that he was ready to go to the university. Dieter had to put his dream aside again ... Dieter went to the university of Göttingen. He signed up for the subject business economics. Temporary, his goal is to become a consultant. Even the prospects to become an independent entrepreneur or to get a job as a manager in a large concern, are really good. Göttingen means also something else: the supervision of his parents is gone! Now, Dieter can develop his musical skills. What style or direction in music he will follow, is not really sure...
        At the beginning of the seventies, the musicscene is totally different. The Beatlesmania is over and the hippyculture seems also to disappear. Flowerpower and 'love and peace' disappear: music is starting to put his accents on the political and social level. It's the time of new trends.
        These changes didn't fail to notice Dieter too.
        Groups like Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple were getting popular. But also eccentric groups like Pink Floyd and Genesis, lay the foundations of their success. Dieter Bohlen still staggers between these extremes.
        With the band 'Da Capo', he went in the weekends through the villages in Hessen and he played on public amusements. It doesn't bring Dieter many laurel wreaths, but financial it's very good. At any rate, the money is enough to finance his studies and to buy some extra wishes, something what couldn't be possible with the money he got from his dad. It was also the pre-eminently way to stand on his own legs.
        In small students' clubs, he played with the group Aorta and plays jazzrock. At that moment, this was the music, which Dieter really liked, but he wouldn't become rich with it. The English groups were much better and Göttingen doesn't belong to the great rockcities...
        The third group, where Dieter played in, was called Mayfair. It was one of the hardest groups of Göttingen. Here Dieter could blow of steam and live his aggressions to the full. Btw, when Dieter was in this group, he let his blond hairs grow ... Besides these additional activities, he wrote also solo-songs. In his Mayfair period, he wrote about 200 songs of all kinds. In first instance, the songs were used to supply the group with material, but there were already ideas to contact record companies. One thing was sure for Dieter: after his studies, he would separate himself for the band. Dieter wasn't planning to stay in Göttingen and going back to Oldenburg was the last thing he would do! He needed also contacts with people, a contract with a record company or a publishing-firm. It was for him the same to be accepted as a musician or singer, as a songwriter or a producer. The most important thing was that he conclude a contract and find some money to live. When he would follow this way, Dieter also knew that he won't get any money anymore from his father. Dieter wanted to avoid the humiliation to ask his father for money, in case he wouldn't earn enough money with his music to pay the rent and food.
        Time was passing by ... Dieter composed and sent off his songs to all possible addresses. But nothing happened, he received always the same letters back, telling him they didn't need him.
        It's really incomprehensible that in this stressperiod, Dieter still could do his studies. But also his studies were good. It's amazing that Dieter was always right on time for the lectures at his university. And in his spare time, he managed to arrange his private life. All this, shows which strengths and energy are in Dieter! Driven by his ambition and self-confidence, he never gave up and never lost his spirit. With the refusals, Dieter had to get over; a lot of people would be encouraged. Dieter couldn't believe that his dream wouldn't become a reality. He really couldn't accept that! When there was an idea in Dieters head, he could work for weeks on that project. And suddenly, from one minute to an other, he could stop his project and start with something totally different! But Dieter gained also some experience from this rejections, on which he would build up his career and even today, he's benefiting from this bad experiences. He learned in this period that you never may give up, in spite of all setbacks. A bad experience can also give positive results. He noticed that people in his surroundings, who reached faster and sooner their goal, did everything wrong, because they didn't knew how do deal with it. Others couldn't live with their luck, didn't saw their chances and messed up things. Dieter lay his musical foundations of his success in Göttingen. They were the different bands and the contrast in styles, which helped him to be flexible with other artists and he always took out with musical surprises.
        One of Dieters favorite places was the discotheque “Afro-Asiaten-Heim” in Göttingen. Here, he met his wife Erika. She was born in Bad Wildungen on 29.9.54. Erika did an education as a stylist. Professionally, she has nothing to do with music and she didn't go to the university too. Erika and Dieter lived 10 years together, before they married. They married (in jeans!) on 11 Nov. 1983 in Wandsbeck, Hamburg.
        Up till now, Dieter has still the capability to get easy in contact with people and to talk with them, to meet them. With this character, he sharps his feelings and he gets to know in what subjects the people are interested. Important for Dieter are the reactions on certain musicstyles, sounds, rhythms and effects. Besides, Dieter is much too curious in people. He needs the company of others and feels best when there are a lot of people. Dieter is for that matter a great chatterbox, but on the other side, he can be an enthusiastic and attentive listener too. It isn't amazing that Dieter is soon the center of the interest. Wherever he goes, he attracts the attention. Only his height (1.83 m) and his blond hairs did already the job...
        In 1977, Dieter was for the first time in a studio. With his friend Holger from Göttingen, he formed the duo “Monza”. “Heiße Nacht in der City” and “Hallo Taxi nr. 10” were the two songs they recorded. Unfortunately, the two records never got in the charts. After this flop, Dieter was really disillusioned and he decided to stop with his music-career and started to concentrate himself on his final exams.

       "Intersong"

        On 8 Nov. 1978, Dieter got his diploma in business economics. He has just finished university and immediately he had a contract as an investment-advisor in Emden. Initially, it's over with his music-career and the chances to get in Emden the necessary contacts are nil. At that point of time, it is true that Dieter is still in contact with the Hamburg publishing-firm Intersong. Often he sent his demos to this firm, but the answers weren't very encouraging. And basically, Dieter didn't count anymore on a positive reaction. Nevertheless, the deciding letter came , which made his life totally different from one day on another. They asked Dieter if he was still interested in a co-operation. Of course, he was!!! But the contract was more a requirement, which was almost impossible to do: Dieter was obliged to write 36 songs in one month! Nevertheless, Dieter accepted the contract. On 1 Jan. 1979, Dieter starts as a composer and producer for Intersong. Dieter moved with Erika to Hamburg.
        Dieter was working very hard and a year passed by - Intersong gave him the chance to sing a song on his own. The single wass “Don't throw my love away”, but Dieter used a pseudonym Steve Benson. However with this single, the public didn't pay much attention too him. On the other hand, he made his name as a soundartist and producer. Record companies and well-known artists are getting interested in Dieter. Stars like Katja Ebstein, Roland Kaiser and Bernd Clüver are getting Dieter as their producer and they ask him to write some songs. But 1982 considered to be the real breakthrough for Dieter! In this year, he got a golden album for his Ricky King production – “Happy guitar dancing”. Another acknowledgement came in 1982 when Dieter made a new single. This time he used the pseudonym Sunday and the single is named “Hale Hey Louise”. Dieter may even present the single on the chart-show on the German television channel ZDF. But the single didn't do very well ... But a year later, Dieter had again a golden record for the album “Gefühle sind frei” with Roland Kaiser. Nevertheless, Dieter wasn't really happy with this. It was not what he wants: he wants to put himself in the forefront! He wants to sing his own songs ...
        1982 was also the year where Dieter composed his first song for the Eurovision-songcontest. For Bernd Clüver he wrote the song “Mit 17”. This song got the third place in the German pre-selections.

       1983
       "Modern Talking"

        In February 1983, the Frenchman FR David releases his second single “Pick up the phone”. (“Words” was his first hit) When Dieter hears the first notes of “Pick up the phone”, he knows already that he would make a German production of this song. But he hasn't a suitable person to sing the song. The title is already settled – “Was macht das schon?” However, a tip comes from the Berlin record company Hansa. They have a singer, who has already recorded some songs, but the great hit hasn't break through yet. This guy’s name is Thomas Anders. Thomas flies to Hamburg and is immediately enthusiastic about Dieters cover.

       Thomas Anders (Bernd Weidung) was born on 1 March 1963 in Munstermaifeld, near the city Koblenz. Already on his 15th, he had his first success, when he did a television performance in the Michael Schanze Show “Hatten Sie heut' Zeit fuer uns?” A record company from Frankfurt noticed this performance too. Thomas Anders got a record deal and in August 1980, his first single “Judy” was released. In September, he did with his friend Thomas Ohner, and two other groups, a tour across Germany. After this hotfoot start, there came soon an end. There was no chart-entry and Thomas’ father found that he would better finish first his school. Thomas Anders did his final examinations in the spring of 1982 at Eichendorff grammar school. After this, he went to Mainz and studied for five semesters Germanic and music science.
        In 1981 Thomas Anders recorded three singles more: “Du weinst um ihn”, “Ich will nicht dein Leben” and “Es war die Nacht der Ersten Liebe”. Dieter, the blonde and casual type, and Thomas, the dark, elegant type, liked each other from the beginning. In the studio, they were the perfect team. They were often in Dieters house near Bergstedt, a part of the town Hamburg. There was his 16-track studio. Although, it wasn't plain sailing, Dieter never gave in. In the same year, he produced with Thomas the song “Wovon trauemst du denn?”. With this song, Thomas hits the charts. (1 October 1983) About 30.000 records were sold. In March and June'84, were the singles “Endstation Sehnsucht” and “Heisskalter Engel” (a cover of “Send me an angel” by Real life) released. After the recordings of these singles, Dieter decides to take a holiday on the island Majorca. It's the first time after 5 years of intensive work, Dieter takes a holiday. But being idle and laying in the sun, is not really something for Dieter. A lot of new ideas are already brewing in his mind! One of these ideas, will be the European revelation of the year '85. “You're my heart, you're my soul”: a song which will lead the European charts. The song will even stay a half-year long in the German charts! And other idea is to propose Thomas, to form together a duo.
        At the same time, Thomas was also in the south. Together with his girlfriend Nora Isabel Balling, he was on Grand Canary, where they became engaged on 6 Aug. 1984. When the two guys were back in Germany, they started immediately with the song “You're my heart, you're my soul” and worked out the duo-idea. This project will be called Modern Talking. In October '84 the single is ready. But nothing happens! And it's even getting worse on a day in November 1984. Thomas Anders had a heavy accident with his Golf GTI. The car was totally damaged, but Thomas and Nora were as by a miracle unhurt. And it was strange, but with this bad luck, it meant good luck for Modern Talking! After this occurrence, the videoclip for “You're my heart, you're my soul” was broadcasted for the first time in the television programm “Formel Eins”, on 17 Jan 1985. A few days later, Dieter and Thomas were presenting themselves in “Tele-Illustrierte”. This was the final breakthrough for Modern Talking! Twenty years after his first appearance in Oldenburg and five years after his step into the professional music-business, Dieter Bohlen (due to Thomas' magical voice and his dance music) was at the top at last!

        In March '85, the second single “You can win, if you want” was released. You could say that this title expresses very well the experiences, which Dieter picked up in his whole life.
Since the success of “You're my heart, you're my soul”, Dieter hadn't much time to compose and work in the studio. Now, he could draw from his earlier songs, however without losing any quality. The second single was the proof of that. For that matter also the singles “Cherie, Cherie Lady”, “Brother Louie”, “Atlantis is calling” ... At once with the release of the second single, the first album appeared too.
        Unforgettable was the appearance in “Peter's-Pop-Show” in September 1985, where a lift truck was necessary to get 75 golden and platinum records. Those were handed to Modern Talking for their success all over the world!
        While the first two singles and album are still having all the interest of the public, Dieter is already preparing the second album. And as if this isn't enough, Dieter records “The night is yours, the night is mine” for a second time, sings the song himself and releases the song by the name of Ryan Simmons. On the other hand, Thomas is singing the song on the first album. These are already the first signs of resentments between the two. And you could read in interviews with Dieter between the lines that something was going on. Dieter passes some critical judgements on Thomas and complains about the fact that Thomas isn't working hard enough. E.g. Dieter says that he worked for two months on the second album, while Thomas comes only for two days to the studio for singing the songs... One of the most important assistants of Dieter, is Louis Rodriguez, who is a sound engineer and has a hand on the technical work. For Dieter, Louis isn't only the technical man, but he may also decide about the sound of the songs. Dieter Bohlen consults Louis Rodriguez musically! It isn't surprising that Louis Rodriguez is the co-producer on almost all the Bohlen productions... While Dieter was still working on “Modern Talking”, he was already working with other groups. In 1985 he recorded the song “Keine Träne tut mir Leid” with Mary Roos.
        Caroline Mueller lived in Buende. She was discovered by Dieter on a "search for talent" contest in Hamburg. On the same evening, Dieter offered her a contract and he became also her producer. In the summer of 1985, I can lose my heart was released as the first single. With the dancers Dag, Dirk and Pierre, C.C.Catch became a disco-queen. Dieter and Caro worked together until the end of 1989… Twelve singles and four albums were recorded. Dieter wrote also “Midnight lady” for Chris Norman. The song was the title for a Tatort television serial. Chris made a comeback with this song.
        With the success of these projects, Dieter wanted to prove that Modern Talking was not a coincidence and that it was certainly not owing to the beauty of Thomas Anders.
But nearly nobody engaged himself with the music or lyrics of Dieter's songs. And precisely in his lyrics, Dieter wrote about different topics and quoted different problems. Off and on, there are some indications to personal experiences or persons from his surroundings. But not many people see the contents of his lyrics, because they are influenced by prejudices: they can't believe that Dieter's lyrics have a contents.
        For example, “Brother Louie” is dedicated to his co-producer, Luis Rodriguez. Dieter wrote “With a little love” for his son Marc, born on 9 July 1985. (Dieter named his son Marc, dedicated to the T-Rex singer Marc Bolan.) Also the same counts for the single “Give me peace on earth”. But because there was more attention paid to Thomas and Nora, this single was a flop. (from the Blue System repertoire, “Crossing the river” is also dedicated to his son Marc.)
        While Dieter and Louis form a real good team, it's getting worse and worse between Dieter and Thomas. These quarrels are also notable during their concerts. In the beginning of Modern Talking, there are concerts all over Europe. But it seems already soon that Thomas isn't a match for the stress. In the middle of 1985, Thomas gets a nervous collapse.
When Thomas was getting better, he married with Nora on 27 July 1985 in Koblenz. The happening became a great show with 3000 crying, female fans in a crowded church. Dieter is also invited, but he didn’t come because his father was admitted to a hospital with a heart attack.
        But those who know Dieter better, know that he didn't like Thomas and Nora's uproar. (with a Rolls Royce to the church, travels to Monaco and Cannes, coffee with princes Stephanie ...) All these things took place after that Thomas had lengthen his contract for two more years. (until the end of 1987) ...
        One day, Thomas didn't turn up at the television show “Formel Eins”. (An award for their fourth single “Brother Louie” was handed in this show.) Also on the show P.I.T., Thomas wasn't present. The day before, he cancelled with the reason that he had jaundice...
        On 27 May 1985, a German tour would start in Rosenheim. And now it was Dieter, who didn't came up, because he had contracted a double rib fraction while he was playing tennis. The doctors advised Dieter to keep quiet for at least for four weeks. Thomas was prepared to do the tour on his own, on condition that the organizers agreed with a solo-performance.
The critics in the papers became more critical and more cynic. In the long run, journalists began to invent stories about Thomas, which were almost offensive. Thomas took revenge by bringing an action against the journalists. But he lost the action. By this, Thomas was getting more interest and the result was that the well-meaning press started too with writing about this action. Instead of being quiet and let go the press, he just kept going on with attacking them. This image, having his own way, had strictly speaking something odd. On the other hand, Thomas proved with that he didn't let him fool around and that he stood at the side of Dieter. But it gave the reverse effect. He made the ideas and intentions broken.
Both were seen together less. And when they got some award, it was Dieter or Thomas, who went, but certainly not both ...
        The last time they appeared together was at the end of 1986 during the “Formel Eins” tour. What original the beginning was of a huge tour, became a little war behind the scenes. It was obvious for everybody that “Modern Talking” would split. But there was still a contract. “Modern Talking” was still obliged to exist a year.
        Dieter Bohlen was planning already his future without Thomas. In the studio, he made already his own songs, which would be released after the contract. At the same time, he searched new musicians, worked on a new sound and project.
        “Modern Talking” had five number one hits in a row. The sixth single, “Geronimo's cadillac”, was an exception. This was not so bad, because groups like the Beatles and Abba had going through the same. Worse was that the journalists wrote in their articles and what the fans thought about “Modern Talking”.
        For Dieter Bohlen, “Modern Talking” wasn't his priority anymore. He was even noticed in America and England, there were already some requests to make music for some international artists. This could be endanger. The missing number one of Geronimo's cadillac was not a disaster, but rather a sign that something must happen. Finally, there was a split in 1987. Three American television appearances were lost and through this incident, “Modern Talking” lost about 200.000 $.
        1987 meant eventually the end of Modern Talking. Two albums were made: “Romantic Warriors” (June) and “In the garden of Venus” (November). With these two albums, the contract was fulfilled. After the split, Thomas and Dieter went their own way. Between 1984 and 1987, there were about 42 million Modern Talking records sold ...

       “Blue System” and other artists

        While Thomas Anders is singing Dieter's songs in the USSR, Dieter is presenting his new project, called “Blue System”. On 1 Oct. 1987, he appears in the program “Tele Ass”. The first “Blue System” single released is “Sorry little Sarah”. With this samba number, Dieter shows that he wants to put forward a totally different sound. This single wasn't a number one hit, but the song was still a top ten entry.
The weird thing is that Dieter was a concurrent of his own at this period: “In the garden of Venus” had still to be released ! Dieter Bohlen had to manage that the earlier “Modern Talking” fans would become “Blue System” fans ... In November was the first “Blue System” album released: “Walking on a rainbow”. From this album the first “Blue System” single was released: Sorry little Sarah. Dieter about this song: “After “Modern Talking”, I thought a long time what could I do now, and we never had a samba-hit in Germany. So it was for me a big challenge to write a samba title.”
        Around Christmas, Dieter received a telephone call from the manager from Sylvester Stallone's wife, called Briggite Nielsen. Mister Stallone offered Dieter about 600.000 $ to convince Dieter of his wife's voice-quality. Dieter flew to the Spiama studio in L.A. After recording some demotapes with Brigitte, Dieter went back to Germany and improved the demos. The project fell to the ground, because Brigitte's lawyers decided that Dieter might only wrote three songs for her. After this news, Dieter wasn't anymore interested ...
        In the beginning of 1988, Dieter moved to Ohlstedt, near Hamburg. Dieter fitted a 40 m square large studio up. This shows that Dieter likes to work alone, before others hear the result. With the help of synthesizers, sequencers and drummachines, he can deliver an almost ready-made production. Because the result isn't perfect to his standards, he finishes the product in an other studio where there are more possibilities. The studio in his home has also the advantage that he's near to his family.
        In March '88, the second “Blue System”, “My bed is too big”, was released. The video was made in Death Valley (California). At the same time, a video was shot in Las Vegas for the song “House of mystic lights” by C.C.Catch. This track is available on the album “Diamonds”, which is in fact a greatest hits album. But the interesting fact of this album, is that there were three tracks never released before: “House of mystic lights”, “Don't shoot my sheriff tonight” and “Do you love as you look”. The same year, Dieter wrote the fifth album for Caro: “Big fun”. In 1989, the album “Classics” was released: again a compilation album. All of a sudden comes the news that C.C.Catch broke a contract with Dieter. Nobody expected that such a good and suitful co-operation through all those years would change into a quarrel between the two. The quarrel resulted even in a court: it went about Caro's nickname: C.C.Catch and the right to use it. Dieter claimed that just he had created Caro's scenic name and required her to change it, since she left him. Dieter lost the case and Caro Mueller is still allowed to use the name. What is the real reason of the quarrel? Caroline wanted to change her musicstyle and image. So she just turned to an English composer and resigned the work with Dieter. Needles to say that all this facts have hurt Dieter a lot ...
        And not only Caroline leaves him, but also Chris Norman, who made his comeback with Dieter's help. However, Dieter’s second child Marvin Benjamin dispels the sorrow. (21 dec. 1988).
        Okay, back to “Blue System” again .... Around Christmas, the second “Blue System” album was released: “Body Heat”. The lp is preced by the naughty song “My bed is too big”. Apart from this hit on the album are songs as “Under my skin”, “Love suite” and the ballad “Silent water”. This song was also used in an episode of the German serial Tatort, which gave Dieter the opportunity to play a role as a murderer. On 26 March, “Blue System” appeared for the first time live on stage. This happened in the Alstendorfer sports hall, Hamburg. The radiostation Radio Schleswig Holstein organized this, because they wanted to give Dieter a distinction. It was very clear that Dieter was emotional when he received this price. He thanked the radiostation and the public with the words: "Thanks to my fans who were faithful to me."
        “Blue System” sang the songs “Sorry little Sarah” and an acoustic version of “My bed is too big”.
        In October, the third video “Under my skin”, got some headlines in the papers like 'Dieter's horror video' or 'Dieter's torture-chamber'. The German ZDF-channel found the video too randy and they required a new video for “Ronny's Pop Show”. The crew had to work a whole night on a new, 'cleaner' version. So, in “Ronny's Pop Show” there was another video played than in Formel Eins on the ARD-channel. The video for the single “When Sarah smiles” contains some material from the videos “My bed is too big” and “Sorry little Sarah”. Furthermore, there are scenes where Dieter stands on reefs. These shots were made on Ibiza.
        In the autumn 1989, the third album was released “Twilight”, with the magnificent number 1 hit “Magic Symphony”. The second track on the album is “Love me on the rocks”, a very dynamic song. Moscow was used as decor for the video of this song. In this video, scenes are showed how it went on at the first live appearance in Moscow. At the time, “Blue System” is formed by Dieter Bohlen. Achim Vogel (guitar) and Michael Rollin (drums). Let's just remind that at first beside Dieter the members of “Blue System” were Achim Vogel (guitar), Frank Otto (Drums), sonnyboy Snoopy (keyboards) and Caribbean girl Jeanne Dupuy (backing vocals).
        At the end of 1989, Dieter starts to produce no less a person than Engelbert Humperdinck. The result is the album “Ich denk an dich”. It's very curious that Dieter adjusted to the style of Engelbert. His songs on this record do not resemble those he wrote for Modern Talking, “Blue System” or his other artists. The songs for Engelbert are rather destined for an older generation of listeners, but it doesn't mean of course that they aren't listenable. On the contrary, they are very good and perhaps it's great when a music producer can change his style so easily! At the same time, Dieter wrote also a song for Lory Bonnie Bianco: “A cry in the night”. Dieter revives also the group “Smokie” with the song “Young hearts”.
        And so we reach February 1990, when Dieter becomes again father. This time it's a girl. Her name is Marielin.(23 Febr. 1990)
        In August 1990, “Blue System” released a new album called “Obsession”. Several singles were released from this album. As for “When Sarah smiles”, Ibiza was also used for the video “Love is such a lonely sword”. In this video, you see also his friend Nadja ab del Farrag. (She's Sudanese/German and was born on 5 Febr. 1965 in Hamburg. Dieter met her in the Hamburg disco Mezzanotte.) The crew filmed in Cala Comte. The location was a huge, white villa, facing to the rockisle Es Vedra. In this video, Dieter plays the grand piano. The piano stands varied on a sailer (the Midnight Merlin), or under water or on the breakers of a beach. For the video was an extra budget of 10.000 $ to keep the grand piano floating. For the aerial shots, a camera operator was hanging on a paraglider.
        In April 1990, Dieter flew to Kenya to make the video for the single “48 hours”. In the video, Dieter drives a jeep through the Travo Wildpark, where he meets the beautiful Nadja in a 'Massai' village. After the return to Germany, “Blue System” was reinforced by Joe Koli (bass), Achim Strieben (keyboards) and two girls Afro & Sandra (background vocals, dance). At that time, Dieter and Nadja lived in a huge, white house in Quickborn (10 km from Hamburg), so that Dieter could see more often his children, who stay with Erika in Hamburg. The year 1990 ends with the video “All around the world”. This video includes all the hits from 1987 till 1990.
        In the summer of 1991, another “Blue System” is been released: “Seeds of heaven”, with a none too heavenly single called “Lucifer”.
        One of Dieter's greatest wishes came out on 21 Aug. 1991, when he sang a duet with Dionne Warwick in a L.A. studio. Dieter was already thinking on a duet with her, when he saw a concert of her in Las Vegas in 1989. When he was back in Germany, he started to made a demo-tape of “It's all over” and sent the tape. The tape landed on the desk of her manager Clive Davis, who listened to the tape. He was enthusiastic about the tape and so did Dionne. On 20 Aug., they called Dieter if he could fly to L.A. The song was recorded in the Lion's Share Studio I en II. The song and video were made in one day!
        Dieter thanked the USSR on his manner by placing his incomes from the albums “Twilight” and “Obsession” to the disposal of the support against famine in the USSR. During this presentation, there were also some plans made of a coming tour through the USSR. This tour would start in November. In May 1990, Dieter started with a second tour through the USSR. Almost one year after, on 1 and 2 June, Dieter appeared at the Moscow Olympia stadium together with other German groups. The initiator of this event was Juergen Mueller, who is also the tourmanager of “Blue System”.