| Origin | Germany |
| Activity | 1987-2004 |
| Status | Disbanded |
| Genres | Synthpop, Darkwave |
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Wolfsheim is one of Germany’s inveterate synth pop groups, a band that has outlived numerous rock & roll trends by remaining committed to their original sound. The group was formed in 1987 by siblings Markus Reinhardt and Olli Reinhardt and Pompejo Ricciardi (vocals). However, Ricciardi departed from Wolfsheim shortly after they recorded their first demo; he was replaced by Peter Heppner, a singer who was already familiar with the brothers since they were all raised in the same area of Wilhelmsburg, Germany.
Olli eventually left the band as well, turning Wolfsheim into a duo. Heppner started writing new tracks, and Wolfsheim distributed two more cassettes to record labels. All of them replied with a rejection. In 1991, Strange Ways Records released Wolfsheim’s CD single “The Sparrows and the Nightingales”; it sold more than 10,000 copies. It was followed by “It’s Not Too Late”; a full-length, No Happy View, appeared a year later, selling more than 40,000 copies. In 1996, Reinhardt recorded Der Genetische Traum under the name Neustart, a side project featuring members of Girls Under Glass and Stalin. Wolfsheim’s fifth LP, Spectators, peaked at number two in Germany in 1999. Spectators was released in the U.S. in 2001 by Metropolis Records; Casting Shadows came in 2003.
After making a second demo tape Any But Pretty (1989), Wolfsheim applied at various labels to no avail, until they caught the attention of the one-man independent record label Strange Ways Records. Wolfsheim’s “The Sparrows and the Nightingales” (1991), was the first single to be released on Strange Ways. The song became a fast hit, even though it was not heavily promoted. Their debut album No Happy View (1992) was also released on Strange Ways and did well in the charts. The follow-up Popkiller (1993) reached the German Media Control Charts, albeit at a low position. In February 1995, Wolfsheim released the compilation album 55578, comprising many tracks previously featured on singles, as well as some unreleased material. The first 55,578 copies were special editions that contained a bonus disk with material recorded at the Strange Ways Festival. The album remained in the German charts for five weeks. The 1996 album Dreaming Apes reached number 91. Following its release, Wolfsheim embarked on their first tour in May 1996. A live recording was released in October 1997 named Hamburg Rom Wolfsheim.
Throughout the band’s existence, both members were involved with various side projects. Reinhardt started the bands Nefkom and Neustart, both of which released their albums on Strange Ways. Heppner collaborated with Joachim Witt in 1998 on the song “Die Flut”, which reached No. 2 in the German Single Charts and garnered them a platinum record. His increased popularity also boosted Wolfsheim’s success; their album Spectators, released in February 1999, was the first to reach the top-10 in Germany, at number two. Since 2001, the album was distributed in the United States by Metropolis Records. Spectators reached gold status in Germany in 2004. The singles released off this album, “Once in a Lifetime”, “It’s Hurting for the First Time” and “Künstliche Welten” were all successful. That summer, Wolfsheim played at many of the major German festivals, including the Bizarre Festival, Rock am Ring, and Rock im Park. They also played their first show outside of Germany, at Belgium’s Eurorock Festival.
Since 1999 Reinhardt focused on Care Company, a band whose 2001 album In the Flow was released on Motor/Universal. Heppner featured on tracks by several other artists. He collaborated among others with the dance project Schiller on the songs, “Dream of You” and “Leben… I Feel You”, which were a big success all over Europe. He also collaborated on “Glasgarten” with Goethes Erben and “Wir sind Wir” with trance/techno-DJ Paul van Dyk.
In anticipation of the forthcoming album, Wolfsheim released the live DVD Kompendium on 16 April 2002, containing a recording from the Spectators tour, an interview, and various music videos. In March 2003, the release of Casting Shadows instantly sent it to the top spot in the German album charts and reached platinum status. The single “Kein Zurück”, released on 2 February was the band’s first single to enter into the Media Control Charts top-10, debuting at number five and moving up to the fourth spot. It remained in the charts for 10 weeks and reached gold status. Greatest highlight in the band’s career was receiving an ECHO in 2004 for Best Alternative Domestic Band. A sold-out tour through Germany was followed by Wolfsheim’s only tour through the U.S. in March and April 2004.
In January 2009 Heppner and Reinhardt split up due to personal differences caused by the solo activities of Heppner. Currently Reinhardt is fighting in court to get the right to continue the project Wolfsheim with a different singer.
Members
Peter Heppner
Markus Reinhardt
Discography
No Happy View (1992)
Popkiller (1993)
55578 (1995)
Dreaming Apes (1996)
Hamburg Rom Wolfsheim (1997)
Spectators (1999)
Casting Shadows (2003)