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Bela B

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Dirk Albert Felsenheimer(born 14 December 1962),[1]better known under his stage nameBela B(formerlyBela B.), is a German musician, songwriter, actor and author, best known for being the drummer and one of the singers ofpunk rockbandDie Ärzte.In 2006, he released his first solo album entitledBingo.He is also an actor and has done several voice-overs for television and film.

Bela B
Bela B performing in 2016
Bela B performing in 2016
Background information
Birth nameDirk Albert Felsenheimer
Also known asBela B Felsenheimer
Der Graf
Pornoboy
Born(1962-12-14)14 December 1962(age 61)
Spandau,West Berlin,West Germany
GenresRock,punk rock,country rock,alternative rock,hard rock,pop rock,alternative country
Occupation(s)Musician, singer, songwriter, actor, voice actor, author
Instrument(s)Vocals, drums, guitar
Member ofDie Ärzte
Formerly ofDepp Jones
Websitebela-b.de

Early life

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Dirk Albert Felsenheimer was born inSpandau,the westernmost borough ofBerlin.He has a twin sister named Diana and his parents separated when he was five years old.[1]Felsenheimer graduated from the Carlo-Schmid-Oberschule in Berlin.[2]Afterwards he joined the police force, partly due to boredom and partly because of the influence of his uncle, who was also a police officer.[1]However, shortly before joining the force Bela became punk, which seemed at odds with the conformity required of him in the police.[1]Despite his reservations, he began police training, as he could think of no other viable option and he did not want his mother to worry about him.[1]However, he quit the force soon after joining because he felt that he did not belong there and he began being harassed by the other recruits.[3]He then worked in a warehouse for a short time before beginning a three-year apprenticeship as a window-dresser for the department storeHertie.[3]

Felsenheimer took his stage name fromDraculaactorBela Lugosi,whom he has admired since childhood.[4]The "B" stands for Barney, as the German name of the fictionalThe FlintstonescharacterBarney Rubbleis "Barney Geröllheimer", and he was nicknamed after him because of the similarity to "Felsenheimer".[4]Felsenheimer is actually registered with the German performing rights societyGEMAas 'Bela Barney Felsenheimer'.

Music career

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Bela B in 1998

Die Ärzte

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Main article:Die Ärzte

Bela B first played in the short-livedSoilent Grünbefore co-foundingDie Ärztein 1982 with singer/guitaristFarin Urlauband bassist Hans Runge. The group soon appeared on the20 Überschäumende Stimmungshitscompilation, and after winning an amateur band contest, they spent their winnings on their 1983 debut EP,Uns geht's prima...They signed a record deal withColumbia Records,which issued the band's debut album,Debil,in 1984. After releasing several albums, the band broke up in 1988 and reunited in 1993.

Depp Jones

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After Die Ärzte split up, he soon formed a new band, S.U.M.P, with friendRodrigo Gonzálezand the band released an EP entitledGet Wise, Get Ugly, Get S.U.M.P.featuring cover versions of popular songs. The band was later renamed Depp Jones, named after a character in the German version of the comic book seriesLucky Luke.Their 1990 debut LP,Return to Caramba!,failed to capitalise on the popularity ofDie Ärzte,and its follow-upsWelcome to HellandAt 2012 A.D.did even worse. Farin Urlaub's new band,King Køng,also struggled, and in 1993 he and Bela B agreed to reform Die Ärzte, with former Depp Jones guitarist Rodrigo González joining them on bass.

Solo

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In 2006, Bela released his first solo albumBingo,which was produced byWayne Jacksonand Olsen Involtini. The record combined many different music styles such ascountry,rockabilly,beat musicand traditionalrockelements, he also, unlike on his songs with Die Ärzte, plays guitar. Bela's love for horror can be heard in many of the songs on the album. He worked with country legendLee Hazlewoodand in return guested on his albumCake or Death.Charlotte Rocheand Bela's close friend, singerLula,also feature onBingo.Bela's record reached number two at the German Top 100 and number five in Austria. Following the album release, Bela toured with his band Bela B. y Los Helmstedt, including appearances at several German festivals includingRock im Park,Rock am Ring,MTV Campus Invasion, andGurtenfestival.A follow-up record,Code Bwas released on 2 October 2009.

Musical style

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Bela B drumming in 2013

Bela is a fan of horror, which is reflected in many of his songs, such as "Dein Vampyr" (Your Vampire), "Mysteryland", "Der Graf" (The Count), "Die Nacht" (The Night), "Wir werden schön" (We Become Beautiful), "Der Vampir mit dem Colt" (The Vampire with the Colt), "Licht am Ende des Sarges" (Light at the End of the Coffin), and "Monsterparty".

One of Bela's particular features is that he usually plays drums standing up during performances. He has done this since he saw theStray Catsperform in 1983.[5]Up to that point he had performed sitting down for the first Die Ärzte concerts. However, he generally plays sitting down in the studio, and also performed seated during theRock'n'Roll Realschuleconcert and at times during the "Jenseits der Grenze des Zumutbaren" ( "Beyond the Reasonable Limit" ) and "Unrockstar" tours.

Acting and other ventures

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Bela B at Highfield Festival 2014

Bela B was the owner of theLeipzigcomic book publisher Extrem Erfolgreich Enterprises (Extremely Successful Enterprises), which published horror comic books, including German versions of independent series such as "Faust" and "Satanika". Their titles also included their own publications such as "Schweinevogel" and a comic about Die Ärzte. In an interview with the Berlin magazine Zitty in September 2006, Bela B announced that he was giving up his publishing project.[6]

As an author, Bela has written for thevampireanthologyLiber Vampirorum: Last Bloodand for comic books published by his publishing house.

Other hobbies include acting and he has appeared in many German television productions, including episodes ofAlarm für Cobra 11andTatort,as well as inGonger[de]for the German television channelProSiebenin 2008 and in the filmA Goddamn Job.In 1985, Bela portrayed one of the main characters inRichy Guitar[de],a film about an aspiring rock band which also starred his Die Ärzte bandmates Farin Urlaub and Hans Runge. More recently, Bela played the lead role of concentration camp prisoner Hans Steinbrück in the 2004 filmEdelweiss Pirates.In 2005 Bela's acting roles included a role in the short filmKingz(directed by Benni Diez and Marinko Spahić), which was produced by theFilm Academy Baden-Württemberg,as well as the role of Ronnie in Barbara Gebler's crime parody,Salamander.In 2007, Bela interviewed his favorite director,Quentin Tarantino,about the filmDeath Prooffor the German newspaperDie Welt[7]and later had acameo roleas a cinema usher in Tarantino's 2009 filmInglourious Basterds.

Bela's voice-over work includes the voice of Clay in the German version of theMTVcartoon television seriesFree for All.He also recorded the voices of various characters in the German version of the Danish filmTerkel in Trouble.His work also includes several audio dramas, such asFaust vs. Mephistoalongside Thomas D from the German bandDie Fantastischen Vierand the audiobookVenus in Furswith actress Catherine Flemming. He also recorded the audio version of a biography ofElvis Presleyin 2007.

In early 2011, Bela recorded another audio book,Exit Mundi,a popular scientific book by the Dutch science journalist Maarten Keulemans discussing many possible and absurd end-of-world scenarios. The promotion tour took Bela on 15 venues, reading on stage in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The tour also included gimmicks, such as Bela reading from the book to the tune ofR.E.M.'s hit single "The End of the World as We Know It".

In 2019 Bela published his first novel, titledScharnow.

Personal life

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Bela B in 2012

Bela B lives with his girlfriend Konstanze Habermann and their son inHamburg.[citation needed]He's been living vegan since 2011.

He is a fan of the German football teamFC St. Pauli.[8]He is also a keen runner, having completed marathons in Hamburg and New York. In 2004, he completed the 20 km event in the 26thAhrensburgLümmellauf and the Dracula Transylvania Marathon fromSighişoaratoMediaş,Romania.[9]

Bela B has also supported manyanti-fascistprojects, including the initiative "Kein Bock aufNazis"(No Room for Nazis), which was started by the Berlinpunkband ZSK. His anti-fascist stance has also been shown in songs such as "Schrei nach Liebe"(Cry for Love) and also" Deutsche, kauft nicht bei Nazis "(Germans, Don't Buy from Nazis). Bela made the latter available to download for free from his website.[10]

Bela is also a big fan ofThe Simpsonsand has expressed a wish to appear in the series.[11]

Discography

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Die Ärzte

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Further information:Die Ärzte discography

Solo artist

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Albums

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Singles

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Charting singles

Year Name Chart positions Album
GER AUT SWI
2006 "Tag mit Schutzumschlag" 13 21 – Bingo
"1. 2. 3...." 16 37 95
"Sie hat was vermisst" 47 – –
2007 "Gitarre runter" 62 – –
2009 "Altes Arschloch Liebe" 41 54 – Code B
"Schwarz/Weiss" 83 – –
2010 "Tag für Sieger" 72 – –
"In diesem Leben" – – – Code B
2013 "Im Klub"(with Peta Devlin & Smokestack Lightnin') – – –
2014 "Abserviert"(with Peta Devlin & Smokestack Lightnin') 74 – – Bye

Other singles

Other collaborations

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  • "Ausgebombt" (German Version) (1989) –Sodomfeaturing Bela B.; for Sodom's EP "Ausgebombt"
  • "Requiem für Nossek" (1989) – The Incredible Hagen feat.Jan Vetter& Bela B.; for the soundtrack of "Lindenstraße",titled" Wir warten auf die Lindenstraße "
  • "Stand by Your Man" (1994) – The Waltons featuring Bela B.; for the album "Essential Country Bullshit"
  • "Donna Clara" (1995) –The Batesfeaturing Bela B. &Kill Kill Gaskrieg;for the album "Pleasure + Pain"
  • "Die Zeitmaschine" (1995) – with Rod Gonzalez as 2 Fickende Hunde for the Prollhead tribute album "Prollhead! fordert Tribut..."
  • "It's Only Love" (1996) – Stimpy featuring Bela B.; for the album "Dirty Love Affair"
  • "König von Deutschland" (1998) – C.I.A. featuring Bela B. and Axel Kurth; for the album "Codename Freibeuter"
  • "All This and More" (1998) –Mad Sinfeaturing Bela B.; for the album "...Sweet & Innocent?...Loud & Dirty!"
  • "Dusty Crown" (1998) – as Mr. Felsenheimer & Perry Spinoza Gang; for the compilation "Der FC St. Pauli ist schuld..."
  • "It's a Good Life" (2000) – Chainsaw Hollies featuring Bela B.
  • "Are You Ready for Some Darkness?" (2001) – with Denim Girl akaJasmin Wagnerfor "Alpha Motherfuckers– A Tribute to Turbonegro "
  • "Gerechtigkeit" (2001) – Die Göttlichen feat. Bela B.; for the soundtrack of "A Goddamn Job"
  • "Bad Capricorn" (2003) – The Yucca Spiders featuring Bela B.; for the album "Zodiac"
  • "Dee Dee's Dead" (2004) – Ramonez 77 featuring Bela B.; for the album "Rest in Pace"
  • "Für immer Christ" (2004) – Jesus Skins featuring Bela B.; for the split-album with Jewdriver, "Neuer Wein/Hail the Jew Dawn"
  • "Operation Dance Sensation" (2005) – Bela B. & ZZZ Hacker feat. DJ Wolfgang Jack; for the soundtrack of "Operation Dance Sensation"
  • "Meister aller Frauenärzte" (2005) – with Rod Gonzalez as 2 Fickende Hunde for theDie Kassierertribute album "Kunst! 20 Jahre die Kassierer"
  • "Who Will Save Rock'n'Roll?" (2005) – Gigantor featuring Bela B., Doro Pesch and Olga of Toy Dolls; for the album "G7"
  • "Iron in My Soul" & "No Cure for the Undead" (2005) – Smoke Blow featuring Bela B.; for the album "Dark Angel"
  • "The First Song of the Day" (2006) – withLee Hazlewood;for the album "Cake or Death"(it is actually the same song as" Lee Hazlewood & das erste Lied des Tages "from"Bingo"but with an English title)
  • "I Want" (2008) – withLulafor her debut album "Lost in Reverie"

Audio books

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  • Die Nixe/The Mermaid(Christa Fast) (1992)
  • Die Brautprinzessin(2002)
  • The KLF der schnelle Weg zum Nr. 1 Hit(2003)
  • Gabriel Burns – Folge 6, Die Totenmaschine(as barkeeper) (2004)
  • Thomas D vs. Bela B –Faustvs.Mephisto(2004)
  • Venus im Pelz(2005)
  • Böse Nacht Geschichten(2005)
  • Captain Berlin vs. Dracula(fromJörg Buttgereit) (2006)
  • Vampira-Hörspiel-Reiheby Lübbe Audio (2006)
  • Last Train to Memphis(part 1 of anElvis Presleybiography written byPeter Guralnick) (2007)
  • Careless Love(part 2 of an Elvis Presley biography written by Peter Guralnick) (2007)
  • Kill your friends(by John Niven) (2009)
  • Exit Mundi – die besten Weltuntergänge(by Maarten Keulemans & A.W. Bruna Uitgevers) (2011)
  • Sartana – noch warm und schon Sand drauf(based on a1970 Spaghetti Western) (2016)

Filmography

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References

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  1. ^abcdeDie Ärzte. Ein überdimensionales Meerschwein frisst die Erde auf,p. 80
  2. ^Görke, A., Spandauer Prominente: Bela B.,Der Tagesspiegel, 5 July 2007
  3. ^abDie Ärzte. Ein überdimensionales Meerschwein frisst die Erde auf,p. 82
  4. ^abDie Ärzte. Ein überdimensionales Meerschwein frisst die Erde auf,p. 85
  5. ^Die Ärzte. Ein überdimensionales Meerschwein frisst die Erde auf,p. 28–29
  6. ^Interview with Bela B.Archived23 December 2007 at theWayback Machine,Zitty,September 2006
  7. ^Abeltshauser, T.,Trash-Brüder – Bela B. trifft Tarantino,Welt Online, 24 July 2007
  8. ^"Fußball ist Schadenfreude",Zeit Online, 22 January 2007
  9. ^Bachmann, S.,Bela B. - ein Star beim LümmellaufArchived13 December 2009 at theWayback Machine,Hamburger Abendblatt, 20 January 2004
  10. ^Deutsche, kauft nicht bei Nazis Bela B Songbuch[permanent dead link‍]
  11. ^"Mein Traum ist also: Ich will einmal als Trickfigur Bela B. bei den Simpsons mit dabei seinArchived2008-02-07 at theWayback Machine",Die Zeit, September 2000
  12. ^"Kaliber Deluxe (2000)".IMDb.Retrieved26 February2021.

Further reading

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  • Karg, Markus; BelaFarinRod (2001).Die Ärzte. Ein überdimensionales Meerschwein frisst die Erde auf(in German). Schwarzkopf & Schwarzkopf.ISBN3-89602-369-1.
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