Bochum Matrizen

Although his first four solo albums were commercial disappointments, 1984's 4630 Bochum turned Herbert Grönemeyer into the biggest musician in Germany. Featuring a blue-collar, stadium rock sound and highly literate lyrics – including double entendres, puns, and other creative word play – 4630 Bochum became the best-selling German album of all time, a record it held until Grönemeyer's Mensch beat it two decades later.

Jack Bruce (Cream) was guest at Rockpalast in 1980 for the first time – on the occasion of the 7th Rockpalast Night, broadcasted to millions of people all over Europe Live via Eurovision. The line-up was called Jack Bruce & Friends: nobody less than Billy Cobham (Miles Davis, Stanley Clarke) on drums, Clem Clempson (Humble Pie, Colosseum) on guitar and David Sancious (Bruce Springsteen, Santana, Eric Clapton, Sting) on keyboards and guitar. It’s fascinating to watch and listen to these four equitable and brilliant musicians in their blind perfect interplay on stage.

The German Electronics artist Robert Schroeder (discovered 1978 by EM pioneer Klaus Schulze) has produced numerous excellent solo CDs. The music of Robert Schroeder is various, but always soulful. He combines spherical synthesizer sounds with modern rhythm-mical contrasts, often supplemented by spacey guitars and sometimes also by piano, cello or voices. On the occasion of the annually "Schallwelle" Award ceremony, Robert Schroeder once again gave a concert on the 12thof March 2011 in the Planetarium Bochum (FRG). Accompanied by drummer Gigi Frieg and in the encore supplemental by surprise guest musician Bernd Kistenmacher for the approx. 250 spectators results a spectacular and impressing event.