Bela B here in 2019 at the “SchleFaZ 100 – The Anniversary Festival” in Berlin.
Photo: Getty Images, Tristar Media. All rights reserved.
Bela B from Die Ärzte was in front of the camera for the ARD crime series “Polizeiruf 110” in the episode “None of us”. In his role as street musician Jo Mennecke, the Berliner says he feels comfortable and in good hands – and is reminded of his own past.
In an interview with the German Press Agency, Bela B remembers: “I think I was 18 when I last played drums in a pedestrian zone with a few other musicians. We got a little change there.” When “Polizeiruf 110” was shot, passers-by got around six euros.
Speaking of his continued interest in acting, the Doctors drummer says, “It’s really appealing to step into a different role, to impersonate someone and ideally to be that someone, to feel and do things like the character who I play”.
Although Bela B, whose real name is Dirk Felsenheimer, has appeared in front of the camera from time to time since the 1980s, he has always avoided musical roles because he found it “pretty close and misleading. I didn’t want there to be any confusion. I don’t care a bit now. I bring these skills with me, other actors bring other skills with me,” says Bela B today.
With his band Die Ärzte, Bela B will soon be on tour again in Germany – contrary to what was originally planned: Due to the “confusing and inconsistently regulated corona situation in the federal states”, Die Ärzte decided in September to hold the already postponed “In The Cancel Ä Tonight” tour completely. Instead, a new concert tour was planned: In 2022, Bela B, Farin Urlaub and Rod Gonzales want to go on the “Buffalo Bill in Tom” tour in addition to their planned “BERLIN TOUR MMXXII”. Die Ärzte had recently announced numerous well-known special guests for the opening act of those shows.
Most recently, Die Ärzte released a mini-EP for “Kraft” including a video. “Kraft” is after “Noise” the second single from the new album DUNKEL by Die Ärzte. This was released on September 24, 2021, almost a year after its predecessor HELL.