At the end of August, Peter Maffay celebrated his 74th birthday. This was accompanied by speculative stories about his final farewell to the “wild touring life”; after a proud 55 years between power rock, lederhosen and pop pop. Most recently, he was celebrated by his fans in sold-out football temples with the “Memories III” program.
Then again the forest of papers and digital formats were abuzz when it became known that he had married his partner Hendrikje Balsmeyer, who was almost 40 years his junior. The successful musician’s fifth marriage. His version of “About Seven Bridges Must Go” (1980) has sold around 50 million records. As (co-)inventor of the fairy tale comic character Tabaluga, he was able to shine in a different genre.
Now Maffay has written a handwritten letter addressed to his large fan base and the many music colleagues who have accompanied him over the decades.
“Dear friends, dear fan community,” it says with a dramatic undertone.
“We are facing a unique situation. 2024 will be a very special year. We are ‘scratching with our hooves’, the temperature is rising because we are dying to share the news with you. On Thursday, September 21st, we will let the cat out of the bag at 11 a.m. We’re really looking forward to it. To take all of you who have been loyal to us for years – the young as well as the forever young – on this trip. You can be excited! So more soon. Your Peter”
Which of course the community in question immediately speculated wildly about. For example with this assumption: “Tabaluga is going on tour again”
Or: “Is there a new rock album coming out” to “How finally will he really end in the summer of 2024?”
Pretty much everything from serious to less serious comments are represented.
It is very likely that today’s press conference (September 21st) will be about rolling out the concerts in the year of the European Football Championship in Germany and the Olympic Games in Paris.
For “complete clarity,” a news report from his tour organizer says, “we will have to wait and see what awaits the fans this Thursday at 11 a.m. Then the press conference mentioned in his online letter will take place in Cologne.
Maffay previously posted on Instagram: “Dear friends, some of you have already guessed – we are going on a big tour! Advance sales start on Thursday, September 21st – we will announce the exact time and further details about the concerts in the press conference on September 21st from 11 a.m. You will be able to follow the press conference via live stream. We look forward to seeing you! All the best, your Peter”
These are the tour dates (update: 9/21/23, 11:45 a.m.):
- June 21, 2024 – Rostock
- June 22, 2024 – Hanover
- June 28, 2024 – Munich
- July 2, 2024 – Bremen
- July 4, 2024 – Berlin
- July 7, 2024 – Hamburg
- July 12, 2024 – Cologne
- July 16, 2024 – Stuttgart
- July 18, 2024 – Frankfurt
- July 20, 2024 – Leipzig