Tamara Danz
Encyclopedia
Tamara Danz was the lead singer and lyricist of the East German rock group Silly
. She died at age 43 of breast cancer
.
(Thuringia
). Her childhood was spent in Romania
and Bulgaria
, where she attended a Russia
n school. She made her singing debut in 1971 in East Berlin
with the band Die Cropies. After two years at university, she broke off her linguistics studies; however, her application to the Hans Eisler Music Academy was rejected. She continued to sing with various bands, including the Oktoberklub, a politically oriented vocal group. Finally, in 1977 she received her diploma from the Friedrichshain School of Music, following three years of study; this was necessary in East Germany to perform as a professional musician. In 1978 she joined the band Familie Silly, which was renamed Silly
in 1980. In 1981 Danz was chosen as best female rock singer in East Germany ("Rocklady Nr. 1 der DDR"), and again in 1983, 1985, and 1986.
Danz was the singer of the all-star band Gitarreros in 1986, where she became acquainted with guitarist Uwe Hassbecker of Stern Meissen
, who would later become her lover and would join Silly later in the year. With the Gitarreros she performed a duet of Bryan Adams
and Tina Turner
's "It's Only Love" with Mike Kilian of Rockhaus; after this she was often referred to as the "Tina Turner of the East," owing in part to their similarly raspy singing voices and bouffant
hairstyles. Danz was not, however, a fan of Turner.
On 18 September 1989 she was a co-author and signatory of the "Resolution der Rockmusiker und Liedermacher" (Resolution of Rock Musicians and Songwriters). This was a petition to the GDR government, in which political reforms and the legalization of opposition political groups were demanded. Danz also read the text illegally at concerts. In 1990, she was on several different round table
s for the reform of the GDR.
Danz was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995, during the recording of Silly's final album, Paradies. Danz married Uwe Hassbecker shortly before her death on 22 July 1996.
Silly (band)
Silly is a German rock band. Founded in East Germany in the year 1978, Silly was one of the country's most popular music acts, and was well known for its charismatic lead singer Tamara Danz. Her death in 1996 ended the band's recording career for 14 years...
. She died at age 43 of breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
.
Life and work
Tamara Danz was born on 14 December 1952 in BreitungenBreitungen
Breitungen is a municipality in the Schmalkalden-Meiningen district, Thuringia, Germany....
(Thuringia
Thuringia
The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
). Her childhood was spent in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
and Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, where she attended a Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n school. She made her singing debut in 1971 in East Berlin
East Berlin
East Berlin was the name given to the eastern part of Berlin between 1949 and 1990. It consisted of the Soviet sector of Berlin that was established in 1945. The American, British and French sectors became West Berlin, a part strongly associated with West Germany but a free city...
with the band Die Cropies. After two years at university, she broke off her linguistics studies; however, her application to the Hans Eisler Music Academy was rejected. She continued to sing with various bands, including the Oktoberklub, a politically oriented vocal group. Finally, in 1977 she received her diploma from the Friedrichshain School of Music, following three years of study; this was necessary in East Germany to perform as a professional musician. In 1978 she joined the band Familie Silly, which was renamed Silly
Silly (band)
Silly is a German rock band. Founded in East Germany in the year 1978, Silly was one of the country's most popular music acts, and was well known for its charismatic lead singer Tamara Danz. Her death in 1996 ended the band's recording career for 14 years...
in 1980. In 1981 Danz was chosen as best female rock singer in East Germany ("Rocklady Nr. 1 der DDR"), and again in 1983, 1985, and 1986.
Danz was the singer of the all-star band Gitarreros in 1986, where she became acquainted with guitarist Uwe Hassbecker of Stern Meissen
Stern-Combo Meißen
Stern-Combo Meißen is a German rock band founded in 1964 in Meißen, East Germany. - External links :* * *...
, who would later become her lover and would join Silly later in the year. With the Gitarreros she performed a duet of Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams, is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, bassist, producer, actor and photographer. Adams has won dozens of awards and nominations, including 20 Juno Awards among 56 nominations. He has also received 15 Grammy Award nominations including a win for Best Song Written...
and Tina Turner
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
's "It's Only Love" with Mike Kilian of Rockhaus; after this she was often referred to as the "Tina Turner of the East," owing in part to their similarly raspy singing voices and bouffant
Bouffant
A bouffant is a type of hairstyle characterized by hair piled high on the head and hanging down on the sides.-History:The bouffant was a mainstream hairstyle in the mid-to-late 18th century in western Europe. It was thought to be created for Marie Antoinette, as she had relatively thin hair and...
hairstyles. Danz was not, however, a fan of Turner.
On 18 September 1989 she was a co-author and signatory of the "Resolution der Rockmusiker und Liedermacher" (Resolution of Rock Musicians and Songwriters). This was a petition to the GDR government, in which political reforms and the legalization of opposition political groups were demanded. Danz also read the text illegally at concerts. In 1990, she was on several different round table
Round table
A round table is a table which has no "head" and no "sides", and therefore no one person sitting at it is given a privileged position and all are treated as equals. The idea stems from the Arthurian legend about the Knights of the Round Table in Camelot....
s for the reform of the GDR.
Danz was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995, during the recording of Silly's final album, Paradies. Danz married Uwe Hassbecker shortly before her death on 22 July 1996.
Literature
- Alexander Osang: Tamara Danz: Legenden. Ch. Links Verlag, Berlin 1997, ISBN 3-86153-124-0