BAP

Rock band formed in Cologne in 1976 around singer‑songwriter Wolfgang Niedecken. BAP belongs to the tradition of rock sung in dialect, with lyrics mostly in Kölsch that describe urban everyday life, family ties and social or political themes. During the 1980s BAP gained visibility on the German‑language scene with albums such as “Für usszeschnigge!” (1981) and “Vun drinne noh drusse” (1982), where a folk‑ and blues‑tinged rock centers on electric guitars, quieter ballads and choruses carried by Niedecken’s half‑spoken, half‑sung vocal delivery. Extensive tours in Germany, Switzerland and Austria established BAP as a regular live act, despite frequent lineup changes that always left Wolfgang Niedecken at the heart of the project. Under the name BAP and later Niedeckens BAP the band continued its course with releases including “Amerika” (1996), “Aff un zo” (2004), “Radio Pandora” (2008) and “Lebenslänglich” (2016), maintaining a Cologne‑rooted melodic rock aesthetic while occasionally incorporating external collaborations and influences.