Hannes Wader (born Hans Eckard Wader on 23 June 1942) is a German singer-songwriter ("Liedermacher"). He was an important figure in German leftist circles from the 1970s to the present, with his songs covering such themes as socialist and communist resistance to oppression in Europe and other places like Latin America. He both wrote new songs and played versions of older historical works.
Wader was born in Bethel, near Bielefeld, Westphalia, Germany. His works are mostly based on German folk songs. Aside from his own lyrics, he also performs works of famous poets like Eichendorff. He now rarely sings the workers' songs and socialist hymns that used to be a large part of his repertoire. He recently published an album exclusively with songs by Franz Schubert. He also performed translated works from Carl Michael Bellman on the album Liebe, Schnaps & Tod.
Remarkably, many of the social issues Wader sang about are still relevant today. Besides Franz Josef Degenhardt, Wader is one of the most active political singers in Germany.
In the 1970s, Hannes Wader became one of the stars of the political left through his provocative songs. He was a member of the German Communist Party from 1977 to 1991. Wader even came under suspicions of terrorism because of his song Der Tankerkönig, a spoken song about kidnapping a tycoon.
In 1973, he moved to Struckum, in Nordfriesland, where he published some of his later albums. In 1998, he and his family moved to the Steinburg district of Schleswig-Holstein.
He has published numerous albums and still tours throughout Germany. He appears in open-air concerts and also in clubs.
Performed songs (selected)
"Die Internationale"
"Die Moorsoldaten"
"Traum vom Frieden" (Wader's German translation of "Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream" by Ed McCurdy)
