Wolfgang Niedecken

Wolfgang Niedecken (born 1951 in Cologne) is a German singer, musician, painter, and author. From 1970 to 1976, he studied fine art at the Cologne Werkschulen; in 1974, he spent a period of study in New York with Larry Rivers. In the 1970s, he founded the Kölschrock band BAP and shaped its music as singer and lyricist. In 1992, Niedecken co-initiated the “Arsch huh” concert in Cologne, held in opposition to right-wing violence and racism. His social commitment was recognized with, among other honors, the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Echo Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2004, he became an ambassador for the “Gemeinsam für Afrika” campaign, and in 2007 he founded the “Rebound” project for the reintegration of former child soldiers.