Ewald Pfleger: In the footsteps of the world hit Live Is Life!

Ewald Pfleger: In the footsteps of the world hit Live Is Life!

The unique story of Opus and its legendary hymn "Live Is Life" is a fascinating example of success in the music business. The Ewald "Sunny" nurse, born in Ollersdorf,, an important member of the band, remembers the beginnings and the incredible rise of the group. As early as the 1980s, the song picked up speed in countries such as Austria, Germany, Sweden and France, conquered the hit parades and became a real classic. According to the Kleine Zeitung today has reached over 300 million streams and on YouTube there are countless times a day heard.

The roots of opus

The band, which was founded in 1973, looks back on a remarkable career. Nurses share his memories of his childhood and the first steps in music that led him to this world -famous hit. Despite his desire to play guitar, he began with the accordion under the guidance of Franz Bachkönig, the father of a later Opus member. Finally, nurses took the first steps to found his first volume and switched to the guitar early on. "At the age of eleven I played guitar for the first time," he says, referring to the development that Opus was founded, which was based in Graz at the end of the 1970s, and with singers like Herwig Rüdisser formed unmistakable identity.

The success story culminated with "Live Is Life", which was intended as a kind of birthday song for the band. As nurse explained in an interview with Athens Calling , the song was intended for the audience to sing along-and the audience clearly identified with opus. Especially in the time of the Covid 19 pandemic, HIT experienced a renaissance, with not only fans, but also neighbors at house parties, dancing streams and dancing together. "It is astonishing how a song stays alive over the years and can donate comfort and strength in difficult times," says Pfleger.