Udo Jürgens: panicked nights and the shadow life of a star

Udo Jürgens: panicked nights and the shadow life of a star

Udo Jürgens, the legendary Austrian singer and composer, left not only left a remarkable music career, but also a family history that is now being examined in a new ARD documentary. Jürgens, who sold more than 105 million records, is known to many as the man who inspired generations with hits like "Greek wine". Nevertheless, in the documentary "Udo!" To light that the artist suffered from panic fear of appearances and this influenced his private nights.

his ex-wife, Erika "Panja" Meier, who was married to him for 26 years, shares her memories in this film. She reports that Udo was often woken up crying at night and that she even had to call the emergency doctor. "He cried so strongly that I called the emergency doctor," she recalls, adding that these panic attacks were not only caused by the "fear of the tour", but also from fear of not doing justice to the high expectations.

The challenges of fame

Udo Jürgens, born on September 30, 1934, experienced the big stage as his workplace. As he captivated the masses with his music, he suffered internally. His family knew the real emotions behind the radiant star. His brother Manfred Bockelmann describes him as a person who appeared in public as a "total professional", but was "a total autistic and lonely" in real life. This throws a new light on the often envied existence of an artist who celebrated countless successes, but also fought with inner demons.

The love story between Udo Jürgens and Erika Meier began in May 1955 when the then young woman was addressed by the charismatic musician in a Munich club. After eight years of relationship, they got married and got two children. But the relationship ended in 1989 after 26 years. Erika Meier decided to take her name after the divorce, which underlines that the years with Jürgens were both a source of great joy and significant stress.

Udo Jürgens and his late aftermath

On December 21, 2014, Udo Jürgens died when he collapsed in Switzerland during a walk. His death was the result of heart failure and led to a nationwide expression of grief among his fans. Jürgens would have celebrated his 90th birthday this year, which gives the reason for many reviews of his artistic heritage and his personal battles. In the documentation in question, his life is presented in a new light, which illuminates both the successes and the deep personal challenges that he kept hidden.

The ARD documentary "Udo!" Is broadcast on December 23 at 10:30 p.m. and is a valuable homage to one of the largest artists in the German -speaking area. Before that, "Udo Jürgens Forever - the show on his 90th birthday" is shown what underlines the meaning and the imperishable influence of Jürgens' music on today's time. This highly dramatic story not only focuses on his remarkable career, but also on the vulnerable pages of a man who was often considered invincible.

For further information and deeper insights into the life of this extraordinary artist, See the current reporting on www.gala.de .