Dieter Bohlen, born Dieter Günter Bohlen on February 7, 1954, is a prominent German songwriter, producer, singer, and television personality. Best known for his role in the pop duo Modern Talking during the 1980s, Bohlen has significantly impacted both German and international music scenes. Beyond his musical accomplishments, his personal relationships have also garnered public attention. This article delves into the relationship history of Dieter Bohlen, exploring the key figures who have shaped his life.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Dieter Bohlen is the eldest son of Hans Bohlen, a building contractor born in 1928, and Edith, born in 1936. He spent his childhood in East Frisia and later moved to Eversten (Oldenburg) with his family. Even during his school years, Bohlen displayed a passion for music, which led him to work as a songwriter for various Schlager singers at the Hamburg-based label Intersong in the late 1970s.
In 1978, Bohlen founded Monza with Holger Garbode. Monza released a second single, "Heiße Nacht in der City", a German-language cover of Nick Gilder's "Hot Night in the City", which also was unsuccessful. In 1980, he began working for the Berlin-based label Hansa. That same year, under the pseudonym Steve Benson, he released a solo single in English, "Don't Throw My Love Away". Soon after, he joined the band Sunday, with which he appeared on the ZDF-Hitparade in early 1982 with the song "Halé, hey Louise".
Rise to Fame with Modern Talking
After producing six unsuccessful singles in German for Schlager singer Thomas Anders from 1982 to 1984, Dieter Bohlen and Thomas Anders founded the pop duo Modern Talking. The band achieved remarkable success, topping the German singles chart five times consecutively with hits like "You're My Heart, You're My Soul," "You Can Win If You Want," "Cheri, Cheri Lady," "Brother Louie," and "Atlantis Is Calling (S.O.S. For Love)." Their popularity extended throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Blue System and Continued Success
In 1987, Modern Talking disbanded, leading Bohlen to launch his solo project, Blue System, which lasted for a decade. During this time, he continued writing and producing for other artists. In 1986, Bohlen penned "Midnight Lady" for former Smokie singer Chris Norman, which became a major hit. In 1988, he wrote the title song of Tatort episode Moltke [de], "Silent Water", which he performed himself as Blue System. In 1989, two songs written and produced by him were sent to the Eurovision Song Contest: Nino de Angelo represented Germany with the song "Flieger" and reached place 14, while Thomas Forstner represented Austria with the song "Nur ein Lied" and reached place 5. From 1991 to 1993, he worked with Bonnie Tyler on the albums Bitterblue, Angel Heart, and Silhouette in Red.
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Modern Talking's Reunion and Second Breakup
At the beginning of 1998, Modern Talking reunited, performing in March on the German TV show Wetten, dass..?. They released a remixed version of their 1984 single "You're My Heart, You're My Soul", featuring Eric Singleton on rap vocals. Their first comeback album Back for Good, which included four new tracks, as well as all of the previous hits remixed with up-to-date techniques, took the number-one spot in 15 countries, occupying Germany's for five consecutive weeks. In 2003, after chalking up over 400 gold and platinum awards worldwide, Bohlen and Anders disbanded again, just before releasing another best-of compilation.
Personal Relationships
Dieter Bohlen's personal life has been as eventful as his professional career. His relationships have often been subject to public scrutiny.
Nadja Abd el Farrag
One of Bohlen's more publicized relationships was with Nadja Abd el Farrag, often referred to as "Naddel." She was a constant presence in the media during their time together. However, the relationship ended, and Nadja has since pursued her own career in the entertainment industry.
Verona Pooth
Dieter Bohlen was married to Verona Pooth (formerly Verona Feldbusch). Their marriage and subsequent divorce were highly publicized. The split was acrimonious, with both parties making headlines. Despite the tumultuous end to their relationship, Verona has moved on and achieved success in her own right.
Estefania Küster
From 2001 to 2006, Dieter Bohlen was in a relationship with model and dancer Estefania Küster. Their son, Maurice Cassian, was born on July 7, 2005.
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Carina Walz
Since 2006, Dieter Bohlen has been in a relationship with Fatma Carina Walz, whom he met in Mallorca, Spain. They remain together, and Carina is often seen accompanying Bohlen at public events.
Other Notable Collaborations
In 1991, Bohlen produced Roy Black's final album, Rosenzeit. In 2002, Deutschland sucht den Superstar (DSDS), the German version of Pop Idol and American Idol, was launched with Bohlen as one of the judges. He has been a judge each season. He has produced most of the winners, yielding several hits such as "We Have a Dream". In 2007, the German installment of the Got Talent franchise, Das Supertalent, was launched with Bohlen as one of the judges. In 2010, Bohlen began working with Schlager singer Andrea Berg. All of her albums produced by him (Schwerelos, Abenteuer, Atlantis, and Seelenbeben) topped the German and Austrian album charts.
Public Image and Controversies
Bohlen's career has not been without controversy. He is known for his blunt and often harsh comments as a judge on talent shows like Deutschland sucht den Superstar. These remarks have drawn comparisons to Simon Cowell. Copyright expert Paul Hertin from Berlin repeatedly claimed that Bohlen plagiarized several songs and thus breached copyright.
Books and Autobiographies
Between 2002 and 2008, Bohlen published several books, including autobiographies and advice books. His first autobiography, Nichts als die Wahrheit, sold over a million copies in Germany. A second autobiography, Hinter den Kulissen, faced criticism and legal challenges.
Advertising Deals and Ventures
Dieter Bohlen has also been involved in numerous advertising campaigns, partnering with companies such as Müller Milch, Makro Markt, and Unilever.
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