CULTURE
The East Styrian singer, drummer and stage artist Boris Bukowski was awarded the Grand Josef Krainer Prize in the art and culture category on Monday. The 76-year-old has been on stage for more than 60 years.
Boris Bukowski has played, sung and produced countless songs. In 2013 his book “unter Bunte Hunden”, an autobiography in anecdotes, was published, and in 2017 his last studio album “Is there life before death?” was released.
Fürstenfeld, Jus and drums
Boris (actually: Fritz) Bukowski was born in Fürstenfeld, the son of a lawyer. He studied law and, despite an early inclination towards the stage, completed his doctorate. He was fascinated by music as a small child, first learning to play the guitar and then the drums. He also owed his first engagement to the drums: a band wanted to buy his instrument, which he refused. “In the end, the compromise is that they will also take him on as a drummer if he just brings his drums,” the laudation said.
From Music Machine to Amadeus
He had his first successes with the band “Music Machine”. From 1972 he drummed with “Magic” and from 1977 he was the singer of the band. With hard rock and German lyrics, she won fans and criticism. After three albums, eleven singles and dozens of concerts, it was over for the time being. From 1979 to 1991 Bukowski ran the Magic Sound Studio together with Andi Beit. Among other things, the recordings for “Cafe Passé” by the First General Uncertainty, “Schwarze Energie” by Peter Weibel’s Hotel Morphila Orchestra, albums by STS and 1985 Bukowski’s first solo album entitled “Fritze mit der Spritze” were made there.
The debut album brought the artist a nomination for the Austrian music award “Pop-Amadeus” – in 2022 he should finally be awarded the Amadeus for his life’s work.
“Intense” successful
The first solo live tour followed in 1986 and the album “Intensiv” was released in 1987, which included the hits “Kokain”, “War you not down” and “Hart undweich Simultaneously”.
At the end of the millennium things became a little quieter for Boris Bukowski, but in 2001 he returned to the concert stage. In 2013 his book “unter Bunten Hunden”, an autobiography in anecdotes, was published. In 2017 the studio album “Is there life before death?” was released. It contains contributions from Depeche Mode drummer Christian Eigner, Niko Stoessl, I-Wolf and ex-sofa surfer Wolfgang Schloegl, Bukowski’s live band Bunte Hunde, the horns of Parov Stelar and Ernst Molden.