1967/68 – Band “Vox Popoli”

With the royalties from dance music, I could finally afford a “decent” electric guitar: a black Hoyer replica of the Gibson Les Paul. Later, I fitted it with humbucker pickups I bought in London – and was convinced I was now playing the real Gibson sound. I even temporarily painted over the Hoyer logo on the neck with the Gibson logo. I also got a small Fender Reverb, which was with me for a long time and which I still own today.

In Trier-Kürenz, near the tobacco mill, the next epicenter of my musical learning and friendships was formed: the band “Vox Popoli.” With Äbby Simons (bass), his brother Manny (drums), and our neighbor Werner Nossem (guitar and piano), we rehearsed seriously in Äbby's grandmother's basement—playing Beatles, Jethro Tull, and our own compositions. In 1969, Äbby brought the well-known Trier drummer Martin Hermann along to a rehearsal. Soon we were playing in the auditorium of a high school near Bonn—in front of thirty people, including some fans who had traveled all the way from Trier. It was far too loud, but we went home happy. „Fox-Popoli“. Mit Äbby Simons (Bass), dessen Bruder Manny (Schlagzeug) und unserem Nachbarn Werner Nossem (Gitarre und Klavier) probten wir ernsthaft im Keller von Äbbys Oma – Beatles, Jethro Tull und auch eigene Stücke. 1969 brachte Äbby den weithin bekannten Trierer Schlagzeuger Martin Hermann zu einer Probe mit. Bald spielten wir in der Aula eines Gymnasiums nahe Bonn – vor dreißig Zuschauern, darunter sogar angereiste Trierer Fans. Es war viel zu laut, aber wir fuhren glücklich nach Hause.

Werner Nossem was an outstanding musician and a charismatic personality—my mentor at the time. But a lack of resources prevented him from keeping up with the rapid technological advancements. The band eventually broke up, leaving only Äbby and me—and we searched for a new beginning.