Matthias Reim

A powerful, dramatic singer/songwriter with a strong following in Germany, Matthias Reim began his career writing for others (Bernhard Brink, Roberto Blanco, Tina York) before beginning his own singing career in 1990 with the album Reim. A single from the album, "Verdammt, Ich Lieb Dich," spent 16 weeks on top of the German charts, tying the record held by Boney M. Reim continued to release successful albums throughout the '90s, but a partnership with businessman Alfred Reimann (which included investments in everything from computer stores to hair salons) slowly sent Reim into bankruptcy. His personal life was also turbulent, including three failed marriages and four children from four different mothers, including one with the popular German singer Michelle. Reflecting upon these struggles, Reim wrote and released the emotional album Männer Sind Krieger in 2007. The German press hailed it as a collection of insightful songs from a true survivor. Back on his feet creatively and financially, Reim returned in 2010 with Sieben Leben; the album was a commercial success that fared well with fans, and Rein supported it with a concert tour, documented on the live disc Sieben Leben: Live 2011. In 2013, Reim set out to surpass the commercial and critical success of Sieben Leben with his album Unendlich; the album quickly rose to the top of the German sales charts, and a special edition of the set (with a bonus disc of Christmas-themed tunes) was released in time for the end of the year holidays. ~ David Jeffries