Formation
The band was founded in 1987 by Markus Reinhardt and Pompejo Ricciardi. Reinhardt's brother Oliver Reinhardt joined the band sometime afterward. After producing a demo tape, co-founder Ricciardi left the band and was replaced by Peter Heppner. Heppner had known the band from mutual friends and from growing up in the same neighborhood in Hamburg. Oliver Reinhardt departed the band, leaving the current lineup as Peter Heppner (vocals) and Markus Reinhardt (electronics).
After producing two new demo tapes, Wolfsheim applied at various labels, until they caught the attention of Strange Ways Records, which has since published all their records.
No Happy View & Popkiller
In 1991, the single "The Sparrows and the Nightingales" was released, followed by the single "It's Not Too Late (Don't Sorrow)" and their first album "No Happy View" in 1992. While No Happy View was recorded in two weeks, the sophomore "Popkiller" (1993) was given more time to be produced. This allowed Wolfsheim to incorporate more classical elements.
In 1995, Wolfsheim released a compilation, "55578", which stayed on the German Media Control Charts for five weeks. Its name is the postal code for Wolfsheim, Germany.
Dreaming Apes
The third album "Dreaming Apes" was released in February 1996, followed by Wolfsheim's first tour. On this tour the live album "Hamburg Rom Wolfsheim" was recorded and published in October 1997.
It was in 1998 when Wolfsheim received public attention, after Heppner had recorded a duet "Die Flut" (The Surge) with Joachim Witt. This song was a major hit, reaching number two on the German Single Charts.
Spectators
"Spectators", the fourth album, was released in February 1999 and went to number two on the German album charts. That summer, Wolfsheim played at many of the major German festivals and also played their first show outside of Germany, at Belgium's Eurorock Festival.
In 2001, Heppner recorded more songs as a guest artist. His collaboration with "Schiller", "Dream of You", received heavy rotation on MTV Germany. He also collaborated on "Glasgarten" with "Goethes Erben". These collaborations brought Wolfsheim still more attention. Also in 2001, Metropolis Records brought Wolfsheim to American audiences, releasing Spectators in the United States. Recordings from the Spectators tour were released as a DVD Kompendium in April 2002.
Casting Shadows
"Casting Shadows", their fifth studio album, was released in March 2003. The single "Kein Zurück" debuted at number five on the Media Control Charts, later reaching number four, and staying in the top ten for 10 weeks. Casting Shadows itself reached the top position on the album charts. In March and April 2004, Wolfsheim went on their first tour in the USA.
On January 17th, 2008, it was announced on the band's official website that the collaboration between Markus Reinhardt and Peter Heppner is reaching its end. According to the press release, the reasons for this are attributed to ongoing disputes concerning the future of Wolfsheim. Heppner's ambitions to launch a solo career meant that any plans for the production of a new Wolfsheim album would be suspended for 2009.
The disputes peaked when Peter Heppner signed a multi-album solo record deal in late 2005 and Markus Reinhardt, considering this a breach of contract and a disregard for the basic interests of Wolfsheim, filed a lawsuit to exclude Heppner from the Wolfsheim partnership so that Wolfsheim could continue without him. In spring 2008, Reinhardt's lawsuit was rejected.
A Million Miles
Wolfsheim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I stand alone and shout
Not any thoughts, not any doubts
I look around and nothing
I can see is true
This is anything but new
Pour down impassively
A solemn nightfall kills the light
That longs to be
A needless pain
You bear in vain
Unless you can see
There is nothing to sustain
The song A Million Miles by Wolfsheim exudes a sense of detachment and sheer loneliness from the world. The opening line sets the stage for the rest of the song as it highlights a feeling of physical distance from the rest of the world. The singer stands alone and shouts but there's no one to hear. He's surrounded by a world that's no longer true, and everything appears fake. He's detached from everything that surrounds him and is consumed by a feeling of isolation.
The singer then goes on to describe a silent rain pouring down impassively, signifying how his world has become a solemn one, and how every light longing to shine is dying in the darkness. The rain here represents the singer's grief and depression, a torrent of emotions he can't avoid. As the last line goes, "a needless pain you bear in vain unless you can see there's nothing to sustain," the singer concludes that all his pain is worthless unless he can find meaning in it, only then can he sustain himself.
Overall, the song is an excellent representation of the emptiness and loneliness we sometimes feel, despite being surrounded by people and distractions.
Line by Line Meaning
A million miles from here
I am far away from where I belong, both physically and emotionally
I stand alone and shout
I am expressing my feelings, forcing my voice to be heard, even though no one may be listening
Not any thoughts, not any doubts
I am sure of my beliefs and confident in my actions, with no hesitation or uncertainty
I look around and nothing
The world I observe is filled with disappointments and disillusionment, devoid of any beauty or joy
I can see is true
The reality I perceive is false and misleading, an illusion aimed to deceive
This is anything but new
The situation I find myself in is not unique, but has been experienced many times before
I feel a silent rain
I am overcome with a sense of sadness and emptiness, as if tears are falling without any sound
Pour down impassively
The emotions I am feeling are not reciprocated or acknowledged by those around me
A solemn nightfall kills the light
The darkness of night descends, suffocating any glimmers of hope or positivity
That longs to be
The light symbolizes a desire for change, for something better and more fulfilling
A needless pain
The suffering I endure is unnecessary, only causing me more harm than good
You bear in vain
Your struggle and hardship serves no purpose, as it is not leading to any positive outcome
Unless you can see
Only through a change in perspective and attitude can your situation improve
There is nothing to sustain
The current state of affairs is unsustainable, and a different approach is necessary
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Karin Andreev
Wonderful music, makes me sooo happy!!!!
DJ Mithril
simply beautiful
KNIGHT FREAK
Awesome song with awesome voice love u peter happner
Steve Jaenghan
great musical rain...
Rain matias muñoz
A
MILLION
MILES
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