Minnemann, Marco (D)

Marco Minnemann was born on December 24, 1970 in Hannover, Germany.

At 11 years old, Marco joined a jazz trio consisting of keyboards, bass and drums. With that group he gained his first live experience, earning DM?150 for each performance. In 1987 he joined the reggae band “Special Request”, which had already made a name for itself in northern Germany.

Marco’s fame as an up-and-coming, extraordinarily talented drummer reached Munich. The first crossover band “Freaky Funkin’ Weirdoz” offered him a drummer position in 1992 in connection with a major deal with BMG-Ariola. At that time, Marco was in the final months of his alternative military service in Hannover, which could have hindered his move to Munich. The commander and Marco’s colleagues supported his move, and through their efforts they paved the way for his professional career to proceed. The “Weirdoz” were originators of so-called crossover music, which many bands later claimed as their own.

A highlight for the “Weirdoz” was a gig with Nina Hagen on the album “Mao Mak Maa”, featuring a fantastic cover of Ian Dury’s hit “Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick”.

Marco was immediately booked to play a Nina Hagen tour. The successful collaboration with the “Weirdoz” ended in 1997 after four albums together: “Senseless Wonder”, “Mao Mak Maa”, “Culture Shock” and “Hula”.

Even while working with the “Weirdoz”, Marco produced four albums with his own band “Illegal Aliens”: “Thickness”, “Red Alibis”, “Time” and “International Telephone”. Since then, two solo albums followed: “The Green Mindbomb” and “Comfortably Homeless”, more aligned with his talents as a drummer. Artemis played a significant role as singer and co-composer.

Marco also pursued his passion for jazz and funk by playing with the “Wolfgang Schmid’s Kick” band. Schmid was ex-bassist in Dolinger’s “Passport” and composer of many film soundtracks. Peter Wölpl was guitarist with Klaus Lage, among others.

Almost simultaneously, Marco joined the Top Ten crossover band “H-Blockx” on the album “Fly Eyes”. Between 1997 and 1999 they played over 200 gigs together. Meanwhile, Marco’s reputation as a talented drummer spread beyond Germany into Europe and North America. Notable were solo workshops, for example at the Frankfurt Music Fair, PASIC in Dallas, and a solo performance at the “Modern Drummer Festival” in Toronto, where Marco had the honor of being the first German drummer to showcase his talents. This performance, in the eyes of professionals and music trade magazines, propelled him into the Top Ten of the drumming world.

Clinic tours with the trio of bassist Gary Willis (Simon Phillips, Alan Holdsworth) and Andy Timmons (Simon Phillips), as well as with bassist Doug Wimbish (Living Colour) and Paul Gilbert (Racer X, Mr. Big), received great attention. On his latest albums “International Telephone” and “Comfortably Homeless” the renowned T.M. Stevens (Joe Cocker, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Steve Vai) played bass and sang. He made himself available at Principal Studios despite an overflowing calendar of engagements. Under the working title “Braindead”, a partial reunion of the “Weirdoz” (Werner RIF KIF and Marco) is being recorded with Artemis as singer. Several record companies have expressed strong interest in this project.