Hans Söllner

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Hans Söllner
Hans Söllner in Marburg, April 24 2005
Born	December 24, 1955 Bad Reichenhall, Germany

Johann Michael Söllner (born December 24, 1955 in Bad Reichenhall), better known as Hans Söllner, is a German singer-songwriter.

Throughout German-speaking countries, especially in Germany and Austria, he is famous for publicly criticizing the German government and political systems in general to a vast extent.

While Söllner sings in Bavarian dialect his music can be considered as Reggae, creating an extremely exceptional contrast. His lyrics are like stories, as they mainly deal with being in conflict with the law and everyday life problems.

Hans Sönner has been accused of character assassination and possession of small amounts of marijuana. By 2001 he was fined with more 150 000 Euros in total and still is being sued regularly. Probably that big part of his image is the reason why he lacks of fans. However those who support him admire his courage, honesty and perseverance.

1 Biography
2 Discography
3 External links

[edit] Biography

At the Sinnflut-Festival in Erding, 2004

Johann Hans Michael Söllner was born on December 24 in 1955 to the married couple of Johann and Therese Söllner in Bad Reichenhall. At the age of three he attended a catholic kindergarten in Bad Reichenhall, Sankt Zeno. From 1961 trough 1964 he went to the secondary modern school in Marzoll. In his youth he was a member of the Trachtenverein Marzoll, but later was ejected because of his long hair.

The completion of an apprenticeship as a cook at the age of eighteen was followed by a year of unemployment, until he had to attend mandatory military service. After three month of basic training he skipped to community service in Weilheim. Then he moved to Munich and, again, was unemployed for two years. His first song "Endlich eine Arbeit" emerged from these two years. Later he completed another apprentice as a car mechanic. Within three years he taught himself to play the guitar and wrote the songs for his debut album.

Another three years went by until he was able to release his first LP Nachdenkliches zum Schmunzeln because he had ranked first at a singers competition in Traunstein.

In the 1990s he founded the Reggae group Bayerman Vibration along with other jobless musicians. At the same time he recorded solo project, like his most famous albums Hey Staat (1989) and Der Charlie (1992).

In August 1993 he resigned from the Roman Catholic Church and decided to become Rastafarian, as well as, vegetarian and pacifist.

In 1998 he got to know the Austrian Reggae group The Buccaneers and started to tour with them. By 2000 they changed their name to Bayaman`Sissdem and had some member changes two years later.

He took a one year break in 1999, primarily to mark the end of his career. However he returned to making music in 2000.

In 2004 Söllner published his first book "Bloß a Gschicht".