Sammy's Saloon

My gateway to the 60s! I became a member of this well-known country/oldie/rock institution around 2000. Sammy was part of the Hamburg beat scene that evolved from the Beatles' appearance at the Indra, Top10, and finally Star-Club. I learned so much from this man, and I respect him as my kinda "Hamburg scene dad", hahaha! His band back then were the very well known Dirty Dogs, and it's great to listen to his stories from the Reeperbahn: Stories full of music, rebellion, sin, booze, Rock'n Roll. Being 50+, it's a funny feeling to become the young greenhorn when we join on stage, because this guy next to me is well over 70. No use fakin' it, this man can tell, 'cause this man's through it before!

We are joined by Wolfgang Csenteri, my mate from Yamaha on the drums, Jason Jones (JonesGangster in his own right), and just recently by Frank Elwart from Johnny B Bad/YONKS' hall of fame.

Some impressions from our gig at Downtown Bluesclub, Hamburg, late November 2014. There's more to find on YouTube, folks!

Coming up - Richie live

23.08.24 Solingen (Paniker)

24.08.24 Eppingen (Paniker)

05.09.24 Maschen (Johnny B. Bad)

What's up, Ridge?

Meeting (and rehearsing with) Udo Lindenberg

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Dreams come true. Sometimes. Happened to me in May '22. No kidding', seriously!

In April '22 I got a call from Andy, a guy who turned out to be a member of the „inner circle“ of Udo Lindenberg’s tour production team. In essence: „The artist wants to meet you, Richie! And bring your guitar...“.

Wait... WHAT?!?

Fou...

So, this happened on May 1st 2022:

I drove to Timmendorfer Strand, where UL and the Panikorchester were rehearsing for the tour ’22, and met all these icons I knew from concerts and articles and the telly. I met the man himself and we rehearsed his music all day long. Mark well: Not a tribute band, I was part of the real deal!

I met a totally friendly, overwhelmingly nice guy, professionally well informed about this Richie Jones he was making music with. A man who’s absolutely reflected and aware about his attribute being a national treasure, totally committed to make everybody in the room feel comfortable and easy, including himself.

Maybe the purpose of having me at a rehearsal was to check out some plan B on guitar players against the background of the pandemic.

Since the tour took place without any virus incident (hence me not playing on this tour), you might ask: „Okay, now what’s next?!?“ Frankly, I dunno, but I keep dreaming of being part of Germany’s greatest Rock’n Roll circus. But whatever may come, hey, I’m already on the bright side of life. I played with Udo Lindenberg, he liked what he saw/heard, and nobody will ever take that away from me.

Surely, a dream came true…

Hamburg, May 2022