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Vocals & Lead Guitar – Wolfgang Uhlich
Wolfgang Uhlich is the founder of dIRE sTRATS. From his very first attempt at guitar at age 14, his initial idol was Ritchie Blackmore, and later – through “Sultans of Swing” – Mark Knopfler. Not knowing how to use a pick, he played with his fingertips until his fingers were sore. After several band projects, 2004 felt like the right time to pursue his favourite music.
Thomas Fiebig was already set as musician no. 1, since Thomas and Wolfgang already knew each other from a rock ’n’ roll band.
Finding additional musicians proved extremely difficult. At a time when tribute bands were far less in demand, the project was viewed as (literally) a non-starter. Recruited musicians agreed, only to cancel sometimes on the very day of the first rehearsal.
Until the rehearsal date when the four kindred spirits met who would play together until 2020 (Fiebig, Gernhoff, Spencer, Uhlich). Only after several rehearsals was a keyboard player found in Lars Leminski. This line-up played six wonderful years together. In 2011, Lars was replaced by Tobi Blattmann.
Many fine years later, Peter Spencer left the band. Wolfgang took over as vocalist, combining singing and playing in the way Mark Knopfler is known for. New drummer Olaf Satzer joined, having sat behind the sTRATS drum kit irregularly since 2007.
As an additional guitarist, Wolfgang’s former guitar teacher and mentor Matthias Strass joined the band. A new position of percussionist was created for Jens.
Wolfgang generally plays with his fingertips, just as Knopfler does – allowing him to get very close to the style. His equipment is also similar to Knopfler’s. Wolfgang’s golden rule: “Play in the spirit of the original and the music.” This approach earns him great recognition at home and abroad.
Bass – Thomas Fiebig
The big man at the big bass. But Thomas Fiebig was once small too. At the tender age of 17, Thomas wanted the guitarist’s spot in a school band – as was so often the case back then, the guitarist positions were long since taken – the bassist’s spot, however, was unpopular and therefore vacant – posing for the girls was perfectly possible with almost any instrument back then, just not with the bass – most people had no idea and still don’t know what it sounds like or what it’s good for… (Thomas likes to say: bass is the connection between noise (drums) and music (the artistic rest))… and for lack of band alternatives, Thomas took the bassist job. Over the following decades he followed this honourable path, working through various musical stations from “original-compositions rock band”, hard rock band, rock ’n’ roll band including double bass and the associated acrobatic routines, through top 40 and dance combo to become a sought-after bassist in the Bremerhaven music scene. In 2000, his then rock ’n’ roll band was looking for a new guitarist and hired Wolfgang – the recommendation and warning from the go-between was clear and unambiguous:
Quote: “Wolfgang is still very young, but he already plays ‘quite decently’ – however, he always plays that ‘Knopfler stuff’ – you’ll have to drum that out of him!” This quote comes (according to legend) from Matthias Strass, who joined the band as guitarist in 2021.
Where it all ended up should by now be clear to every fan of the dIREsTRATS…
After the rock ’n’ roll band ended, Wolfgang decided it was time to found the dIREsTRATS as a tribute band – Thomas was a little reluctant for a few weeks – but in the end Wolfgang persuaded him. There was a second ultimatum in 2021, when Wolfgang decided to start singing: “Thomas, I’m going to sing now – not beautifully, but loudly… are you in?”
By now Thomas can’t imagine life without the sTRATS.
Keyboards – Tobi Blattmann
Tobi Blattmann has held down the keyboard parts since March 2011 and is a great asset to the dIREsTRATS – the band has developed musically enormously thanks to him.
You might think Tobi plays with hands, feet and nose simultaneously, to cover all the different keyboard and piano parts. Under the motto “Everything Live” – and with the benefit of his great talent, dIRE sTRATS is able to deliver the demanding keyboard and especially piano parts in the spirit of the original.
Tobi is at home in almost all musical styles. Originally from Freiburg im Breisgau, he moved to Hamburg in 1988 to study organ and piano at the Hamburg Conservatory. Even after completing his diploma in 1993, he stayed in the north, where he has worked ever since as a freelance musician and music teacher. Tobi has been with the sTRATS since 2011.
Guitar – Matthias Strass
Matthias’ musical career is thoroughly professional. The early years of his adult life he worked as a guitarist for bands and theatre as well as running a studio in Bremerhaven.
In 2002 he moved to Hamburg. He has remained loyal to the theatre, in nearly 100 different productions ranging from classical to rock, and plays in almost all Hamburg musicals.
He also plays and composes for TV and radio drama productions.
Since 2002 he has also been a lecturer for the Kontaktstudiengang Popular Music at the Hamburg University of Music and Theatre, which he himself completed in 1998.
One might wonder why someone with such a CV would make the leap back to Bremerhaven as guitarist for dIRE sTRATS. Matthias knows the band and its fellow members.
It must have been around 2000 when young Wolfgang briefly took guitar lessons from Matthias. Matthias found Wolfgang a band in which – yes, the circle closes – Thomas Fiebig played.
In 2021, Matthias joined dIRE sTRATS alongside Olaf Satzer, whom he had known since school and with whom he had played many concerts over the years. A new band with faces who already know each other well.
Drums – Olaf Satzer
Olaf is a professional drummer through and through. His connection to the sTRATS goes back to 2007. Since then he has stood in for Jens at the drum kit on several occasions. It was therefore clear: if this band ever needed a drummer, it had to be Olaf!
Since 2021, Olaf has taken over as drummer and has again raised the band’s game with his contribution. Our good Jens is not lost to us, however – he has taken on the newly created position of percussionist, forming a unit with Olaf.
Olaf is a born-and-bred Bremerhavener. In the local scene he is best known as the drummer of the Stadttheater, where he has been active for 20 years. As a professional musician he also teaches drums at a music school and has published several teaching works.
Olaf’s arrival in the band coincides with that of Matthias Strass, with whom Olaf sat next to at school. The circle closes here too.
Percussion – Jens Gernhoff
A twist of fate in 2003 caused the guitarist of Jens’s then band to drop out. Wolfgang stood in as a replacement. This meeting was to become one of the cornerstones of dIRE sTRATS.
Jens Gernhoff has always been a drummer and booker in various bands and was talked into his good fortune by Wolfgang in his own kitchen in 2004. The legendary line “I’m not doing the booking though” was never really believed by anyone. Fortunately for the band – because that deep voice on the phone achieves a great deal!
If the band has a problem backstage, that deep voice rings out from the background saying “I’l sort it – you want food, you want wine, how about girls, drugs, rock ’n’ roll, I’ll be right back”… He is also the band’s designated humourist, not to be taken entirely seriously at all times. Without him it would be bleak.
Jens too was touched by the Covid crisis. As part of the restructuring of dIRE sTRATS in 2020/2021, Jens shifted from drums to the many instruments he handles as percussionist. From cymbals and congas to the tambourine and triangle – this role opens up a new tonal spectrum for the band.
Of course, Jens remains on board as the singing, drum-playing private investigator. Because nobody does that better than he does!
As for his drumming: anyone can play with shoes on – but ask him how it’s done in bare feet!