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Klaus Voormann is either one of the greatest musicians of all time or he was always just in the right place at the right time. He is also an incredible artist. For some reason though he is not exactly a household name.

So what was it that allowed him to mysteriously creep into the lives of some very famous musicians (John Lennon, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Manfred Mann etc) and yet be able to become an unheralded contributor, remaining always in plain view but with the consistent knack of being almost invisible? Is he an impresario, a world class musician or an opportunist and even more important to this discussion, where is he now?

Here's the Wikipedia info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klaus_Voormann

Here's Voorman's website: http://www.klaus-voormann.com/

I leave the rest up to others to discuss, save for what can be discerned from the Wikipedia info, presuming that it's accurate.

I was so surprised when I saw his name on a few album covers! I only knew his name because of the Beatles. I am pretty sure he did the art work on Bloodrock's USA, and the Wet Willie album that has the same basic look, except it's a finger and spit instead of a gun and bullet! I will see if I can verify he did that artwork. I did verify he did the Spooky Tooth album cover I had also. You Broke my Heart so I Busted your Jaw.

Here's something interesting.....


http://www.voormann.com/

Look here to see a gallery

http://www.voormann.com/portfolio/sleev ... _1958_2006

One of Klaus' incredible works of art. Click on it to see a larger image.

I was a huge fan of jazz and blues as a teenager. Manfred Mann was as a consequence, one of my favorite bands of that persuasion that visited Southampton England. They came there quite a lot in the early 60's. Unfortunately by the time Klaus joined the band I had moved to Canada so I never did get to see him play live.

I did have the pleasure though of listening to his work, as have countless of millions. Unfortunately like most people, I had no idea that he played on one of Manfred Mann's greatest pop based hits, at least at the time. "Quinn the Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn)" was a number 1 Hit in the UK and it made Number 10 on Billboard in the USA. Klaus played both bass and flute on that song.

I personally do not have a lot of faith in Wilkepedia but much of what they have to say about Klaus seems to be fairly accurate. So where is he now and what is he doing? By all accounts this is a very talented man. Are those talents just going to waste?

I had the chance to meet him in 2000 or so. Instead of asking him about rock stuff, I asked him about other stuff he did in the 60s. He was an adman back then. He told me he moved to London the first chance he got, shopped his portfolio around and worked in agencies there. He also introduced me to Mike Gibbons, who I was sad to hear passed a few years ago. The 60s were the golden age of advertising, and I could only wonder what it was like, working in London in the middle of it, being friends with the Beatles, and all. We talked a bit about vinyl, and he joked that it "all ends up with the ex girlfriend." Sometime later I heard that he played bass on Whatever Gets You Through the Night. The bass line in that tune has always made me wonder how in the world ANYONE came up with that. I always assumed, because Lennon cut it with Elton, that it was Dee Murray, who's as good a pop bassist as there is in my book (I knew Dee plays it fabulously on the live version of it the EJB did with Lennon in NYC in 74.) But when I heard it was Klaus on the record I sent him a note about it, telling him that I had mistakenly attributed it to someone else, have always admired it, and that I think it goes down as one of the all time great bass tracks. He let me know he was glad to hear that. It was fun to see him in the re-release of The Concert for Bangladesh.

Glenn,

That's exactly what I was hoping for when I started this thread. You have recent, first hand knowledge and have shared it with us. Thank you so much. Isn't Klaus something else? He is so modest about his work and his life. His body of work, once revealed speaks for itself. He is a true master of his art.

He's a multi-talented man. I wasn't aware I'd been mispronouncing his name all this time. I think his mates were, too.

Surfing around I found this :

http://www.achim-schultz.de/news-e.php
http://www.iheartklaus.com/

Klaus Voormann is living near Munich . He seems to be still busy helping friends with Beatles' stuff. On April 29th he reached the age of 71 ! We should put this date into our agenda...

Thanks for this thread. Klaus is one of my favorite Beatle People and I've tried to follow all his work in music and art. I'm happy for the update. and to hear that he's doing all right.

studiotwosession wrote:I had the chance to meet him in 2000 or so.

2001 for me, August I think, at Beatlefest Chicago. VERY nice fellow. Signed my Revolver LP!

How do you say his name, is it "kloss?"

Rhymes with "blouse", I always thought.

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How do you say his name, is it "kloss?"
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Rhymes with "blouse", I always thought.

yes , indeed ! ... in english pron. : a bit like "clouss", like cloud , with a sharp spoken "s" in the end

winston wrote:Klaus Voormann is either one of the greatest musicians of all time or he was always just in the right place at the right time. He is also an incredible artist. For some reason though he is not exactly a household name.

So what was it that allowed him to mysteriously creep into the lives of some very famous musicians (John Lennon, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Manfred Mann etc) and yet be able to become an unheralded contributor, remaining always in plain view but with the consistent knack of being almost invisible? Is he an impresario, a world class musician or an opportunist and even more important to this discussion, where is he now?

I vote for being in the right place at the right time, he had a good sound though. Playing for John Lennon would get you places you normally wouldn't go to I would imagine.