Jürgen Wieland left the band Courageous

Gallery Jürgen Wieland

After more than twelve eventful years of Rock’n’Roll bass player Jürgen Wieland announced his retreat from the band COURAGEOUS. This is a consequence for constant problems in coordination of job, family and music responsibilities. All of the band feel the deepest regret about his decision.

"Jürgen kept us posted all the time about his thoughts, so we were already prepared since some months to receive this slap", tells singer Chris. "Nevertheless, to find ourselves in front of the matter settled once and forever seems to be hard stuff to us. We are not only losing one of the most talented bass player, who influenced in a very important way the sound of our music, but also a very trustful person and a real good friend. Attributes, which are hard to find in music business."

The ways of Jürgen Wieland and the band COURAGEOUS crossed for the first time in autumn 1991. At that time Chris was trying to push the band level and was looking for suitable new members. He remembers the first meeting very exactly:

"We met at a McDonalds in Frankfurt/Main, Germany", laughs Chris. "At this time I had just a vision of my band, but the music was still far away from that. Jürgen showed us recordings he did with a jazz- and big-band. Jürgen noticed very fast that we were overtaxed with all the notes. The first impression was probably rather catastrophic. Also optical Jürgen and I were far from todays stage look – no stage monsters."

Nevertheless they arranged a rehearsal, but it ended up in a musical fiasco.

"We just had exact conceptions and also in talking we were already world champions, but beyond that we had forgotten to rehearse", remembers Chris with horror. "that was really bad and we knew it. At the end we were so frustrated that we only tormented all our instruments and produced a deafening noise. Suddenly Juergen came runing into the room, roared and sreamed for more than one minute most incomprehensible sounds in the microphone and disappeared again just as fast.. This was the moment we knew: He is the fucking right man."

Only Jürgen did not see it in such a way, because he definitely did not want to join (understandably) the band. But fate cannot be outwitted so simply. In February 1992 Jürgen answered on another advertisement, which had been posted by nobody else than COURAGEOUS. He probably must have been so embarrassed that he accepted some more half-hearted meetings, but after all he decided to join the band.

In the following years, which were very hard for the whole heavy metal business, Jürgen grew up to a constant member and was the technical proof for all following musicians in this time, which were coming and going... End of 1997, as the band decided to record a complete album, Juergen developed his bass playing in that way, which should become shaping for the sound of COURAGEOUS.

"To record parts with Jürgen was always very productive", guitarist Oliver looks back. "He has a very fast apprehension, is technically beyond all doubt and has a good feeling for the correct groove and the suitable notes at the right time. We always had a lot of fun, but especially during the recordings for the debut album everything was still new for us and therefore also particularly impressing."

Jürgen was always involved into the organization. He felt more comfortable in the background, probably never wanted the large footlights. His transformation from the music making student, who was perceived in the initial days sometimes as an optical alien element, to the rock in the surf, the Berserker on the stage - that is phenomenal.

"It always was like a war ", remembers guitarist Gerd. "On stage only one rule prevails: Everyone must fight hard for his place - against Jürgen many lost. Since we always shared a common stage side, we suffered a lot of blue marks - I more than him. In my opinion, at the end most of the musicians have learnt a lot about performance on stage from Jürgen."

There are many memories of that kind: Pink elephants at photo shootings, pyro techniques, chainsaw massacres, Met partys on festivals and lots more.

"I remember one thing, upon which I still laugh today", tells drummer Jan about a special anecdote. "Whoever knows Jürgen, knows that he is a "master of explosions" and owns various gun licenses in addition. Anyhow, one day he told us that in the real tough guys world (as for example bikers scene) it is usual to send a final warning before getting into real bad squarrels. It seems, that traditionally a sharp cartridge is left on the tank of a too rebellious collegue, in order to show him, what may happen in the worst case (literally speaking) … One day we entered our rehearsal room and stated that someone had placed a projectile cartridge of really considerable size on Olivers amplifier as a warning."

"The story was", Jan continues, "that Oliver had bought an effect pedal from Jürgen some time before and had still not settled the agreed purchase price. And after Jürgen had asked several times without result for payment, he probably felt the urge to make himself somehow clearer... I do not know exactly whether Jürgen ever admitted that HE had placed this cartridge there. But Oliver did not hesistate one second longer to settle his debts. What do we learn from it? 1. You should always pay your debts fast! 2. If you do not do so, you should be sure that the creditor is not coincidentally a "master of explosions" and possesses all gun licenses! 3. COURAGEOUS are real tough guys! 4. Jürgen is bad-ass-kicking dude!"

Already at the end of 2005 Jürgen announced that he would have to retreat some while, since he was getting into bad time problems by his numerous activities. In the operational business he was mostly replaced, since he found not sufficiently time to participate at the necessary rehearsals. In autumn 2006, after it was clear that he could not go on tour with Beyond Fear and Vicious Rumors, the discussions already went more concretely into this direction. After an intensive considering time he decided to leave.

"We deeply regret this decision", confesses Chris. "Until the end we had still hope that he would find another way. Apparently, it should not have been. Jürgen will always be a part of the band, will always belong to the C-family and the inner circle." After the band has got over the shock now, the musicians are ready to go the next step.

Due to this fact COURAGEOUS is now looking for a new bass player (male/female). Whoever thinks him-/herself addicted to this position should not hesitate to contact the band immediately: contact@courageousmusic.de