Andreas Oberholz

I think my dad still can’t understand why I need to make music for a living. It’s not about that I want to do it, its about that I need to do it.

When I saw/heard a guitar at the age of seven one thing was clear in my mind. I wanted to do this. The only one who not recognized — the burning flame — where my parents.

I annoyed my dad to get a guitar. He bought a cheap classical nylon string guitar. But not one for kids, one for adults. A primary school teacher came by, he barely played some basic chords. He explained my dad how to do some basic 4/4 accompaniment.

I remember hanging with my forearms on my parents dining table, glowing eyes - seeing my dad playing the first few chords in his life. The moment the primary teacher left I asked my dad if he can teach me what he learned. My dad said something like - we do it later. But later never happened. It was one of my biggest disappointments. I wanted it so bad, and my dad did not recognize my need.

Two years later at the age of nine I insisted again. I told my dad it had to be an electric guitar. Yes there was one at Christmas. But again, it was one for adults, and the Guitar was too big for my age. I toyed around with it. I asked for a guitar instructor. My dad told me „You can’t do this, its not for you“ Suffering from ADD (part of the family of autistic diseases) it felt like a slap in my face. For some reason I did not give up and insisted again. But my dad came not up with a guitar teacher. He invited the local music school principal who held a long speech that playing organ -before playing guitar- was the wiser decision.

I gave up asking for something I wanted from the bottom of my soul.

My dad bought a typical 80s Roland home organ. I figured out a few melodies. One was Jingle Bells. I asked for a teacher again.

• „You can’t do it you need the time for school etc.“-

Thanks to my older brother, who is more self-confident than I am, my prayers were heard. He went to the local guitar shop, and came back with an old 80s electric guitar. „Aria“. I remember that it had a deep neck crack - but still worked OK.

My brother was the one who bought this fascinating Jimi Hendrix CD. A friend showed my brother how to play „Hey Joe“. I asked him if he can teach me the chords of „Hey Joe“. It took me a week, and I was able to play a basic version of Hey Joe.

My aunt. She gave me a self teaching book - guitar basics. I worked hard every day. I was done within a month.

A few persons in that little town helped me to deepen my electric guitar chops. Thanks to B. Kramer. He had a great ear, hee picked all the Hendrix playing up.

Around the same time my father (M.D.) was asked by a family in town for help. Their son Markus was suffering from a final diagnosed heart disease at the age of 24. Markus was also a Jimi Hendrix believer, and he had this nice heavy pine wood American Stratocaster. He was the one who did some two track recording. He gave me a tape. He was jamming on a Hendrix chord progression. It fascinated me that he did put his own sauce in it. I think it made him happy to hear that I recognized his artistic value. We both knew that there was more to come, but his disease made it impossible for him to progress.

Someone had to fill-full what Markus had begun. There were some detours, but from there on the music was always part of my life. My dad supported me with buying guitars. Though I never got the emotional support I was seeking for.

I work hard every day, in the studio. I fight with or against my ADD disease - which can be a curse or a blessing.

Love to create music and there is more to come. I hope you enjoy it.

Andreas Oberholz Berlin December 2019