Thomas Anders

Thomas Anders, born Bernd Weidung on March 1, 1963, in Koblenz, West Germany, is a German singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known as the lead vocalist of the former pop duo Modern Talking. Over his career, he has achieved international fame through both his group work and his solo music projects.

Anders grew up in the village of Mörz with his parents, an older brother, and a younger sister. He began piano and singing lessons at an early age, making his first stage performance at six. After winning a regional singing contest at ten, he gave over 300 performances at a Koblenz music hall under the stage name Bernie von der Mosel. He completed his Abitur in 1982 in Koblenz and briefly studied musicology, publishing, and German studies at Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz before dropping out to focus on music.

His professional music career began in the late 1970s. After participating in a radio contest, he signed with CBS and adopted the stage name Thomas Anders, releasing several unsuccessful German Schlager singles including Judy, Du weinst um ihn, and Es war die Nacht der ersten Liebe. After moving to Hansa Records in 1982, he collaborated with producer Dieter Bohlen on several German cover songs and Schlager tracks, which also failed to achieve commercial success.

In 1983, Anders and Bohlen formed the Eurodisco duo Modern Talking under BMG. The duo became an international sensation in 1985 following the release of their hit single You're My Heart, You're My Soul. They achieved a string of major European hits, including You Can Win If You Want, Cheri, Cheri Lady, Brother Louie, Atlantis Is Calling (S.O.S. for Love), Geronimo's Cadillac, and Jet Airliner. During the 1980s, the group sold over 60 million records worldwide before personal conflicts led to their dissolution in 1987.

Following the breakup, Anders moved to the United States and pursued a solo career focused on pop music. He released several studio albums, including Different in 1989, Whispers in 1991, Down on Sunset in 1992, and When Will I See You Again in 1993. He also recorded the Spanish-language album Barcos de Cristal in 1994, which achieved a number-one title track in Argentina, followed by the soul album Souled in 1995 and a live jazz album in 1997. Additionally, he appeared in an episode of the television series Kommissar Beck and the short film Phantomschmerz.

In 1998, Anders and Bohlen reunited as Modern Talking, performing updated Eurodance versions of their classic hits alongside new material. This second run produced tracks such as You Are Not Alone, Sexy, Sexy Lover, and TV Makes the Superstar before the duo split permanently in 2003. Across both periods, Modern Talking sold 120 million records globally and earned numerous international sales awards.

Following the second split, Anders resumed his solo career, releasing albums such as This Time, Strong, Two with Jörn-Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen, and Pures Leben. He established a lasting reputation as a prominent musical figure in Eastern Europe, becoming the best-selling foreign artist of all time in Russia. In 2006, he was named an honorary professor by the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, and he continues to perform regular stadium tours and concert appearances across Poland and Eastern Europe.