Some Facts
Formed the pop duo "Modern Talking" with Thomas Anders in 1984. They split up in 1987, but tried a successful comeback in 1998 and performed until 2003. Although being criticized for playing the same song in countless different versions, they had several number 1 hits through Europe such as "You're my heart, you're my soul" (1985), "Cheri Cheri Lady" (1985) and "Brother Louie" (1986).
After making fun and offending some candidates vulgarly as juror on Deutschland sucht den Superstar (2002), a German federal agency, comparable to the FCC in the US, announced an investigation (January 2007).
Lived for years - prior to and after marrying Verona Pooth - with German Playboy model Nadja Abd el Farrag.
In December 2006, two men entered his house, fettered his girlfriend Carina and two employees and forced him to give them about 60,000 Eur. After he had managed to escape and call the police, the offenders fled. The public considered it quite unusual that he was interviewed by tabloid "Bild" and TV network RTL just two hours after the crime had happened.
Studied economics at the University of Göttingen.