In Production
Klaus Voormann – The Sideman
A film by Jörg Bundschuh
A journey into the incredible life of Klaus Voormann. An inside view into the history of Rock’n’Roll. A story of friendship, art and music.
In 1960, art student Klaus Voormann meets the Beatles for the first time in Hamburg. They are still young and completely unknown. Voormann, who has just turned 22 and is a couple years older than them, quickly becomes friends with the lads. He even becomes a sort of role model as they notice his haircut and his fashion style. Three years later, when Klaus moves to London and lives with the four Beatles in their apartment, they have already become the embodiment of a new youth culture.
Voormann first works as a graphic designer in a London ad agency before putting a band together with friends: Paddy, Klaus and Gibson. The manager of the Beatles, Brian Epstein, takes on Klaus’ band as well. In 1966, Voormann wins a Grammy for his cover design on the REVOLVER album.
The same year, he becomes the bassist for the MANFRED MANN BAND and, in 1969 for John Lennon’s PLASTIC ONO BAND. After that, he follows a career as both musician and graphic designer, with more covers for the Bee Gees and the Beatles.
He works with B.B. King, Harry Nilsson, Lou Reed, Carly Simon, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ravi Shankar, Art Garfunkel, Keith Moon, Donovan, James Taylor, Randy Newman and loads of others. He is on nearly every solo record of John, George and Ringo.
In 1971, Voormann is on stage for the CONCERT FOR BANGLADESH with Bob Dylan and in 2002 with Eric Clapton and Paul McCartney at the CONCERT FOR GEORGE. In Germany, Klaus has some success as a producer in the 1980s, primarily with the band Trio.
Since the 1990s he has been spending more of his time drawing and painting. Today, he lives with his family on Lake Starnberg outside of Munich. Klaus Voormann was on the frontlines of the pop era’s meteoric rise. This is his story.
Starring: Carly Simon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Star, Yoko Ono, Van Dyke Parks, Dr. John, Twiggy ...
