New fuss about an old Zoff! For years, a process has been going on in Berlin in which pop singer Michael Wendler (50) has demanded a whopping 42,825 euros from the music collecting society GEMA.
During his bankruptcy period, Wendler’s ex-wife Claudia Norberg stated to GEMA that she was the author of 176 of his songs. When her company was later dissolved and Claudia went bankrupt, Wendler suddenly claimed that he had written his hits himself. GEMA froze the account and is now having the issue clarified in court.
On October 31, Wendler’s daughter Adeline Norberg (20) had to testify under oath via video link from the USA. She stated that her father was the author of the songs. But is that really true?
The Wendler has sold more than a million records. A court dispute is raging between the singer and GEMA over the authorship of his songs
BILD has the minutes of the interrogation
Adeline claims literally: “My father composed all the songs himself. He played guitar and piano. He also wrote down grades. He did that at home and in the recording studio. I saw him correct grades. My father can read music and he can also play the piano.”
Her mother, on the other hand, hits Adeline in the pan: “My mother never had anything to do with music. She also cannot write texts. I would like to add that my mother is not musically talented at all. I don’t want to give the impression that she’s a bit talented. I can safely say that my mother would not be able to compose and write lyrics. (…) I don’t know what my mother did all day.”
Pop singer Michael Wendler 2008 on the piano at an Advent show by Florian Silbereisen. The director decided not to take a picture of his hands
Adeline is also rowing back on her alleged wedding plans.
Her father had given this as a reason for not appearing at a previous hearing in another process. Adeline: “When I am asked here about my marriage, I unfortunately have to say that it did not take place. But I was in love and the wedding was to take place.”
Did Wendler’s daughter lie to everyone under oath?
When the controversial singer Michael Wendler had his biggest hits like “She loves the DJ” and “Nina”, Heiko Schulte-Siering (55) was his manager. Now he calculates relentlessly.
Schulte-Siering calls Adeline’s statements completely implausible. He now claims to BILD: “In my opinion, Adeline lied for her father in court. I know for a fact that Michael can’t read sheet music, let alone write or correct it.”
And further: “He can’t play a single musical instrument either. The piano in his house was only there for decoration because he wanted to feel like Udo Jürgens. But Michael couldn’t have even played ‘Alle meine Entchen’ on it.”
Heiko Schulte-Siering was Wendler’s manager from 2007 to 2009
Wendler’s ex-manager was beside himself: “For a press appointment, he was later only taught to play the chorus of ‘She loves the DJ’ with one finger. It sounded like a toddler tinkling.”
That’s why it was tricked on television. “At a ‘Christmas party’ by Florian Silbereisen, Michael really wanted to sit at the piano for his title. But the director refrained from showing pictures of the fingers on the keys. Because nothing fit there.”
Heiko Schulte-Siering considers Adeline’s alleged marriage to be “fictional. Again, I think she lied to give her father an alibi.”
Because: “How can a child testify credibly as a witness after such a long time? The titles in question were created between 2006 and 2012, when Adeline was between 4 and 10 years old!”
Michael Wendler did not respond to a BILD request.
