Ulrike Weller: Learned to play drums at the age of 45!

Ulrike Weller: Learned to play drums at the age of 45!

Ulrike Weller, a remarkable musician from Saarland, impressively shows that it is never too late to make your dreams come true. Growing up in a small pub as the youngest of five children, Weller spent her childhood surrounded by the sounds of the jukebox and the aroma of freshly tapped beer while her parents were busy running the business. She experienced her first musical contacts through the ambience of her parents' house, where sounds and singing were almost the order of the day. She began collecting single records when she was 8 or 9 years old, with a particular interest in the Beatles' hits.

At the age of 15, she took the plunge on stage and sang in a band after a singer suddenly dropped out. The first song she performed was “Venus” by the Shocking Blue, which laid the foundation for her musical career. In 1977 she founded the band Nightingale with her friend Manfred Dollwett and Elmer Ackermann, which was a real milestone for the young musician.

An eventful career

Ulrike Weller's journey was anything but straightforward. At the age of 18, she was faced with voice problems, which led her to seek treatment from Dr. Volker Müller, an opera singer. After vocal training, she was able to regain her voice. But life brought new challenges: After a year as an au pair in Paris, she had to give up her beloved band due to pregnancy.

In 2005, while on a skiing holiday, Weller met the Scots Steve and Hannes from Austria, who took her into their band as a singer. After a year in Austria, she finally returned to Saarland and quickly found a new musical partner in Franz Hemmerich. Through Hemmerich she met Jörg Altmeier, with whom she developed a special musical harmony. In 2006 they founded the successful duo Chapeau Noir, which performed at various events.

New beginnings and new challenges

A particular highlight in Weller's musical work was the time when she decided to learn drums at the age of 45. This happened at the suggestion of her partner Altmeier, and soon she was enthusiastically drumming in an enclosed space and receiving positive feedback from other drummers. Today the duo is working on an expanded program that includes jazzy sounds and chansons, further expanding Weller's musical range.

Ulrike Weller makes it clear through her story that it is never too late to learn new skills and live your passion. By the way, her name, Ulrike, has a German-Germanic origin and means something like “the rich” or “powerful ruler”, which perhaps corresponds to her desire to be great in the music scene. Even at the age of 45, you can make your dreams come true, as Weller impressively shows with her commitment and unwavering love of music.

Thanks to her impressive career, which never faltered despite all the hurdles, she will serve as an inspiration to many. Maybe because music is not just a hobby for them, but an indispensable part of their life - and with this conviction, you can conquer the world!