20 years of 'it': Bernd Vormwald

EVERYTHING'S ALL RIGHT …

'Hi, Bernd! Would you be so kind as to write something personal about our anniversary? What were the flops? What remains in your memory? Stories, anecdotes, gossip (…).'

This email from Helmut reaches me in mid-October, and I immediately start rummaging through my memories. I consider digging out all the old club magazines and bringing all the past memories of the many club days back from my long-term memory to the present – but that seems a little too thorough to me. So I rely on what comes to mind without too much effort.

Flops? I can't remember any flops at all, there simply weren't any. Instead, there were many, many wonderful things that delighted and enriched the hearts of fans (and not only them). The most important thing is the people and the countless shared experiences. Above all, it was and is wonderful to meet like-minded people again and again, people you don't have to explain at length why it's important to have 79 different versions of, say, 'I Know What I Like' in your CD collection: Helmut, Bernd, Peter, Christian, 'Listen-Gunnar', Eddy, Karin, Andreas, Andreas and whatever their names are, and last but not least, my good old Genesis cult friend Steffen, with whom sometimes a brief glance at live concerts is enough and we both know what we're thinking – musical soulmates, in other words. For some of the people mentioned, it didn't stop at Genesis & Co., but sometimes went far beyond that.

Something very special used to be the anticipation of the club magazines, which Helmut designed time and again with enormous variety and meticulousness and brought to the fan community.

Of the magnificent club days, I think I only missed the Steve Hackett event. There was always something going on in the most amazing 'location' you could imagine, the Eichenzell-Welkers community centre, which over the years became a veritable place of pilgrimage. Ray Wilson, John Mayhew, Richard MacPhail, Armando Gallo, Lamb event, Selling England event, quiz games, the unforgettable battles at the collectors' market, the fantastic display cases, watching videos together (highlight: the edited 'Supper's Ready'), the endless little details and and and and … of course, worshipping the music of our heroes from GENESIS & Co. The live performances were always very exciting for me and at the same time gave me (and hopefully the audience) great pleasure in various line-ups, especially the elaborate project 'Champagne Meadow'.

It is truly amazing and cannot be praised highly enough what you have achieved over the last two decades, including the website, with such passion and enormous time investment. For this, a big, big THANK YOU.

It was a great privilege to be able to experience the CUDDLED PORCUPINES live during their 'rehearsal', as far as I can remember as the only one (!). But actually, I would like to share this privilege with others…

I still have one dream: Anthony Phillips comes to Welkers, and Steffen and I get to accompany him at his concert. I just hope I can still hold my guitar in my hands when I'm so excited….

… WE HOPE YOUR LIFE WILL NEVER END!

Bernd Vormwald