Graz pop veteran

Alex Rehak: “Friends help me survive”

Alex Rehak's life still revolves around music.(Bild: zVg.)

Alex Rehak made music history with "Turning Point" and the "Band für Steiermark". Long before Opus and Falco, the Styrian was a successful pop star. With his health ailing and mentally shattered, the stand-up guy is now fighting his way back to life.

Alex Rehak's spirits have (almost) awakened him back to being a stand-up guy, even if the serious fall down the stairs still limits his zest for life. "I fell over 15 steps and almost broke my neck. I can no longer feel my right foot, so playing concerts is impossible," regrets the veteran rocker, who is physically limited but mentally fit and full of energy.

Could no longer sing: "It was like dying"
The soon-to-be 73-year-old is now putting his depressive years behind him. "The worst thing was that I could no longer sing. It was like dying". Not the kind of retirement you would wish for after such an eventful career, great hits and 1,000 performances. "People think that I've made a living as a pop artist. Unfortunately, that's not true, because as a producer I put my money into the 'Band für Steiermark' and also mortgaged my house for it."

Alex Rehak with fellow musician and producer Bernd Kofler: "My best friend helped me out of my life crisis"(Bild: zVg.)

The generous artist was presented with a painful bill of financial hardship and bitter disappointments. "I supported a lot of fellow musicians, gave them their first big stage and TV appearances, but when I was in a bad way, none of them got in touch with me."

Help from friends
The few friends the dazzling Austropopper has left provide financial and non-material support. "With a 1000 euro pension, I'm dependent on help. A friend pays my rent, I get food from the Vinzimarkt and my musician friends bring me back to life." So 55 years after the first Rehak single, the new recording of the "Turning Point" hit "Life is going on" is released, financed by record dealer Markus Krisper.

Vinyl dealer Markus Krisper gives Rehak a special present for his 73rd birthday(Bild: zVg.)

500 copies have been pressed and will go on sale for Rehak's birthday on April 27. Alex held the freshly pressed single in his hand with tears in his eyes," says the vinyl dealer happily for his friend, who is also continuing his successful series of Austropop reissues. The EAV single "Morgen" will soon be the 6th production on the market.

Back on stage with "Band für Steiermark"
The appreciation recently bestowed by the city of Graz also makes the "Springinkerl" in the dazzling glitter suit rise above itself. "Mayor Elke Kahr asked me for my heart's desire. Yes, I would bring the Band für Steiermark back on stage". Rehak is working flat out on this project, which is due to be implemented in the fall. "I have lots of ideas, but unfortunately no money".

But Alex has true friends, such as Graz hotel operator Helmut Neukam, who will be hosting the birthday party with 200 guests and a few surprises. All in the spirit of "Life is going on". "I'm not the healthiest, it could be my last birthday party."