Unheilig is a German band that combines a number of musical styles, including pop and electronic as well as hard rock. It was founded in Aachen in 1999 and principally consists of vocalist Bernd "Der Graf" Heinrich, along with various musicians. The group's debut album, Phosphor, came out in 2000.
History Early years (1999–2009)
Bernd "Der Graf" Heinrich founded Unheilig in 1999 in Aachen, with the Australian musician Grant Stevens and José Alvarez-Brill. Their first single, "Sage Ja!" was released that year, and the band's debut album, Phosphor, came out in 2001. This was followed by the Christmas album Frohes Fest in 2002, Das 2. Gebot in 2003, and the EP Schutzengel, also in 2003. Another full-length album, Zelluloid, came out in 2004.
The band released their first live album, Gastspiel, in 2005, and followed it with the DVD Kopfkino. Moderne Zeiten came out in 2006 and Puppenspiel in 2008.Unheilig to release 'Puppenspiel' Their second DVD, Vorhang auf, came out the same year.
Große Freiheit and Lichter der Stadt (2009–2013) In January 2010, Unheilig released the single "Geboren um zu leben" was released, preceding the album Große Freiheit, which came out the following month and saw the band touring in support. A second single, "Für immer", came out in May and was followed by "Unter deiner Flagge" in September 2010.
In October, the band performed the song "Unter deiner Flagge" at the Bundesvision Song Contest, going on to win that year. In November, they issued the fourth single from Große Freiheit, "Winterland".
In March 2011, Unheilig was nominated for five ECHO Awards (Best National Video for "Geboren um zu leben", ECHO Radio, Most Successful Production Team, Best National Rock/Alternative Group, and Album of the Year for Große Freiheit), eventually winning three.
In February, the band announced they were writing material for their eighth album, Lichter der Stadt. The first single, "So wie du warst", was released one year later, while the album itself came out in March 2012. The second single, also titled "Lichter der Stadt", came out the same month, followed by "Wie wir waren" in August.
In January 2013, Unheilig released a seven-CD box set titled Als Musik meine Sprache wurde. It consists of six discs narrating Der Graf's musical journey together with one disc of early tracks from his career.
Alles hat seine Zeit, Gipfelstürmer, and Von Mensch zu Mensch (2014–2016)
In March 2014, Unheilig issued their first greatest hits album, titled Alles hat seine Zeit. In October, they released the single "Zeit zu Gehen", the first from their forthcoming album Gipfelstürmer, which came out in December. A year later, they issued the DVD MTV Unplugged: Unter Dampf – Ohne Strom on 12 December 2015.
In August 2016, the band announced that they would release their final album, Von Mensch zu Mensch, in November. The first single from the album, also titled "Von Mensch zu Mensch", came out in August and was followed by "Ich würd' dich gern Besuchen" in September. The third single, "Mein Leben ist die Freiheit", was issued October.
Hiatus, return, and Liebe Glaube Monster (2017–present) During their hiatus, the band issued several best-of albums, including Best of Vol. 2 – Pures Gold in 2017 and Lichterland – Best Of in 2021.
In March 2026, Unheilig released their first studio album in ten years, titled Liebe Glaube Monster, with the first single being "Wunderschön".
Band members
Current Bernd "Der Graf" Heinrich Graf – vocals, programming (1999–2015; 2025–present) Henning Verlage – keyboards, programming (2003–2016; 2025–present) Christoph "Licky" Termühlen – guitars (2002–2016; 2025–present) Martin "Potti" Potthoff – drums, percussion (2008–2016; 2025–present)
Past José Alvarez-Brill – guitars (1999–2002; died 2020) Grant Stevens – drums, percussion (1999–2008)
Awards and nominations
YearAwardCategoryNominated workResult2010BambiPop NationalUnheilig2010Comet AwardBest ArtistUnheilig2010Comet AwardBest NewcomerUnheilig2010Comet AwardBest German ActUnheilig2010ARDLive Song of the Year"Geboren um zu leben"20101Live Krone AwardBest Song"Geboren um zu leben"20101Live Krone AwardBest AlbumGroße Freiheit2011Diva AwardArtist of the Year 2010Unheilig2011Diva AwardBest Single & Album 2010"Geboren um zu leben" & Große Freiheit2011ECHO AwardBest Video National"Geboren um zu leben"2011ECHO AwardEcho RadioUnheilig2011ECHO AwardMost Successful Production TeamUnheilig2011ECHO AwardBest National Rock/Alternative GroupUnheilig2011ECHO AwardAlbum of the Year 2010Große Freiheit2011Swiss Music AwardBest Breakout InternationalUnheilig2011Rainbow Radio Band AwardNational Band 2010Unheilig2011Comet AwardBest ArtistUnheilig2011Comet AwardBest Song"Geboren um zu leben"2012Prg Lea AwardIndoor/Arena Tour of the YearUnheilig2012Video Champions AwardBest PersonalityDer Graf2013Goldene CameraBeste Musik NationalDer Graf2013Echo AwardBestes Video National"Wie wir waren"2013Echo AwardAlbum of the YearLichter der Stadt2013Echo AwardBest Rock/Alternative NationalUnheilig2013Echo AwardBest Music DVD ProductionLichter der Stadt Live2013Echo AwardBest National ProducerDer Graf2013Echo AwardBest National ActUnheilig
Discography Studio albums Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications GER AUT SWI 2001 Phosphor — — — 2002 Frohes Fest 57 — — 2003 — — — 2004 Zelluloid — — — 2006 Moderne Zeiten 76 — — 2008 Puppenspiel 13 — — BVMI: Gold 2010 Große Freiheit 1 1 3 BVMI: 9× Platinum IFPI AUT: 4× Platinum IFPI SWI: 2× Platinum 2012 Lichter der Stadt 1 1 1 BVMI: 9× Gold IFPI AUT: 2× Platinum IFPI SWI: Platinum 2014 Gipfelstürmer 1 3 2 BVMI: 5× Gold IFPI AUT: Platinum 2016 Von Mensch zu Mensch 1 4 3 BVMI: Platinum 2026 Liebe Glaube Monster 1 1 1
Live albums Year Title Chart positions Certifications(sales thresholds) GER AUT SWI2005 Gastspiel — — —2006 Goldene Zeiten — — —2008 Puppenspiel Live – Vorhang auf! 29 — —2010 Große Freiheit Live 1 8 —2012 Lichter der Stadt Live — — — 2015 Gipfelstürmer Live — — — MTV Unplugged "unter Dampf – Ohne Strom" 2 10 8 BVMI: Platinum2016 Danke! Ein Letztes Mal – Live — — —
Singles YearTitlePeak chart positionsCertifications(sales thresholds)Album GER AUT SWI EU2000"Sage Ja!" — — — —Phosphor2001"Komm zu mir" — — — —2003"Maschine" — — — —Das 2. Gebot2006"Ich will leben"(feat. Project Pitchfork) — — — —Goldene Zeiten2008"An deiner Seite" 49 — — —Puppenspiel 2010"Geboren um zu leben" 2 8 13 13 GER: 2× Platinum SWI: PlatinumGroße Freiheit"Für immer" 17 51 57 —"Unter deiner Flagge" 9 29 — 38"Winter" 4 6 64 21 GER: GoldGroße Freiheit (Winter Edition) 2012"So wie du warst" 2 14 18 — GER: Gold Lichter der Stadt"Lichter der Stadt" 31 — — —"Wie wir waren"(feat. Andreas Bourani) 32 60 — —"Stark" 23 49 — — Lichter der Stadt (Winter Edition) 2014"Als wär's das erste Mal" 10 38 56 — Alles hat seine Zeit"Wir sind alle wie eins" 29 — — —"Zeit zu gehen" 6 16 8 —Gipfelstürmer 2015"Mein Berg" — — — —"Glück auf das Leben" — — — — 2016"Von Mensch zu Mensch" — — — —Von Mensch zu Mensch"Ich würd' dich gern besuchen" — — — —"Mein Leben ist die Freiheit" — — — —
EPs Maschine (2003) Tannenbaum (as part of the Frohes Fest limited edition release) (2002) Schutzengel (2003) Freiheit (2004) Astronaut (2006) Spiegelbild (2008) Winterland Special (as part of the Große Freiheit (Winter Edition) release) (2010) Zeitreise (limited tenth anniversary tour-only release) (2010) Lichtblicke (exclusive Lichter der Stadt tour CD) (2012)
Compilations Alles hat seine Zeit – Best of Unheilig 1999–2014 (2014) Best of Vol. 2 – Pures Gold (2017) Lichterland – Best Of (2012)
Other albums Schattenspiel (2008) Gipfelkreuz (exclusive Gipfelstürmer tour CD) (2015) Weihnachtslichter (2023, Christmas album)
DVDs Kopfkino (2005) Puppenspiel Live – Vorhang auf! (2008) Sternstunde (Große Freiheit tour exclusive) (2010) Große Freiheit Live (2010) Lichter der Stadt Live (2012) Unter Dampf – Ohne Strom (2015)
Box sets Als Musik meine Sprache wurde (7-CD box set, 2013) Schwarzes Gold 2000–2014 (2015) Schattenland (2020)
Music videos
References
External links