German singer Herbert Grönemeyer turns 60

Herbert Grönemeyer released his latest album, "Dauernd jetzt" (Always now), in 2015 and went on a successful Germany-wide tour. He is also expected to hold concerts in 2016. For decades already, the popular musician has been filling up huge stadiums.

Grönemeyer produced his first album in 1979. It remained practically anonymous. The cover, a picture of him with his last name in big letters, did get some attention though: It received the "Golden Lemon" award for the worst cover of the year. The three following albums were also flops. Then Grönemeyer signed with label EMI in 1984, leading to a major boost in his career.

Grönemeyer was already well known in Germany as an actor for film and television. In the internationally successful film adaptation of the novel "Das Boot" in 1981, he depicted a World War II reporter aboard a submarine, dealing with cold, claustrophobic and life-threatening situations. He is pictured here with the dead commander, played by Jürgen Prochnow.

In August 1984, Grönemeyer released the album "4630 Bochum," singing the praises of the industrial Ruhr region where he grew up. The title track became the hymn of the local football club, VFL Bochum. The musician conquered the entire country with his satirical song "Männer" (Men). And "Flugzeuge im Bauch" (Airplanes in the stomach) consoled millions of heartbroken people.

A classic snack in the Ruhr region, the currywurst was also turned into a song on Grönemeyer's third album. Once the musician became famous, "Currywurst" became one of his greatest hits.

Herbert Grönemeyer is a huge football fan. As a child, he dreamed of becoming a professional player. It worked out a lot better with music. In 2006, for the World Cup held in Germany, he wrote the anthem "Zeit, dass sich was dreht" (Time to get things moving), which he performed live at the opening ceremony for an international audience of millions.

In 1985, Grönemeyer created the Band for Africa, getting the German stars of the 1980s to join voices for the single "Nackt im Wind" (Nacked in the wind) and collecting donations for Africa, based on the British project Live Aid. He was involved in several projects along with other artists, like U2 singer Bono, and Grönemeyer was also the ambassador of the campaign "Together for Africa."

In 1993, Grönemeyer married his longtime partner and mother of his children, Anna Henkel (right). He moved away from the Ruhr region and went to London. In November 1998, his brother and his wife passed away within a few days of each other. Grönemeyer retired fromm the public scene, but returned four years later.

On the album "Mensch" (Human), Grönemeyer dealt with the tragic events in his personal life. Each song is about grief. He dedicated the song "Der Weg" (The Way) to his wife, singing, "You've flooded every room with sun, reversed every chagrin." His sad and beautiful lyrics enchanted Germans. Over three million copies of "Mensch" were sold - it is Germany's best-selling album ever.

Like no other, Herbert Grönemeyer manages to turn the rough edges of the German language into poetry - an interesting challenge for people who want to learn the Ruhr region's slang. Staccato accents in his singing and pleasing pop rock are his music's trademarks. He generously gives over two-and-a-half-hours concerts - and does not plan on changing that now that he's turned 60.