Gerhard Rüdiger Gundermann, also known as Gundermann, born February 21, 1955 in Weimar, East Germany, was a German singer-songwriter and rock musician. After studying at a military officer school and performing with the Hoyerswerda National People's Army song club, he renamed the club Brigade Feuerstein in 1978. He toured with the group performing the children's musical Malvina (1980) before beginning solo appearances in 1986. He won the grand prize at the DDR Chanson Days in 1987, which enabled the recording and release of his debut studio album, Männer, Frauen und Maschinen (1988). During the 1990s, he gained widespread popularity in eastern Germany, performing both solo and with his backing band, Seilschaft. His subsequent studio albums included Einsame Spitze (1992), recorded with members of the rock band Silly, as well as Der 7te Samurai (1993), Frühstück für immer (1995), and Engel über dem Revier (1997), which dealt with his dismissal from his job as an excavator operator. His final performance was captured on the posthumous live album Krams – Das letzte Konzert (1998). He died of a stroke on June 21, 1998 in Spreetal. Posthumous honors included the tribute concert recording Alle oder Keiner – Tribut an Gerhard Gundermann (2009) and the award-winning biographical film Gundermann (2018).
