Wallenstein was founded in the summer of 1971 under the martial name of
Blitzkrieg by the ambitious student of art (at the Art Academy Düsseldorf), , from Viersen. He had already been trained in classical music, playing the
piano and the
double bass, and he had played in
skiffle as well as in
jazz formations. In addition, the businessman and band manager, Peter Gielen (
Octopus Productions) from Mönchengladbach-Hehnerholt, and Corrado Faccioni, Italian buddy and former road manager of Dollase, were involved in the foundation. Wallenstein started as a kind of "test-tube child", because Dollase and
Roadie Faccioni gathered the initial lineup from other bands. The first solo-guitarist of the group was Wolfgang "Ginger" Steinicke from
Erkelenz, today a renowned
astronomer; but the former member of
Smiddys Blues Band was soon replaced by the American William (Bill) Joseph Barone from Philadelphia because Steinicke's studies in
physics or
astrophysics and
mathematics were his highest priority. Jürgen Dollase had already been able to win over
Harald Grosskopf from
Hildesheim, and Dutchman Ger (Jerry) Berkers (now deceased) from
Brunssum was taken on board shortly after Bill Barone. Because the name
Blitzkrieg was already in use by an English band (but was often misspelled
Blitzkreig by the British music press), and because the name was far from being
politically correct for the German record labels of that time, the group named itself after the
Thirty Years' War commander
Albrecht von Wallenstein in early 1972. Also in early 1972, the debut album of the classical or
art rockers was released. It had been recorded in the studio of
Dieter Dierks in
Stommeln near
Cologne from September to December 1971 and it was titled after the first name of the band. In the same year, the German record label
Pilz released
Mother Universe, succeeding the debut album (also from the
Pilz record label) as fast as lightning (
Blitz). (Rem.: The album cover photo by Harald Grosskopf depicts Dollase's grandmother.) In 1978, after some changes in the musical style, Dollase replaced all members of the band. Because of their performance in the
ZDF broadcast
Disco with
Ilja Richter in 1979, the band reached place 17 in the German pop charts with their single
Charline. But the single ''Don't Let It Be
(from the album Blue Eyed Boys'') was also rather successful later and sold very well. From March to June 1981, Wallenstein went on their last tour; the group finally disbanded in 1982. == Discography ==