Disbanded Gang Members Pursue Individual Paths
Wildecker Herzbuben Duo Bids Farewell After 36 Years, Wolfgang Schwalm Launches Solo Career
After 36 years of creating music together, the Wildecker Herzbuben duo has officially parted ways. The separation is amicable, primarily due to the health issues of Wilfried Gliem that prevent him from performing independently. His partner, Wolfgang Schwalm, is now embarking on a solo career under the name "Der Herzbube Wolfgang."
The legal partnership, known as a "Gesellschaft bürgerlichen Rechts," was dissolved as of March 31, 2025. However, the possibility of joint appearances in the future is not completely ruled out, although Gliem now holds the rights to the duo’s brand as a sole proprietor.
Their final joint performance is scheduled for September 2025 at a Schlager show hosted by Heidi Klum in Munich. After that, Schwalm plans to focus on his solo projects.
Schwalm has been performing without Gliem for some time, and he recently signed a new record deal for his solo career. The duo, folk music artists from Hesse, became known with the 1989 hit "Herzilein."
Their career took off after their first concert, which took place in April 1990 in a café in the north Hessian Schwalmstadt. The duo Gliem and Schwalm are listed on the artist lineup for the "HeidiFest" show on September 18 at the Munich Hofbräuhaus.
Gliem was not aware of the new record deal, but he may continue in some capacity, holding the rights to the "Wildecker Herzbuben" brand. This marks the end of an era for one of Germany’s most beloved Volksmusik acts, but both artists remain active in their respective capacities.
Entertainment in the form of music will no longer be a joint venture for the Wildecker Herzbuben duo, as Wolfgang Schwalm embarks on a solo career, leaving the duo's brand under the sole proprietorship of Wilfried Gliem. Despite the dissolution of their partnership, the possibility of future entertainment collaborations between the two remains open.
