Disbanding of the Wild Gang Members
Wildecker Herzbuben Bid Farewell with Final Performance
After 36 years of musical partnership, the folk duo Wildecker Herzbuben is set to part ways, with singer Wolfgang Schwalm embarking on a solo career under the name "The Herzbube Wolfgang." The announcement comes with a signed record deal and a new beginning slated for autumn 2025.
Despite the official separation, Wilfried Gliem, the other half of the duo, retains ownership of the "Wildecker Herzbuben" brand. He has expressed his intention to engage a new singer for the brand, should Gliem recover from his current health issues, which have influenced the separation.
A joint, final performance is planned for September 2025 at Heidi Klum's Schlager Show, serving as a fitting farewell for the duo. Schwalm will perform in a wheelchair during the final performance, reflecting Gliem's current mobility needs.
The legal and tax-related reasons led to the separation in March 2024, yet the duo's performances continued until mid-2025. Schwalm has officially announced his solo career, planning for a musical reorientation in the autumn, but Gliem was apparently not informed about this development and expresses skepticism about Schwalm's success as a solo artist.
Despite the separation and uncertainties, Schwalm maintains that there is no personal conflict between the two, and he even offers reconciliatory and respectful words for Gliem. The dissolution of their partnership is described as a "slow process," also influenced by Gliem's advanced age (78 years).
Looking ahead, the "Wildecker Herzbuben" brand may have a future with a new singer, with Schwalm potentially being an option if Gliem recovers. Meanwhile, details about a potential replacement singer were not provided.
The career of Wildecker Herzbuben began after their first real concert in the north Hessian town of Schwalmstadt in April 1990, where they gained fame with the 1989 hit "Herzilein." The duo's final performance together marks a worthy stage farewell for the duo, according to Schwalm.
The final performance of Wildecker Herzbuben in September 2025 at Heidi Klum's Schlager Show will provide an entertaining music spectacle, marking a poignant end to the duo's partnership. Despite departing on a solo path, Wolfgang Schwalm remains hopeful about the future of the "Wildecker Herzbuben" brand, should Wilfried Gliem recover and choose to collaborate with a new singer.
