A chat with keyboardist Carsten Brocker - Alphaville Forum

Andrea Ruby · 25 Jun 2014, 09:02

After the concert in Wroclaw, we had the opportunity to meet Alphaville’s new keyboardist, Carsten Brocker. A laid-back and happy chap, he kindly made time for a chat with us.

Carsten has listened to Alphaville since a young age. Through the years, he has played the keyboards in several different bands, but this is the first time that he is in a band as big as Alphaville. He finds it easy to learn to play new songs quickly, so he had no problem joining the band on stage at short notice.

Carsten first came into contact with Alphaville through Jakob Kiersch in 2009, when they still played in different bands. Jakob later introduced Carsten to Marian Gold during a flight that all three happened to be on. Marian then contacted Carsten in 2012 when Martin Lister was unable to do a gig in Romania, and asked him to stand in for Martin on stage. Carsten has in fact never met Martin and feels that replacing him as a permanent band member might be quite a hard task. He really hopes that he will be accepted by the fans.

His first Alphaville concert as a permanent member was performed in freezing Alta on the 14th of June this year in the far north of Norway. He had never before been north of the Arctc circle and says that he was surprised by the effect of the midnight sun.

Carsten was born on the 8th of August in 1977. He lives in Kassel, Germany. In November this year, he will be a first time father. We asked him about the upcoming South American tour in October, and he replied that he and his girlfriend do not see a problem with it as long as he is back in time for the birth of his child. Carsten has also been working on a PhD about Kraftwerk for some time and hopes to finish it before November. He has never met any Kraftwerk member in person, and fears that he never will, should they happen to read his PhD! Despite being a huge football fan and a supporter of Bayern München, he used to play handball in his youth. Carsten is also interested in the arts, and his girlfriend is involved professionally with art.

Naturally, we have already accepted Carsten as the new band member, and we did our best to make him feel welcome and comfortable within the fan community. In fact, we’re totally grateful for his participation in the Wroclaw gig and all the upcoming ones. Our hopes are that everybody else feels the same way and we wish him all the best for the future.

Andrea Ruby & Andreas

*ariAna* · 25 Jun 2014, 12:07

Thanks, Andrea and Andreas, for this nice introduction!

Right now this must be a really hard job for Carsten, but why shouldn't we accept him? If it wasn't for a new keyboarder the band couldn't play on.
It's not his fault that Martin passed away - as miserable as it still makes us fans.

Mumu · 25 Jun 2014, 12:32

I agree with you, Ana.

If the band accept Carsten, it means he is talented. And that's enough for me.

Even if we all miss Martin, Carsten is welcome.

Pitesina · 25 Jun 2014, 14:35

Thanks to Andrea and Andreas!

As Mumu said, if the band accepted him, he is talented.

Welcome Carsten and congratulations to you and your wife.

Krapplund · 25 Jun 2014, 15:31

Great...we all will meet him in Paris.

Like a big family

nicole · 25 Jun 2014, 16:02

I am glad AV found someone. This is a huge change for all fans and AV, but in the end, things do work out. Martin will always be missed and I know his spirit will live on. Welcome Carsten!

Clare · 25 Jun 2014, 18:31

I'm looking forward to hearing him live in Paris. Welcoming Carsten does not mean in any way that I don't miss Martin. I will always miss Martin at concerts and listening to Alphaville but I'm glad someone new has joined.

Kaz · 25 Jun 2014, 19:46

Me too. Martin will always be with us and Carsten is welcomed to the family.

alphaville88 · 26 Jun 2014, 01:48

See you in Brazil, Carsten !!!!!

lunarclair · 26 Jun 2014, 13:07

Thank you Andrea and Andreas and we will miss Martin of course but thankfully the show can go on Welcome to AV, Carsten�� I hope Alphaville do live Forever ! ❤️❤️❤️

25 Jun 2014, 09:02	#1
Andrea Ruby Little Darling Join Date: 18 Oct 2013 Location: Sweden/New Zealand Posts: 71	A chat with keyboardist Carsten Brocker After the concert in Wroclaw, we had the opportunity to meet Alphaville’s new keyboardist, Carsten Brocker. A laid-back and happy chap, he kindly made time for a chat with us. Carsten has listened to Alphaville since a young age. Through the years, he has played the keyboards in several different bands, but this is the first time that he is in a band as big as Alphaville. He finds it easy to learn to play new songs quickly, so he had no problem joining the band on stage at short notice. Carsten first came into contact with Alphaville through Jakob Kiersch in 2009, when they still played in different bands. Jakob later introduced Carsten to Marian Gold during a flight that all three happened to be on. Marian then contacted Carsten in 2012 when Martin Lister was unable to do a gig in Romania, and asked him to stand in for Martin on stage. Carsten has in fact never met Martin and feels that replacing him as a permanent band member might be quite a hard task. He really hopes that he will be accepted by the fans. His first Alphaville concert as a permanent member was performed in freezing Alta on the 14th of June this year in the far north of Norway. He had never before been north of the Arctc circle and says that he was surprised by the effect of the midnight sun. Carsten was born on the 8th of August in 1977. He lives in Kassel, Germany. In November this year, he will be a first time father. We asked him about the upcoming South American tour in October, and he replied that he and his girlfriend do not see a problem with it as long as he is back in time for the birth of his child. Carsten has also been working on a PhD about Kraftwerk for some time and hopes to finish it before November. He has never met any Kraftwerk member in person, and fears that he never will, should they happen to read his PhD! Despite being a huge football fan and a supporter of Bayern München, he used to play handball in his youth. Carsten is also interested in the arts, and his girlfriend is involved professionally with art. Naturally, we have already accepted Carsten as the new band member, and we did our best to make him feel welcome and comfortable within the fan community. In fact, we’re totally grateful for his participation in the Wroclaw gig and all the upcoming ones. Our hopes are that everybody else feels the same way and we wish him all the best for the future. Andrea Ruby & Andreas Attached Thumbnails Andrea Ruby Last edited by Andrea Ruby; 25 Jun 2014 at 09:07.

25 Jun 2014, 12:07	#2
ariAna maniac Join Date: 25 Feb 2008 Location: in the heart of the city, Bonn, Germany Posts: 4,493	Thanks, Andrea and Andreas, for this nice introduction! Right now this must be a really hard job for Carsten, but why shouldn't we accept him? If it wasn't for a new keyboarder the band couldn't play on. It's not his fault that Martin passed away - as miserable as it still makes us fans. G - O! Let's go!

25 Jun 2014, 12:32	#3
Mumu Exclusive Fanclub Member Join Date: 27 Sep 2012 Location: somewhere in the Center of France Posts: 2,925	I agree with you, Ana. If the band accept Carsten, it means he is talented. And that's enough for me. Even if we all miss Martin, Carsten is welcome. Whatever you do, never explain yourself : your friends don't need it, and your enemies won't believe you. Last edited by Mumu; 25 Jun 2014 at 12:36.

25 Jun 2014, 14:35	#4
Pitesina Take it easy! Join Date: 10 Jun 2009 Location: Mexico City Posts: 6,374	Thanks to Andrea and Andreas! As Mumu said, if the band accepted him, he is talented. Welcome Carsten and congratulations to you and your wife. Nunca te arrepientas de lo que hagas. Arrepiéntete de lo que no has hecho. [kitty]

25 Jun 2014, 15:31	#5
Krapplund Dream Keeper www.krapplund.com Join Date: 09 Nov 2000 Location: Emmaboda, Sweden. Posts: 17,539	Great...we all will meet him in Paris. Like a big family "Alphaville ohne Bernhard ist wie eine Apfelstrudel ohne apfel" 17'04'2003 www.krapplund.com

25 Jun 2014, 16:02	#6
nicole Dreamer Join Date: 24 Jun 2010 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,937	I am glad AV found someone. This is a huge change for all fans and AV, but in the end, things do work out. Martin will always be missed and I know his spirit will live on. Welcome Carsten!

25 Jun 2014, 18:31	#7
Clare Alphanut Join Date: 31 Mar 2001 Location: By a river, near Fort William in view of Ben Nevis Posts: 9,969	I'm looking forward to hearing him live in Paris. Welcoming Carsten does not mean in any way that I don't miss Martin. I will always miss Martin at concerts and listening to Alphaville but I'm glad someone new has joined. "I've had many sobering thoughts in my life.... ....it was them what drove me to drink!" [drunk] Grandad, Only Fools and Horses (UK sitcom)

25 Jun 2014, 19:46	#8
Kaz Her... Join Date: 22 Jan 2003 Location: Bucharest, Romania Posts: 12,459	Me too. Martin will always be with us and Carsten is welcomed to the family. Before you judge me, make sure you're perfect.

26 Jun 2014, 01:48	#9
alphaville88 Dreamer Join Date: 03 Jul 2006 Posts: 73	See you in Brazil, Carsten !!!!!

26 Jun 2014, 13:07	#10
lunarclair Dreamer Join Date: 13 Oct 2012 Location: Ireland Posts: 134	Thank you Andrea and Andreas and we will miss Martin of course but thankfully the show can go on Welcome to AV, Carsten�� I hope Alphaville do live Forever ! ❤️❤️❤️