Die Friends
Bernd and Karl-Heinz Ulrich are planning a stage farewell
The Amigos, consisting of Bernd and Karl-Heinz Ulrich
© Karina Hessland / imago images
The Amigos are opening a new chapter: After decades full of hits, Bernd and Karl-Heinz Ulrich are planning their farewell to the stage.
After more than five decades on the German pop stages, a somewhat surprising generational change is now taking place among the Amigos. In a radio interview on NDR Schlager, Bernd Ulrich, 75, made people sit up and take notice, according to the website “schlagerprofis.de”: The legendary Schlager duo, consisting of brothers Bernd and Karl-Heinz Ulrich, 77, are apparently planning to say goodbye in the next few years.
The Amigos want to hand over the scepter to Bernd Ulrich’s daughter
They then want to pass the musical torch on to Bernd’s daughter Daniela Alfinito, 54. “I think that when we Amigos retire at some point in the next year or two, we will hand over the baton to Daniela,” explained Ulrich in an interview with moderator Michael Thürnau, 62. The musician also became specific about his future plans: the upcoming album for 2026 is already finished and will be released in June or July. A final contract album is due on her label Telamo for 2027. After that, says Ulrich, we will see what happens next.
The announcement was surprising, as the Amigos had only announced last year with their hit “We’ll do it like the Rolling Stones” that they wanted to keep going like Mick Jagger, 82, and Co. But now the roll backwards. “We are also getting older,” admitted Bernd Ulrich.
Bernd Ulrich with his daughter Daniela Alfinito and brother Karl-Heinz Ulrich at “The Spring Festival of Folk Music” in March 2010.
© STAR-MEDIA / imago images
Karl-Heinz Ulrich continued – despite a heavy loss
Continuing on has by no means been a given for the Amigos in recent years. In February 2024, Karl-Heinz lost his wife Doris after a nearly three-year battle with cancer. She was 71 years old and the two were married for 44 years. The decision whether to continue with the Amigos was his alone.
Bernd also said: ‘If you say we’ll stop, then we’ll stop. You decide now’,
Karl-Heinz recalled in an interview with the radio station hr4. He decided to carry on – in the spirit of his late wife. “I think my wife would have wanted me to not just stop and sit at home. She knew that music was my life,” he added.
The Amigos’ track record is impressive: 13 of their last 15 studio albums landed at number one in the German charts. With 17 number one albums, they are only four short of the record set by Peter Maffay, 76. Their fans have celebrated the duo for decades for countless hits and unforgettable live performances.
Sources used: schlagerprofis.de, hr4.de
