http://www.bild.de/BILD/regional/muenchen/leute/2010/12/01/leslie-mandoki/ich-habe-mich-gleich-in-muenchen-verliebt.html
A continuation of the last part, in which Leslie and his friends had just barely escaped with their lives by fleeing through a train tunnel.
I Immediately Fell in Love with Munich
Tutzing/Munich -- Colourful signs, clean air, and cold drinks. As Leslie Mandoki arrives in Munich in the summer of 1975 from Hungary, he thinks he is in paradise. "I was thrilled, and immediately in love with the city."
Fascinated, he stays with his friends Laszlo Bencker and Gabor Csupo outside City Hall for half an hour at a tram stop. "There was a road map, that we did not know," says the musician. "And that was mistaken for us. The tram actually went to this plan." (Trans: Not sure what he's saying here.)
The trio goes to the Hungarian mission in Bogenhausen. "My uncle was the boss there and I was hoping he would take us in for a few days," says Mandoki. "But because of our long hair, he has us kicked out. Until his death, I never forgave him."
The young men sit at a loss in the Marienplatz to get help from strangers. "This has touched me deeply in my heart." Nevertheless, the musicians go on. "We wanted to get to Sweden, then America." But in Denmark they are picked up by police and sent back to Germany.
Mandoki ends up in a refugee camp in Zirndorf. For three weeks, every day for twelve hours he learns German and reads books, and integrates quickly in his new home. "I would have been stupid, not to open this rich new culture."
He rose from first appearances in hotel bars to large concerts in clubs, to being a very sought-after studio musician. Finally, he became a member of "Dschinghis Khan." Mandoki later produced Phil Collins, Lionel Ritchie, and the No Angels, and works closely with friends Peter Maffay and Thomas Gottschalk. He is internationally successful, playing with Star-Geiger David Garrett and trumpeter Till Bronner in China and the United States.
Moreover, the percussionist gathered in his "Soul Mates" rock stars such as Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull), and Toto singer Bobby Kimball around. Mandoki has now released the CD "Thank You!" "I would like to thank Germany and Bavaria, for the warmth and cordiality which was shown to me. The pre-Christmas theme song is my love song to the country where I have to thank 35 years so much."
Showing posts with label BILD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BILD. Show all posts
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Leslie Mandoki: My Flight Through the Death Tunnel
http://www.bild.de/BILD/regional/muenchen/leute/2010/11/30/leslie-mandoki/meine-flucht-durch-den-todestunnel.html
Tonight's article is not an old article, but rather one that was published in the German newspaper BILD a few weeks ago. In it, Leslie finally speaks out about his flight from Hungary through a train tunnel in the middle of the night. It's a fascinating look into the "Wild Hungarian" of Dschinghis Khan.
This is part one. I'll post the next part soon!
My Flight Through the Death Tunnel
Tutzing -- Searchlights streak through the night. Armed gaurds patrol their rounds around the Karawankentunnel, accompanied by sharp shepherd dogs.
Leslie Mandoki and his friends Laszlo Bencker and Gabor Csupo observe the scenery from behind a bush. For three days and nights they have been there. They are cold and damp. But Mandoki does not feel it.
He wants freedom. From Hungary to Yugoslavia, the musician has already managed it. Now only this rail tunnel seperates him and his friends from the big goal.
The trio has left their belongings and instruments behind. "I had only notes, certificates, a few poems, a sweater and a pair of drumsticks with me," says Mandoki. His friend Laszlo Bencker noted in an A5 ring binder the times of the changing of the gaurd.
Then it's time. At midnight of the third day, they go running. At the changing of the gaurd, the soldiers play a game of cards. "In order not to alarm the dogs, we threw raw meat into the kennel."
Then they run for their lives. "I was scared to death, because the soldiers had not hesitated to shoot us." Mandoki runs and runs. As fast as he ever has.
The sharp gravel shredded his simple sneakers. His feet are bleeding and he has rat bites on his body. They feared being run over by a train. "Every 50 feet were small bays for the railway workers," says the drummer. "When we heard a locomotive, we had to get there. Because there was no room next to the tracks. And several times we made it at the last second."
After four hours, the trio managed the 8 km route. They were in Austria. "The first thing I saw in freedom was a transformer station. I embraced it in joy. The word 'danger' on it, we didn't understand. We didn't speak German."
Full of optimism, they ran to the next station. "Actually, I was going to go to Sweden, and then to America," says the musician. But first he went with his friends to Munich. That was the beginning of his great love for Germany, and especially Munich.
Tonight's article is not an old article, but rather one that was published in the German newspaper BILD a few weeks ago. In it, Leslie finally speaks out about his flight from Hungary through a train tunnel in the middle of the night. It's a fascinating look into the "Wild Hungarian" of Dschinghis Khan.
This is part one. I'll post the next part soon!
My Flight Through the Death Tunnel
Tutzing -- Searchlights streak through the night. Armed gaurds patrol their rounds around the Karawankentunnel, accompanied by sharp shepherd dogs.
Leslie Mandoki and his friends Laszlo Bencker and Gabor Csupo observe the scenery from behind a bush. For three days and nights they have been there. They are cold and damp. But Mandoki does not feel it.
He wants freedom. From Hungary to Yugoslavia, the musician has already managed it. Now only this rail tunnel seperates him and his friends from the big goal.
The trio has left their belongings and instruments behind. "I had only notes, certificates, a few poems, a sweater and a pair of drumsticks with me," says Mandoki. His friend Laszlo Bencker noted in an A5 ring binder the times of the changing of the gaurd.
Then it's time. At midnight of the third day, they go running. At the changing of the gaurd, the soldiers play a game of cards. "In order not to alarm the dogs, we threw raw meat into the kennel."
Then they run for their lives. "I was scared to death, because the soldiers had not hesitated to shoot us." Mandoki runs and runs. As fast as he ever has.
The sharp gravel shredded his simple sneakers. His feet are bleeding and he has rat bites on his body. They feared being run over by a train. "Every 50 feet were small bays for the railway workers," says the drummer. "When we heard a locomotive, we had to get there. Because there was no room next to the tracks. And several times we made it at the last second."
After four hours, the trio managed the 8 km route. They were in Austria. "The first thing I saw in freedom was a transformer station. I embraced it in joy. The word 'danger' on it, we didn't understand. We didn't speak German."
Full of optimism, they ran to the next station. "Actually, I was going to go to Sweden, and then to America," says the musician. But first he went with his friends to Munich. That was the beginning of his great love for Germany, and especially Munich.
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