Unheilig

Biography

Unheilig [ˈʊnhaɪ̯lɪç] is a German band that combines a number of musical styles, including pop and electronic as well as hard rock. It was founded in Aachen in 1999 and principally consists of vocalist Bernd "Der Graf" Heinrich, along with various musicians. The group's debut album, Phosphor×Phosphor26 February 2001 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Die Macht4:032Willenlos3:523Ikarus3:264Sage ja!4:045Armageddon4:026My Bride Has Gone3:527Komm zu mir4:008Close Your Eyes4:049The Bad and the Beautiful4:0510Discover the World3:4111Skin3:3612Stark11:05, came out in 2000.

Early years (1999–2009)

Bernd "Der Graf" Heinrich founded Unheilig in 1999 in Aachen, with the Australian musician Grant Stevens and José Alvarez-Brill. Their first single, "Sage Ja!×Sage ja!2000 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Sage ja! (radio edit)3:342Skin (album version)3:353Sage ja! (clubmix)6:56" was released that year, and the band's debut album, Phosphor×Phosphor26 February 2001 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Die Macht4:032Willenlos3:523Ikarus3:264Sage ja!4:045Armageddon4:026My Bride Has Gone3:527Komm zu mir4:008Close Your Eyes4:049The Bad and the Beautiful4:0510Discover the World3:4111Skin3:3612Stark11:05, came out in 2001. This was followed by the Christmas album Frohes Fest×Frohes Fest28 October 2002 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Sternzeit (1. Strophe)2:142Kling Glöckchen klingelingeling4:123Leise rieselt der Schnee5:094O Tannenbaum4:335Sternzeit (2. Strophe)1:296Süßer die Glocken nie klingen5:247Als ich bei meinen Schafen wacht5:578Vollendung3:599Morgen kommt der Weihnachtsmann5:0310Sternzeit (3. Strophe)1:3111Schneeflöckchen Weißröckchen5:2912Still still still6:3713Ihr Kinderlein kommet6:0614Stille Nacht heilige Nacht7:0115Sternzeit (4. Strophe)3:43 in 2002, Das 2. Gebot×Das 2. Gebot7 April 2003 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Eva4:412Maschine4:063Gib mir mehr3:394Sternenschiff4:395Vollmond6:446Jetzt noch nicht4:197Der Mann im Mond3:568Schutzengel4:259Rache4:3910Mona Lisa4:1611Krieg der Engel4:0612Herzland (instrumental)3:44 in 2003, and the EP Schutzengel, also in 2003. Another full-length album, Zelluloid×Zelluloid16 February 2004 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Die Filmrolle1:362Zauberer4:113Hört mein Wort4:514Willst du mich3:475Himmelherz5:546Auf zum Mond5:597Freiheit5:238Herz aus Eis5:099Sieh in mein Gesicht4:2310Mein König5:1711Fabrik der Liebe5:2212Tanz mit dem Feuer5:3413Feier dich!4:4914Zeig mir, dass ich lebe4:0815Wenn du lachst4:0616Zelluloid (instrumental)4:00, came out in 2004.
The band released their first live album, Gastspiel×Gastspiel31 January 2005 · Album · LiveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Intro1:432Zauberer4:193Willst du mich?4:114Auf zum Mond6:395Freiheit5:456Schutzengel4:597Herz aus Eis5:188Fabrik der Liebe5:579Hört mein Wort5:1310Maschine4:5611Sage ja!4:18Disc 21Sieh in mein Gesicht4:542Himmelherz6:063Gib mir mehr5:444Eva5:545Komm zu mir4:386Jetzt noch nicht6:40, in 2005, and followed it with the DVD Kopfkino×Kopfkino23 May 2005 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Intro1:382Zauberer4:223Willst du mich4:294Auf zum Mond6:295Freiheit6:086Schutzengel5:107Herz aus Eis5:438Fabrik der Liebe6:009Hört Mein Wort5:4710Maschine4:5911Sage Ja5:1412Sieh in mein Gesicht5:3513Himmelherz6:4214Gib mir mehr5:2115Eva5:5316Komm zu mir5:2817Jetzt noch nicht5:27. Moderne Zeiten came out in 2006 and Puppenspiel in 2008. Their second DVD, Vorhang auf, came out the same year.

Große Freiheit and Lichter der Stadt (2009–2013)

In January 2010, Unheilig released the single "Geboren um zu leben" was released, preceding the album Große Freiheit×Große Freiheit19 February 2010 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Das Meer3:392Seenot4:233Für immer3:234Geboren um zu leben3:515Abwärts3:316Halt mich3:487Unter Feuer5:058Große Freiheit3:499Ich gehöre mir3:3710Heimatstern4:1211Sternbild4:3012Unter deiner Flagge4:1213Fernweh4:5214Neuland4:31Disc 21Winterland5:102Geboren um zu leben (piano version live bei Radio NRW)2:413Unter deiner Flagge (piano version live bei Radio NRW)3:564Winterland (single version)3:565Winterland (Gregorian version)5:106Der Graf liest "Dornröschen"12:22, which came out the following month and saw the band touring in support. A second single, "Für immer×Für immer21 May 2010 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Für immer3:232Die neue Welt4:40", came out in May and was followed by "Unter deiner Flagge×Unter deiner Flagge24 September 2010 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Unter deiner Flagge (single version)3:572Geboren um zu Leben (Darkstar-Music edit)3:52" in September 2010.
In October, the band performed the song "Unter deiner Flagge" at the Bundesvision Song Contest, going on to win that year. In November, they issued the fourth single from Große Freiheit, "Winterland".
In March 2011, Unheilig was nominated for five ECHO Awards (Best National Video for "Geboren um zu leben", ECHO Radio, Most Successful Production Team, Best National Rock/Alternative Group, and Album of the Year for Große Freiheit×Freiheit18 October 2004 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Freiheit (radio edit)3:552Sieh in mein Gesicht (extended version)5:193Morgengrauen4:504Die Muse4:185Freiheit (Terminal Choice remix)4:236Schmetterling5:327Sieh in mein Gesicht (Staubkind remix)4:128Freiheit (Neuroticfish remix)5:59), eventually winning three.
In February, the band announced they were writing material for their eighth album, Lichter der Stadt×Lichter der Stadt1 January 2012 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Das Licht (Intro)3:362Herzwerk3:353So wie du warst3:514Tage wie Gold3:355Wie wir waren3:406Unsterblich4:017Feuerland3:448Lichter der Stadt4:169Ein guter Weg3:5410Ein großes Leben3:3511Brenne auf3:4912Zeitreise4:0113Das Leben ist schön3:4314Eisenmann4:2315Vergessen4:1416Die Stadt (Instrumental)6:02. The first single, "So wie du warst×So wie Du warst24 February 2012 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1So wie du warst3:522Nachtschicht3:40", was released one year later, while the album itself came out in March 2012. The second single, also titled "Lichter der Stadt", came out the same month, followed by "Wie wir waren×Wie wir waren31 August 2012 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Wie wir waren (single edit)3:332Lichter der Stadt (live bei den NRW Lokalradios)4:19" in August.
In January 2013, Unheilig released a seven-CD box set titled Als Musik meine Sprache wurde. It consists of six discs narrating Der Graf's musical journey together with one disc of early tracks from his career.

Alles hat seine Zeit, Gipfelstürmer, and Von Mensch zu Mensch (2014–2016)

In March 2014, Unheilig issued their first greatest hits album, titled Alles hat seine Zeit. In October, they released the single "Zeit zu Gehen×Zeit zu gehen31 October 2014 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Zeit zu gehen4:142Das Leben ist meine Religion3:36", the first from their forthcoming album Gipfelstürmer×Gipfelstürmer12 December 2014 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Der Berg (intro)4:492Hinunter bis auf Eins3:243Zeit zu gehen4:134Die Weisheiten des Lebens3:285Zwischen Licht und Schatten4:306Glück auf das Leben3:107Wie in guten alten Zeiten3:578Alles hat seine Zeit3:529Echo3:4810Mein Berg4:2411Goldrausch3:4612Held für einen Tag4:0613Dem Himmel so nah3:4214Wir sind die Gipfelstürmer3:5015Hand in Hand4:0216Der Gipfel (outro)6:03, which came out in December. A year later, they issued the DVD MTV Unplugged: Unter Dampf – Ohne Strom on 12 December 2015.
In August 2016, the band announced that they would release their final album, Von Mensch zu Mensch×Von Mensch zu Mensch4 November 2016 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Auf ein letztes Mal4:282Egoist4:073Von Mensch zu Mensch4:174Einer von Millionen3:135Mein Leben ist die Freiheit4:376Funkenschlag4:307Ich würd' dich gern besuchen3:308Ein wahres Glück4:499Legenden4:0710Heimatlos3:5911Der Sturm4:0912Tausend Rosen3:2413Walfänger6:1914Krieger3:3215Ein letztes Lied4:2916Für alle Zeit6:13, in November. The first single from the album, also titled "Von Mensch zu Mensch", came out in August and was followed by "Ich würd' dich gern Besuchen" in September. The third single, "Mein Leben ist die Freiheit", was issued October.

Hiatus, return, and Liebe Glaube Monster (2017–present)

During their hiatus, the band issued several best-of albums, including Best of Vol. 2 – Pures Gold in 2017 and Lichterland – Best Of in 2021.
In March 2026, Unheilig released their first studio album in ten years, titled Liebe Glaube Monster×Liebe Glaube Monster13 March 2026 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 26 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Revolution (Intro)3:492Liebe Glaube Monster3:333Wunderschön3:244Monster3:425Du bist meine Heimat3:336Brot und Spiele3:347Mein Löwe3:178Zwischen den Welten3:309KI – 01001011 010010016:1610Sonnenallee5:0011Böse Geister5:5812Spiegel4:1013Nur ein kleiner Schritt3:4014Fotobuch3:3415Liebe4:0016Ausblick (Outro)3:16Disc 21Revolution (Intro) - Demo3:562Wunderschön - Demo3:233Monster - Demo3:394Mein Löwe - Demo3:195Du bist meine Heimat - Demo3:326Zwischen den Welten - Demo5:107KI ? 01001011 01001001 - Frankenstein Version6:058Sonnenallee - Demo4:419Photobuch - Demo4:4910Liebe - Demo4:52, with the first single being "Wunderschön×Wunderschön11 September 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Wunderschön3:23".