Frank Zander
He recorded video for homeless feeding
© imago/Photopress Müller
His Christmas party for the homeless will have to do without Frank Zander in 2023 – at least on site. He will be connected via video.
Personally, the cult musician Frank Zander, 81, cannot be at his famous feeding for the homeless and needy in the Hotel Estrel in Berlin’s Neukölln district this year due to his poor health. Nevertheless, he will somehow be part of the whole thing via video link on Friday. His son Marcus Zander, 55, announced this in an interview with the “BZ”. The decision as to whether he would appear or not was a battle until the last minute. He’s still not doing so well and isn’t full of energy like he used to be.
That’s why the family council met, the doctors were of course also consulted and the discussions went back and forth, says Zander junior. Of course, his father definitely wanted to take part, but: “The advice and opinion of the doctors were very important to us. It can’t be that the recovery process is jeopardized for such a strenuous performance.”
Frank Zander called the “BZ”
Frank Zander himself also told the “BZ” on the phone: “The professors said it would be good for me mentally to have such a positive experience before Christmas. And that was exactly my opinion.” For decades, it has been his heart’s desire to bring a little light to the poorest people’s often dark everyday lives. But he doesn’t want to take any risks either. This is how he now shows himself in a video message: “I’m with you. I wish you the merriest Christmas possible. So: I’ll stay at home and gather strength for what lies ahead of me. So that I can get completely healthy again.”
It is now planned that his son Marcus and his grandson Elias, 22, will greet every visitor personally at the entrance, including a hug or handshake. A total of around 1,800 guests are expected. In his video message he also wanted to thank all the helpers and artists who made feeding the homeless possible this year.
Frank Zander was in the clinic until recently
The musician had to be taken to a Berlin clinic in an ambulance on December 11th. Previously, after a corona infection, his health had become “worse from day to day,” as his son Markus revealed shortly after the “BZ” was admitted. Zander himself also made a short statement. He could imagine something better than being in the clinic, but: “I was getting weaker and weaker.” He was released about a week later and has been recovering at home ever since. Further investigations were announced for the beginning of the year.