Peter Maffay and Hendrikje Balsmeyer about their love, their children – and who made them pray again.
A new girlfriend. And also 38 years younger. When Peter Maffay, who celebrates his 73rd birthday on August 30, and Hendrikje Balsmeyer, 35, fell in love in 2015, few gave the couple a chance. Four marriages were already behind Maffay. And how should a relationship work at eye level, where the young teacher met the rock star as a fan?
Seven years have passed since then. Today, nobody who experiences the couple together asks the question about eye level. Hendrikje manages the marketing of Maffay’s Tabaluga Foundation, is traveling with him on his tour that has just started, and they are both working together on their children’s book series.
Peter Maffay and Hendrikje Balsmeyer: Daughter Anouk reintroduced grace
At the center of the stories is little Anouk, who deliberately has the same name as their soon to be four-year-old daughter. And for some time now, Yaris, 18, Maffay’s son from his fourth marriage, has also been living at Lake Starnberg. The couple speaks openly in the GALA interview about the new family constellation, but also why they are not getting married.
GALA: Mr. Maffay, you are currently coaching young talents at “The Voice”. What advice do you give them?
Peter Maffay: That a music career is a marathon and not a sprint. You have to be prepared for a journey with ups and downs. I also ask if there is a plan B. Anyone who answers “Absolutely not” has good prerequisites. Without backdoors you bring more energy and ambition with you.
You didn’t have a plan B yourself?
maffay: Definitely not. When I was 15 or 16 I knew I wanted to make music. Forever.
Just like your son today.
maffay: I often find that he desires more than he is willing to deliver. Music has a lot to do with talent, but also with discipline and work. Of course he has options that others don’t have. But if he doesn’t notice her, he’ll be out again quickly.
As a rock star, how does one manage to convince one’s children of the need for a day job?
maffay: The proof that this works is still pending. (laughs) Yaris can perform it first. He absolutely understood that he has to achieve a lot in order to be able to live independently.
Yaris lives in Tutzing. How important is it to you that your children grow up together?
Hendrikje Balsmeyer: Very important. I’m really happy that Yaris is staying with us. He gets along great with his little sister, picks her up from kindergarten and plays with her. And, which I give him credit for, he immediately gave me, the woman from a new relationship, a chance.
It also comes in the new one “anouk“-Children’s book before. There he cheats for his little sister. Does he do that in real life too?
Balsmeyer: Clear. If she nibbled too much, he would immediately say that he allowed it. Yaris has Anouks and his hand tattooed on his forearm. There really isn’t a nicer token of love.
You had your daughter baptized a year ago because faith is very important to both of you.
maffay: That’s right. Our children should grow up knowing that there is a higher authority to turn to. We make the two of them the offer “Believe” – what they make of it is their business.
Balsmeyer: Anouk goes to a church kindergarten. She often reminds us to think of God and has also reintroduced grace.
Your family is one
They seem very happy together. How happy are you that you found each other? Balsmeyer: (response comes immediately) As happy as the first day!
maffay: That is how I see it too.
Balsmeyer: Becoming a mother was very important to me and I was glad that Peter didn’t stand in the way. We were a unit even before Anouk was born, but she made our happiness perfect.
maffay: Anouk is the center around which we all revolve.
Is it the first time that you experience family as a unit?
maffay: Yes. I’ve had this attempt a couple of times – but it’s never felt as good as it does now. When Yaris was little, the concept didn’t work out so well because I was out and about a lot. Now I can catch up a lot with him.
How about getting married now?
Balsmeyer: Marriage would change nothing. I don’t need to get married to make this relationship even more stable.
maffay: For me, marriage exists when two people choose each other. And that’s what we have: When we met, it was clear from the first moment that we wanted to live together.
You are busy. Have you thought about one of you retiring from work?
maffay: Who is going to put up with this? Hendrikje would never accept that I am inactive and standing in her way. She’s way too active for that. I can’t imagine what good that should entail.
Balsmeyer: Working is very important to me, I want to be seen as an independent person. And I’d rather spend money I’ve worked hard for myself. Besides, I’m still younger and still a long way from my goal.
And what is your goal?
Balsmeyer: I have arrived in the family and in love. Oh, Peter is happy! (looks over at him, both laugh) But other than that, I still have a lot to do. At the beginning of the year I always make a list of things I want to create – like this book.
Tough, beautiful, determined: the former teacher Hendrikje Balsmeyer passed her state exam with an A.
© VISTAPRESS/Lana Yassi / imago images
In it you tell a very nice story about motorcycle rides as a threesome.
Balsmeyer: Yes, Peter bought an old combination with a sidecar last year. Anouk even sleeps in it, our excursions are so relaxed.
maffay: My son is more into driving himself – he’s just getting his motorcycle license. He can drive very well. Just the father.