Published on 18/2024 – Published on 8 October 2024
Vinschgau – It was 20 years ago in December when the first meeting of the South Tyrolean Peter Maffay fan club took place in Lana. The club was recently founded on the initiative of Albert Rungg from Prad together with like-minded people. Albert, often referred to as “Peter Maffay” in his home community and beyond, had treasured Maffay’s songs forever in those years. He made his first personal contact with the German singer, guitarist, composer and music producer in 1985. Albert is not only one of Maffay’s most loyal fans, but is a personal friend of the renowned musician. for many years. It is no coincidence that the letter from Peter Maffay, who recently arrived in Prad from Tutzing, begins with “Dear Albert”. In a short letter, Peter thanks Albert and his friends for their years of loyalty and sincerely congratulates the South Tyrone fan club and its president Albert Rungg on their 20th anniversary. The fan club currently has over 50 people who are connected to each other through a WhatsApp group and exchange information regularly. There are between 20 and 30 people in the hard core of the fan club. Albert Rungg: “We are an open and informal fan club with no obligations. Everyone is welcome in our relaxed group.” As well as organizing trips to Maffay concerts and organizing fan club meetings in South Tyrol, many of Maffay’s South Tyrone supporters have been involved in the social sector since the fan club was founded. Donations between 1,000 and 2,000 euros are collected annually for the Peter Maffay Foundation or for other projects of his. The Peter Maffay Foundation cares for socially disadvantaged, traumatized and seriously ill children and young people. What Peter has been looking forward to for years are fresh apples from the Vinschgau, which Albert regularly brings to Tutzing. It also happened that Maffay got into a Vinschger apple on stage in front of countless fans. For many fans, the concert that Maffay gave with his band on September 25, 1984 in Ortisei in Val Gardena will remain unforgettable. Of course, Albert Rungg was not missing back then. From that year to this year, he attended at least one of the concerts on every Maffay tour. This also involved Maffay’s big tour in the summer of 2024. Side detail: With 20 number one albums and over 50 million records sold, Peter Maffay, who celebrated his 75th birthday on August 30, is the artist most successful in the German charts. . The South Tyrone fan club’s anniversary celebrations will take place this autumn. Roland Leitner from Rai Südtirol will create his own program for the anniversary.