Modern Talking Says Goodbye

Alas, they are no more. Germany's most infamous pop duo, Modern Talking, bowed out at a final concert this weekend.

The band, which has delighted Germans and appalled critics for almost 20 years with their brand of Teutonic pop played for the last time to a 11,000 strong crowd at Berlin's Whulheide stadium Saturday night. The band has cancelled all other concerts due this summer in cities across Germany since their announced break-up at the beginning of June.

Not the last goodbye?

It is not the first time the pair -- record producer and singer Dieter Bohlen, (49) and musician Thomas Anders, (40) -- have called it a day. After forming in 1984, Anders and Bohlen split just three years later citing artistic differences. Despite a string of number one hits including "Cheri Cheri Lady" and "You're my Heart, You're My Soul" it was not until more than a decade later in 1998 that the pair re-entered the recording studio. "Believe me, there is no-one who is more happy that Modern Talking is together again," Bohlen said at the time.

But the Modern Talking phenomenon -- which includes eleven albums, number one hits in 20 countries and Bohlen's memoirs, "Nothing but the Truth" (Nichts als die Wahrheit) which topped the book charts when they were published last year -- was not to last for ever.

Now, after years of rumors of a possible break-up, the band has decided to write the last chapter in the Modern Talking saga. The news came as a shock to Modern talking fans as Bohlen declared the break-up at a concert in the North German town of Rostock in early June.

Thomas Anders, for whom the sudden announcement also came as a surprise, confirmed the news but admitted that the timing – right at the start of their summer tour -- may have not been right. However, both musicians rejected allegations that a quarrel prior to the concert had led to Bohlen's spontaneous announcement. "Thomas and I made the decision months ago that this would be the last year (of Modern Talking)", Bohlen said.

More free time

Both Anders and Bohlen have said Modern Talking's split will free them up to do other things. Anders will concentrate on his solo career, Bohlen has started working on his second book and has just signed a three-year contract with private TV RTL for further involvement in the German version of reality TV show "Pop Idol", in which Bohlen starred as a judge last year.

In addition, Bohlen wants to spend more time with his family. In an interview with the German woman's magazine Frau im Spiegel, the acid-tongued singer said: "I finished the one thing in my life which was the least fun: Modern Talking"