Bonfire

Bonfire is a German hard rock and heavy metal band from Ingolstadt, active since 1986 under that name. It begins in 1972 as Cacumen, formed by guitarist Hans Ziller with his brother Karl Ziller and other local musicians. The group builds a following in and around Ingolstadt before changing its name to Bonfire in 1986.

Early years as Cacumen

The original band takes its name from a Latin term meaning “the top of a mountain”, which Hans Ziller encounters in a school test. In the late 1970s the line-up includes Hans Ziller and Karl Ziller on guitars, Horst Maier on guitar, Hans Hauptmann on bass, and Hans Forstner on drums. Claus Lessmann joins as vocalist after singing with Ginger and Sunset. The group records the single “Riding Away” backed with “Wintertale” in 1979, signs to an independent label, and issues the album Cacumen in 1981. Around this time Karl Ziller leaves the band.

Cacumen later works with Hanns Schmidt-Theissen, who contributes keyboards to the “Riding Away” single and supports live performances. The band records Bad Widow at his studio in 1982. In 1983 Robert Prskalowicz replaces Hans Hauptmann on bass.

Becoming Bonfire

After a recording contract with BMG, Bonfire undergoes further line-up changes. In 1985 Prskalowicz and Hans Forstner leave and are replaced by Jörg Deisinger on bass and Dominic Hülshorst on drums. The band adopts a more contemporary hard rock image, and the name Bonfire is introduced in May 1986. Its first album under the new name, Don’t Touch the Light, follows in 1986. Fireworks is recorded the next year with session drummer Ken Mary of Fifth Angel after Hülshorst leaves; a North American version has a different cover and track list and includes “You Make Me Feel” from the previous album.

Edgar Patrik, previously with Sinner, Samson and Tyran Pace, joins on drums in late 1987. During the Fireworks tour in 1988, Horst Maier leaves because of rheumatism-related health problems and is replaced by Angel Schleifer, who has played with Doc Savage, Sinner and Pretty Maids. Hans Ziller leaves in 1989 after disagreements with management and the record company. Claus Lessmann remains into the early 1990s, but leaves in 1992 after Point Blank.

Changes, legal disputes and reformations

In 1993 Bonfire recruits Michael Bormann, who has previously sung with Letter X and remains involved with Jaded Heart. The record company does not release the studio recordings made with him at the time, and a live album from the Point Blank tour is issued instead. The group plays its final concert of that period in 1994.

Meanwhile, Claus Lessmann and Hans Ziller reunite in the project Lessmann/Ziller, releasing the German-language EP Glaub dran in 1993. This develops into Ex in 1995, with former Bonfire members Jörg Deisinger and Dominic Hülshorst. In 1996 Lessmann and Ziller begin legal action over the Bonfire name and earlier recordings. An agreement in July 1996 allows Ex to be renamed Bonfire, and a revised version of Glaub dran is released later that year with extra English-language material.

Later line-ups and releases

In 1997 Bonfire expands with Chris Lausmann on guitar and keyboards, Uwe Köhler on bass, and Jürgen Wiehler on drums. Chris Lausmann leaves in 2002. The compilation series The Early Days appears in 2004 as five CDs reissuing material by Cacumen, EZ Livin’ and Lessmann/Ziller, with bonus tracks. Chris Limburg joins in 2006, the band marks its twentieth anniversary that year, and it releases the rock opera The Räuber in 2008. A live DVD follows, including videos for songs from the album and a new version of “You Make Me Feel”, which later appears in the video game SingStar.

Jürgen Wiehler leaves in 2009 and Dominic Hülshorst returns. Bonfire performs at Rocklahoma in Pryor, Oklahoma, that year. In 2010 it briefly signs to Universal Music and releases “Deutsche National Hymne” for the FIFA World Cup in South Africa; the single spends seven weeks in the German Top 50. Branded follows in 2011 and enters the German album chart. The live release Fireworks Still Alive documents a complete performance of the 1987 album.

Hülshorst leaves again in 2012 and Harry Reischmann replaces him. In 2015 Hans Ziller announces further changes: Claus Lessmann, Chris Limburg and Uwe Köhler leave, while David Reece, Ronnie Parkes and Frank Pané join Reece on vocals, Parkes on bass and Pané as second guitarist. Reece later leaves by mutual agreement. Michael Bormann is announced as replacement, but scheduling conflicts delay his involvement. Alexx Stahl then joins as a temporary touring vocalist and later becomes the full-time singer.

Recent work

Bonfire celebrates its thirtieth anniversary in 2016 with the double album Pearls, which re-records earlier songs. The band’s later studio albums include Byte the Bullet (2017), Temple of Lies (2018), Legends (2018), Fistful of Fire (2020) and Higher Ground (2025). Across its history the group remains closely associated with Hans Ziller, who stays linked to the project for most of its existence and holds the rights to the Bonfire name.