Peter Maffay is a phenomenon: The rock legend has been releasing number one albums for decades and is constantly reinventing himself. In an exclusive interview, the musician reveals how his basic trust in his own abilities came about, what rituals guide him and what advice he would have liked to have given his 15-year-old self.

Because I didn't know what to expect. (laughs) No, I had such a strong, emotional desire within me that was so massive that I said: I just have to do that.

I promised myself a life in which I was completely responsible for myself and not controlled remotely; that was extremely important to me. I imagined that I would travel a lot, meet great people and grow from these encounters. By the way, all of this also happened.

It is definitely a question of disposition whether one has this basic trust. For me it certainly has something to do with my life story. My parents emigrated from Romania to Germany in 1963 under very difficult circumstances. We left a dictatorship behind us and arrived in a democracy after a two-hour flight. That was a culture shock for me! We left everything behind, our home, our friends, and had to start all over again. From now on, we have our antennas out in search of a life worth living.

My parents raised me in such a way that you have to be open to your happiness: you have to approach others openly. Because you can only mature through encounters. They taught me not to be afraid, but to trust my possibilities. And: obstacles are there to be overcome. It was probably precisely through this upbringing that I gained my basic trust that things would somehow work out. But as I said: you have to want it. If you don't move yourself, there will be no encounter. You can't leave the initiative to others, you have to take action yourself.

Convenience is often an obstacle that creeps up on a person's path in life. That's why it's so important to continually reflect critically: Am I still on the path I want to take? And am I still who I want to be?

Yes, I pray every day. Faith is refuge in difficult situations. Real friends and family members are also an important corrective to continually question yourself and grow.

There is a trite saying that says a lot: “If everything is too much for you, nothing will work.” So don't look at the things that come your way as a burden, but rather try to see them as a positive challenge. Always be ready to deal with anything.

Yes, at some point I will no longer be able to do what I do now for health reasons. Health is the capital from which we all live. When that's no longer there, there's nothing left. Worldly goods then no longer help.

A healthy, peaceful environment is incredibly important for one to be internally balanced. So I spend a lot of time with people who are good for me. Stress, hectic pace or aggression are harmful to your health. And I also eat reasonably well, my weight hasn't changed in 30 years, and I exercise every day. I do strength training and bike rides. And when I'm on stage, that's the best full-body workout anyway.

The whole thing worries me. Many livelihoods are threatened, especially in the music industry. Even if we can go on tour again next year, the service providers we need may no longer be there. So bus drivers, caterers, logisticians or even sound companies. Of course, you could, as many are currently doing, shut down your activities completely and, for example, apply for short-time work for your employees. We consciously don't do that because I think it would put enormous psychological strain on us. Instead, we work hard to come up with something to compensate for what has been lost. And you have to look at it this way: In the last few months, many new formats have emerged, such as our series Red Rooster TV on Magenta TV and the Peter Maffay Radio Show on Radio R.SA and as a podcast. We try not to let ourselves get down!