Opus (Austrian band) explained

Opus
Landscape:Yes
Background:group_or_band
Origin:Graz, Austria
Years Active:1973–2021[1]
Genre:Pop rock
Label:Philips, OK Musica, RCA Victor, Polydor, Dino Music
Current Members:Herwig Rüdisser
Ewald Pfleger
Kurt-Rene Plisnier
Günter Grasmuck
Past Members:Walter Bachkönig
Hans Palier
Niki Gruber

Opus was an Austrian pop-rock group formed in 1973 in Graz. They remained active until 2021, when they retired.[2] The band is mainly known for its 1985 single release, "Live Is Life", which reached the Top 10 in several European countries.

History

In 1985, Opus released "Live Is Life", which topped the charts in many countries; it was a #1 hit in Canada for seven weeks in late 1985 and early 1986.[3] A live recording of the song made the Top 40 in the US in 1986. It reached #6 in the UK Singles Chart on 3 August 1985, and stayed in the charts for 15 weeks.[4]

Another standout track from Opus was the power ballad "Flyin' High" a live version of which appeared both on the Live is life album, and on their successful US release, Up and Down. At a concert in the mid-1980s, fellow Austrian rock star Falco joined Opus on stage for a rendition of "Flyin' High."

Opus retired in 2021. "Live is Life" was their most popular release to date. The band also had success with other songs in Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

In popular culture

Cover versions of this song have also been performed by Stargo, Laibach, the Hungarian band Tormentor, the Estonian band Kuldne Trio ("Laip on Laip"), Axxis and Dolapdere Big Gang. Additionally, as a guest, DJ Ötzi released a version with the Hermes House Band in 2002, which reached #50 in the UK chart.[5]

The band can be seen performing the song in front of celebrating Austrian government officials during the COVID-19 lockdowns on 24 November 2021.[6]

Band members

Current members

Timeline

ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20PlotArea = left:100 bottom:125 top:5 right:10Alignbars = justifyDateFormat = dd/mm/yyyyPeriod = from:01/01/1973 till:01/01/2021TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy

Colors = id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals id:bvocals value:pink legend:Backing_vocals id:guitar value:green legend:Guitar id:keys value:purple legend:Keyboards id:bass value:blue legend:Bass id:drums value:orange legend:Drums id:studio value:black legend:Studio_album id:bars value:gray(0.95)

BackgroundColors = bars:bars

Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3

ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:01/01/1973

BarData = bar:Rüdisser text:"Herwig Rüdisser" bar:Pfleger text:"Ewald Pfleger" bar:Plisnier text:"Kurt-René Plisnier" bar:Bachkönig text:"Walter Bachkönig" bar:Gruber text:"Niki Gruber" bar:Grasmuck text:"Günter Grasmuck"

PlotData=

width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4) bar:Rüdisser from:01/07/1978 till:end color:vocals bar:Rüdisser from:01/07/1978 till:end color:guitar width:3 bar:Pfleger from:01/01/1973 till:end color:guitar bar:Pfleger from:01/07/1978 till:end color:bvocals width:3 bar:Pfleger from:01/01/1973 till:01/07/1978 color:vocals width:3 bar:Plisnier from:01/01/1973 till:end color:keys bar:Bachkönig from:01/01/1973 till:01/07/1980 color:bass bar:Gruber from:01/07/1980 till:01/07/1991 color:bass bar:Grasmuck from:01/07/1974 till:end color:drums

LineData = at:01/01/1980 color:black layer:back at:01/01/1981 color:black layer:back at:01/01/1982 color:black layer:back at:01/01/1984 color:black layer:back at:01/01/1985 color:black layer:back at:01/01/1987 color:black layer:back at:01/01/1990 color:black layer:back at:01/01/1992 color:black layer:back at:01/01/1996 color:black layer:back at:01/01/2004 color:black layer:back at:01/01/2017 color:black layer:back

[7]

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Compilation albums

Singles (selection)

TitleReleasePeak chart positions
Album

AUTFRAGERITANLSWIUKUS
"Flyin' High"19825align="center" valign="top" -45align="center" valign="top" -align="center" valign="top" -5align="center" valign="top" -align="center" valign="top" -
"Live Is Life"1985111632632
"Flyin' High (live version)"1985align="center" valign="top" -align="center" valign="top" -37align="center" valign="top" -align="center" valign="top" -5align="center" valign="top" -align="center" valign="top" -
"Whiteland"19873align="center" valign="top" -align="center" valign="top" -39align="center" valign="top" -align="center" valign="top" -align="center" valign="top" -
"Faster and Faster"198812align="center" valign="top" -align="center" valign="top" -align="center" valign="top" -align="center" valign="top" -align="center" valign="top" -align="center" valign="top" -align="center" valign="top" -
"Gimme Love"19929align="center" valign="top" -align="center" valign="top" -align="center" valign="top" -align="center" valign="top" -align="center" valign="top" -align="center" valign="top" -align="center" valign="top" -
"The Power of Live Is Life"19943align="center" valign="top" -align="center" valign="top" -align="center" valign="top" -align="center" valign="top" -align="center" valign="top" -align="center" valign="top" -align="center" valign="top" -
"Life Is Live (Live)"2019align="center" valign="top" -align="center" valign="top" -align="center" valign="top" -align="center" valign="top" -align="center" valign="top" -align="center" valign="top" -align="center" valign="top" -align="center" valign="top" -
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: El grupo austríaco Opus ("Live is Life") se retira después de 48 años .
  2. Web site: El grupo austríaco Opus ("Live is Life") se retira después de 48 años .
  3. [Nanda Lwin|Lwin, Nanda]
  4. Book: Roberts , David . 2006. British Hit Singles & Albums. 19th. Guinness World Records Limited. London. 1-904994-10-5. 408.
  5. Book: Roberts , David . 2006. British Hit Singles & Albums. 19th. Guinness World Records Limited. London. 1-904994-10-5. 251.
  6. Web site: Opus mit "Live is Life". 2021-11-28. tvthek.orf.at. de.
  7. Web site: Home . opus.at.