Scooter: Get to know the man behind the techno group

It's fair to say that Scooter is a name now synonymous with energetic techno beats and catchy sing-along tracks - with H.P. Baxxter being the vocals behind the German powerhouse band. His distinct voice and electric stage presence propelled Scooter to international fame, with global hits like 'Hyper Hyper' and 'The Logical Song' dominating dancefloors worldwide.

With the music masterminds leading the charge of the techno scene since their conception over three decades ago, it's no secret that Scooter have performed some unforgettable live shows — and now they're heading out on their 30th anniversary tour! But how much do you know about the party anthem king? Get to know the techno pioneer behind Scooter hits such as 'How Much Is the Fish?'.

Who is Scooter's lead singer?

The lead singer of the happy hardcore group Scooter is H.P. Baxxter — real name Hans Peter Geerde — who is a German musician that co-founded Scooter, in 1993, with Rick J. Jordan. Since the band's inception, it's fair to say H.P. has become a core part of Scooter's identity.

H.P. Baxxter was born on 16th March 1964, making him currently 60-years-old.

Fondly referred to as the lead vocalist, H.P. also contributes as an MC, lyricist, and musician for the group, dabbling with guitar playing from time to time.

Where is Scooter from?

Scooter were founded in Hamburg, Germany, in 1993. Its founders, H.P. and Rick, met eight years prior in Hanover, Germany, in 1985 through the help of a small ad.

How were they formed?

After meeting in 1985, H.P. and Rick soon founded their first group, synthpop/new wave band Celebrate the Nun, at the end of that year. Rick took on keyboard/sound engineering, with H.P. and his sister, Britt Maxime, mastering vocals.

The group released their first album four years later in 1989, titled 'Meanwhile'. The album was a hit, with two singles performing particularly well on the Billboard Dance/Club play chart in 1990 - 'Will You Be There' and 'She's a Secretary/Strange'. The band released another album, however it didn't see such success, and under new management the group reformed into a remix team known as The Loop in 1993 - who released remixes of artists such as Adeva, Holly Johnson, The Tag Team and RuPaul.

It was that same year that Scooter began as a project, with their debut single hitting Number 8 on the German official dance chart - a cover of René et Gaston's 'Vallée De Larmes'. They then saw incredible success with their hit 'Hyper Hyper' in April 1994 - and the rest is history.

Are they still releasing music?

They sure are! Now with 21 albums under their belt, Scooter's latest album release was as recent as 22nd March 2024 - 'Open Your Mind and Your Trousers'. The album hit the Number 2 spot on the German Entertainment chart and the UK Dance Albums chart.

Does he voice the Waltzer rides?

Although plenty of Scooter tracks are the perfect soundtrack to accompany a Waltzer ride, H.P. Baxxter is not the official 'voice' of the Waltzer, no.

What are Scooter's most known sayings?

Scooter's top hits have become known over the years for the completely random lyrics sung by their animated frontman H.P. Baxxter, so take a look at some of the best sayings from over the years.

"Respect to the man in the ice cream van!"

"When nothing goes right, go left"

"Döp Döp Döp Dödödöpdöpdöp Dö Döp Döp Döp, Dödödöpdöpdöp"

"Let's blow a hole in the bowl"

"I am the horseman!"

"How much is the fish?"

"My problem is, I don't have a problem"

"I ritz bits for da hits with the lyrics"

"Ta, ta, ta, tadata, ta, ta - Ta, ta, ta, tadata, ta, ta, yeah"

"Alright everybody! Tie your shoes!"

"Skibadee, skibadanger, I am the rearranger"

What are their biggest songs?

Where to begin? Scooter have sold over 30 million records in their time, releasing a whopping 21 studio albums and earning themselves over 80 Gold and Platinum certifications.

Understandably, that means it's a pretty tough job trying to pick out their biggest tune of all time - so here's a collection of some of their most successful songs so far!

Are Scooter still performing live?

Yes - and they're even going on tour! Not only did Scooter headline Belsonic 2024, along with fellow techno & electronic music giant Ben Nicky, in June, but they are now embarking on a UK & Ireland tour to celebrate their 30th anniversary.

In April, Scooter announced their return to the UK and Ireland for their 'Thirty, Rough and Dirty’ tour, which will see them play eight dates performing their biggest hits over the last three decades.

Check out everything you need to know, including dates and how to get tickets.

Now read:

11 of the best Scooter songs of all time

Scooter announce 30th anniversary UK and Ireland tour

Looking ahead at some of the biggest tours coming up in 2024 and beyond

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