Music Hans Zimmer found his first concerts terrifying

Hans Zimmer has been touring the world with his band and orchestra for years. But the beginnings on stage were difficult for the German Hollywood composer. A festival appearance helped him.

German film composer Hans Zimmer (67) has been filling large halls around the world with his concerts for years. He has just announced a new European tour starting in 2025.

When he gave his first two live performances in London ten years ago, it still scared him. "The first concerts were terrifying," the two-time Oscar winner ("The Lion King", "Dune") told the German Press Agency in London.

Coachella Festival took away his fear

It was a performance at the Coachella Festival in California in 2017 that proved liberating for the Frankfurt native. "I looked down from the stage and it was complete chaos. A mess. 80,000 people," Zimmer recalled. "Then I thought to myself: "This is great. I can handle a mess. I just went out and enjoyed it."

Initially, however, he had reservations about the choice of music. His thought: "You can't play The Lion King at a festival!" But his guitarist Nile Marr, son of his friend and guitar virtuoso Johnny Marr, convinced him and said: "Don't be an idiot, Hans. This is the music of my youth." In the end, the festival audience was thrilled.

Audience part of the band

Hans Zimmer has since overcome his fears. "I know that if something goes wrong, the audience will be on our side. The interesting thing about playing live is that you play with the people, not for them. They are somehow part of the band. As soon as they walk into the room and we look each other in the eye, we're playing together. It's a completely different feeling."

Hans Zimmer sees himself as a kind of moderator. "The reason I surround myself with great musicians is that ultimately I don't have to be the star," he said. "I love to say to the audience, "Yes, my name is up there, but look, let me show you these incredible percussionists, this great bass player, this fantastic guitar player. These are the people you'll remember for a long time."

SDA