Dieter Meier - on Boris Blank and YELLO's phenomenal success; THE RACE, YOU GOTTA SAY YES
Dieter Meier(Yello)
53:20•1,924 views
Boris Blank wanted to erase it. Dieter Meier insisted it stay. The vocal became part of “Bostich”—and helped establish YELLO’s unmistakable sound.
In this full interview with Steve Blame, Dieter tells the story of his creative partnership with Boris Blank: the private world of a musician he calls a “musical painter,” the improvised vocals, and the experiments that became YELLO.
He recalls how “Bostich” reached New York radio through Frankie Crocker, the unexpected audience that embraced it, and the listeners who heard “everybody pizza party” in its lyrics. He also discusses “Oh Yeah,” “The Race,” the departure of Carlos Perón, and working with Billy MacKenzie and Shirley Bassey.
Beyond the music, Dieter reflects on professional poker, his unconventional street art, returning to Kassel 22 years after making a promise, and creating YELLO’s experimental videos. We also explore his business ventures, chocolate-making, organic farming in Argentina, and why curiosity keeps him working.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction and finding his own path
00:53 Switzerland, politics and protest
02:35 Parents who gave him creative freedom
03:18 Poker: escaping the everyday world
05:00 Wealth, art and finding himself
07:51 Absurd street art and counting metal
10:16 Kassel: returning after 22 years
12:05 What poker taught him
12:57 “Cry for Fame” and finding his voice
14:32 How he met Boris Blank
17:03 Boris Blank: the “musical painter”
19:36 Finding their creative partnership
20:24 YELLO’s vinyl reissues—and never looking back
21:17 Family, filmmaking and experimental videos
25:26 “Pinball Cha Cha”: whose voice was it?
26:24 “Bostich,” Frankie Crocker and New York
29:58 What makes YELLO sound like YELLO?
32:46 The “Bostich” vocal Boris wanted to erase
34:34 Carlos Perón’s departure
36:09 “Stella,” “Oh Yeah” and the breakthrough
37:13 Billy MacKenzie and Shirley Bassey
38:57 “The Race”: music, video and coincidence
40:49 Entrepreneurship and the Euphonix console story
43:43 Poker versus business—and making chocolate
45:34 His approach to chocolate-making
47:14 Organic farming in Argentina
50:10 Wealth, curiosity and why he keeps working
51:18 Closing reflections
52:37 Dieter’s chocolate offer
53:01 More interviews and subscribe
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