Uschi Obermaier (* September 24 1946 in Munich, a.k.a. Chrissi Malberg) was a model and one of the protagonists of the 1968 left-wing movement in Germany.
Obermaier and the Kommune 1
Uschi Obermaier was discovered by the magazine Twen; skinny and petite, she was a new kind of model much like Twiggy. Soon, she became the sex symbol of an entire generation.
Obermaier moved from Munich to the Berlin-based Kommune 1 after she had become Rainer Langhans' girlfriend. Langhans and Obermaier freely talked to the media about their relationship, ushering in the sexual revolution. Later, John Lennon and Yoko Ono and others followed their example. It is important to note, however, that Obermaier is not seen as an activist of the Ausserparlamentarische Opposition, as she did not take part in radical feminist actions like the other female members and friends of the Kommune 1. She much rather showed her body or a how-to for making spliffs in the photo series of magazines.
Uschi Obermaier was probably the first German groupie. She was a member of the Krautrock-band Amon Düül and is said to have had an affair with Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones. Jimi Hendrix was one of her friends.
Films
Obermaier played more or less important roles in several films. In "Detektive" (1968, directed by Rudolf Thome) she played alongside Iris Berben. She was the main protagonist of the movie Rote Sonne (1969). Rainer Langhans was with her all the time the movie was shot. Together with him, she played a small role in the movie Haytabo.
Life after the Kommune 1
In 1973, Uschi Obermaier fell in love with Dieter Bockhorn, the rich owner of a club in Hamburg's red-light district, the Reeperbahn. Together with him, she traveled the world in a customized bus, first spending three years in Asia, then going to Mexico and the USA for another three years. In every country they set foot in, they had a wedding in the traditions of that country. In 1984, Dieter Bockhorn died in a motorcycle accident in Mexico.
In the meantime Uschi Obermaier has been granted American citizenship. Today, she lives in Topanga Canyon near Los Angeles, working as a jewellery designer. She is said to be a very skilled flute player.
Her life has been depicted in a movie directed by Achim Bornhak. Natalia Avelon played the lead role.
Literature
- Uschi Obermaier: Das wilde Leben (Autobiographie), Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg 1994, ISBN 3-455-08603-9
Weblinks
Obermaier, Uschi Obermaier, Uschi Obermaier, Uschi Obermaier, Uschi Obermaier, Uschi