Vagabond life on four wheels: Tim Wilhelm on freedom, friendship and vanlife

6 Do you have a special routine before the musical performances in the caravan?

... the "Gute-Laune-Geldermann-Schlückchen", haha, first of all for my circulation, of course - just for health reasons. But seriously: I don't really have any special performance rituals. Or is a walk with Mr Dog one of them? Because of course the two of us do that before every gig and everywhere.

7 Can you tell us about any special moments on the lakeside pitch?

Thanks to the ASTELLA's exceptionally large panoramic doors, you felt like you were in the middle of nature! You could watch the sunrise and sunset from your bed or from the sofa. From my really exclusive spot, I could also see the water flowing back into the Forggensee - and through the roof windows, which are also really big, I was able to admire the string of pearls of the Starlink satellites lying on their backs one night. These are magical moments that are hard to come by in most caravan models, and certainly not in most city apartments. Lucky to be an ASTELLA camper.

8 Were there any bizarre encounters at the ASTELLA site by the lake?

My unexpected nocturnal guests were foxes, for example - they were shy and adorable. Less shy were some tourist groups who probably thought my "camp" was some kind of "reality zoo"... ;-) But as I'm a lover of people and especially of animals, everything worked out fine for me in the end.

9  Did the Astella location have any advantages for team communication?

As I lived just a few minutes' walk from the stage, I was able to invite the team in a very relaxed way. While other team-building activities have to be carefully planned and built up in meetings, we met spontaneously and often to analyse the day's events together in a camping atmosphere!

What was the difference between the caravan as a "cosy oasis" by the lake and the active touring life in the motorhome?

The coffee tin and the Bialetti, the toothpaste, Carlos I and other loose bottles didn't have to be constantly stowed away or fastened, I could be a bit messier, haha. In addition, the amount of space and the view through the panoramic windows in the ASTELLA was pure luxury, although the CORAL, for example, also has impressive skylights. But for a predominantly stationary use, the ASTELLA has its advantages, of course.

How does living in a van affect your creativity, especially in terms of songwriting?

It seems obvious that experiences are absorbed and processed. But driving and travelling definitely gives me a lot of space and inspiration for creativity - through many impressive experiences on the one hand, but also through the peace and quiet I often feel when driving through the countryside.

What genres of music or artists have you particularly enjoyed when travelling by motorhome?

It's all in the mix! When I've had to cover a lot of miles at night, hard rock sounds have helped me, while I usually enjoy the quieter sounds during relaxed drives on country roads - from Spanish guitar instrumentals to classical sounds to old BENjAMiN Blümchen or similar radio plays in nostalgic moments... So there was a really colourful bouquet of flowers on board.

What was the longest distance you travelled with Coral?

The 1077 km from our MÜNCHEN FREIHEIT show in Esbjerg (Denmark) to the "Ein bisschen Frieden - Summer of Love" show in Füssen was not a short trip, haha, and probably the longest stage, but still nice in CORAL.

Is there anything you miss in your motorhome that you would have at home but don't have in your motorhome?

Not really - although I do like to soak my tired bones in a bath from time to time. You could say I'm crazy, but I've now bought myself a mobile bath. Will I use it in the awning or outdoors? We'll see, haha!

If the motorhome had a soundtrack, which three songs would you choose to describe the atmosphere?

Only three? You want me to do that, haha? All right, I'll try... The "GUNNERS" should definitely not be missing - but which song should I choose? ...yes, on "Patience", although I prefer to listen to their up-tempo songs while driving, but "Patience" just fits wonderfully into vanlife evenings. "Rückenwind" by THOMAS D. is also a top song for vagabonds - and of course "Deutschland Autobahn" by Dave Dudley. The first encore would probably be "Was ist Freiheit" by us, but I can count to three, haha, even if maths isn't my strong point. 

Have you ever organised your own "Concert on Wheels" for spontaneous listeners in a camper van?

Actually, I once spontaneously FaceTimed into a press conference from a motorway service area, where I also played music. That was fun! And: private guitar evenings are part of the vagabond life - aren't they?

Were there moments when you particularly enjoyed the freedom of the motorhome?

I was able to relive the classic "picture book" moments of motorhoming - for example, staying overnight by the sea and lakes, the proverbial camper camaraderie and sharing moments with people you've met at the campsite around the campfire in the evenings... But also the freedom of not necessarily having to check out of the hotels in the morning after the gigs and jump on the tour bus, but being able to spontaneously stay longer in the regions where you've played, if the tour schedule allows it - these situations existed and I really appreciate them.

 What unexpected challenges have you faced when living in a motorhome that you weren't prepared for?

Even though I'm blonde, haha, in this case I knew what I was getting into - and I'd do it again any time. I'm happy to confirm that mountain passes in Switzerland can be 'steep' - the CORAL overcame all challenges!

What strange things have you taken with you in the motorhome that you never expected?

A real barbecued pig's head! As I see animal transports on my travels and think a lot about the suffering of the animals, I hardly eat meat anymore. But above all, it is important to me not to throw anything that has lived into the rubbish... After a gala performance I noticed that the pig on the spit had not been completely eaten, so I asked if I could have the leftovers for Mr Dog - and got, among other things, the complete head, which then travelled with me for a while...

Can you tell us about a special concert moment that is directly related to the motorhome?

Oh, there were some special moments - the CORAL backstage often became a meeting point for everyone involved, e.g. at festival gigs, then other bands came to visit, the technical crew anyway... I was often allowed to park the CORAL right next to the stage, which made for a lot of conversation. 

What tips do you have for people who are thinking of trying a similar lifestyle in a motorhome?

I would recommend thinking carefully about when (including what time of year), where, how and why you want to travel - is it to visit new places frequently? Or is it mainly about getting to a holiday destination and having the most luxurious holiday possible? Is it about being able to take a lot of luggage and equipment with you? In short, what are your main requirements - flexibility and manoeuvrability, comfort and space? I can say with a clear conscience that the CORAL offers a very balanced mix. And thanks to its large garage, you can even use it for transport purposes - neither the payload of a full-size motorcycle nor that of instruments was a problem.