Biography

The JALAPENO COMPADRES have become a 4-piece band in the summer of 2008. Before that Gunter Schaufler & Alex Heilmaier started out as an acoustic duo in 1996. Gunter wrote the songs and kept looking for a guitar player, who would have a deep understanding for his music. During these years the first CD “Texas Tales & Other Lies” came out. With Christian Muenzker & Robert Schoblocher the JALAPENO COMPADRES won some of the most proficient local musicians on the Austrian-Bavarian border. Now, they are one of the very few Americana bands in German speaking Europe (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) working their butts off to win more and more folks for Americana Music in their region! But still, Americana Music is hardly known there, even amongst music lovers.

Where it all began:
Back in the early 80s I heard Waylon & Willie sing “Back To The Basics of Love, Let's Go To Luckenbach, Texas”. “Well”, I thought to myself, “if this place is anywhere near to what the song is all about, Luckenbach must be my center of the world”. It didn't take long till I headed out for my first-time-ever trip to Texas and the Hill Country. As soon as I got there I knew them outlaws were right about what they sang. To me the Hill Country turned out to be a whole other country than I had expected – a wonderful stretch of smooth rollin' hills where Folk, Country, R & B, Blues, Rock, Conjunto etc. blended into a unique musical atmosphere inspiring to anyone who has ever strummed a six-string. I caught fire immediately, became a fan of the FAN, Texas Rebel Radio, and Americana Music. J. D. Gilmore, J. Ely, R. E. Keen, G. P. Nunn, Texas Tornados - thank you guys, I owe you many a good time.

A leisure time songwriter myself, I kinda grew into that Texana and Americana musical spirit. I kept writing songs, but needed someone to give 'em that Texas kickin' edge. Then, along came Alex, a string wizard with his musical roots deeply planted in Ireland. Though playing a whole other music before (Rory Gallagher – the Irish Blues legend; Jethro Tull, Cream …), it didn't take more than a few shots of ol' Irish whisky to talk him into that Texas thang: Born were the JALAPENO COMPADRES!

In fall 2010 "JALAPENO COMPADRES – The Ride” was released. Six of the songs were recorded in Nashville’s Bayou Studio (now Catch This Music), the other nine songs were recorded in Klangwerk Studio, Haiming, Germany.

In 2012 Harry Krieger replaced Robert on drums. The same year Gunter went back to Nashville and 2014 to Austin to record his new songs for the album "Thank You Willie". "Thank You Willie" is a personal thanks to Willie Nelson, who he listens to when times get rough on him.