Klaus Voormann

Klaus Voormann
Voormann in 2018
Background information
Birth name	Klaus Otto Wilhelm Voormann
Born	(1938-04-29) 29 April 1938 (age 86) Berlin, German Reich
Origin	Hamburg, West Germany
Genres	Rock and roll rhythm and blues psychedelic rock progressive rock
Occupations	Musician record producer graphic artist
Instrument	Bass guitar
Years active	1960–present
Labels	Apple EMI Fontana Zapple Epic Sony RCA Victor
Formerly of	Paddy, Klaus & Gibson Manfred Mann John Lennon and The Plastic Ono Band
Website	voormann.com

Klaus Otto Wilhelm Voormann (born 29 April 1938) is a German artist, musician, and record producer.

Voormann was the bassist for Manfred Mann from 1966 to 1969, and performed as a session musician on a host of recordings, including "You're So Vain" by Carly Simon, Lou Reed's Transformer album, and on many recordings of the former members of the Beatles. As a producer, Voormann worked with the band Trio on their worldwide hit "Da Da Da".

Voormann's association with the Beatles dates back to their time in Hamburg in the early 1960s. He lived in the band's London flat with George Harrison and Ringo Starr after John Lennon and Paul McCartney moved out to live with their respective partners. He designed the cover of their 1966 album Revolver,^[1] for which he won a Grammy Award. He also designed the graphics for the sheet music of songs from Revolver. Following the band's split, rumors circulated of the formation of a group named the Ladders, consisting of Lennon, Harrison, Starr and Voormann. This failed to materialise; however, all four would-be Ladders (plus Billy Preston) performed on the Starr track "I'm the Greatest", and Voormann did play on solo albums by Lennon, Harrison and Starr, as well as briefly being a member of the Plastic Ono Band.^[1] In the 1990s, he designed the artwork for The Beatles Anthology albums.

In 2009, Voormann released his debut solo album A Sideman's Journey, which featured surviving Beatles McCartney and Starr, performing as "Voormann and Friends".

Voormann has designed artwork for many bands, including the Beatles, The Dirty Knobs, Harry Nilsson, the Bee Gees, Wet Wet Wet and Turbonegro.