Opus (Austrian band)

Opus was an Austrian pop-rock band. It was formed in 1973 in Graz and disbanded in 2021. The band was mainly known for its 1985 single release, "Live Is Life", which reached the Top 10 in several European countries.

History In 1985, Opus released "Live Is Life", which ranked first in various global charts. This included Canada, which ranked for seven weeks in late 1985 and early 1986.Lwin, Nanda. Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide (2000). Mississauga, Ont.: Music Data Canada A live recording of the song made the Top 40 in the US in 1986. It ranked sixth in the UK Singles Chart on 3 August 1985, and stayed in the charts for 15 weeks.

Another standout track from Opus was the power ballad "Flyin' High", a live version of which appeared both on the Live is Life album, and a successful US release, Up and Down. At a concert in the mid-1980s, fellow Austrian rock star Falco joined Opus on stage for a rendition of "Flyin' High". On 24 November 2021, Opus performed the song in front of celebrating Austrian government officials during the COVID-19 pandemic. The group disbanded the same year on 21 December.

In popular culture Cover versions of "Live is Life" have also been performed by Stargo, Laibach, the Hungarian band Tormentor, the Estonian band Kuldne Trio ("Laip on Laip"), Axxis, and Dolapdere Big Gang. Additionally, as a guest, DJ Ötzi released a version with the Hermes House Band in 2002, which reached #50 in the UK chart.

Band members

Final line-up Herwig Rüdisser – lead vocals, guitar (1978–2021) Ewald Pfleger – guitar, background vocals (1973–2021) Kurt-René Plisnier – keyboards (1973–2021) Günter Grasmuck – drums, percussion (1974–2021)

Former members Peter Niklas Gruber – bass guitar (1980–1991) Walter Bachkönig – bass guitar (1973–1980) Hans Palier – guitar (1974–1980)

Timeline

Source:

Discography Albums Studio albums + List of studio albums, with selected chart positions Title Details Peak chart positions AUT CAN US Daydreams Released: 1980 Label: Philips — — — Eleven Released: March 1982 Label: RCA, OK Musica 6 — — Opusition Released: January 1983 Label: OK Musica 16 — — Up and Down Released: May 1984 Label: Polydor, OK Musica 12 51 64 Solo Released: September 1985 Label: Polydor 8 — — Opus Released: October 1987 Label: Polydor 7 — — Magical Touch Released: March 1990 Label: Polydor 26 — — Walkin' on Air Released: May 1992 Label: Dino Music 13 — — Love, God & Radio Released: 1996 Label: Dino Music, BMG — — — The Beat Goes On Released: 2004 Label: Home Base, Spectre — — — Magnum Released: 11 November 2020 Label: Self-released 37 — — We Are One Released: 21 September 2023 Label: Self-released — — — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Live albums + List of live albums, with selected chart positions Title Details Peak chart positions AUT GER NOR SWE SWI Live Is Life Released: December 1984 Label: Polydor, OK Musica 1 5 16 37 4 Jubileé Released: 1993 Label: Dino Music — — — — — Tonight At the Opera Released: 16 April 2010 Label: Self-released — — — — — Opus & Friends – Graz Liebenau 1985 Released: 15 November 2013 Label: Self-released 18 — — — — The Last Note Released: 25 March 2022 Label: Self-released 6 — — — — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilation albums Best of (1985) Glanzlichter (1989) Best of (1994) Die Größten Hits aus 15 Jahren (1997) Greatest Hits – The Power of Live Is Life (1998) Master Series (1998) Flying Higher Greatest Hits (1999) Millennium Edition (2000) Live Is Life (2002) Back to Future – The Ultimate Best of (2008)

Extended plays + List of extended plays, with selected chart positions Title Details Peak chart positions AUT Live Is Life '08 Released: 9 May 2008 Label: Sony, BMG 16

Singles + List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album AUT GER SWI UKhttps://www.officialcharts.com/artist/22611/opus/ US "Eleven" / "Keep Your Mind" 1982 — — — — — Eleven "Flyin' High" / "Opus Pocus" 5 45 — — — "Best Thing" / "Follow Me" — — — — — Opusition "The Opusition" / "Again and Again" 1983 — — — — — "Angie" — — — — — "Positive" 1984 — — — — — Up and Down "Up and Down" — — — — — "Live Is Life" 1 1 2 6 32 GER: Gold UK: Silver Live Is Life "Warum?" 1985 1 — — — — "Flyin' High" — 37 5 — — Live Is Life "Rock on the Rocks" — — — — — Solo "Idolater" 1986 — — — — — "Whiteland" 1987 3 — — — — Opus "Faster and Faster" 1988 12 — — — — "Will You Ever Know Me" — — — — — "When the Night Comes" 1990 — — — — — Magical Touch "A Night in Vienna" — — — — — "Gimme Love" 1992 13 — — — — Walkin' on Air "Walkin' on Air" — — — — — "The Power of Live Is Life" 1994 3 — — — — Greatest Hits – The Power of Live is Life "Just for Fun" 1996 — — — — — Love, God & Radio "When I Met You" — — — — — "Hands in the Air" 1997 — — — — — "Viva Austria" 1998 — — — — — "The Beat Goes On" 2004 — — — — — The Beat Goes On "Eternal Dance" — — — — — "You Can Count on Me" 2010 — — — — — rowspan="3" "Live Is Life" 2011 — — — — — "Funtastic" 2014 — — — — — "Halfway Done" 2019 — — — — — Magnum "Made My Day" 2020 — — — — — "Fake or True" 2021 — — — — — "We Made It" — — — — — "Good or Bad" 2022 — — — — — We Are One "So Simple" 2023 — — — — — "—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Promotional singles "My Style" (1980) "Can You Hear Me" (1987) "Hold On" (2008)

Opus (Austrian band)

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