David Bowie. The Loon effect.

[Hermit]

OK then. This hint should clear things up for you: I took the liberty of anglicising the surname. Once you work the original one out you're on tiny and easy step away from from knowing who is meant.

[pErvinalia]

Are you presently on drugs, H?

[Svartalf]

He's not, it's just a complicated joke... and I don't think Bob's fans will commit suicide over him... too mellow

[mistermack]

When I compared Bowie to McCartney, it was comparing how big a star they were.

Paul McCartney was in a different league. That's not to belittle Bowie, it's just a fact.

From a personal standpoint, I'd rather pay to see McCartney any day. But I'd certainly have paid to see Bowie too. I like a lot of his songs, but all the dressing up and hairdos leave me stone cold. Aimed at a female audience, I think.
And McCartney had a better voice. But they all did churn out crap, along with the good stuff.
Bowie played some awful stuff too. But the good stuff was very good.

But some of McCartney's stuff was sublimely good to me. Eleanor Rigby, Yesterday, Let it be, A little help from my friends, And I love her, etc etc. Admittedly, all older stuff.

[mistermack]

Are you presently on drugs, H?

Carpenters in Germany are called Zimmerman, from the traditional German industry of manufacturing wooden Zimmer frames.

[Hermit]

He's not, it's just a complicated joke... and I don't think Bob's fans will commit suicide over him... too mellow

You worked it out. I knew you would.

[pErvinalia]

So who's Bob Zimmerman?

[pErvinalia]

From Rammstein? Kraftwerk?

[Svartalf]

So who's Bob Zimmerman?

He greatly admired a certain Welsh poet by name of ... Thomas.

and no, he's a solo act yu'll make it out, you're not any dumber than me, and you did not have to figure Zimmerman out.

[pErvinalia]

Thomas Zimmerman. Never heard of him. Does he play guitar or bass?

[Svartalf]

Nope, he's called robert, the ... was to cover the first name that would have given it all away
C'mon, are you too lazy to wiki it?

[pErvinalia]

I refuse to.

[pErvinalia]

I'm assuming it's someone famous real name. What's the stage name?

[Svartalf]

Why so?
It's a joke and a game, why ruin it?

[pErvinalia]

That poof who plays the piano?