I started to play in 1993. My first instrument was one of them cheap ones made for tourists, including harp and shamrock. But as soon as it got a bit more serious, I changed to proper makers and proper instruments. Learning the instrument was not easy, since there were no workshops like you find them today. The session in Hannover was of great help in the beginning, esp. Klaus Gehrmann. Going to Ireland and meeting musicians also helped a lot, I got plenty of support from other musicians, the occasional remarks like "A Gentleman is a man who owns a bodhran but doesn't play it" of my musical friends couldn't stop me. I had the pleasure to learn from people like Stephen Campbell and Ian Smith in Donegal and my friend Eamon Jordan, who took me to my first session In Ireland. When I asked "Will I bring the drum ?" he just looked at me and went: "Of course!!".
A lot of things have developed since these days, in Hannover, I joined DeReelium, then I was asked by the german uilleann pipes society if I could do workshops for them. At the tionols I met other musicians and Steampacket and Cara were formed. Cara is taking me allover Europe now, and even to the USA. Together with Guido Plüschke I developed the BodhránWeekends and I teach regularly at other workshops. In the last four years I had the great honour to teach at the renowned Bodhrán Summerschool Craiceann on Inis OÃrr and it looks like I will return in 2009.
In 2005 I developed my own signature line of bodhrans with bodhranmaker Christian Hedwitschak , which was a great joy. The result is the RWE (Rolf Wagels Edition) , a lambeg skin bodhran.
People say my style is mixture of traditional pulse orientated playing and the more extroverted top end style. This is something I like...Many other players have influenced me, among them Brian Morrissey from Nenagh, John Joe Kelly, Frank Torpey, Mel Mercier, Jimmy Higgins, Tommy Hayes, Junior Davey and Eamon Murray. Two players will always be special and inspirational: Seamus O'Kane and Johnny McDonagh. I learned a lot about the pulse from both of them and they showed me what's really important in bodhrán playing. I would like to thank all the players and musicians I had the honour to play with and who enriched my life with their music.