Overview
- Schilling says he wrote the lyrics to "Major Tom (völlig losgelöst)" in about four hours in his Opel Kadett between the Weinsberg and Kassel motorway interchanges.
- He describes having the playback in a cassette deck and notes and paper on the passenger seat, an account he previously shared with rbb.
- "Major Tom" dominated charts in 1982, reaching No. 1 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, with the English version peaking at No. 14 on the US Billboard chart.
- A 2024 fan petition made the song the official goal hymn for Germany’s national teams, and Schilling recalls 60,000 fans singing it at a European Championship match.
- He has spoken about a severe late‑1980s breakdown tied to a difficult childhood and now emphasizes his well-being as he plans further releases.