This autograph was personally collected by the German autograph collector Rüdiger Gaedke in the time between 1959-2003. Sadly, Rüdiger passed away in 2003.

Story behind the song Rüdiger by Mark Knopfter (Dire Straits, lead vocals, lead guitar):

Mark Knopfler wrote the song about a real-life German fan named Rüdiger Gaedke. During early Dire Straits tours, this dedicated autograph collector would constantly show up at the band's airports, hotels, and concert venues. Knopfler has noted that he wrote the song in the wake of John Lennon's tragic murder in 1980. While Knopfler was initially unnerved and cautious around him, he ultimately felt a profound sense of sympathy for Rüdiger's solitary and obsessive lifestyle.

The lyrics paint a poignant picture of a man who lives a quiet, lonely life outside of his fandom Knopfler portrays Rüdiger as a respectable but strange man who lives on his own and uses the celebrities he pursues as a way to "get his kicks" and feel important. Though Rüdiger spends cold nights waiting backstage-sometimes being turned away by strict security-his fixation on the famous provides him with a sense of purpose.

The song can be found on the soundtrack for the movie Bandits (2001), starring Bruce Willis & Billy Bob Thornton. It originally appeared on Knopfler's 1996 debut solo album, Golden Heart.