Formed in 1971 in Dusseldorf, this archetypal Kraütrock band was actually a duo comprising guitar wiz Michael Rother and drummer/multi-instrumentalist Klaus Dinger, both previously with Kraftwerk.
Dinger’s mechanical, cut time drumming and Rother’s two-note bass runs adorned with cleverly manipulated and dreamy guitar riffs and fills were the hallmarks of the “motorik” sound that would become the band’s trademark.
Their Conny Plank-produced self-titled debut album would become a touchstone for practically the entire post-punk era but exposed the gulf between the duo.
The pair made up for a recording budget shortfall on Neu! 2 (1973) by recycling the two songs they already had (Super and Neuschnee) at different speeds, unwittingly inventing the remix in the process.
By 1975 they were virtually at their White Album stage, with each member in full control of his own tracks. Fortunately, although the music on the Neu! 75 album is borderline schizophrenic, it still stands as probably their most rewarding offering.
Using a combination of synthesizers and drummers Hans Lampe and Thomas Dinger (freeing Klaus Dinger to wreak havoc on all the other instruments), the pair split the album between Rother’s beautiful ambient textures (See Land and Leb’ Wohl) and Dinger’s proto-punk thrashing (sounding remarkably like Johnny Rotten would a year later), only joining forces for the opening Isi and the definitive Neu! statement, E-Musik.
Having finally meshed their instruments together to create the perfect motorik machine, they did the only logical thing and split up.
Klaus Dinger died of heart failure on 21 March 2008.
Michael Rother
Guitar, bass, keyboards, vocals Klaus Dinger
Drums, percussion, keyboards, guitar
You May Also Like
Young Modern Adelaide band Young Modern was one of Australia's pioneering power pop/new wave bands of the late…
Meat Loaf Born Marvin Lee Aday in Dallas, Texas in 1951, Meat Loaf has provided various explanations for…
Napalm Death The music of Birmingham agitators Napalm Death typically crashes upon the listener like a drum kit…
Nutz (Rage) Formed in Liverpool, England, in 1973 by singer Dave Lloyd, guitar wizard Mick Devonport, bassist Keith…
No Doubt Driven by a love of all things 2-Tone and led by reluctant star Gwen Stefani, Orange…
New Christs When the New Christs first formed in 1980, they only performed in a studio, releasing the…
Tyla Gang, The Following the breakup of Ducks Deluxe, Sean Tyla formed The Tyla Gang with guitarist Bruce Irvine, bassist…
Nat King Cole Learning to play the piano at an early age, Nathaniel Adams Coles secured a residency at…
