Edgar Froese, German pioneer of electronic rock, dies at 70

BERLIN (AP) — Edgar Froese, who founded the pioneering German electronic rock group Tangerine Dream in 1967, has died at 70.

The band said Froese died unexpectedly from the effects of a pulmonary embolism in Vienna on Tuesday.

Froese was born June 6, 1944, in the East Prussian town of Tilsit, now the Russian city of Sovetsk.

He was the only constant member of Tangerine Dream. It released more than 100 albums and soundtracks, ranging from Tom Cruise's film "Risky Business" to the video game "Grand Theft Auto V."

Its sound, which has similarities to that of Pink Floyd, is credited with influencing the later emergence of trance, ambient and electronica.

According to his band, Froese believed that "there is no death, there is just a change of our cosmic address."


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-01-25

I used to listen to these guys back in the 70s when I was an electronic music fanatic and synthesizer builder. They were a major force in that genre, but I preferred Brian Eno.

Ground breaking musician whose music I enjoyed along with other artistes of the same genre.

I agree with his comment though ''A change of cosmic address.''

Sometimes, when farmed out to the German relatives as a kid, I would have to put up with Uncle Klaus going through his Krautrock collection -- Amon Duul, Kraftwerk, Faust, Tangerine Dream, plus the collection of atrocities which were The Scorpions.

None, however, approached the awfulness of his favourite album, a montage of monotonous drivel called Ege Bamyasi, by a collection of recovering lobotomy patients who called themselves Can, though Cannot would have been closer to the mark.

Tangerine Dream were almost painless by comparison, like having a tooth out under gas.

Thanks for keeping us constantly updated with these webfact. I didn't know.

RIP.

Sometimes, when farmed out to the German relatives as a kid, I would have to put up with Uncle Klaus going through his Krautrock collection -- Amon Duul, Kraftwerk, Faust, Tangerine Dream, plus the collection of atrocities which were The Scorpions.

None, however, approached the awfulness of his favourite album, a montage of monotonous drivel called Ege Bamyasi, by a collection of recovering lobotomy patients who called themselves Can, though Cannot would have been closer to the mark.

Tangerine Dream were almost painless by comparison, like having a tooth out under gas.

It may have had something to do with being the post Nazi generation Rick, not easy to laugh off your relations' actions in WW2.

But Can did write a few catchy numbers, I urge you to lie back, light up and listen to the following...

This next number is best listened to in a hammock in rural Thailand ...