Klaus Dinger

Infobox musical artist


Name = Klaus Dinger
Img_size =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name =
Born = Birth date|1946|3|24|df=y
Germany
Died = Death date and age|2008|3|21|1946|3|24|df=yes
Genre = Krautrock
Proto-punk
Art-rock
Occupation = Musician
Years_active = 1970-1971 (with Kraftwerk)
1971-1975 (with Neu!)
1975-1981 (with La Dusseldorf)
1996- (with La! Neu?)
Instrument = drums
Guitar
vocals
Label = Brain
Associated_acts = Neu!
La Dusseldorf
La! Neu?
Kraftwerk
URL =

Klaus Dinger was a German musician and songwriter most famous for his contributions to the seminal Krautrock outfit, Neu!, and his invention of the Motorik beat. Less known is that he was the former percussionist and founding member of Kraftwerk. He died on 21 March 2008, three days before his 62nd birthday [ [http://www.groenland.com/2006/readnews.asp?id=160 Groenland.com: Klaus Dinger 1946-2008] ] .

Kraftwerk

Dinger emerged on the German music scene as a drummer for Kraftwerk, along with Ralf Hutter and Florian Schneider. He was brought in to replace original drummer Andreas Hohmann on Kraftwerk's debut album. Hutter temporarily left, and Michael Rother was brought in to replace him. This incarnation of the band appeared on Beat Club, which became the only official recording of this line-up. Hutter returned later that year, but by that time Dinger and Rother had decided to leave and form their own band.

Neu!

In 1971, Dinger and Rother formed Neu! and quickly recorded their self-titled debut. Perhaps the most prominent feature is Dinger's signature Motorik drumming style, best showcased on the 10-minute "Hallogallo". Dinger's influence can be seen in the drumming style of Simon King and the sound of the 1970s Hawkwind line up. King and Lemmy's driving Motorik bass and drum double act made the band's reputation. The 1975 track Opa Loka is a good example - and an obvious homage to Hallogallo.

Neu! would release two more canon albums, "Neu! 2" (in 1973) and "Neu! '75" (in 1975), which respectively contain two of Dinger's most famous songs, "Super" and "Hero".

La Düsseldorf

Dinger's most famous, successful, and acclaimed post-Neu! act would be La Düsseldorf. They would release a string of successful albums (with sales totaling over a million) in the late 70's and early 80's: "La Dusseldorf", "Viva", and "Individuellos".

La! Neu?

La! Neu? is a later project that Dinger headed. The name itself a reference to Neu! and La Dusseldorf. Through the mid-90s, the group released albums on Captain Trip Records, the label that also issued the "in name only" recordings "Neu! 4" and Neu! '72 Live!.

Discography

with Kraftwerk
* "Kraftwerk" (1970)

with Neu!
* "Neu!" (1972)
* "Neu! 2" (1973)
* "Neu! '75" (1975)

with La Düsseldorf
* "La Düsseldorf" (1976)
* "Viva" (1978)
* "Individuellos" (1981)
* "Mon Amour" (2006)

with La! Neu?
* "Düsseldorf" (1996)
* "Zeeland" (1997)
* "Cha Cha 2000 - live in Tokyo" (1998)
* "Goldregen" (1998)
* "Year of the Tiger" (1998)
* "Live in Tokyo 1996 Vol. 2" (1999)
* "Blue (La Düsseldorf 5)" (1999)
* "Live at Kunsthalle Düsseldorf" (2001)

References

Links

* [http://www.cultcargo.net/modules/AMS/article.php?storyid=108 cult cargo article]
* [http://www.wz-newsline.de/index.php?redid=204488 News about his death]