Electronic music legend Dieter Moebius dies, aged 71

Dieter Moebius, a pioneer of Krautrock, kosmische and electronic music, has passed away at the age of 71. “Very sad news today for all friends of Dieter Moebius and his unique music”.

The news was first broken by Neu!/Kraftwerk member Michael Rother, who worked with Moebius in the Brian Eno-collaborating Harmonia. Our friend, neighbour and collaborator passed away this morning…

“He will be dearly missed by all of us”, Rother said, without revealing a cause of death. “Our thoughts go out to his wife, Irene”. No other details were shared. Like many of their Krautrock counterparts, the duo’s early work shifted from experimental and dissonant (1971’s Cluster, 1972’s Cluster II) to the genre’s trademark repetition and motorik beats (1974’s Zuckerzeit).

Moebius and Roedelius formed Harmonia with Rother in 1973, as the latter musician took a break from Neu! to pursue side-projects.

Moebius co-founded a band with Roedelius and Tangerine Dream’s Conrad Schnitzler in 1969, later renaming themselves Cluster after Schnitzler departed the group. His work alongside Conny Plank and Hans-Joachim Roedelius in Cluster laid paths in sound experimentation and instrument development. He continued to produce music as part of Cluster until 2010, releasing a total of 15 albums, but he also recorded several solo albums, such as his most recent effort, Nidemonex, that was released in 2014.