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Manuel Göttsching RIP

Word has reached us that one of the pioneers of German music in the 70s has died. Manuel Göttsching, founder of Ash Ra Tempel, died on December 4 at the age of 70. His explorations of the possibilities of electric guitar set the stage for many artists who followed, and he can be seen as one of the precursors of what came to be called ambient music.

by Jon Davis, Published 2022-12-12

Manuel GöttschingGöttsching was born in Berlin in 1952, and studied Classical guitar at a young age. His interest switched to electric after hearing Motown music and British blues rock, and he started playing covers of Rolling Stones and Beatles songs in his first band. After encountering free jazz, his attention turned to freer sounds in music. In 1970, he founded Ash Ra Tempel along with Klaus Schulze and Hartmut Enke. Schulze departed for his solo career after the first album, and Göttsching carried on with the group.

His 1975 solo album Inventions for Electric Guitar, which initially carried the Ash Ra Tempel name, was a watershed moment, as it featured the guitarist entirely on his own, aided by tape loops and other effects. In 1981, inspired by a visit with Schulze, he improvised an hour-long piece on synthesizers, guitar, and electronic percussion that he called "E2-E4." When it was commercially released in 1984 it didn't sell well, but has come to be regarded as a seminal work in electronic music.

In 2000, Göttsching reunited with Schulze for the Ash Ra Tempel album Friendship. He also continued touring around the world and recording as a solo artist.

Filed under: Obituaries

Related artist(s): Manuel Göttsching, Klaus Schulze, Ash Ra Tempel / Ashra

More info
http://pitchfork.com/news/manuel-gottsching-german-electronic-innovator-dies-at-70/

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