Neu!

Formed in Düsseldorf, Germany in 1971, krautrock / experimental rock group Neu! Was founded by multi-instrumentalists Klaus Dinger (born March 24, 1946, in Scherfede, Germany) and Michael Rother (born September 2, 1950, in Hamburg, Germany). Both musicians had come from other groups and had met when they were members of an early incarnation of Kraftwerk. Although they are classified as krautrock, Neu! explored electronic music using synthesizers, manipulated tapes, and other innovative ideas. Signing with iconic label Brain Records, they released Neu!, their debut album, in 1972, which was followed by Neu! 2 (1973) and Neu! 75 (1975). All three albums featured production and recording assistance from Conny Plank, who had also worked with other influential artists including Cluster. Neu!’s recorded output was embraced by critics, but their musical impact would not be felt until decades later. Due to musical differences, Neu! split up after the release of their third album with each musician pursuing various solo and side projects. Dinger and Rother came together again in late 1985 and early 1986 to work on new Neu! recordings. However, the same musical differences broke them apart again and those recordings were shelved. The two musicians pursued their own musical careers, never to play together again. After many years of acrimony – spurred on by Dinger releasing substandard unreleased Neu! recordings without Rother’s consent - kept the duo apart until 2001 when both members came together to do a proper reissue of the band’s back catalog. The reissues of the band’s first three albums brought renewed interest in Neu! and allowed them to finally receive the international praise they always deserved. Klaus Dinger died on March 21, 2008, at the age of 61. The following year, those long-lost reunion recordings from 1985 and 1986 were released as Neu! ‘86.

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