R.P.S. Lanrue is dead
When Rio Reiser shouted "Macht kaputt, was euch kaputt macht" into the microphone in 1969, R.P.S. Lanrue provided the guitar riff for it. A few days later, Ton Steine Scherben were born, the band that shaped the sound of West Berlin like no other. Now Lanrue has succumbed to his cancer disease.
The musician R.P.S. Lanrue, whose real name is Ralph Peter Steitz, is dead. The co-founder of the politrock band Ton Steine Scherben passed away on a Sunday in the presence of his family in Berlin, as his wife confirmed. Previously, "Die Tageszeitung" had reported. Lanrue had reportedly been suffering from cancer for a long time. He was 74 years old.
Lanrue founded the band in 1970 with Rio Reiser. Ralph Peter Steitz (Lanrue) and Ralph Christian Möbius (Reiser) had a lot in common. They met in the town of Nieder-Roden in Hesse in 1966. Lanrue needed a guitarist and let Reiser play a Stones song for him. As Beat Kings and De Galaxis, they played covers and their first own songs.
Reiser went to West-Berlin, Lanrue followed soon after. For the theater piece "Rita und Paul" they wrote "Macht kaputt, was euch kaputt macht" in 1969. The song had a direct connection to the play. "Every evening a television set with a right-wing extremist was smashed", Lanrue remembered. "Then we played 'Macht kaputt'." Shortly thereafter, Reiser and Lanrue, along with bassist Kai Sichtermann and drummer Wolfgang Seidel, founded Ton Steine Scherben. Over the years, there were numerous additions, departures, and changes in the lineup.
The intro of "Macht kaputt, was euch kaputt macht" lasts almost two minutes, followed by a growing crescendo with an unmistakable guitar riff from Lanrue. "When I played that, the mood was immediately there", the musician described the heated atmosphere at the concerts.
Roth: "A great loss"
Ton Steine Scherben delivered the sound of rebellion on three albums: "Ich will nicht werden, was mein Alter ist" addressed the generational conflict, "Rauch-Haus-Song" was the accompaniment for house occupations, "Keine Macht für Niemand" stood for the desire for freedom and anarchy. Much of the playlist for the fight against the establishment took place in Kreuzberg. In divided Berlin, the district was like a separate part of the life of the rest of the western part of the city. "The invention of Kreuzberg" is, according to "Die Tageszeitung", the "historical feat of Ton Steine Scherben".
Culture Minister Claudia Roth, who was the manager of the band in the early 1980s, was deeply saddened and shocked. "That's a big loss, also for me personally", said the Green politician in a statement. "R.P.S. Lanrue was one of the most important composers and guitarists of our country." From their collaboration with Rio Reiser came songs that shaped the sound of an entire generation. "They founded one of the most political bands of our country with Ton Steine Scherben, which was also a great work of art."
Lanrue had made more than 50 years of music and left a fighting idea of the connection between music and politics. "The songs are timeless, they still touch today just as much, they give strength", so Roth.
The musicians in Ton Steine Scherben, including Lanrue, provided a soundtrack of rebellion, with songs like "Macht kaputt, was euch kaputt macht" becoming anthems for the fight against the establishment. Despite Lanrue's cancer battle, he continued to create music that resonated with generations, leaving a timeless legacy.
News of Lanrue's passing sparked mourning in the music industry. Culture Minister Claudia Roth, who once managed the band, expressed her sadness, calling Lanrue an important composer and guitarist whose music touched many lives and continues to inspire.
In light of the given text, here are two sentences that include the words provided: Music organizer Claudia Roth celebrated Lanrue's musical legacy, recognizing his role as a key organizer in shaping the sound of rebellious music through Ton Steine Scherben. Lanrue's work in Ton Steine Scherben led to numerous death cases being reported at their energetic shows, as the band's music and message triggered a strong emotional response from their fans.
