Co-founder of the band Ton Steine Scherben - R.P.S. Lanrue passed away on Sunday
Musician R.P.S. Lanrue (1950-2024) passed away at his home in Berlin on Sunday, July 14th, due to the consequences of a severe illness. The co-founder of the German rock group Ton Steine Scherben (1970-1985) with singer Rio Reiser (1950-1996), was born Ralph Peter Steitz in Grenoble, France. As "Die Tageszeitung" reports further, the guitarist and composer succumbed to cancer in the company of his family.
R.P.S. Lanrue and Rio Reiser met as teenagers
Already in 1966, the teenagers R.P.S. Lanrue and Ralph Christian Möbius, later known as Rio Reiser, played together in a Beat-Coverband. In the same year, they founded their first own band. In 1967, the two musicians moved from Nieder-Roden, Hesse, to West-Berlin - Reiser's birthplace. There, they founded the German-speaking rock band in 1970 with Kai Sichtermann (born 1951, bassist from Kiel) and Wolfgang Seidel (born 1949, drummer).
After the end of Ton Steine Scherben, Lanrue managed the band's record label, David Volksmund Produktion, in north Friesian Fresenhagen. With Rio Reiser, he continued making music, recorded his solo albums ("Junimond") with him, and performed in his live band. Their last joint performance was in 1988 in Ostberlin.
His daughter takes leave with moving words
R.P.S. Lanrue leaves behind his wife and his daughter. The latter paid tribute on Instagram with a moving post: "My dear Papa passed away at home on Sunday night, surrounded by his loved ones, after a severe illness. Papa, we will miss you dearly", wrote musician Ella Josephine Ebsen. Along with this, she shared a series of charming family photos and quoted the text of the song "Ich geh weg" (1975) by Ton Steine Scherben.
In a story, she also shared a joint farewell message to "Papa, Uncle Lalu, Opa Lula" - one of the photos shows the musician with his grandchild.
- R.P.S. Lanrue's passing was mourned by many, including his co-founder in the Rockband Ton Steine Scherben, Rio Reiser, who passed away earlier.
- The news of Lanrue's death sparked a wave of mourning in the music industry, particularly in Germany and France, where he and Rio Reiser gained popularity.
- Lanrue and Rio Reiser, both born in the 1950s, met as teenagers in Germany and formed a Beat-Coverband in 1966.
- Upon moving to West-Berlin in 1967, they founded the German-speaking rock band Ton Steine Scherben in 1970 with other musicians.
- After Ton Steine Scherben disbanded in 1985, Lanrue managed the band's record label, David Volksmund Produktion, and continued making music with Rio Reiser.
- Lanrue's daughter, Ella Josephine Ebsen, paid tribute to him on Instagram with a moving post, sharing family photos and quoting a song from Ton Steine Scherben.
- Lanrue's legacy in the music industry will be remembered, and his contributions to German rock music will not be forgotten, as some of his largest fans celebrated his life in daily newspapers like 'The daily newspaper' in Berlin and 'R.P.S. Lanrue' obituaries in Grenoble, France.
