Dieter Moebius, the German/Swiss electronic and Krautrock experimentalist who co-founded Harmonia and Cluster, died Monday at the age of 71. Though the cause of death is currently unknown, the news was confirmed via Facebook by his bandmates Michael Rother (who played in Harmonia as well as Neu!) and Hans-Joachim Roedelius (of both Cluster and Harmonia).
Moebius met Roedelius and Conrad Schnitzler (of Tangerine Dream) while studying art in Berlin in 1969. They formed Kluster, and when Schntizler left, changed the spelling to Cluster. In 1973, the duo relocated to rural Forst in Germany and were joined by Rother, who was on break from Neu! Together, the trio formed Harmonia, whom Brian Eno once called the “world’s most important rock band.” Eno spent 11 days with the group in Frost recording what eventually became Tracks and Traces, an album not released until 1997. Eno and Cluster went on to collaborate on 1978’s Cluster and Eno and 1979’s After the Heat.
Moebius would also go on to have a prolific career of solo and collaborative works, releasing a total of 17 albums credited to his name in one form or another. The most recent was 2014’s Nidemonex.
Below, read Roedelius and Rother’s notes marking Moebius’ passing, followed by some highlights from his illustrious career.
