The band Ton Steine Scherben was formed during the street fights of the 1970s. Co-founder RPS Lanrue has now died. Minister of State for Culture Roth – once the band’s manager – is also in mourning.
The musician Ralph Peter Steitz, known as RPS Lanrue, has died. The co-founder of the political rock band Ton Steine Scherben died on Sunday in Berlin surrounded by his family at the age of 74, as his wife confirmed to the German Press Agency in Berlin. “Die Tageszeitung” had previously reported.
Lanrue founded the band with Rio Reiser in 1970. Ralph Peter Steitz (Lanrue) and Ralph Christian Möbius (Reiser) had a lot in common. They met in Nieder-Roden, Hesse, in 1966. Lanrue needed a guitarist and had Reiser play a Stones song. As Beat Kings and De Galaxis, they played covers and their first own songs.
Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth, one of the band’s managers, reacted by saying she was very sad and deeply affected. “This is a great loss, also for me personally,” said the Green Party politician in a statement. “RPS Lanrue was one of the most important composers and guitarists in our country.” The collaboration with Rio Reiser resulted in songs that shaped the sound of an entire generation. “With Ton Steine Scherben, you founded one of the most political bands in our country, but one that also stood for great art.” Lanrue made and shaped music for more than 50 years and stood for a combative idea of the connection between music and politics. “The songs are timeless, they still touch us today and give us strength,” said Roth.
Source: Stern
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