Edgar Froese Of Tangerine Dream Has Died

edgar-froese

Edgar Froese – the creative soul of the electronic group Tangerine Dream for the last 48 years – has died. 

Froese’s death was announced at the Tangerine Dream site:

Dear Friends,

This is a message to you we are deeply sorry for…

On January 20th, Tuesday afternoon, Edgar Froese suddenly and unexpectedly passed away from the effects of a pulmonary embolism in Vienna.

The sadness in our hearts is immensely.

Edgar once said: “There is no death, there is just a change of our cosmic address.”

Edgar, this is a little comfort to us.

Yours,

EB (ADMIN) & the whole EASTGATE MUSIC TEAM

edgar-froese-rip
Edgar Froese in concert. Photo by Ralf Roletschek.

Both with Tangerine Dream and as a solo artist, Froese had an illustrious career.

In the 70’s, Froese ( 6 June 1944 – 20 January 2015) helped define the ‘Berlin School’ style of experimental electronic rock, on Tangerine Dream classics like Phaedra, Rubicon and Stratosfear. In the 80’s, Froese and his band brought a new sound to the art of scoring, on films like Thief, Risky Business and Miracle Mile. Later in his career, he found success in the world of new age music.

In addition to his work with Tangerine Dream, Froese was an active solo artist, on albums like Aqua, Epsilon in Malaysian Pale and Stuntman.

In an interview with The Quietus in 2010, Froese said this about his influences:

Dali was quite a big influence in my life, because his philosophy of being as original and authentic as possible had touched me very intensively at that time. As he used to be incomparable I invested a lot of time, too, in training myself to follow such a philosophical path.

When I met Dali the first time I was 22, a youngster who knew immediately that nearly everything is possible in art, as long as you have a strong belief in what you’re doing.

Froese also attributed his long career to a lifestyle of hard work and clean living:

You can’t work 14-16 hours per day on your musical visions if you’re getting drunk or being a drug addicted person at the same time. It would never work.

So I’ve been a veggy most of my lifetime and have not smoked or drunk for almost 35 years now.

But that’s a decision every artist has to deal with on a personal subjective level.

34 thoughts on “Edgar Froese Of Tangerine Dream Has Died”

    1. I’d say take some tastes of the great Tangerine Dream works like Phaedra, Rubicon, and Alpha Centauri. Then, take your time going through the whole discography from the start. There’s a progression in their approach to making music that comes across very clearly when you compare earlier and later albums. Witnessing the whole thing is definitely worth doing.

  3. I watched Risky Business the other night and felt the need to listen to the soundtrack on my way to work the following morning. Such strange timing. That soundtrack and Rubycon have been a constant throughout my life.

    1. Only downside is that the premium channels will overplay this movie, to death
      Not that I don’t want to hear the train song or see rebecca de mornay naked, but have some varity

  4. Just recently saw Sorcerer (for the first time actually after having known the soundtrack for a long time) and listened to Stratosfear yesterday. Did not listen to TD or Edgar Froese solo stuff for an extended period of time prior to this week. Strange coincidence indeed. Rest in Peace. Although I would have liked to hear his candid opinion on the Moog modular reissue just for fun. He never came across as a person who idolized certain pieces of equipment and was quick to point out their flaws if they got in the way of his work.

  7. a true pioneer whose reputation will live long now that he’s gone. thank you for the images you planted in my young mind in the 70’s… where would I be with out you Edgar?

  12. My first introduction to Tangerine Dream was through a friend and their music was something of an awakening for me which would eventually spawn my love affair for synthesizers and synthesizer music. I have such deep rooted respect for this group of musicians who helped pioneer much of how electronic music is made and influenced so many electronic musicians after them. RIP Ed.

  19. Saw TD in Montréal during the Encore tour (the last one with Peter Bauman, I think). A very striking and memorable experience! Edgar Froese certainly belongs amongst the true electronic music pioneers, with Schultze and Kraftwerk. I am going to go listen to Rubycon right now!

  20. I was so very privileged to see TD twice in one week in Melbourne this last November. Edgar your music lifted me up and there will always be a big hole in the sky where you once stood, a colossus. Farewell…

    1. Well, i certainly feel like a damn MORON for not going to see them in Melbourne recently when i easily could have. ( i think i didn’t have the $ at the time, but i really could have worked it out if i tried). Probably gonna regret this forever…R.I.P mate….

      1. I planned on going to Melbourne to (I’m in Perth), but due to finances, & honestly believing the opportunity would arise for me again in the near future, as I was considering a trip overseas, I skipped on this trip too. I regret that very much!!!

  21. Being a long time fan of Tangerine Dream since the beginning, this is sad news indeed.
    I met him personally and, besides being a great and visionary musician, he was a good person always caring for others.
    His music legacy will live long.
    Thank you Edgar!!! You made it worth.

  22. Hearing “Phaedra” for the first time COMPLETELY changed my perspective on music for the rest of my life. Franke, Froese, Baumann. RIP Edgar.

    “Tangerine Dream has released more than one hundred albums since the group was formed.” Wow.

  24. Hello folks, Edgar Froese is not dead. He just went on a long Cosmic Tour… And he is working at his last album, ‘ETERNITY”. What means this album? Everybody who was touched personally by the music of Edgar Froese / Tangerine Dream in the past 45 years knows what I mean. Is a special album, coming from the heart of everybody of us.
    I write from Reghin / Romania. I regret I never had the chance to see the band on a tour. Tangerine Dream never show up live in Romania. But the band toured anytime in me when I listened their music. Right now I listen “Force Majeure”. “Underwater Sunlight” is also a favourite of mine as many other albums.
    Edgar, rest in peace. And thank you beeing a longtime companion of my life.
    The Dream Never Ends

  26. Hello folks, Edgar Froese is not dead. He just went on a very long Cosmic Tour… And more, he is working at his newest album, “ETERNITY”. What means this album? Everybody who was touched personally by the music of Edgar Froese / Tangerine Dream in the past 45 years knows what I mean. Is a special album, which can be heard only by the heart and through memory of everybody of us.
    I write you from Reghin / Romania. I regrete I never had the chance to see the band on a tour. Tangerine Dream never show up live in Romania. But the band toured in me anytime I listened the band’s music. Right now I listen “Force Majeure”. “Underwater Sunlight” and “Tangram” are other favourite albums for me just as many others are.
    Edgar, thank you beeing a longtime companion of my life, maybe the most beautiful years. And from time to time, give us a sign by playing loud the keyboards there, in the sky.
    Rest in peace.
    The Dream Never Ends.

  27. Hello folks, Edgar Froese is not dead. He just went on a very long Cosmic Tour… And more, he is working at his newest album, “ETERNITY”. What means this album? Everybody who was touched personally by the music of Edgar Froese / Tangerine Dream in the past 45 years knows what I mean. Is a special album, which can be heard only by the heart and through memory of everybody of us.
    I write you from Reghin / Romania. I regret I never had the chance to see the band on a tour. Tangerine Dream never show up live in Romania. But the band toured in me anytime I listened the band’s music. Right now I listen “Force Majeure”. “Underwater Sunlight” and “Tangram” are other favourite albums for me just as many others are.
    Edgar, thank you beeing a longtime companion of my life, maybe the most beautiful years. And from time to time, give us a sign by playing loud the keyboards there, in the sky.
    Rest in peace.
    The Dream Never Ends.

  29. First heard TD on the Friday rock show at about 15/16. One of the reasons I got into synth music and started making my own. I saw Edgar and Jerome at the Apollo Manchester the sound quality was fantastic. My best loved album was the Poland concert.
    R.I.P Edgar and deepest sympathy to his family.

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