Timo Blunck

Timo Blunck
Background information
Born (1962-03-25) March 25, 1962
Hamburg, Germany
Genres Neue Deutsche Welle
Occupation(s) Composer, Vocalist, Producer
Instruments Bass, Guitar
Years active 1978-present
Labels Tapete Records
Associated acts Die Zimmermänner, Palais Schaumburg, The Monochrome Set
Website www.blut.audio

Timo Blunck (Born March 25, 1962 in Buchholz i. d. Nordheide) is a German composer, lyricist, producer, bassist, and vocalist.

Biography

Blunck was raised in Hamburg, Germany. At the age of 9 he began studying flute under Manfred Trojahn.

In 1978, Blunck founded The Skafighter with his school friend Detlef Diederichsen. In 1980, The Skafighter were renamed Ede und die Zimmermänner alongside the release of their first single on Alfred Hilsberg’s Zick Zack label (they later simply went by Die Zimmermänner).[1]

In 1981, Blunck became the bassist for Palais Schaumburg, where he also sang backing vocals for the first two albums. His unusual style of bass playing followed geometric patterns, as opposed to classical musical scales. This style was a fundamental part of Palais Schaumburg’s atonal sound. Palais Schaumburg featured such producers as The Flying Lizards' David Cunningham, as well as Andy “Coati Mundi” Hernandez of Kid Creole & The Coconuts.[2]

In 1981, Palais Schaumburg signed with Daniel Miller’s Mute Records, after which they played support for Depeche Mode.[3]

Palais Schaumburg played in the Danceteria in New York, as well as performing as one of the first acts in Manchester’s The Haçienda. On their European Tour 1982 they played with Kurtis Blow.[4]

Photographer and Director Anton Corbijn, having previously created the album artwork for “Lupa” (1982), also filmed their first music video in 1983 for the single “Hockey”.[5]

From 1985 to 1990, Timo Blunck performed as the vocalist and songwriter of the Hamburg Pop band Grace Kairos. The Grace Kairos released two albums, produced by Ray Shulman of Gentle Giant. The singles “Carolina” and “I Don’t Know What’s Going On” charted in the Netherlands and Sweden. In 1990, Grace Kairos toured as the support for Wet Wet Wet.[6]

In 1990, Blunck moved to London, where he opened a studio (Momentum Sounds). There he produced several artists, including Freaky Realistic and Christie Hennessy.[7]

1992 saw the release of Blunck’s solo album, titled “Timo”, with the single “Louisiana Lonely”.[8] the music video of which was filmed by German Director Gregor Schnitzler in Louisiana.

Blunck then moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, followed by Los Angeles.[9]

In 1998, Blunck opened the production company BLUWI, which creates music for Film, Television and advertising. BLUWI’s clients include directors such as Justus von Dohnanyi and Christian Petzold, as well as brands including Audi, Mercedes, and Nivea.[10]

In 2010, BLUWI began working in communication in space, including the Expo 2010 (Saudi-Arabian Pavilion) and the Expo 2012 in Yeosu (Swiss Pavilion, Caltex Pavilion).[11]

Starting 2011, Blunck resumed playing with Palais Schaumburg, featuring its original lineup.[12] The band’s success in Japan led to concerts in Tokyo and Osaka in 2012.[13]

Die Zimmermänner released further albums, the latest of which “Ein Hund Namens Arbeit” was produced by Blunck and released by Tapete Records.[14]

In 2014 Blunck mixed the album “Spaces Everywhere” from the London band The Monochrome Set.[15]

Timo Blunck has been a member of the Art Director’s Club Germany since 2002 [16]

Summer 2015, Timo Blunck mixed the album Über… Menschen of the Düsseldorf band Fehlfarben. [17][18]

Following the 1st of June, 2015, Blunck, along with BLUWI producer Stephanie Zanatta founded the company BLUT. Here they are continuing their work after the termination of BLUWI. [19]

Personal life

Timo Blunck splits his time between Hamburg and New Orleans. He has three sons with American stylist Sondra Blunck.

Selected discography

Ede & die Zimmermänner

Die Zimmermänner

Palais Schaumburg

Grace Kairos

Solo

Selected filmography

Selected awards

References

  1. ↑ Spex 04/83 / Musik Express/Sounds 03/83 / official Zimmermänner Biography on www.whatssofunnyabout.de
  2. ↑ Spex 12/81 / www.fusetronsound.com / Sounds 08/1982
  3. ↑ Depeche Mode: I just can’t get enough, Simon Spence
  4. ↑ The Hacienda: How not to run a club, Peter Hook
  5. ↑ http://www.depechemode.de/antoncorbeijn
  6. ↑ Spiegel 30.05.1988 / Musik Express 04/1990
  7. ↑ Timo Blunck credits at www.allmusic.com
  8. ↑ Musik Express 09/92
  9. ↑ Official Biography in ‘Das erste Buch Bluwi’
  10. ↑ Financial Times 20.04.2005
  11. ↑ http://www.tamschick.com
  12. ↑ taz 30.12.2011
  13. ↑ http://www.residentadvisor.net
  14. ↑ Rolling Stone 10/2014
  15. ↑ Musikexpress 03/2015
  16. ↑ http://www.adc.de
  17. ↑ http://www.tapeterecords.de
  18. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Die-Zimmermänner/63572179769
  19. ↑ BLUWI/BLUT Newsletter 07/15

External links

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