Alexander Hacke (born July 11, 1965) is a German singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He is best known as the bassist and performance artist for the post-punk band Einstürzende Neubauten, as well as the singer and guitarist for the experimental project Crime & The City Solution. He has also worked as a solo artist, and collaborated with a number of other musicians and groups.
Hacke was born in East Berlin, and began playing guitar at the age of 8. In his teens he was the guitarist for the punk band Die Vorkriegsjugend, and later joined Einstürzende Neubauten in 1983. With Neubauten, Hacke became known for his theatrical performances and innovative use of scrap metal and found objects as instruments. He was also a prolific songwriter, with many of the band's most iconic songs written or co-written by him.
In the late 80s, Hacke left Neubauten to focus on his own band, Crime & The City Solution. The band released six albums between 1986 and 1993, and toured extensively throughout Europe and the US. The band’s sound was heavily influenced by Hacke’s love of Americana and blues music, and featured his characteristic baritone vocals.
In the mid-90s, Hacke returned to Neubauten and has remained with the band ever since. In addition to his work with Neubauten, Hacke has also collaborated with a number of other artists and projects. He has formed the bands Trance Groove (with his wife Danielle de Picciotto) and Goldenes Trio (with Blixa Bargeld and Dirk Dresselhaus). He has also released a number of solo albums, and produced records for other artists.
Hacke has also collaborated on film soundtracks, including Wim Wender’s Until the End of the World and Hal Hartley’s Simple Men. He has composed music for theatre and dance, and his score for the dance performance ‘The Garden of Earthly Delights’ won him the German Theatre Award in 2006.
Alexander Hacke is an accomplished and innovative musician with a career spanning over three decades. His work with Einstürzende Neubauten, Crime & The City Solution, and many other projects has made him one of the most influential
Birthday
Oct. 11, 1965
