Kosmische

FEAST

(Feature E- Artist Showcase Tour de force)

Manuel Göttsching
Ash Ra Tempel
Ashra

Manuel at Berlin restaurant, 1987
© Klaus D. Mueller

Manuel Göttsching is one of the world's foremost innovative guitarists, and is a founding pioneer of the Kosmische Musik & Krautrock genres, more commonly known as German progressive and electronic rock.

His seminal minimalist albums Inventions For Electric Guitar, 1974 and E2-E4, 1984 are two of his most important recordings.

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Manuel Göttsching was born in Berlin on 9 September 1952. He began studying classical guitar in 1960 and continued until 1966. Next, he studied experimental improvisation at Thomas Kessler's studio in Berlin in 1968 through 1969, at which time he met fellow student Klaus Schulze.

Manuel's first band was THE BOMB PROOFS, founded with friend and classmate Hartmut Enke in the Summer of 1967 on a sunny afternoon in Berlin's famous Olympic swimming baths. Hartmut was playing Bass, Lutz Behrend Guitar and Manuel was singing. Later Christian Toettcher joined on Drums. This was a cover band playing contemporary Stones, Beatles, and others.

The second band with Harmut Enke was BAD JOE. Founded under the influence of a Blue Cheer album, which Harmut received on his 16th birthday in October 1968. The music was radically improvised with Manuel playing Guitar, Hartmut on Drums and Christian Kraut on Bass.

STEEPLE CHASE BLUES BAND was the name of the third band, formed in June 1969 with Manuel on Guitar, Hartmut Enke on Bass, Wulf Arp on Drums, and Volker Zibell on Blues-Harp (harmonica), who joined two months later in August. Arp was later replaced on Drums by Wolfgang Müller. The band played their own compositions combined with traditional Blues elements including a cover version of "Spoonful".

On 24 August 1970 Manuel founded Ash Ra Tempel with Harmut Enke and Klaus Schulze. They released their debut album Ash Ra Tempel in 1971, which was recorded in Hamburg at Conny Plank's Studio on 9-11 March.

And the rest, as they say, is history!!!

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Manuel Göttsching, who turned 50 in 2002, has released more than 28 albums as Ash Ra Tempel, Ashra and Manuel Göttsching, and has contributed to countless other recordings and releases. He continues to be one of the most original artists recording and performing today.

Original incarnation of Ash Ra Tempel performing in Berlin on 16 December 1970
Manuel Göttsching - guitar, Klaus Schulze - drums & Hartmut Enke - bass
© kdm archives

Manuel performing at Ash Ra Tempel's debut concert
in Paris at the Theatre de l'Ouest on 15 February 1973
© kdm archives

Manuel's solo Tour de France in December 1976
© kdm archives

Manuel performing at Ashra concert in front of the Cathedral
in Cologne, Germany during Rhein's Cultural Days on 11 May 1991
© Klaus D. Mueller

Manuel Göttsching perpetually performing in the Tokyo Wax Museum!!!
(photo from February 1997)
© Tempel

Manuel at the Royal Festival Hall concert in London
where he reunited with Klaus Schulze as Ash Ra Tempel
for Julian Cope's Cornucopea Festival on 2 April 2000
© 2000 Alexander von Reiswitz