Dr. Moog Dies at 71

LolitaLuxe · 22-08-2005

pitchfork.com

Chris Rediske reports:
Nearly 41 years after forever changing the face of popular music with the introduction of the Moog modular synthesizer, Robert Moog died yesterday afternoon at his home in Asheville, N.C., at the age of 71. Moog had been diagnosed with brain cancer earlier this year, and had been undergoing both radiation treatment and chemotherapy in the months since. He is survived by his wife, Ileana, and his five children.

A history of Moog's life, is, in a way, a history of electronic music. He began his career in 1954 by building theramins with this father, later developing the Moog Modular Synthesizer, at the behest, in part, of experimental composer Herbert Deutsch. After premiering his invention at the 1964 Audio Engineering Society Convention, he began producing the Moog commercially, as he continued to refine his design and produce new models. The Moog first made a real splash with the release of Wendy Carlos's Switched-On Bach-- an album that went platinum and raised both the profile and demand for the unique synthesizer.

The needs of touring musicians were soon addressed by the introduction of the Minimoog in 1970, a compact version of the Moog that expanded the brand's popularity and usability. In 1977, Robert Moog left the company he had created, founding a new company entitled Big Briar, where he continued to develop new electronic musical instruments. Without him at the helm, Moog Synthesizers (now produced by parent company Norlin Music) ceased production in 1986. Meanwhile, Moog continued to create synthesizers and sound modules under the Big Briar label, until 2002, when he reclaimed the rights to use the Moog name for his products.

Moog's creations have inspired legions of musicians, not least among them modern artists such as Stereolab, Air, Radiohead, Fiery Furnaces, Broadcast, and Super Furry Animals. Following his passing, Moog Music President Mike Adams posted a message on the Moog website, which read, in part, "[Bob] was a musical pioneer for the love of it and musicians everywhere have had the opportunity to expand their own creative horizons with Bob's inventions. He will truly be missed by all of us, but we can take comfort in the fact that his musical innovations will live on in the music he has inspired and the products we will continue to make."

Robert Moog's family has posted personal information about Moog's last days on CaringBridge.com; the site also includes a bulletin board for friends and well-wishers to share their thoughts. His family will be holding a memorial celebration in his honor on August 24 at the Orange Peel Social Aid & Pleasure Club, in Asheville.

* Moog Music: http://www.moogmusic.com/
* CaringBridge.com: CaringBridge.com

metal-on-metal · 22-08-2005

It's sad. He was a total visionary and contributed a great deal to modern music.

Spacemiu · 22-08-2005

That si to bad.

Strange I was in Asheville a few days ago...

**Scott** · 22-08-2005

Hey,I was going to post this earlier but the thing kept telling me it was too small!

But yeah,he's had a tremendous influence on sound. To add to the roster of artists....Goldfrapp is another that have famously orchastrated a major part of their music with his machine. As has,ADD(N)To X I believe.

johnnykenton · 22-08-2005

that is sad.

may his memory live on.

LolitaLuxe · 23-08-2005

thanks for replying, guys. i was having having second thoughts too ,scott

its weired, i was looking thru some old magazines and came across 'switched on moog', a 32 page article from grand royal magazine, i re read the article and the mastermind dies 3 days later

tons of stuff, interviews w/ different artists ( from wendy carlos, dick hyman (lol) and stereolab) but this was listed as the top ten moog moments ( by max vanderwolf) :

*puts on nerd hat*

1. emerson lake and palmer - luckyman
2. edgar winter group - frankenstein
3. gong - radio gnome invisble pt. 1
4. the mothers - little house i used to live in
5. genesis - the lamb lies down on broadway
6. pink floyd - welcome to the machine
7. ozric - tentacles pungent or stangetude
8. brian eno - ( goes on to list roxy music first 2 lp's and bowie's low and heroes)
9. todd rungren - utopia
10. the beatles - maxwells silver hammer

hey, we cant forget these guys .... the moog cookbook/ ye olde space band plays classic rock

hahahaha! funnnyyyyyy!!

**Scott** · 23-08-2005

^

Brian Eno & Roxy Music....and Bowie(!)...that's really cool. But I love the weird sounds those things are capable of creating.

arkitektonika · 30-03-2008

keith emerson [ELP} playing Moog in black leather is way sexy !!!

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22-08-2005	1
LolitaLuxe Vision of Paradise Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: LA-NYC Gender: femme Posts: 6,934	Dr. Moog Dies at 71 pitchfork.com Chris Rediske reports: Nearly 41 years after forever changing the face of popular music with the introduction of the Moog modular synthesizer, Robert Moog died yesterday afternoon at his home in Asheville, N.C., at the age of 71. Moog had been diagnosed with brain cancer earlier this year, and had been undergoing both radiation treatment and chemotherapy in the months since. He is survived by his wife, Ileana, and his five children. A history of Moog's life, is, in a way, a history of electronic music. He began his career in 1954 by building theramins with this father, later developing the Moog Modular Synthesizer, at the behest, in part, of experimental composer Herbert Deutsch. After premiering his invention at the 1964 Audio Engineering Society Convention, he began producing the Moog commercially, as he continued to refine his design and produce new models. The Moog first made a real splash with the release of Wendy Carlos's Switched-On Bach-- an album that went platinum and raised both the profile and demand for the unique synthesizer. The needs of touring musicians were soon addressed by the introduction of the Minimoog in 1970, a compact version of the Moog that expanded the brand's popularity and usability. In 1977, Robert Moog left the company he had created, founding a new company entitled Big Briar, where he continued to develop new electronic musical instruments. Without him at the helm, Moog Synthesizers (now produced by parent company Norlin Music) ceased production in 1986. Meanwhile, Moog continued to create synthesizers and sound modules under the Big Briar label, until 2002, when he reclaimed the rights to use the Moog name for his products. Moog's creations have inspired legions of musicians, not least among them modern artists such as Stereolab, Air, Radiohead, Fiery Furnaces, Broadcast, and Super Furry Animals. Following his passing, Moog Music President Mike Adams posted a message on the Moog website, which read, in part, "[Bob] was a musical pioneer for the love of it and musicians everywhere have had the opportunity to expand their own creative horizons with Bob's inventions. He will truly be missed by all of us, but we can take comfort in the fact that his musical innovations will live on in the music he has inspired and the products we will continue to make." Robert Moog's family has posted personal information about Moog's last days on CaringBridge.com; the site also includes a bulletin board for friends and well-wishers to share their thoughts. His family will be holding a memorial celebration in his honor on August 24 at the Orange Peel Social Aid & Pleasure Club, in Asheville. * Moog Music: http://www.moogmusic.com/ * CaringBridge.com: CaringBridge.com __________________ you cats take care of the environment, man. - wavy gravy,1969

22-08-2005	2
metal-on-metal Heated Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: New York Posts: 3,127	It's sad. He was a total visionary and contributed a great deal to modern music.

22-08-2005	3
Spacemiu V.I.P. Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Los Angeles Gender: homme Posts: 9,450	That si to bad. Strange I was in Asheville a few days ago... __________________ Oceans of angels, oceans of stars

22-08-2005	4
Scott Stitch:the Hand Mod Squad Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Among the trees Gender: homme Posts: 12,451	Hey,I was going to post this earlier but the thing kept telling me it was too small! But yeah,he's had a tremendous influence on sound. To add to the roster of artists....Goldfrapp is another that have famously orchastrated a major part of their music with his machine. As has,ADD(N)To X I believe.

22-08-2005	5
johnnykenton backstage pass Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: New York Gender: homme Posts: 987	that is sad. may his memory live on. __________________ The world was a mess, but his hair was perfect.

23-08-2005	6
LolitaLuxe Vision of Paradise Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: LA-NYC Gender: femme Posts: 6,934	thanks for replying, guys. i was having having second thoughts too ,scott its weired, i was looking thru some old magazines and came across 'switched on moog', a 32 page article from grand royal magazine, i re read the article and the mastermind dies 3 days later tons of stuff, interviews w/ different artists ( from wendy carlos, dick hyman (lol) and stereolab) but this was listed as the top ten moog moments ( by max vanderwolf) : puts on nerd hat 1. emerson lake and palmer - luckyman 2. edgar winter group - frankenstein 3. gong - radio gnome invisble pt. 1 4. the mothers - little house i used to live in 5. genesis - the lamb lies down on broadway 6. pink floyd - welcome to the machine 7. ozric - tentacles pungent or stangetude 8. brian eno - ( goes on to list roxy music first 2 lp's and bowie's low and heroes) 9. todd rungren - utopia 10. the beatles - maxwells silver hammer hey, we cant forget these guys .... the moog cookbook/ ye olde space band plays classic rock hahahaha! funnnyyyyyy!! __________________ you cats take care of the environment, man. - wavy gravy,1969 Last edited by LolitaLuxe; 23-08-2005 at 02:10 AM.

23-08-2005	7
Scott Stitch:the Hand Mod Squad Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Among the trees Gender: homme Posts: 12,451	^ Brian Eno & Roxy Music....and Bowie(!)...that's really cool. But I love the weird sounds those things are capable of creating.

30-03-2008	8
arkitektonika windowshopping Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: ritten-house Gender: homme Posts: 47	keith emerson [ELP} playing Moog in black leather is way sexy !!!