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Alec Empire

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Alec Empire (born May 2, 1972) is a German musician, best known as a founding member of the band Atari Teenage Riot, who has also generated respect for his solo work.

Alec Empire
File:Alecempirepromo.jpg
Photo by Miron Zownir, 2005
Background information
OriginBerlin, Germany
Years activeEarly 90s – present

Biography

Born in West Berlin as Alexander Wilke, Empire grew up near the Berlin Wall in a place where rich and poor neighbourhoods sat next to each other. His mother was the daughter of the inventor of the first domestic knitting machine, a self-made millionaire until his company went bankrupt upon his death. His father was a working-class socialist and the son of a Jewish man who died in the concentration camps of the Second World War [1]. He therefore developed a social conscience at a relatively early age.

Empire was also influenced by music from an early age - his love of rap led to him becoming one of Berlin's best breakdancers at the age of ten [2]. He became disillusioned by the fact that that particular genre was becoming increasingly commercialised, causing him to leave it behind. He had been playing guitar since the age of eight, and that, coupled with his dislike of pretty much everything, caused him to become a punk, and to form his first band, Die Kinder, at age twelve. By age sixteen however, Empire came to realise that punk, as a movement rather than a genre, was dead, yet the anti-establishment punk attitude would play a part in his later output. After leaving Die Kinder he became fascinated by the rave scene, and after German reunification frequented underground raves in East Berlin rather than the more commercialised scene in his native West Berlin. During this time, he made a lot of what he refers to as "faceless DJ music"[3] In 1991, while DJing on a beach in France with friend Hanin Elias, he caught the attention of Ian Pooley, which led to him recording and releasing a series of 12" records on the Force Inc. label.

Although Empire was a prolific producer and DJ at this time and was able to make a comfortable living, he nevertheless saw the rave scene as decadent and selfish. This infuriated him because he and his friends were living in a city surrounded by politics, and the demise of Communist-led governments had led to increased Conservatism in Germany, yet few people seemed to care. The German neo-nazi movement invaded the scene, declaring trance techno as "true German music"[4]. Empire retaliated by sampling 60s and 70s funk (a predominantly black style of music) and using it in his solo output. When he felt that this was not quite enough to get the message across, he decided to gather like-minded individuals Hanin Elias (like himself a former punk) and Carl Crack (a black Swazi MC) to form a band. In 1992, the trio became Atari Teenage Riot.

ATR's sound was characterised by the use of breakbeats (again using sampled funk and hip-hop beats, but at in excess of twice the speed), heavy guitars, and the shouting of political lyrics and slogans by any or all three members. Their early singles led to a record deal with Phonogram, a major UK label. ATR released some singles through the label, who expected them to sound more commercially friendly. Since this was not in their nature, the deal with Phonogram fell through. In 1994, using the cash advance from the Phonogram deal, Empire started an independent record label which would allow its artists to express themselves more freely. He named it Digital Hardcore Recordings, and digital hardcore would become a generic term for the direction his sound had taken. That year, DHR released EPs by Empire himself, EC8OR, DJ Bleed and Sonic Subjunkies.

While working with ATR, Empire continued to work tirelessly on his solo output. He continued to record for Force Inc. under several pseudonyms, including the Detroit-techno inspired Jaguar. He also recorded several albums for Force Inc.'s experimental sublabel Mille Plateaux, including Generation Star Wars (considered his first real solo album), and Low On Ice (recorded entirely on his laptop during a three day tour of Iceland with ATR). Also, in 1995, ATR released their first album, Delete Yourself, on DHR, and in 1996 Empire released his first album for DHR, The Destroyer. In that year, Empire and Mike Diamond signed a deal to release a number of DHR's recordings on the Beastie Boys' Grand Royal record label in the United States. The label also invited DHR artists to tour the US. This would lead to recognition by MTV and alternative radio stations.

ATR spent the next few years touring the world with artists such as Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Beck, Rage Against the Machine, the Wu-Tang Clan and Ministry, as well as headlining such memorable shows as the Digital Hardcore festival at CBGB's in New York City in 1998 and the Queen Elizabeth Hall show in London in 1999 at the request of fan John Peel. During this time they introduced a fourth member to their ranks, Nic Endo, a Japanese-American noise artist. Audience opinion was often divided on this very new type of sound, and this along with other factors began to take its toll on ATR. All of the members found some comfort in their solo work - Empire's output at this time would include his sole release as Nintendo Teenage Robots, and the bootleg recording Alec Empire vs. Elvis Presley, as well as remixes for the likes of The Mad Capsule Markets, Mogwai and Thurston Moore. However, the cracks were beginning to show. Onstage at one ATR show in Seattle in 1999, Empire slashed his forearms with a razor. At another show that year in London, in which ATR supported Nine Inch Nails, the band dispensed with their song-based formula and delivered one long barrage of what can only be described as noise, which would later be released as Live at Brixton Academy. By the end of 1999, Empire was mentally exhausted, Elias was pregnant and Crack was suffering from psychosis induced by prolonged drug use. The band was put on hiatus, its future made even more doubtful following Crack's death in 2001 and Elias' decision to leave DHR and create Fatal Recordings.

Empire rebounded in 2001 when he, with assistance from Endo, recorded Intelligence and Sacrifice. This album contained two discs: the first retained the ATR formula, yet exhibited more polished production techniques and more personal lyrics on Empire's part; the second disc was entirely electronic and contained no vocals. He used an all-star lineup in his first live show at the Fuji Rock Festival in Japan: Charlie Clouser (ex-Nine Inch Nails) played synths, Masami "Merzbow" Akita and Gabe Serbian (The Locust) both played drums, and Endo played synths and keyboards. The Japanese audience's reaction was a positive one, and this encouraged Empire to take Intelligence and Sacrifice on the road. His subsequent band would include a guitarist, Robbie Furze, who would later record for DHR with Panic DHH. Empire also played a series of live shows performing material from I&S CD2, one of which was released as The CD2 Sessions in 2003. Empire returned in 2005 with Futurist which was less electronic than its predecessor and had more of a raw punk/metal sound.

Empire currently lives in the former East Berlin, where his studio is located. He continues to tour with his band and frequently performs DJ sets. He recently remixed fellow Germans Rammstein, and collaborated with Russell Simins of Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and Gary Burger of The Monks to record a new version of The Monks' "Black Monk Time" for a documentary about the band. Atari Teenage Riot: 1992-2000, a retrospective album, was released by DHR on July 3 2006.

Discography

For recordings credited to Atari Teenage Riot, see Atari Teenage Riot discography.

Albums

Singles and EPs

  • "Trip Men" EP (with T.N.I.) (Force Inc. 1991)
  • Yobot EP (Force Inc. 1992)
  • SuEcide EP (Pt.1) (Force Inc. 1992)
  • SuEcide EP (Pt.2) (Force Inc. 1992)
  • Das Duell EP (with Biochip C.) (Force Inc. 1993)
  • "Bass Terror" EP (Force Inc. 1993)
  • Limited Edition 1 EP (Force Inc. 1993)
  • Limited Edition 2 EP (Force Inc. 1994)
  • "Spinball Attack" (as Naomi Campbell) (unknown 1994)
  • Digital Hardcore EP (DHR 1994)
  • Death EP (DHR 1994)
  • Destroyer EP (Riot Beats 1994)
  • Destroyer EP Part 2 (Riot Beats 1994)
  • "SuEcide" (Pluto Rmxs) (white 1994)
  • "SuEcide" (Wonka Remixes) (Rare Grooves 1994)
  • Pulse Code EP (with Ian Pooley) (Mille Plateaux 1994)
  • Uzi Party (as DJ Bleed) (DHR 1994)
  • King of the Street (feat. Brothers Crush) (Riot Beats 1995)
  • Wipeout EP (as Wipeout) (Position Chrome 1996)
  • The Destroyer EP (Grand Royal 1996)
  • "Hetzjagd Auf Nazis" (Panacea remix) (Position Chrome 1997)
  • No Safety Pin Sex EP (DHR 1997)
  • Shards of Pol-Pottery: The 2001 Remixes EP (with El-P) (DHR 2001)
  • "New World Order" EP (Beat 2001)
  • "Addicted to You" (DHR 2002)
  • "The Ride" (DHR 2002)
  • "Gotta Get Out" (DHR 2005)
  • "Kiss of Death" (DHR 2005)

as Jaguar

  • Jaguar EP (Force Inc. 1994)
  • Berlin Sky EP (Analog 1995)
  • Two Space Cowboys on a Bad Trip (with Ian Pooley) (Force Inc. 1996)
  • Two Space Cowboys on a Trip to Texas (with Ian Pooley) (Force Inc. 1996)
  • The Jaguar EP (Force Inc 1996)

as E.C.P.

  • E.C.P (Riot Beats 1995)
  • "Generate" (Riot Beats 1995)
  • E.C.P. (feat. The Slaughter of Acid) (Riot Beats 1996)

as Richard Benson

  • Debut EP (Force Inc. 1995)
  • "Diamonds and Pills" EP (Force Inc. 1995)
  • Rich in Paradise EP (Force Inc. 1996)

DJ mixes

  • Capitol Noise - Chapter 1: Noise And Politics (Capitol Noise 1995)
  • DJ Spooky vs. Alec Empire (with DJ Spooky) (double cassette) (DHR, year unknown)*
  • Generation Star Wars Party (19.12.'95 Bunker) (DHR 1995)*
  • Live At CBGB's New York City 4-11-98 (CDr) (DHR 2004)*
  • The Destroyer Mix Tape #3/98 (CDr) (DHR 2004)*
  • The Destroyer Mix Tape #4/04 (CDr) (DHR 2004)*
  • Japanese Noise Pt. 1 & 2 & 3 (3CDr) (DHR 2005)**
  • Tribute To R. Mooog (2CDr) (DHR 2005)**
  • Live at the Suicide Club 1995 (CDr) (DHR 2006)*

* Mail order and online store exclusives
** Tour exclusives

Other tracks (compilations, etc.)

  • "Unequal Chord" (as LX Empire) on Techno Rave (!Hype 1991)
  • "Yobots Around My Neck (Theme Fom Tekkno Boy)" from Tekkno Boy (Deutsche Schallplatten 1992)
  • "You Must Confront", "Anti-Nazi-Soulfood" and "Forgive Not Mothafuckers! ('Cause it Doesn't Make it Alright!)" (as Alec Empire), "Youth Against Racism" (as Nero) on Destroy Deutschland! (Force Inc. 1993)
  • "Noise So Sweet" and "Dreadlock Kool" (as P.J.P) on Rough and Fast (Riot Beats 1994)
  • "Alec's Blues" on Tribute to the Blues - Evolve or Die (P-Vine 1996)
  • "The 6 Wisdoms of Aspasia" on The Spirit of Vampyros Lesbos (Sideburn 1997)
  • "Alleged Accused Repeated Reused" (with Matt Pizzolo) (feat. Jello Biafra and Seth Tobocman) on DIY-Fest (DHR 2001)
  • "Tribute to Coil" (Short version) on ...It Just is (Nocharizma 2005)

Remixes

  • "Dschungelfieber" (Alec Empire remix) for Space Cube, on "Dschungelfieber" (Remixes) (Riot Beats 1994)
  • "31202" (remix) for Ford Prefect, on the compilation Noise Love Unity - Love Parade '94 (D'vision 1994)
  • "Up Where We Belong" (FP23 mix) for SilkyWay, on "Up Where We Belong" (Phonogram GmbH 1994)
  • "Imago" (Alec Empire remix) for Air Liquide, on Abuse Your Illusions - Part 1.1 (Harvest 1995)
  • "Harold" (Alec Empire mix) for Sonic Subjunkies, on Sounds from the City of Quartz (DHR 1995)
  • "Beautiful Day" (Digital Hardcore mix) for Nicolette, on "Beautiful Day" (Talkin' Loud 1995)
  • "Dactylo Rock" (Ausrufezeichen) for Stereo Total, on "Dactylo Rock" (Peace 95 1996)
  • "Die Menschen Aus Kiel" (Digital Hardcore remix) for Schorsch Kamerun, on "Die Menschen Aus Kiel" (Remixe) (L'Age D'Or 1996)
  • "Know Your Chicken" (Alec Empire remix) for Cibo Matto, on "Know Your Chicken" (Blanco Y Negro 1996)
  • "MotorRazor" (Digital Hardcore remix) for Think About Mutation, on "MotorRazor 96" (Dynamica 1996)
  • "No Government" (Alec Empire remix) for Nicolette, on the compilation 21st Century Soul (Talkin' Loud 1997)
  • "My Way" (Remix by Alec Empire) for Audio Active, on Apollo Choco Remixed (On-U Sound 1997)
  • "Bachelorette" (Hypermodern Jazz) and "Bachelorette" (The Ice Princess & The Killer Whale) for Björk, on "Bachelorette" (One Little Indian 1997)
  • "Jóga" (Empire State of Emergency) and "Jóga" (The Destroyer) for Björk, on "Jóga" (One Little Indian 1997)
  • "Mood of Mods Generation" (Alec Empire remix) for Violent Onsen Geisha & DMBQ and "Papua" (Alec Empire remix) for Surfers of Romantika, both on the compilation Digital Catastroph 1997 (ZK Records 1997)
  • "The Garden" (The White Chair remix) for Einstürzende Neubauten, on Ende Neu (Remixes) (Play It Again Sam 1997)
  • "Friss Scheisse" (Digital Hardcore remix) for Schweisser, on "Friss Scheisse" (Bullet Proof Recordings 1997)
  • "Dr. Moog" (The Destroyer remix) for Buffalo Daughter, on Socks, Drugs and Rock and Roll (Grand Royal 1997)
  • "Dance or Be Shot" for Bottom 12, on "Dance or Be Shot" (unknown 1997)
  • "Consumed" (Digital Hardcore mix) for Mark Stewart, on Consumed - The Remix Wars (Mute 1998)
  • "Crash Pow" (Alec Empire remix) and "Creature" (Digital Hardcore remix) for The Mad Capsule Markets on Digidogheadlock (JVC 1998)
  • "Like Herod" (Face The Future Remix) for Mogwai, on Kicking a Dead Pig: Mogwai Songs Remixed (Jetset 1998)
  • "R U Still In 2 It?" (Straight Demons remix) for Mogwai, on "R U Still In 2 It?" (Eye Q 1998)
  • "Keep Trying the Old Number" (Alec Empire remix) for Thurston Moore, on Root (Lo Recordings 1998)
  • "Atomic Buddha" (Version Alec Empire) for Techno Animal, on Techno Animal Versus Reality (City Slang 1998)
  • "Heat" (Alec Empire remix) for R. L. Burnside, on Come On In (Fat Possum 1998)
  • "Keep On Rockin'" (Alec Empire remix) for Shonen Knife, on Ultramix (MCA Victor Japan 1998)
  • "Trapped in Three Dimensions" (Alec Empire mix) for Ice, on "Trapped In Three Dimensions" (Morpheus 1999)
  • "Godzilla March" (Digital Hardcore remix) for Destroy the Monsters, on the Godzilla 2000 Japan soundtrack (Nippon Columbia 2000)
  • "Jet Virus" (Digital Hardcore remix) for Guitar Wolf, on Rock n' Roll Etiquette (Ki/Oon 2000)
  • "Miss Lucifer" (Panther Girl) and "Miss Lucifer" (Bone to Bone) for Primal Scream, on "Miss Lucifer" (Columbia 2002)
  • "It's a Burning Hell" (remix) for Brainbombs, on Cheap (EP) (Load 2003)
  • "Digital Hardcore" (Alec Empire mix) for Merzbow, on Ikebana: Amlux Rebuilt, Reused and Recycled (Important 2003)
  • "Skool Daze" (Alec Empire remix) for Chris Vrenna on "Skool Daze"/"Late Night Shopping" (7") (Waxploitation 2003)
  • "Amerika" (Digital Hardcore mix) for Rammstein, on "Amerika" (Universal 2004)
  • "Reach" (Alec Empire remix) for Panic DHH, on "Reach" (DHR 2004)
  • "Mann Gegen Mann" (Remix by Alec Empire) for Rammstein, on "Mann gegen Mann" (Universal 2006)
  • "Oxygen Debt" (Pandemic remix) for Most Precious Blood, on the compilation Threat: Music That Inspired the Movie (Halo 8 2006)

Other credits

  • "Acid Head" by Zen Faschisten (producer), on "Acid Head"/"L.S.D." (Choose, year unknown)
  • "There's No Love in Tekkno" (single) by Hanin (producer - as LX Empire) (Force Inc. 1992)
  • Cook EP by DJ Mowgly (producer) (Force Inc. 1994)
  • Show EP by Hanin Elias (producer) (DHR 1996)
  • "Nervous" and "Nightmare" by Nicolette (producer), on Let No One Live Rent Free in Your Head (Talkin' Loud 1996)
  • Disco Sukkers EP by Killout Trash (mastering) (AIPR 1997)
  • "Attack" by Jon Spencer Blues Explosion (mixing), on ACME (Matador 1998)
  • "Megaton B-Boy" (with El-P) by Handsome Boy Modeling School (mixing), on So... How's Your Girl? (Tommy Boy 1999)
  • "Red Hot Riding Hood" (single) by Lolita Storm (mixing) (DHR 2000)
  • "You Suck" by Hanin Elias (producer), on No Games, No Fun (Fatal 2003)
  • "Bypass" by Martin Peter (vocals), on Enough of This?! (Angora Steel 2005)

Notes

  1. ^ Yates, Catherine (April 6 2002) "King of Pain". Kerrang! p.15-18
  2. ^ Drowned in Sound; Alec Empire, last accessed 2006-08-04.
  3. ^ Yates, Catherine (April 6 2002) "King of Pain". Kerrang! p.15-18
  4. ^ Empire, Alec; The Destroyer/Digital Hard-core (sic), last accessed 2006-08-04.

References


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