Michael Hoenig
Encyclopedia
Michael Hoenig is a German composer who has composed music for several movies and games, in addition to two solo albums. In 1996, he was nominated for an Emmy award (best theme song) for his work on the short-lived sci-fi series Dark Skies
.
, Ash Ra Tempel
and Agitation Free
. His interest in avant-garde
music, sound generator
s and prepared tapes caught the eye of Michael Guenther, the bassist of Agitation Free
, and he joined the band in February, 1971. In March 1975, Hoenig was hired to replace Peter Baumann
in Tangerine Dream for an Australian tour and BBC recorded London Royal Albert Hall
concert, and subsequently left Agitation Free, which broke up shortly after. Baumann rejoined Tangerine Dream soon after, and Hoenig went on to collaborate with Klaus Schulze
on the short-lived project, Timewind
. In 1976 he had a brief collaboration with Manuel Göttsching of Ash Ra Tempel; a recording of one of the sessions was released in 1995 under the title "Early Water". In 1977, he released his first solo album, the highly acclaimed Berlin School
classic Departure from the Northern Wasteland, and left for Los Angeles
shortly after it was released.
PC games by Bioware
. In 1987, Hoenig released his second solo album, Xcept One. The track Bones on the Beach from the Xcept One album was installed in the roller coaster CHAOS at Opryland
making the attraction the first roller coaster to be synced to music. In 1998 the roller coaster was removed from Opryland
. The track Bones on the Beach has also been used in the similar roller coaster Revolution at Bobbejaanland
, a family park in Lichtaart, Belgium
since 2004. In 2008 the roller coaster was redecorated and renamed to Evolution. Another soundtrack was used until 26th August 2011, but since 27th August 2011 Bones on the Beach is being used again.
Dark Skies
Dark Skies is an American UFO conspiracy theory-based sci-fi television series that aired from the 1996 to 1997 season for 18 episodes, plus a two-hour pilot episode. The success of The X-Files on Fox proved there was an audience for science fiction shows, resulting in NBC commissioning this...
.
Early career
As the editor of the underground magazine LOVE in the late sixties, Hoenig was part of the burgeoning progressive rock scene in Berlin, which fostered bands like Tangerine DreamTangerine Dream
Tangerine Dream is a German electronic music group founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese. The band has undergone many personnel changes over the years, with Froese being the only continuous member...
, Ash Ra Tempel
Ash Ra Tempel
Ash Ra Tempel are a German krautrock group of the 1970s, and are an example of cosmic or space rock.-History:The group was originally founded by guitarist Manuel Göttsching, keyboardist/drummer Klaus Schulze, and bassist Hartmut Enke in 1971. All three founding members had previously played...
and Agitation Free
Agitation Free
Agitation Free was a German experimental krautrock band. The band was formed in 1967 with Michael "Fame" Günther , Lutz "Lüül" Ulbrich , Lutz Ludwig Kramer and Christopher Franke . They were initially called Agitation, a name they chose at random from a dictionary...
. His interest in avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
music, sound generator
Sound generator
A sound generator is a vibrating object which produces a sound. There are two main kinds of sound generators ....
s and prepared tapes caught the eye of Michael Guenther, the bassist of Agitation Free
Agitation Free
Agitation Free was a German experimental krautrock band. The band was formed in 1967 with Michael "Fame" Günther , Lutz "Lüül" Ulbrich , Lutz Ludwig Kramer and Christopher Franke . They were initially called Agitation, a name they chose at random from a dictionary...
, and he joined the band in February, 1971. In March 1975, Hoenig was hired to replace Peter Baumann
Peter Baumann
Peter Baumann formed the core line-up of the German electronic group Tangerine Dream with Edgar Froese and Christopher Franke in 1971. While touring with the band, Baumann composed his first solo album in 1976...
in Tangerine Dream for an Australian tour and BBC recorded London Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
concert, and subsequently left Agitation Free, which broke up shortly after. Baumann rejoined Tangerine Dream soon after, and Hoenig went on to collaborate with Klaus Schulze
Klaus Schulze
Klaus Schulze is a German electronic music composer and musician. He also used the alias Richard Wahnfried. He was briefly a member of the electronic bands Tangerine Dream and Ash Ra Tempel before launching a solo career consisting of more than 60 albums released across five decades.-1970s:In...
on the short-lived project, Timewind
Timewind
Timewind is the fifth album by Klaus Schulze. It was originally released in 1975, and in 2006 was the twenty-second Schulze album reissued by Revisited Records...
. In 1976 he had a brief collaboration with Manuel Göttsching of Ash Ra Tempel; a recording of one of the sessions was released in 1995 under the title "Early Water". In 1977, he released his first solo album, the highly acclaimed Berlin School
Berlin School of electronic music
The Berlin School of electronic music, or just Berlin School, was a development of electronic music in the 1970s, shaped by Berlin-based artists like Klaus Schulze, Tangerine Dream and Ashra....
classic Departure from the Northern Wasteland, and left for Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
shortly after it was released.
Film scores/Later career
Hoenig owns a recording studio in Los Angeles and through his company Metamusic Productions, he has composed the scores for several movies (see filmography below) and television shows. In addition to this, he has composed music for the extremely popular Baldur's GateBaldur's Gate series
Baldur's Gate is a franchise of action role-playing games released under the Dungeons & Dragons Video Game Licenses. It is set in the fictional campaign setting of Forgotten Realms and takes place in its fictional continent of Faerûn. It takes place mostly in the Western Heartlands, but has also...
PC games by Bioware
BioWare
BioWare is a Canadian video game developer founded in February 1995 by newly graduated medical doctors Ray Muzyka, Greg Zeschuk, and Augustine Yip. BioWare is currently owned by American company Electronic Arts...
. In 1987, Hoenig released his second solo album, Xcept One. The track Bones on the Beach from the Xcept One album was installed in the roller coaster CHAOS at Opryland
Opryland
Opryland may refer to:* Opryland USA - defunct theme park located in Nashville, Tennessee* Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center - formerly known as "Opryland Hotel", located in Nashville, Tennessee...
making the attraction the first roller coaster to be synced to music. In 1998 the roller coaster was removed from Opryland
Opryland
Opryland may refer to:* Opryland USA - defunct theme park located in Nashville, Tennessee* Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center - formerly known as "Opryland Hotel", located in Nashville, Tennessee...
. The track Bones on the Beach has also been used in the similar roller coaster Revolution at Bobbejaanland
Bobbejaanland
Bobbejaanland is a renowned theme park in Lichtaart, Belgium. It was founded by Bobbejaan Schoepen, a Flemish singer, guitarist, and entertainer who enjoyed international popularity in the fifties and early sixties. After 15 years he got weary of touring. In 1960 he decided to build his own music...
, a family park in Lichtaart, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
since 2004. In 2008 the roller coaster was redecorated and renamed to Evolution. Another soundtrack was used until 26th August 2011, but since 27th August 2011 Bones on the Beach is being used again.
Albums
- Departure from the Northern Wasteland (1977)
- Xcept One (1987)
- The Blob (1988 film)The Blob (1988 film)The Blob is a 1988 American monster horror film distributed by Tristar Pictures. It is a remake of the 1958 film of the same name, which starred Steve McQueen. The film was written by Chuck Russell and Frank Darabont and directed by Russell. The shooting took place in Abbeville, Louisiana.-Plot:A...
(1988) Soundtrack - Dark Skies (2007 tv) (1988) Soundtrack
with Tangerine Dream
- Bootleg Box Set Vol 1 (2003) includes full Royal Albert Hall 1975 concert
Filmography
- Dracula 3000Dracula 3000Dracula 3000, also titled Dracula 3000: Infinite Darkness, is a horror movie released in 2004 that brings the legend of Count Dracula into outer space in the distant 31st century...
(2004) - The Contaminated Man (2000)
- After AliceAfter AliceAfter Alice is a 1999 mystery thriller directed by Paul Marcus and written by Jeff Miller. The film stars Kiefer Sutherland as Detective Mickey Hayden.- Summary :...
(1999) - Her Costly AffairHer Costly AffairHer Costly Affair is a 1996 television film directed by John Patterson. The film was initially to be released as Consensual Relations, until lead actress Bonnie Bedelia had it changed. Filming took place in Southern California.- Plot :...
(1996) - Thrill (1996)
- Above Suspicion (1995)
- Terminal Justice (1995)
- Search for Grace (1994)
- Eyes of Terror (1994)
- Visions of Murder (1993)
- The Amy Fisher StoryThe Amy Fisher StoryThe Amy Fisher Story is a 1993 television movie dramatizing the events surrounding Amy Fisher's teenage affair with Joey Buttafuoco and her conviction for aggravated assault for shooting Buttafuoco's wife. The film was produced by ABC and originally aired on that network; in 1993 it was released on...
(1993) - The Last of the FinestThe Last of the FinestThe Last of the Finest is a 1990 film directed by John Mackenzie. It stars Brian Dennehy and Joe Pantoliano.-Plot:An elite group of narcotics cops quit from the L.A.P.D. after facing investigation for being over-zealous in their war against drugs. It is immediately apparent that some of their...
(1990) - Class of 1999Class of 1999Class of 1999 is a 1990 science fiction film directed by Mark L. Lester. It is the director's follow-up to his 1982 film Class of 1984.-Synopsis:...
(1990) - I, Madman (1989)
- The BlobThe BlobThe Blob is an independently made 1958 American horror/science-fiction film that depicts a giant amoeba-like alien that terrorizes the small community of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania...
(1988) - The GateThe Gate (film)The Gate is a 1987 horror movie starring Stephen Dorff and directed by Tibor Takács. The movie utilizes stop motion, Harryhausen-esque creatures.-Plot:...
(1987) - Shattered SpiritsShattered SpiritsShattered Spirits is a 1986 movie starring Martin Sheen. Sheen plays an alcoholic father who loses his family....
(1987) - The WraithThe WraithThe Wraith is a 1986 action/science fiction film, directed and written by Mike Marvin. The film was later featured in an episode of Cinema Insomnia....
(1987) - 9½ Weeks9½ Weeks9½ Weeks is a 1986 erotic drama film directed by Adrian Lyne and starring Mickey Rourke and Kim Basinger. It is based on the novel of the same name by Elizabeth McNeill....
(1986) (additional music) - Silent WitnessSilent WitnessSilent Witness is a BBC crime thriller series focusing on a team of forensic pathology experts and their investigations into various crimes. First broadcast in February 1996, the series is still airing to the present day, with a fifteenth series expected to air in January 2012. The series was...
(1985) - Night Patrol (1984)
- Deadly Encounter (1982)
- KoyaanisqatsiKoyaanisqatsiKoyaanisqatsi also known as Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance, is a 1982 film directed by Godfrey Reggio with music composed by Philip Glass and cinematography by Ron Fricke....
(1982) (additional music)
TV series
- The DistrictThe DistrictThe District is a television police drama which aired on CBS from October 7, 2000 to May 1, 2004. The show followed the work and personal life of the chief of Washington, D.C.'s Police Department .-Premise:...
(2000–2004) - Strange World (1999)
- Dark SkiesDark SkiesDark Skies is an American UFO conspiracy theory-based sci-fi television series that aired from the 1996 to 1997 season for 18 episodes, plus a two-hour pilot episode. The success of The X-Files on Fox proved there was an audience for science fiction shows, resulting in NBC commissioning this...
(1996–1997) - Max HeadroomMax Headroom (TV series)Max Headroom is a British-produced American science fiction television series by Chrysalis/Lakeside Productions that aired in the United States on ABC from March 1987 to May 1988. The series was based on the Channel 4 British TV pilot Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future...
(1987–1988)
Games
- Baldur's GateBaldur's GateBaldur's Gate is a computer role-playing game developed by BioWare and released in 1998 by Interplay Entertainment. The game takes place in the Forgotten Realms, a high fantasy campaign setting, using modified Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition rules...
(1998) - Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword CoastBaldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword CoastBaldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast is a computer role-playing game in a high fantasy setting, developed by BioWare and published by Interplay in April 1999. Released as an expansion pack for Baldur's Gate from 1998, it adds about 20–30 hours of extra gameplay to the original game...
(1999) - Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn (2000)
External links
- Artist profile at OverClocked ReMixOverClocked ReMixOverClocked ReMix, also known as OC ReMix and OCR, is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and paying tribute to video game music through arranging and re-interpreting the songs with new technology and software, as well as by various traditional means...
- Departure From The Northern Wasteland review