Rainer Ptacek, also known mononymously as Rainer (June 7, 1951 – November 12, 1997), was a German-American guitarist and singer-songwriter based in Tucson, Arizona for much of his adult life. His guitar technique, which incorporated slide, finger-picking, tape loops and electronic manipulation, earned him the admiration of notable musicians such as Robert Plant and Billy Gibbons.
Ptacek was born in East Berlin to a family of Czech and German descent. His family fled East Germany for the United States when he was five years old.[1] They eventually settled in Chicago, where young Ptacek was first exposed to blues music. He moved to Tucson in the early 1970s, where he began his own musical career, most often solo, but sometimes he plugged in and led a trio as Rainer & Das Combo.[2] He co-founded Giant Sandworms with Howe Gelb in the late 1970s. When the band decided to move to New York and became Giant Sand, Ptacek opted to stay in Tucson to make sure that he would not disrupt his then-new family. Although he never became well known in the United States, he became more and more recognized in Europe. ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons was so impressed with the singer-guitarist that he arranged to have Kurt Loder review Ptacek's "Mush Mind Blues" cassette in Rolling Stone. Ptacek later traveled to Houston at the invitation of Billy Gibbons to record at Gibbons' Gold Star Sound Services studio which saw release as "The Texas Tapes" gaining international attention.[3][4] Robert Plant, similarly impressed, flew Ptacek to England for the sessions for B-sides to supplement the singles from Fate of Nations.[5]
Illness and deathedit
In February 1996, after suffering a seizure while riding his bike to work, Ptacek was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He described his frustrating symptoms to his friend, Fred Mills, lamenting that he could no longer "remember all of [the] chords and notes" to his music.[4]
Intense chemotherapy sessions put his tumor into remission, and Ptacek's musical skills and creativity both returned.[4] He resumed a vigorous touring schedule, beginning with a guest performance at Greg Brown's show in November 1996. By this time, media attention was more focused on him than ever before. On December 17, 1996, he performed a show for 300 doctors, nurses, and patients at the hospital where he was being treated.[2] Just when it seemed as though he had beaten his disease, it returned in October 1997, and he died three weeks later at age 46.
Discographyedit
Avid Demo List (circa 1979, cassette)
The Mush Mind Blues (1983, with Das Combo, cassette)
Live Downtown (1985, with Das Combo, cassette)
Barefoot Rock with Rainer and Das Combo (released on LP in 1986, re-issued on CD in 1994)
Worried Spirits (1992)
The Texas Tapes (1993, with Das Combo)
D.Y.O. Boot (1995)
Nocturnes (1995)
Rainulator (1996, cassette)
The Inner Flame: Rainer Ptacek Tribute (tribute and benefit album, released in 1997)
Alpaca Lips (released 2000)
Live at the Performance Center (released 2001)
The Farm (released 2002)
17 Miracles (2005, collection)
The Rainer Collection (2006, collection)
The Westwood Sessions, Volume I (with Das Combo, released November 2007)
rainer, ptacek, also, known, mononymously, rainer, june, 1951, november, 1997, german, american, guitarist, singer, songwriter, based, tucson, arizona, much, adult, life, guitar, technique, which, incorporated, slide, finger, picking, tape, loops, electronic, . Rainer Ptacek also known mononymously as Rainer June 7 1951 November 12 1997 was a German American guitarist and singer songwriter based in Tucson Arizona for much of his adult life His guitar technique which incorporated slide finger picking tape loops and electronic manipulation earned him the admiration of notable musicians such as Robert Plant and Billy Gibbons Rainer PtacekBackground informationBirth nameRainer Jaromir PtacekAlso known asRainerBorn 1951 06 07 June 7 1951East Berlin East GermanyDiedNovember 12 1997 1997 11 12 aged 46 Tucson Arizona USGenresBlues blues rock New Acoustic contemporary folk Americana American primitive guitarOccupation s Musician singer songwriterInstrument s GuitarYears active1970s 1997WebsiteRainer official website Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Illness and death 3 Discography 4 References 5 External linksEarly life and career editPtacek was born in East Berlin to a family of Czech and German descent His family fled East Germany for the United States when he was five years old 1 They eventually settled in Chicago where young Ptacek was first exposed to blues music He moved to Tucson in the early 1970s where he began his own musical career most often solo but sometimes he plugged in and led a trio as Rainer amp Das Combo 2 He co founded Giant Sandworms with Howe Gelb in the late 1970s When the band decided to move to New York and became Giant Sand Ptacek opted to stay in Tucson to make sure that he would not disrupt his then new family Although he never became well known in the United States he became more and more recognized in Europe ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons was so impressed with the singer guitarist that he arranged to have Kurt Loder review Ptacek s Mush Mind Blues cassette in Rolling Stone Ptacek later traveled to Houston at the invitation of Billy Gibbons to record at Gibbons Gold Star Sound Services studio which saw release as The Texas Tapes gaining international attention 3 4 Robert Plant similarly impressed flew Ptacek to England for the sessions for B sides to supplement the singles from Fate of Nations 5 Illness and death editIn February 1996 after suffering a seizure while riding his bike to work Ptacek was diagnosed with a brain tumor He described his frustrating symptoms to his friend Fred Mills lamenting that he could no longer remember all of the chords and notes to his music 4 Ptacek who was uninsured was overwhelmed by his mounting medical expenses Howe Gelb and Robert Plant organized recording sessions for a charity album titled The Inner Flame A Tribute to Rainer Ptacek The album featured Ptacek penned songs performed by Gelb with Giant Sand Page and Plant Robert Plant Emmylou Harris John Wesley Harding Evan Dando Victoria Williams Mark Olson Tina Chesnutt Vic Chesnutt PJ Harvey John Parish The Drovers Madeleine Peyroux Kris McKay Chuck Prophet Jonathan Richman Lucinda Williams and Bill Janovitz Ptacek participated on many of the tracks Intense chemotherapy sessions put his tumor into remission and Ptacek s musical skills and creativity both returned 4 He resumed a vigorous touring schedule beginning with a guest performance at Greg Brown s show in November 1996 By this time media attention was more focused on him than ever before On December 17 1996 he performed a show for 300 doctors nurses and patients at the hospital where he was being treated 2 Just when it seemed as though he had beaten his disease it returned in October 1997 and he died three weeks later at age 46 Discography editAvid Demo List circa 1979 cassette The Mush Mind Blues 1983 with Das Combo cassette Live Downtown 1985 with Das Combo cassette Barefoot Rock with Rainer and Das Combo released on LP in 1986 re issued on CD in 1994 Worried Spirits 1992 The Texas Tapes 1993 with Das Combo D Y O Boot 1995 Nocturnes 1995 Rainulator 1996 cassette The Inner Flame Rainer Ptacek Tribute tribute and benefit album released in 1997 Alpaca Lips released 2000 Live at the Performance Center released 2001 The Farm released 2002 17 Miracles 2005 collection The Rainer Collection 2006 collection The Westwood Sessions Volume I with Das Combo released November 2007 Roll Back The Years with Joey Burns amp John Convertino released May 2011 References edit Perrone Pierre November 18 1997 Obituary Rainer The Independent Retrieved February 2 2017 a b Buckley Daniel November 13 1997 Obituary Retrieved February 2 2017 Schensul Jill April 19 1984 Tucson no longer a musical dead end The Arizona Daily Star Archived from the original on August 12 2006 Retrieved December 31 2006 a b c Mills Fred Desert Songs Remembering Rainer Ptacek 1951 1997 Retrieved February 2 2017 Sheppard Denise August 29 1997 Flame Thrower EPulse Archived from the original on March 12 2007 Retrieved December 31 2006 External links edit nbsp Biography portalOfficial website Rainer at AllMusic Rainer Ptacek at AllMusic Rainer discography at Discogs Rainer Ptacek discography at Discogs Rainer Ptacek at Weekly Wire archived 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