Thomas Kukuck

Thomas Kukuck (born November 20, 1948 in Hamburg ) is a German music producer and sound engineer .

biography

The youngest child of the composer Felicitas Kukuck first learned trumpet, later drums and was a member of various local amateur bands. Already during his school days he came into contact with Erich Thienhaus through his mother , who trained sound engineers in Detmold at the Erich Thienhaus Institute he founded and who ran a private recording studio in Hamburg-Blankenese. From him and his assistant Gertrud Katja Loos , Thomas Kukuck learned the basics of sound engineering and music recording and production.

After graduating from high school in 1968, he did internships in the Maschen studio and in the “Windrose Studio” of the TV journalist and presenter Werner Baecker . There he soon began to work professionally with many " German rock " groups, as a sound engineer and often as a producer (in personal union). In 1970 he first met Udo Lindenberg , who was performing with his band in the Hamburg “Jazz House”. This concert was recorded by Thomas Kukuck. In the summer of 1971 Udo Lindenberg and Thomas Kukuck went to the “Star-Studio” of hit composer Ralf Arnie for a few weeks and produced the album “Lindenberg” with Udo's band, which was released on the revived “ Telefunken ” label at Teldec.

Another six album productions with Udo Lindenberg followed by 1976 (see “ Projects ”). Thomas Kukuck has also been working for Otto Waalkes ' recordings since 1972, and since 1987 as a producer. He wrote the film music for two OTTO films together with Christoph Leis-Bendorff. Other artists whose recordings were produced by Thomas Kukuck are the blues and boogie pianist and singer Vince Weber and the comedians Jürgen von der Lippe and Gerd Dudenhöffer . Thomas Kukuck also worked on Heinz Rudolf Kunze's first albums , and on three of them as a co-producer.

Through the live support of many stage artists, he became a specialist in live recordings. From 1982 to 1984 Thomas Kukuck participated in the “Popular Music Model Experiment” at the Hamburg University of Music, as a lecturer for “Sound and Electronics”. The " Pop course - contact study course in popular music" emerged from this model experiment .

Special

Thomas Kukuck is particularly interested in inventions and the development and technical implementation of ideas that result from studio work. For example, in 1970 he designed and built the first programmable rhythm machine, originally to make new rhythms audible without having to practice them beforehand.

At the beginning of the collaboration with Thomas Kukuck, Udo Lindenberg constantly demanded perfect timing for himself and his musician colleagues. "Everything that plays in front of the drums makes the drums appear sluggish," was one of his statements. Since the newly introduced multi-track technology was almost always used in such a way that the drums were recorded first and later other instruments ( overdubbing ), there was a high risk that later overdubs would tend to "drift", and Udo Lindenberg meticulously paid attention to the exact timing . The perfect timing requirement finally resulted in the invention of tape loops, tapes glued to form a ring, which carried one bar (or a small number of bars) percussion and were played on specially prepared tape devices. These continuously repeated bars were recorded on a multi-track tape and formed the drums with perfect timing . Fill-ins (e.g. drum rolls) were overdubbed for this purpose , sometimes even "started" as previously recorded samples from the second tape recorder. An example of this is the piece "Gerhard Gösebrecht". This process is a forerunner of the sampler , made possible much later by digital technology , which dominated the pop music of the 80s.

Projects

Thomas Kukuck has worked with the following artists:

1971-1979

Silberbart - LP: Silberbart - Philips 1971
Udo Lindenberg - LP: Lindenberg - Telefunken 1971
Frumpy - LP: - LIVE - Philips 1972
Frumpy - LP: By The Way - Vertigo 1972
Jean-Jacques Kravetz - LP: Kravetz - Vertigo 1972
John O'Brien-Docker - LP: Brave New World - Vertigo 1972
Udo Lindenberg - LP: - Thumbs in the Wind - Telefunken 1972
Otto Waalkes - LP: Live at audimax - Rüssl 1972
Birth Control - LP: Hoodoo Man - CBS 1972
Achim Reichel - LP: AR3 - Zebra 1972
Sinto - LP: Right On Brother - Philips 1972
The Rattles - LP: Tonight - Philips 1973
Lucifer's Friend - LP: I'm Just A Rock'n'Roll Singer- Billingsgate 1973
Carthage - LP: Second Step - BASF 1973
Eloy - LP: Inside - EMI 1973
Birth Control - LP: Rebirth - CBS 1973
Udo Lindenberg - LP: All clear on the Andrea Doria - Telefunken 1973
Gift - LP: Blue Apple - LP: Telefunken 1974
Udo Lindenberg - LP: Ballhaus Pompös - Telefunken 1974
Otto Waalkes - LP: Oh, Otto - Rüssl 1974
Ike & Tina Turner - Recording sessions “Get It On” - Los Angeles, 1974
Gottfried Böttger - LP: Gottfried Böttger - Telefunken 1975
Udo Lindenberg - LP: Votan Wahnwitz - Telefunken 1975
Vince Weber - LP: The Boogie Man - Rüssl / Electrola 1975
Udo Lindenberg - LP: Galaxo Gang - Telefunken 1976
Udo Lindenberg - LP: Sister King Kong - Telefunken 1976
Otto Waalkes - LP: The fourth program - Rüssl 1976
Vince Weber - LP: Blues 'n' Boogie - Rüssl / Electrola 1977
Novalis - LP: Surf - Brain 1977
Kraftwerk - LP: Trans Europa Express - Kling Klang 1977
Novalis - LP: Maybe you are a clown? - Brain 1978
Various bands - double LP: The BRAIN Festival - Brain 1978
Larry Coryell / Philip Catherine - LP: Splendid - Elektra 1978
Highway - LP: Wheel Of Fortune - Pinball 1979
Peter Holler - LP: Peter Holler - Pinball 1979
Rolf Kühn - LP: Symphonic Swampfire - MPS 1979

1980-1989

Stu Goldberg - LP: Piru - MPS 1980
Vince Weber - LP: Vince the Prince - Rüssl / Electrola 1980
Electric Sun (Uli Jon Roth) - LP: Fire Wind 1980
Udo Lindenberg - LP: Udopia - Telefunken 1981
Sniff 'n' the Tears - LP: Love / Action - MCA Records 1981
Heinz Rudolf Kunze - LP: A matter of nerves - WEA 1981
Udo Lindenberg - Double LP: Intensive Care Units - Telefunken 1982
Heinz Rudolf Kunze - LP: A form of violence - WEA 1982
Wolf Biermann - LP: We must be crazy with hope - EMI 1982
Peter Maffay - LP: LIVE '82 - Metronome 1982
Peter Maffay - VHS: Live Bad Segeberg - Music House 1982
Heinz Rudolf Kunze - LP: The cities look like sleeping dogs - WEA 1982
Special offer - LP: For the monsters of this world - Mercury 1982
Big Arrow - LP: Aerobics Like Never - RCA 1983
Big Arrow - LP: Pregnancy Exercise - RCA 1983
Heinz Rudolf Kunze - LP: The heavy courage - WEA 1983
Wolf Biermann - LP: Im Hamburger Federbett - EMI 1983
Heinz Rudolf Kunze - LP: State of emergency - WEA 1984
Talkmen - Maxi Single: Junior - RCA 1984
Otto Waalkes - Film music: Otto-der Film - Rialto 1985
Benny Bendorff - LP: Flowers of Liverpool - Floraton 1985
Jürgen von der Lippe - LP: Devilishly good - Ariola 1985
Wolf Biermann - LP: The world is beautiful ... - EMI 1985
Nena - TV Live - 1985
Klaus Hoffmann - Double Live Album: When I Sing '- 1986
Wolf Maahn - Live LP: Rosen im Asphalt - 1986
Wolf Biermann - LP: Seelengeld - EMI 1986
Short Romans - LP: Short Romans - Upfront 1987
Vince Weber - LP: Boogie on a Blue Song - EMI 1987
Jürgen von der Lippe - LP: Good morning, dear worries - Teldec 1987
Otto Waalkes - Film music: Otto-der neue Film - Rialto, 1987, LP: Rüssl 1987
Grobschnitt - LP: Fantasten - Teldec 1987
Clowns and Heroes - Maxi Single: The Truth - 1987
Concert for Berlin - Live Broadcast Mix of the participating artists: New Model Army, David Bowie, Bruce Hornsby, Eurythmics, Genesis, Paul Young - RIAS 1987
Gilberto Gil - Live Broadcast Mix - 1987
James Last Orchestra - concert recordings in the Palace of the Republic - 1987
The Doctors - Audio for Video and Concert Recordings - 1988
Wolf Biermann - LP: VEB-nationally owned Biermann - EMI 1988
Jürgen von der Lippe - LP: Is was - 1989
Otto Waalkes - Film music: Otto-der Ausserfriesische - Rialto, 1989, LP: Rüssl 1989
René Kollo & James Last - concert recordings for video & CD - 1989

1990-1999

Udo Lindenberg - LP: Live in Leipzig - Polydor 1990
Wolf Biermann - LP: Gut Kirschenessen - EMI 1990
Steve Gibbons - LP: Ridin 'Out The Dark - SPV 1990
TCCircus - Maxi Single: I Go To Rio - RCA 1990
Extrabreit - LP: It borders on music - Teldec 1990
Achim Reichel - CD: Melancholy and storm surge - WEA 1991
Vince Weber - Album: Octoroon - Blue Note 1991
Timo Blunck & Stefan Will - Commercial: Mercedes - 1991
Wolf Biermann - CD: Only those who change remain true to themselves - two thousand and one in 1991
Gerd Dudenhöffer - CD: Heinz Becker - RCA 1992
Simply Red - Video: A Starry Night (live in Hamburg) - 1992
Udo Lindenberg - Title: No man's land - Universal 1992
Jürgen von der Lippe - Album & Maxi Single: King of the City - Ariola 1992
Udo Jürgens - Double CD: Open Air Symphony - BMG Ariola 1992
Mr. Acker Bilk - CD: Live at the BP Studienhaus - BP 1992
Herman van Veen - CD: Ja - Polydor 1993
Tom Gerhardt - CD: Voll die Disco - Ariola 1993
Otto Waalkes - CD: The very best - Rüssl 1993
Timo Blunck - Commercial: Jade - 1993
Papa Bue's Viking Jazzband - CD: Live / Studienhaus - BP 1993
Gerd Dudenhöffer - CD: You must excuse me! - Hansa 1994
Inga Rumpf & Joja Wendt - CD: Fifty-Fifty - Merkton 1994
Otto Waalkes - TV series: Otto the series (technical management) - RTL 1994
Chris Barber - Live at the Studienhaus - BP 1994
Illegal 2001 - TV: Live in Kiel - VIVA 1994
Gerd Dudenhöffer - CD: Heinz im Mond - Hansa 1995
Jürgen von der Lippe - CD: The Flower Man - Hansa 1995
Otto Waalkes & Friesenjungs - Live: Alte Oper Frankfurt (3 weeks) - 1995
Otto Waalkes & Friesenjungs - Live Mix: Germany Tour - 1995, 1996, 1997
Otto Waalkes & Friesenjungs - CD: OTTO LIVE! - Rüssl 1996
Gerd Dudenhöffer - CD: Woodruff with aftertaste - Hansa 1997
Lotto King Karl - CD: I love you - Sony 1997
Jürgen von der Lippe - CD: Men-Women-Vegetarians - Hansa 1997
Baumann & Clausen - CD: Please do not disturb - RSH 1998
Otto Waalkes & Friesenjungs - CD:… I still have one! - Rüssl 1998
Nicole - CD: LIVE - Jupiter 1999
Motörhead - CD: Everything Louder Than Everyone Else - SPV 1999
Gerd Dudenhöffer - Double CD: Basta! - Hansa 1999
Robbie Williams - 1 Title: The Road To Mandalay - 1999
Achim Reichel - Live Mix: Germany Tour - 1999 & 2000
Popchor Hamburg - CD: Popchor Live - 1999

From 2000

Tatärä - CD: Next Show - nullviernull 2000
Jürgen von der Lippe - CD: That's how I am - BMG 2001
Otto Waalkes - Live Mix: "only OTTO" tour - 2001, 2002
Otto Waalkes - CD: Otto's Ostfriesland and More - Polydor 2001
Otto Waalkes - CD: Peter and the Wolf - Deutsche Grammophon 2001
Otto Waalkes - CD: only OTTO - Polydor 2002
Joja Wendt - CD: Live! Very difficult to play - nullviernull 2002
Rolf Zuckowski & Band - CD: 20:00 - live - Polydor 2002
The Doctors - DVD: Rock 'n' Roll Realschule - MTV 2002
Morcheeba - Live Radio Recording - NDR2 2002
Extrabreit - DVD: Germany in a hand stroke - 2003
With Full Force - Double DVD: WFF 3003-The Jubilee - WFF 2003
Schürzenjäger - Live TV mix, double CD & DVD: 30 wild years - ORF / Ariola 2003
Truck Stop - CD: 30 Years Truck Stop - BMG-Ariola 2003
Felicitas Kukuck - double CD: From the beginnings to the late work - LATERNE 2003
Udo Lindenberg - Double DVD: 30 Years of Udo Lindenberg - Studio Hamburg 2004
Otto Waalkes - Live Mix: "100 Years of OTTO" Tour - 2004, 2005
Jürgen von der Lippe - CD: Everything I love - BMG 2004
Gerd Dudenhöffer - Double CD: Zero and Right - SONY-BMG 2005
Wolf Biermann - CD: This is the finest art of love - two thousand and one 2005
aumann & Clausen - CD: Baumann & Clausen Live - Callacomedy 2005
With Full Force - DVD: WFF 2005 - WWF 2006
The Lion King Musical - CD: Live Hamburg - EMI 2006
Wolf Biermann - CD: Heimat - Hoffmann & Campe 2006
Baumann & Clausen - CD: After work - Callacomedy 2006
Otto Waalkes - Live Mix: Tour "OTTO das Original" 2007, 2008
Wolf Biermann - CD: Homecoming to Berlin - Two Thousand One 2007
Gerd Dudenhöffer - DVD: Revocation (recording: 2006) - Universal 2008
Jürgen von der Lippe - Double CD: The best of 30 years - BMG 2008
Extrabreit & POH - CD & DVD: Extrabreit & POH - released 2010
Mando Diao - Concert Sticks at the Deutschland Tour - Concert Online 2009
The Hang All Stars - Live CD - will be released by CARE 2010
Jürgen von der Lippe - Double CD: This is how it works - SONY-Ariola 2011
Jürgen von der Lippe - CD: This is how it works - Vocabulary - Random House 2011
Gospel choir "Yes, Lord" - CD: Gospel Christmas - Creative Church Media 2012
Wolf and Pamela Biermann - CD: Oh, the first love ... - song production Altona - 2013
Otto Waalkes and Stefan Waggershausen - CD: SID and his friends - Cool and Locker - ELECTROLA - 2014

Live recordings

(alphabetically by artist)

Francisco Araiza 1998
The Doctors 1987, 1988
Bad News 1981
Bad Pilots 1993
Al Bano 1991
BAP 1988
Chris Barber 1994
Rainer Baumann 1981
Baumann & Clausen 1997, 2005, 2006, 2008
Richard T. Bear 1979
Harry Belafonte 1983, 1988
Wolf Biermann 1979
Acker Bilk 1992
Blind Guardian 1995, 2003
Philip Boa 1989
Boomtown Rats 1980
The Bosshoss 2006
David Bowie 1987
Jackson Browne 1993
CARMEN 1991
Howard Carpendale 1985, 1986, 1988
CATS 1986
Roger Chapman 1981, 1988
Conception 1993
Paolo Conte 1987
Ian Cussick 1981
Terence Trent D'Arby 1987
Depeche Mode 1984
Ina Deter 1986
Klaus Doldinger 1980
Gerd Dudenhöffer 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004, 2006
Michel van Dyke 1989
Engel brothers 1980
Erasure 1987
Extra wide 1990, 2003, 2007, 2008
Rainhard Fendrich 1989
FESTIVAL OF TENORS 1995
Fat Bread 2003
Fischer-Z 1981
Fisherman's Friend 1998
Steve Forbert 1992
Frank Popp Ensemble 2003
Funk Connection 1988
Gamma Ray 1993
Genesis 1987
Tom Gerhardt 1993
German Tenors 2000
Steve Gibbons 1989
Gilberto Gil 1987
Grand Mothers 1981
Herbert Grönemeyer 1990
The Hang All Stars 2009
Daryl Hall 1993
Halunder Songers 1981
Heidi's Rising Stars 1993
Heino 1990
Helicon 1993
Helmut & the Dominos 1998
John Hiatt 1987
Terry Hoax 1995
Klaus Hoffmann 1983, 1986
Bruce Hornsby 1987
Illegal 2000 1994
Immaculate Fools 1987
Juke 1986
Udo Jürgens 1984, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1994
Roland Kaiser 1983
René Kollo 1989
LION KING 2005
Horea Krishan 2000
Joachim Kühn 1982
Heinz Rudolf Kunze 1982, 1990, 1991
James Last 1987, 1989
Udo Lindenberg 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1990, 2003, 2004
ürgen von der Lippe 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2008, 2011
Lotto King Karl 1996, 2007
Wolf Maahn 1986
Peter Maffay 1981, 1982
Man 1991
Mando Diao 2009
Manowar 1992
March for Jesus 1992
Ulla Meinecke 1984, 1986
Milva 1978
Olivia Molina 1997
Monaco Blues Band 1988
Morcheeba 2002
Motorhead 1996, 1998
Marius Müller-Westernhagen 1980, 1983
Gianna Nannini 1988, 1993
Natural 2002
Nena 1984, 1985
New Model Army 1987
Nicole 1998
Ougenweide 1977, 1979
Palace Orchestra 1993
Papa Bue's Viking Jazz Band 1993
Popchor Hamburg 1999
Pops Orchestra 1988
Rage 1993
Rare Earth 1989
The Rasmus 2003
Rio Reiser 1986, 1988
R-Go 1991
Rock versus Atom 1986
Inga Rumpf 1978
Mitch Ryder 1981,1988
Sambrasil 1994
Matilde Santing 1987
Saxon 1995
Jan Christoph Scheibe 1999
Schröder 1988
Apron hunters 1997, 2001, 2003
Zillertal Schürzenjäger 1991
Sabrina Setlur 1997
Simply Red 1992
Sneakers 1982
Spliff 1982, 1983, 1984
Little Steven 1987
Style Council 1985
Stephan Sulke 1983
Taco 1988
The Name 1989
Mikis Theodorakis 1977
Truck Stop 1980, 1998, 2003
Twelve Drummers 1983
Andreas Vollenweider 1982
Otto Waalkes 1972, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008
WACKEN Open Air 2002
Stefan Waggershausen 1984
Stan Webb 1989
Vince Weber 1976, 1979, 1980, 1991
Bettina Wegner 1981
Joja Wendt 2002
Whiskey Priests 1992
Roger Whittaker 1977, 1989
WITH FULL FORCE Open Air 2003, 2005,2008
Working Week 1987
Paul Young 1987
Rolf Zuckowski 2002

personal data
SURNAME	Kukuck, Thomas
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	German music producer
DATE OF BIRTH	November 20, 1948
PLACE OF BIRTH	Hamburg