|
Carlo in his Nena days, circa 1984 |
Carlo Karges, 2001 |
In fond memory
|
Carlo in his Nena days, circa 1984 |
Carlo Karges, 2001 |
|
It makes me very sad to report that Carlo Karges, lead guitarist for the German band Nena (1982-1987) departed this life at his mother's home in Hamburg, on the evening of Wednesday, 30 January 2002 of sustained liver failure. He was 50. I never met the man personally, but I have met Nena Kerner; she and Carlo were quite close. From what I understand, Nena cried for hours upon hearing of his untimely passing. Everyone who has heard the band's signature song, 99 Luftballons, knows Carlo. He wrote it. He also wrote some of the band's more moving pieces, and much of Nena's solo work, including one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard, Ich bin die Liebe, which you can listen to below. I never knew the man had it in him. Looking at his earlier (1984) picture, he just doesn't strike you as someone who can be so soft, and passionate. |
| Carlo played guitar for several bands in his career,
among them: Tomorrow's Gift (1971, one album then left) Novalis (1975-77, 2 albums) Extrabreit (1978-1982) and of course... Nena (1982-1987) |
| I don't know much about Carlo's pre-Nena (or post-Nena) career, but some of the songs he wrote (text and/or music) for the band include the following... if a link is there, a clip is available. |
|
99
Luftballons (CD: Nena, 1982) And a softer side: Ich
bin die Liebe (CD: und Alles dreht sich, 1995) He even did Christmas songs... (you'll never listen to Bing Crosby quite the same way again): |
A talented musician and writer, you will be missed,
Carlo,
by all who knew you and your music
