grief
The Song Whisperer – farewell to panic producer Andreas Herbig
Andreas Herbig produced countless albums, including Udo Lindenberg’s “Stark wie Zwei”
© Stefanie Luberichs
He was one of the most successful musical string pullers in Germany. And for artists like Udo Lindenberg and Till Brönner far more than a producer. An obituary for Andreas Herbig.
“Udo really wanted to have him, the producer who never sleeps, ‘the big one with the long ears, the very long antennae and the torch for the depths of the soul’: Andreas Herbig.”
That’s what it says on Udo Lindenberg’s homepage, in a text from 2008, not particularly long, but with an almost visionary ability for what should happen in the coming months.
In previous years it had been quiet around Lindenberg. The big comeback ideas failed or were delayed like lead. Until said Andreas Herbig switched on the lights in Hamburg’s Boogie Park Studio. And with them, a new chapter in Lindenberg’s life career lit up.
Andreas Herbig produced Udo Lindenberg
The duo Infernale, each of whom had long enough breathed in the dust of the abyss and the mountain air to be familiar with longing and being and the fragility of both, began to produce. With vision, but without pressure, just as Udo appreciates it: “As an artist, you often become a kind of production machine, two months. Done. In this case, I didn’t care about the time, everything is flexible. When it’s ready , you just bring it out,” he said at the time.
At some point Lindenberg, Herbig and his fellow producers Peter “Jem” Seiffert and Henrik Mentzel were ready. The result: “Strong as two”. The album climbed to the top of the charts, reaching platinum and triple gold status just three months after its release. Udo Lindenberg was back. Clearer, closer, more open than long. And bigger. Andreas Herbig said at the time: “It was always a dream for me, as a fan, to make a record for him that I would like to hear again, as I also believe that everyone feels it too and would like to hear that you make another very personal and honest record.” The successor “Stronger Than Time” was also created in collaboration.
Even Udo Lindenberg kneels down there: Jem Seifert, Andreas Herbig and Henrik Menzel
© Tine Acke
But even away from the panic cosmos, Andreas Herbig, born in 1966, was one of the most successful German music producers with a total of over 75 million records sold. He worked with national artists like Sasha, Till Brönner, Andreas Bourani, Deichkind and Ich + Ich, celebrated international success with musicians like Brandy or Lil’Kim, produced the A-HA comeback album “Minor Earth, Major Sky” (2000). Together with Annette Humpe, he shaped the Hamburg Boogie Park Studio in the 90s, and with analog mixes he was a sought-after remixer for world stars such as P. Diddy or Busta Rhymes, who called him “Boogieman”. In 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2017 Herbig was awarded the ECHO as the “most successful producer of the year”. In 2017 he was on the jury of the German Eurovision Song Contest with colleagues such as Joy Denalane and Wincent Weiss.
Farewell words from Till Brönner
Till Brönner, whose studio album “At The End Of The Day” Herbig produced in 2010, writes at the request of the star: “For decades, Andreas Herbig was one of the most effective guarantors for hits and a miracle weapon against any form of boredom in the German radio and music business. He was the song whisperer, songwriter and emergency doctor, above all styles and ideas of his clients. If none As soon as he knew more, he was only in top form, and in the end every song sounded as if it had always existed. A gift that thousands envied him for. Whenever Herbig was in the room, confidence returned. I also owe it him a lot and am one of a long, long line of colleagues who feel the same way.”
Andreas Herbig has never left Udo Lindenberg’s side since his comeback in 2008. Together with Jem Seifert and Henrik Menzel he was responsible for the musical direction and production of Lindenberg’s “MTV Unplugged – Live from the Hotel Atlantic”. Most recently, when Herbig’s health was deteriorating, the two were in constant contact.
Andreas Herbig died on Monday at the age of 55. Lindenberg wrote to us about and to his companion on Tuesday evening:
andreas herbig and his immortal music.
I’m walking down the street, strong as two – and you’re always there.. yes, you’re always a pioneer: you’re traveling ahead and someday we’ll follow you.
andreas decided in his life for a higher trajectory, the life of the “normalos” was never his thing;
like icarus – greet the sun that fuels your beautiful explosive madness and great genius!!
deepest thanks and connected forever
your singer udo