Mehdi Faveris-Essadi
1977 – September 13, 2011
Known professionally as DJ Mehdi, Mehdi Faveris-Essadi was a prominent French DJ and producer who has been praised throughout the underground hip-hop scene for his skills at combining elements of hip-hop and electronica. During his early professional years, Faveris-Essadi was a DJ or producer for such acts as Different Teep, Ideal J, and 113. He also worked on several French film soundtracks. As his reputation grew, Faveris-Essadi began collaborating with the likes of Chromeo, Daft Punk and Asian Dub Foundation. Faveris-Essadi released a handful of his own critically albums as well, beginning with 2002’s The Story of Espion. On September 13, 2011, DJ Mehdi Faveris-Essadi died in a tragic mishap that resulted in his falling through the roof his house. He and friends had reportedly been on the roof celebrating his birthday.
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Conrad Schnitzler was a German-born musician who became one of electronic music’s most influential pioneers. As an early member of the great Tangerine Dream, Schnitzler helped launch what would become known as “krautock,” and in doing so, influenced such electronic based acts as Brian Eno, Radiohead, and everyone in between. Following his short stint with Tangerine Dream, Schnitzel left to form Kluster, another experimental group that laid the foundation of what we now know as industrial music. In more recent years, Schnitzler self-produced and self-distributed numerous CD-Rs of his recordings while collaborating with others. He released over 100 recordings throughout his career, the latest being 00/830, just days before he passed away. Conrad Schnitzler died of stomach cancer on August 4, 2011.
David Hammer, known professionally as Shizuo was a Digital Hardcore recording electronic musician. Hammer first got noticed during the ’90s as the engineer for digital hardcore group, Atari Teenage Riot. In 1997, Hammer released his sole full length, Shizuo Vs. Shizor which was critically acclaimed for its unique marriage of punk rock and electronic. The album was released in the U.S. by the Beastie Boys’ label, Grand Royal. David “Shizuo” Hammer died reportedly from a drug overdose on May 28, 2011. He was 38.
Clare Armory was a vocalist and dancer for New York City underground experimental noise merchants, Excepter. Formed in 2002, the group built a sizable following thanks in part to their noise-riddled improvisational live shows and recordings. Many fans and critics considered them to be at the top of the Brooklyn noise heap which also included the likes of Animal Collective. Excepter released several records over the past few years on such labels as the highly regarded experimental Load Records, and Animal Collective’s own Paw Tracks label. Clare Armory was 35 when she passed away from cancer on February 24, 2011.
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