Peter Rehberg, electronic musician and founder of Editions Mego, dies at 53
The influential label founder and musician was reported to have suffered a heart attack.
Photo: Hiroyuki Ito / Getty
Peter Rehberg, the electronic musician and founder of the influential experimental music label Editions Mego, has died at the age of 53.
News of his passing was made known by musician Kassel Jaeger, who on Saturday (24 July) wrote to Instagram: “Peter is gone, suddenly […] I owe him so much. So do many of us.” According to The Guardian, Rehberg died from a heart attack.
Editions Mego – originally founded as Mego in Austria, 1994 – has put out albums by Jim O’Rourke, Christian Fennesz, Tujiko Noriko, Merzbow, Bill Orcutt, Emeralds, Iannis Xenakis and many other sonic innovators. It was also the parent to several sub-labels including Spectrum Spools, Ideological Organ, Old News and Sensate Focus.
Rehberg was also an accomplished artist who released numerous noise and ambient albums over 25 years. Many were produced in collaborations with artists such as Sunn O)))’s Stephen O’Malley, Marcus Schmickler, Z’EV and more.
Born in England before migrating to his father’s homeland of Austria, Rehberg began working a managerial position at the Austria-based Mego in 1995. He later relaunched the label as Editions Mego in 2006 to continue releasing new albums and re-release back-catalogue works.
Many of Rehberg’s peers have taken to social media to share their grief and honour his contributions to the experimental music community.
"I just think music should be a little bit unsafe." – Peter Rehberg. RIP legend. @EditionsMego pic.twitter.com/XG7QLWpwGK
— Ghostly (@ghostly) July 23, 2021
Beautiful, heartfelt words from François Bonnet on our dear friend Peter Rehberg who we suddenly lost yesterday. We are all absolutely heartbroken 💔 Please read: https://t.co/UhwpDUSghc
— Oren Ambarchi (@orenambarchi) July 23, 2021
Yesterday Peter Rehberg – my longtime friend and partner in many artistic projects – died suddenly. He left way too early and I can't find words for the mess of feelings.
— tinafrank (@tinafrank) July 23, 2021
The news about Peter Rehberg is so terribly sad. When I first arrived in Vienna he made me feel welcome, invited me into his home, and joined me for schnitzel. He ran the greatest label ever from my adopted home city, and made some breathtaking music. He won’t be forgotten. RIP pic.twitter.com/DrDasJdmKe
— Tristan Bath (@tristan_bath) July 23, 2021
This completely and utterly absurd. NOT ready for a world without Peter Rehberg and @EditionsMego https://t.co/sf7rdabh7H
— Mouse on Mars (@MoM_official) July 23, 2021
Stunned to hear of the death of Peter Rehberg. My heartfelt condolences to his loved ones, family and friends. Such a huge loss to the world of sonics. A sad sad day. 🖤
— Cosey Fanni Tutti (@coseyfannitutti) July 23, 2021
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