Robert Moog Dies

[bazooka]

from various sources:

Robert Moog, inventor of his namesake range of synthesizers and a pioneer in the evolution of electronic music, died of a brain tumor on Sunday at his home in North Carolina.

Early experiments in electronic pop by bands including the Beatles, Beach Boys and the Doors, used Moog's innovations as a springboard for their own, and the instrument was later used by Manfred Mann, the group Yes and Herbie Hancock.

Although digital synthesisers later outstripped the technical capabilities of Moog's machinery and left his company struggling, his keyboards have come to be prized in recent years for the warmth and "retro-futuristic" qualities of their sound. An icon in electronic music circles, Moog was the focus of the film documentary Moog which was released last year.

His family has established The Bob Moog Memorial Fund dedicated to the Advancement of Electronic Music in his memory. Many of his longtime collaborators including musicians, engineers and educators have agreed to sit on its executive board including ... Rick Wakeman.

[bazooka]

[*] Dr Robert & His Modular Moogs, A Little History

[*] Keith Emerson is usually credited with introducing the Moog to the Rock world as part of prog trio Emerson, Lake and Palmer. Emerson was one of the few people to tour with a Moog, although he was perhaps better known for his suggestive performances with a Moog ribbon controller than for his programming skills. Although impressively equipped, the ELP Moog was typically set up as a simple three-oscillator lead monosynth. In fact, the bottom row of modules on the ELP Moog were dummy panels with no electronics behind them! A rather gimmicky monitor at the top of the system was also largely for show. Albums such as Tarkus and Brain Salad Surgery introduced the Moog sound to a whole new audience, and helped make synthesizers less about cerebral mood music, and more about Rock and Roll.

[edna]

You can´t understand late 60´s/early 70´s music without the presence of a moog synthesizer. All this symphonic rush was a kind of psychedelic climax and rock owes a lot to Mr. Moog. You might have been bored with this sound after some years and jump straight to Patti Smith or Lou Reed, but in these days, it was a real revolution. I still must have somewhere a copy of "The six wives of Henry VIII" by Rick Wakeman...

[RonJonSurfer]

Les Paul guitar

Moog Synthesizer

When your name is synonymous with something...you are the real deal. Those two guys are true grand daddy's of rock and roll.

[Aunt_Acid]

I know someone who was pretty good friends with Bob Moog. That sucks.

And you can never get bored with a Moog synthesizer! Modular synthesizers are just the coolest. Any Envelope or Modulator can Modulate virtually any parameter. The possibilities are seemingly endless.