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Alexander Hacke
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Alexander Hacke (also known as Alexander von Borsig, Alex Hacke, and simply Hacke, born 11 October 1965) is a German guitarist, bass guitarist, singer, musician, record producer, writer and filmmaker. He is primarily known as a longtime member of the influential German industrial music group Einstürzende Neubauten.

Hacke has released two full-length solo albums, and has also collaborated with many other artists, such as Robert Rutman, The Tiger Lillies, Danielle de Picciotto, FM Einheit, Crime & the City Solution, Phew, Gianna Nannini, Gry, Miranda Sex Garden, Terranova, Sprung aus den Wolken, Wovenhand, David Yow, Mona Mur, Die Ichs, Schlaflose Naechte, Fred Alpi and others. Since 2010, his main band next to Einstürzende Neubauten is hackedepicciotto together with Danielle de Picciotto.

Biography

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Hacke during the "Blässe" ("paleness") project, c. 1980

Early years

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In the early 1980s, Hacke released a few solo tapes and mini-albums, such as Hiroshima. He became a long-time member of Einstürzende Neubauten and also was a member of several other bands, such as Sentimentale Jugend (with Christiane Vera Felscherinow, also known as Christiane F.), Sprung aus den Wolken and Mona Mur.

Einstürzende Neubauten

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Einstürzende Neubauten live in 2000: Alexander Hacke (left, playing bass) with Blixa Bargeld (right)

In 1980, at the age of fifteen, Hacke joined Einstürzende Neubauten, which had been formed earlier the same year. Hacke played guitar and worked with the band's sound until the mid 1990s. Then he changed from guitar to bass and is now a bass player and, according to band leader Blixa Bargeld, "a musical director of the band".

Solo activities

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Hacke's first full-length solo album was Filmarbeiten (1992).

In the 1990s, he was frontman of the band Jever Mountain Boys, who played their favorite songs, particularly country music cover-versions.

In 2003, Alexander Hacke and his longtime partner Danielle de Picciotto (married since 2006) organized the monthly event "BadaBing" in the famous Berlin 70s Club "Big Eden", presenting new and unusual bands and in this way initiating a new wave of Berlin-oriented "Futur-electroclash" music all over Europe. They travel extensively performing multimedia shows together and presenting workshops on Berlin underground culture. In 2004, Danielle de Picciotto produced a documentary on Einstürzende Neubauten for which Alexander Hacke did the sound design.

Hacke & Tiger Lillies & Danielle de Picciotto live with "The Mountains of Madness" (2007)

In 2005, Hacke and de Picciotto conceived and directed "The Mountains of Madness", an audio/visual live show based on stories by H. P. Lovecraft, inviting the English Trio The Tiger Lillies to participate and perform in the successful production throughout Europe.

In the 2000s, Hacke created the album Sanctuary (released in 2005), travelling with a mobile recorder in Europe and North America and collaborating with numerous artists, such as J.G.Thirlwell (Foetus), Caspar Brötzmann, Larry Mullins (also known as Toby Dammit), Vinnie Signorelli (Unsane), Michael Evans (KBZ 200), Sugarpie Jones (Celebrity Skin), Bob Rutman (Steel Cello Ensemble), Nils Wohlrabe (The Leather Nun), Gianna Nannini, Andrew Chudy (alias N.U. Unruh, Einstürzende Neubauten), Lary 7 (The Analog Society), and David Yow (The Jesus Lizard). In the reviews on this album Hacke was compared to Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart.[1] The "Road Record", an excerpt of which can be seen on Sanctuary, was documented by de Picciotto, describing the revolutionary recording style Hacke used to produce the record.

Hacke also contributed to several soundtracks to such films as Sonnenallee and Das Wilde Leben (biography of Uschi Obermaier, 2006/07). Hacke produced music for Fatih Akın's film Head-On (2004) and is a main character in Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul (2005), Akın's documentary of the Istanbul music scene.

On several occasions he reunited on stage with FM Einheit (ex-Einstürzende Neubauten) for an experimental performance.[2][3]

Personal life

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Hacke's first noteworthy girlfriend was Christiane F., who became famous with the book Zoo Station: The Story of Christiane F., a biography of her heroin addiction, and its film adaptation Christiane F. They performed together in Europe and the US with their band Sentimentale Jugend and also appeared together in the movie Decoder in 1983.

On 3 October 1989, Hacke's son Joshua was born in Berlin. His mother is Angela Mettbach, a Berlin nightlife figure who had a short-lived musical career with her band Octopussy.

Hacke was briefly married to German actress and singer Meret Becker and was involved in her musical career. Becker guested on Einstürzende Neubauten's album Ende Neu. In 2006, Hacke married his longtime partner Danielle de Picciotto, an American Berlin-based multimedia artist who is known for having founded the Berlin Love Parade together with Dr Motte and for singing in the band Space Cowboys.

Solo discography

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  • 1980: Das Leben ist schön
  • 1981: Borsig-Werke
  • 1982: Christiane F.: Wunderbar (Mitarbeit)
  • 1982: Hiroshima
  • 1982: Mona Mur und die Mieter: Jeszcze Polska
  • 1988: Crime and the City Solution: Shine
  • 1989: Crime and the City Solution: The Bride Ship
  • 1990: Crime and the City Solution: Paradise Discotheque
  • 1992: Phew: Our Likeness (Musiker)
  • 1992: Filmarbeiten
  • 1994: Jever Mountain Boys: Bury the Bottle with Me
  • 1994: Gianna Nannini: Dispetto (Mitarbeit)
  • 1994: Die Haut: Sweat (Mitarbeit)
  • 1995: Blind: Live Saver (Produzent)
  • 1995: Miranda Sex Garden: Fairytales About Slavery (Produzent)
  • 1998: Meret Becker: Nachtmahr (Produzent, Musiker)
  • 1999: Terranova: Close the Door (Mitarbeit)
  • 2001: Fieber – Tagebuch eines Aussätzigen, Gedichte von Klaus Kinski, rezitiert von Ben Becker, Musik von Alexander Hacke
  • 2002: Fred Alpi: Les chiens mangent les chiens (Produzent)
  • 2005: Sanctuary
  • 2005: Martin Dean: The Best of Martin Dean (Mitarbeit)
  • 2006: Mountains of Madness together with Tiger Lillies & Danielle de Picciotto (DVD)
  • 2006: "I Hate You" for the Monks-Tribute-CD Silver Monk Time
  • 2008: "The Ship of Fools" in collaboration with Danielle de Picciotto (DVD/CD)
  • 2009: "Doomed"
  • 2010: "Hitman's Heel" in collaboration with Danielle de Picciotto
  • 2013: "American Twilight" Crime & The City Solution, MUTE Records
  • 2014: "Ministry of Wolves" in collaboration with Mick Harvey, Danielle de Picciotto,
  • 2016: "Perseverantia", Album (CD/LP) with Danielle de Picciotto
  • 2017: "Unity – Meditation Soundtrack", Album (CD) with Danielle de Picciotto
  • 2018: "Menetekel", Album (CD/LP) with Danielle de Picciotto as hackedepicciotto
  • 2018: "Joy – Meditation Soundtrack", Album (CD) as hackedepicciotto with Eric Hubel and Vincent Signorelli
  • 2020: "THE CURRENT", Album (CD/LP) with Danielle de Picciotto as hackedepicciotto
  • 2021: "The Silver Threshold", Album (CD) with Danielle de Picciotto as hackedepicciotto
  • 2023: "Keepsakes", Album (CD/LP) with Danielle de Picciotto as hackedepicciotto

For discography of Alexander Hacke with Einstürzende Neubauten, see: Einstürzende Neubauten's discography (all releases).

Film soundtracks

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DVD

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Audiobook

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  • 2025: Alexander Hacke: “'Krach – Verzerrte Erinnerungen”' (also narrator) – Production: Peter Zirbs. Published by Fabrique Records

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Alexander Hacke

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Alexander Hacke (born 11 October 1965) is a German experimental musician, bassist, guitarist, singer, composer, and producer renowned for his foundational contributions to industrial music as a core member of Einstürzende Neubauten from its early years in 1980 until his departure in 2025. Born in Berlin's working-class Neukölln district, Hacke began creating music as a teenager, experimenting with cassette loops and synthesizers before joining the band at age 14, where he helped pioneer the use of unconventional instruments such as scrap metal, drills, and custom-built devices to produce abrasive, innovative soundscapes that influenced the industrial genre. Beyond Einstürzende Neubauten, Hacke has released solo albums including Shade Inherent (2015) and composed soundtracks for films such as Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul (2005) and The Cut (2014), earning a nomination for Best Music at the German Movie Awards in 2015; he has also collaborated extensively with his wife, artist and musician Danielle de Picciotto, forming the duo hackedepicciotto in 2001, which blends multimedia performances with albums like The Silver Threshold (2021) and emphasizes themes of global nomadism after the couple adopted a traveling lifestyle. Hacke's career reflects a commitment to boundary-pushing experimentation, from early underground tape releases to later works integrating electronic and percussive elements, while his 2015 autobiography KRACH: Verzerrte Erinnerungen provides distorted recollections of his formative experiences in Berlin's countercultural scene.

Early Life

Upbringing in Berlin

Alexander Hacke was born on 11 October 1965 in 's district, a proletarian area marked by working-class communities and post-war reconstruction. His father worked as a mechanical engineer for the Borsig company, reflecting the industrial heritage of the neighborhood, while the family maintained limited musical traditions beyond inheritance from his great-grandfather, a musician who endured both World Wars and passed down Hacke's first . Growing up in isolated amid divisions fostered a culturally insular yet creatively fertile environment, often described as a "strange little island" detached from broader German society, which influenced the experimental underground scene Hacke later joined. Hacke's early years involved frequent school expulsions, signaling a rebellious streak amid the district's rough, graffiti-laden streets and emergence in the late . By age 14, he engaged in organizing an anti-fascist festival in , connecting him to nascent countercultural networks and figures like , though his formal musical training remained minimal, relying instead on self-taught experimentation with inherited instruments. This period in , with its economic pressures and proximity to artistic ferment, laid groundwork for his immersion in industrial and aesthetics, distinct from mainstream bourgeois influences elsewhere in divided .

Initial Involvement in Music

Alexander Hacke demonstrated an early aptitude for music, inheriting his first from his great-grandfather, a professional who survived both World Wars. This inheritance ignited his interest in percussion and broader instrumentation during his adolescence in West Berlin's working-class district, where he was born in 1965. By the late 1970s, Hacke immersed himself in Berlin's vibrant punk and scene, honing skills as a and sound technician amid the city's experimental ethos. At around age 14, he contributed to organizing an anti-fascist festival in late 1979, an event that introduced him to influential figures like and facilitated connections within the local community. Hacke's initial forays included participation in formative underground bands, reflecting the DIY spirit of West Berlin's countercultural milieu, though specific pre-1980 group affiliations remain sparsely documented beyond scene involvement. Early recordings under his alias Alexander von Borsig capture this period's raw experimentation, predating his major breakthrough. His expulsion from multiple high schools underscored a rebellious streak aligned with the punk attitude that shaped his nascent career.

Career with Einstürzende Neubauten

Joining and Early Role

Alexander Hacke first encountered key figures of , including , in late 1979 while organizing an anti-fascist in . The band had formed earlier in 1980, and Hacke joined shortly thereafter at the age of 14. Operating under the alias Alexander von Borsig, he brought prior experience as a young to the group. In his initial role, Hacke functioned as a and sound technician, aiding the band's development of its signature industrial aesthetic through improvised noise and unconventional instrumentation. He contributed to early live performances, such as the group's first concert outside , where he joined N.U. Unruh on drums. Hacke's youth and technical aptitude allowed him to experiment with scrap metal and custom-built devices, shaping the raw, abrasive sound heard on the band's debut album released in November 1981.

Key Contributions to Sound and Albums

Alexander Hacke joined in at the age of 14, initially contributing as a , sound engineer, and guitarist, which helped define the band's raw industrial sound from its . His early experiments with tape recorders, cutting up and looping sound fragments, and employing rudimentary sampling techniques—methods later recognized as akin to —infused the group's output with abrasive, fragmented textures, as heard in contributions to the Monogam Sampler compilation. These approaches, combined with his use of contact microphones on metal percussion starting in , amplified the clanging, percussive din central to albums like (1981), where the band pioneered white-noise guitar drones and found-object rhythms. Hacke's shift to bass in the mid-1990s positioned him as the melodic anchor, enabling more structured compositions while preserving experimental edges through custom instruments fabricated from scrap metal, such as spring basses and resonant bins, which added visceral, non-traditional timbres to recordings. In (2004), he innovated with sound sources like tube-based pipe organs, "air cakes" (compressed air devices), and dried linden leaves for subtle percussion, alongside leading the Phase 1 supporter project that integrated fan-submitted recordings into the album's production, fostering a collaborative evolution in the band's textural . His engineering minimized digital manipulation, favoring direct captures of breaking glass and environmental resonances over virtual simulations to retain expressive immediacy. For Jewels (2008), Hacke participated in improvisational sessions guided by 600 cue cards devised by , promoting indeterminacy and avoiding clichéd patterns, which yielded the album's cue-card-driven tracks emphasizing environmental awareness and efficient energy in . A 2007 remix of "Weil Weil Weil" demonstrated his technique, layering repetitive structures to evoke dystopian atmospheres, influencing the band's later cinematic leanings. Throughout, Hacke's work bridged the group's aggressive origins with refined , using septic tanks as natural reverb chambers and DIY scrap constructions to sustain Neubauten's commitment to physical, anti-digital sonics.

Performances and Innovations

Hacke played a pivotal role in Einstürzende Neubauten's development of custom instruments from scrap metal, springs, and industrial tools, including angle grinders and drills, which generated the band's signature abrasive and percussive textures. These innovations extended to experimental techniques such as using a bass spring for resonant low-end tones and repurposing a studio as an improvised reverb chamber after discovering its acoustic properties during recording sessions. Hacke also contributed to compositional experiments, like employing John Cage-inspired cue cards—totaling around 600, authored by bandmate —for the 2001 album Jewels, which recombined fragments from past material to avoid predictable structures. In live performances, Hacke's early involvement from onward shaped the band's chaotic, free-improvisational sets, where performers hammered metal sheets, pipes, and found objects to produce unstructured noise, often incorporating the destruction of materials for spontaneous sound generation. A notable example occurred during the creation of the 1983 track "Vanadium-I-Ching," when percussionist N.U. Unruh accidentally dropped wrenches, yielding metallic clatters that Hacke and integrated into the final recording and subsequent shows for added textural depth. As the band evolved, Hacke helped transition performances toward more structured formats with set lists, while retaining acoustical explorations of environmental noises and power tools, as seen in tours supporting albums like (2000), where custom rigs amplified industrial elements onstage. These approaches distinguished Neubauten's concerts from conventional rock formats, emphasizing raw experimentation over amplification.

Departure in 2025

On April 25, 2025, Alexander Hacke announced his departure from after more than four decades with the band. In a public statement, Hacke described the decision as difficult, noting that the group had functioned as his family but that had emerged: "This band has been my family for more than four decades, but it has become obvious for quite some time, after many discussions and efforts to solve our differences, that our basic standards, personally and professionally, have diverged on every level. In order to uphold my core value of integrity, I therefore have no other choice than to continue on my path without them." He emphasized that the choice aligned with his commitment to personal integrity despite prior attempts to resolve the issues. The following day, April 26, 2025, issued a brief response acknowledging the split. The band expressed regret over Hacke's exit, stating, "We are sad that Alexander Hacke is leaving the band. We respect his decision and wish him the best in his future endeavors." They affirmed their intention to persist as a unit, without elaborating on the divergences Hacke referenced or plans for a replacement. Hacke, who had joined the band in at age 14, contributed as a core member shaping its industrial sound through custom and performances.

Independent and Solo Work

Early Solo Releases

Hacke's earliest solo endeavors date to the late 1970s, when, as a teenager, he recorded under the pseudonym Alexander von Borsig, drawing from his Berlin-Neukölln roots and initial experiments with sound. These works, produced before his formal entry into , encompassed rudimentary electronic and experimental pieces reflective of the era's underground scene. In 2022, they were compiled and reissued as the Borsigwerke: The Complete Recordings of Alexander von Borsig, a limited-edition vinyl release of 500 copies that preserved 23 tracks totaling over an hour of material. His first full-length solo album under his own name, Filmarbeiten, appeared in 1993 on the Our Choice label. This compilation gathered soundtracks from his early film compositions, featuring tracks such as "Parkdeck," "Autotest," and "Junkie," characterized by abstract industrial and experimental electronics. The album underscored Hacke's burgeoning role in cinematic scoring, blending metallic percussion, noise elements, and minimalist structures honed during his Neubauten tenure. No further solo releases followed immediately, as his focus shifted toward band commitments and side projects in the 1990s.

Collaborations and Productions

Hacke's independent collaborations span punk, experimental, and multimedia projects, often incorporating his signature industrial influences with diverse artists. In 1980, he formed the short-lived band Sentimentale Jugend with Christiane F., known from the film Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo, producing raw punk tracks during live performances in . Earlier, from 1979 to 1981, he contributed as a drummer and later guitarist to Mekanik Destrüktiw Kommandöh, an ensemble active in the scene. During the 1980s, Hacke worked with Frieder Butzmann on recordings including the 1981 album Frieder Butzmann, blending and noise elements, and collaborated with Mona Mur in a Hamburg-based project until 1986. In the , he joined band Die Haut for sporadic live tours from 1992 to 1997, and supported Italian rock singer on her 1994 tour and the recording of her 1995 album Dispensi d'anime. From 1995 to 2001, Hacke partnered with actress and singer Meret Becker—his wife at the time—on her debut albums, providing production, guitar, and arrangements for works like Nachtmahr (1996). In the 2000s, Hacke co-founded the nomadic Americana-experimental group Dirtmusic in 2004 with and Lucas Schleicher, releasing albums such as Dirtmusic (2007) and We Were Amazzed (2010), which fused with industrial textures during tours across and . He also collaborated with the cabaret trio from 2005 to 2007, contributing guitar and sonic experimentation to their theatrical performances and recordings. Later projects included Ministry of Wolves in 2013 with and Paul Wallfisch, producing dark, orchestral compositions, and guest appearances with Wrekmeister Harmonies alongside Brokaw. As a , Hacke has handled and mixing for select independent releases, including contributions to FM Einheit's 2000 Marstall Project live recordings and Baba Zula's tracks for the 2005 Crossing the Bridge. His production style emphasizes custom instrumentation and raw acoustics, often recorded in non-traditional settings to capture environmental influences.

hackedepicciotto Project

hackedepicciotto is the experimental music and multimedia project of Alexander Hacke and de Picciotto, who began collaborating in 2001 on audio/visual performances in . The duo, married since 2006, transitioned to a nomadic lifestyle around 2010, creating works influenced by global travels and themes of spirituality, despair, and human experience. Early releases were credited jointly as Alexander Hacke & de Picciotto, including The Ship of Fools in 2008 and Hitman's Heel in 2011, blending acoustic instrumentation with electronic elements. The project formalized under the hackedepicciotto name in late 2016, coinciding with albums like Perseverantia that same year, which reflected their itinerant existence. Subsequent releases include Menetekel in 2017, addressing global pessimism; The Current in 2020, emphasizing rhythmic intensity; The Silver Threshold in 2021, developed amid the ; and Keepsakes in 2023, exploring friendship and mortality through softer, feather-like soundscapes. In November 2024, they released their first live album, The Best of hackedepicciotto (Live in Napoli), recorded during a residency in and limited to 500 double vinyl copies, compiling over two decades of material. The duo signed with in 2021, facilitating wider distribution. hackedepicciotto has conducted multiple European tours, including a sold-out spring 2022 run across , , , , and starting March 27, and a 2024 winter tour commencing November 1. Live performances often feature and , evolving from theater-stage projects post-2010. Additional outputs include soundtracks like Unity (2016) and Joy (2018), film scores such as for Iuventa (2018), and collaborations like David Harrow remixes for Perseverantia tracks in 2023.

Artistic Techniques

Custom Instrumentation

Alexander Hacke has employed a variety of custom and modified instruments throughout his career, particularly in the context of , where he contributed to the band's signature use of non-traditional sound sources. In early performances dating back to 1980, Hacke incorporated power tools such as electric drills, known as bohrmaschine in German, to generate abrasive, mechanical tones that mimicked industrial noise. These tools were not merely props but functional instruments, often amplified to produce screeching, rhythmic effects integral to the band's raw sound experiments in Berlin's underground scene. Hacke's approach extended to amplifying everyday objects for percussive and textural purposes, as seen in the 2014 project commemorating . There, he performed on amplified crutches, thudding them to evoke the labored movement of injured soldiers, creating haunting, resonant sounds that blended human frailty with mechanical grit. This technique aligned with the band's broader practice of repurposing scrap metal and found materials into custom percussion and string-like devices, which Hacke helped refine during recording sessions in unconventional locations like motorway overpasses. In solo and collaborative works, Hacke continued innovating with modified setups, such as integrating power drills and metal springs in tracks for the hackedepicciotto project Doomed (2017), where guest contributed drill sounds alongside Hacke's multi-instrumental layers. These custom elements underscore Hacke's commitment to sonic experimentation, prioritizing raw causality from physical interactions over conventional tuning or electronics.

Experimental Approaches

Alexander Hacke's experimental approaches center on repurposing industrial materials and everyday objects into sound-generating devices, diverging from conventional instrumentation to achieve abrasive and resonant textures. Within , he helped pioneer custom builds like the "Bass Spring," fashioned from an automotive to function as a and , and "The Noodle," a scaled-up rod-and-drum assembly drawing from African instrument designs for amplified vibrations. Contact microphones were routinely applied to metal percussion and scrap elements, such as air-conditioning parts or components, to extract deep resonances, while power tools like the AccuDrill provided rhythmic propulsion through wired attachments to spinning mechanisms. Tape-based manipulation formed a cornerstone of his early methods, involving the physical alteration of quarter-inch and multi-track tapes—cutting holes, burning sections, or splicing remnants—to yield erratic, concrete-like sonorities. Hacke employed dual reel-to-reel decks for rudimentary looping and sampling of environmental fragments, techniques he explored as a teenager before digital tools proliferated, often distributing results via cassette at outlets like Rough Trade. Field recordings in atypical spaces, such as motorway overpasses or water towers, further expanded sonic palettes by leveraging natural reverb, complemented by unconventional setups like 20-meter tape loops draped over studio fixtures. As , Hacke prioritized live material destruction for authenticity, such as shattering onstage to capture unfiltered dynamics rather than relying on samples, and devised inventions like an "air cake"—a record player modified with taped objects actuated by an air pistol—for ethereal effects. In solo endeavors, including the 2022 Drones library collaboration, he integrated e-bows for sustained tones, feedback chains, and a pentagram-configured array to generate playable, chromatic drone layers exceeding 362 GB in sample depth. These methods underscore a commitment to tactile, invention-driven exploration, yielding cacophonous yet structured compositions since his 1980 entry into Neubauten at age 14.

Other Creative Outputs

Film Soundtracks

Hacke composed the original score for the 2014 film The Cut, directed by , which chronicles the . The soundtrack, released on Bureau B, includes tracks such as "Opening Titles" (1:25), "The Twins" (1:46), and "March to the Labour Camp" (3:21), blending orchestral elements with experimental textures influenced by Ennio Morricone's style yet featuring innovative Western motifs. In the 2004 film Head-On (Gegen die Wand), also directed by , Hacke produced the track "Saniye'm" performed by Selim Sesler and Orchestra with Idil Üner, and composed "Tract" for the official soundtrack album. Hacke is credited as original music composer for the 2011 Russian film Generation P, an adaptation of Victor Pelevin's novel exploring post-Soviet . As part of the hackedepicciotto project with Danielle de Picciotto, he contributed to the 2018 soundtrack for Iuventa, a on Mediterranean operations.
Film TitleYearDirectorHacke's Contribution
Head-On (Gegen die Wand)2004Producer and composer of select tracks
Generation P2011Victor GinzburgOriginal music composer
The Cut2014Full original score
Iuventa2018Various ()Soundtrack (with hackedepicciotto)

Writing and Filmmaking

Hacke published his Krach: Verzerrte Erinnerungen in 2015 through Metrolit Verlag, a 280-page work detailing his early obsession with , immersion in West Berlin's underground scene before the Wall's fall, and the ascent of amid chaotic experimentation. The title evokes "crash" or "," aligning with themes of distorted recollections and industrial aesthetics, presented as a raw testimony rather than polished narrative. A revised and expanded edition followed, appending reflections on the decade after the original publication, including ongoing artistic evolution and global collaborations. Hacke read from the updated version live at Studio in on November 21, 2025, underscoring its role in bridging personal history with contemporary discourse. In filmmaking, Hacke has engaged in experimental and collaborative visual projects, often intertwined with his musical output. Alongside partner Danielle de Picciotto, he co-created an audio-visual interpretation of Sebastian Brant's 1494 satirical novel The Ship of Fools in 2007 under the hackedepicciotto moniker, blending live performance, soundscapes, and projected imagery to critique modern folly. His early "film works," compiled in the 1994 Filmarbeiten, suggest involvement in short-form or experimental visuals tied to , though primarily as and conceptual contributor rather than sole director. These efforts reflect a multimedia ethos extending his industrial roots into narrative and visual realms, without feature-length directing credits in mainstream cinema.

Personal Life

Relationships and Family

Alexander Hacke had his first notable romantic relationship with Christiane Felscherinow, known as Christiane F., whom he met following an performance in 1980. Their connection was rooted in Berlin's countercultural scene, though it was short-lived amid Felscherinow's struggles with addiction detailed in her 1979 autobiography Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo. Hacke has been in a long-term partnership with musician and artist Danielle de Picciotto, whom he met in the early 1990s through Berlin's underground music community. The couple married in 2006 after years of collaboration, including joint performances and the formation of their audiovisual project hackedepicciotto. They have no children, prioritizing their nomadic lifestyle and creative pursuits over family expansion. Hacke was born on 11 July 1966 in Berlin's working-class district to a proletarian family with musical roots; he inherited his first from his great-grandfather, a who survived both World Wars. Little public information exists about his immediate family, as Hacke has maintained privacy regarding his parents and siblings.

Nomadic Lifestyle and Influences

In 2010, Alexander Hacke and his partner Danielle de Picciotto relinquished their Berlin residence to pursue a nomadic existence as itinerant musicians, driven by escalating rents, urban , and a quest for artistic autonomy unburdened by conventional employment. Initially envisioned as an 18-month venture, this peripatetic mode extended indefinitely, with the duo traveling via residencies, tours, and temporary stays, often limited to two suitcases of essentials. Their lifestyle entailed frequent relocations across continents, including residencies in , , , and , alongside tours through the , , , and . This uprooted routine fostered financial self-sufficiency through performance revenues and cultivated an international network of collaborators, while prompting adaptations such as , , , and periodic abstinence from alcohol to counter travel-induced fatigue and excess. Initial challenges included emotional disorientation from abandoning a fixed home base and observations of global housing crises, yet it yielded heightened self-discipline and detachment from material possessions. The nomadic experiences profoundly shaped Hacke's creative processes, infusing his collaborations with site-specific sonic elements derived from encountered environments. For instance, recordings in for the album Keepsakes (2018) captured the city's volcanic intensity and chaotic undercurrents, evoking a raw energy absent in studio isolation. Similarly, sessions in the and incorporated repetitive, locomotive-like rhythms mirroring rail travel, paired with evolving landscapes that informed their "cinematic drone" aesthetic. These peregrinations also informed broader reflections on societal and the vitality of smaller, artist-sustaining communities, as documented in de Picciotto's graphic diary We Are Gypsies Now (2015), which chronicles their observations and adaptations.

Reception and Impact

Critical Acclaim and Achievements

Hacke's contributions to experimental and have been recognized for their pioneering techniques, including early adoption of tape looping, sampling, and musique concrète-inspired methods during his teenage years, which influenced subsequent electronic and practices. As a core member of since joining at age 15 in 1980, he shaped the band's abrasive, scrap-metal-driven sound, earning acclaim for expanding the boundaries of rock through custom instrumentation and noise experimentation. His 2005 solo album , compiled from recordings made during global travels with collaborators like and members of , received positive reviews for its eclectic dub, noise, and art-rock elements, with critics drawing parallels to and for its unconventional structures and improvisational flair. The album's "road record" approach, capturing spontaneous sessions, was highlighted as a distinctive achievement in blending cultural influences into cohesive experimental tracks. In film composition, Hacke earned a nomination for Best Music at the 2015 German Film Awards (Deutscher Filmpreis) for the soundtrack to Akin's The Cut (2014), utilizing to evoke the Armenian Genocide's intensity. He previously won Best Music at the 26th Festival International du Premier Film in , , for Fuori dalle Corde (). Additional scores, such as for Akin's Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul (2005), were praised for facilitating cross-cultural musical dialogues akin to Ry Cooder's production. Collaborative projects, notably hackedepicciotto with Danielle de Picciotto since 2001, have garnered strong reviews; their 2016 album Perseverantia was rated 9/10 for its dark, rhythmic epics blending industrial roots with nomadic influences. These efforts underscore Hacke's enduring impact on , though formal awards remain limited compared to mainstream recognition.

Criticisms and Challenges

Hacke's longstanding role in Einstürzende Neubauten placed him at the center of the band's early reputation for chaotic, destructive live performances that frequently damaged venues and provoked backlash. In the , the group's shows often involved industrial tools like drills, jackhammers, and chainsaws to generate noise, leading to incidents such as the January 1984 "Concerto for Voice and Machinery" at London's (ICA), where members attempted to bore through the stage floor into underlying tunnels amid smoke, petrol fumes, and audience frenzy; the event was halted after 21 minutes by a , leaving a hole in the stage but failing to breach the tunnels as intended. Such antics, fueled by alcohol and drugs, resulted in widespread venue bans and preemptive measures like fire extinguishers deployed by staff upon the band's arrival, complicating touring logistics and bookings during their formative years. As a 14-year-old recruit to Neubauten in 1980, Hacke navigated the perils of West Berlin's hedonistic punk and scene, characterized by rampant drug use and paranoia-inducing stimulants that permeated rehearsals and social circles. His early romantic involvement with Christiane Felscherinow—whose 1978 autobiography Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo documented teenage at Berlin's Zoo station—immersed him further in this environment, where Felscherinow's ongoing struggles with highlighted the era's risks for young participants like Hacke, who balanced precocious musical experimentation with exposure to heroin-fueled excess at clubs like the bar. Critics have occasionally faulted Neubauten's post-1980s evolution—including Hacke's contributions—for mellowing into more structured, less abrasive compositions, diluting the raw industrial edge that defined their debut Kollaps (1981) and prompting accusations of amid broader accessibility. In April 2025, Hacke announced his departure from the band after 45 years, describing the choice as weighty but without public acrimony, amid fan disappointment over losing his foundational input amid the group's shift toward electronics and sampling over physical destruction. These professional transitions underscore ongoing challenges in sustaining the band's pioneering intensity against expectations of perpetual extremity.

References

  1. https://neubauten.org/en/alex-hacke/
  2. https://www.discogs.com/artist/107203-Alexander-Hacke
  3. https://louderthanwar.com/alexander-hacke-leaves-einsturzende-neubauten/
  4. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/alexander-hacke-mn0000522028
  5. https://thequietus.com/interviews/strange-world-of/alexander-hacke-einsturzende-neubauten/
  6. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0352391/
  7. https://www.hacke.org/
  8. https://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/lectures/alexander-hacke-and-gareth-jones-lecture
  9. https://www.furious.com/perfect/einsturzendeneubauten.html
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  12. http://336journal.com/tag/alexander-hacke/
  13. https://fabrique.at/artist/alexander-hacke/
  14. https://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/lectures/alexander-hacke-and-gareth-jones-lecture/
  15. https://hackedepicciotto.bandcamp.com/album/borsigwerke-the-complete-recordings-of-alexander-von-borsig
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  22. https://hackedepicciotto.bandcamp.com/album/filmarbeiten
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  33. https://hackedepicciotto.bandcamp.com/album/doomed
  34. https://www.recordingmag.com/news/orchestral-tools-announces-drones-arkanum-update/
  35. https://hackedepicciotto.bandcamp.com/album/the-cut-original-motion-picture-soundtrack
  36. https://www.amazon.com/Cut-Original-Soundtrack-ALEXANDER-HACKE/dp/B00NTDI9JY
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  38. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0347048/soundtrack/
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  40. https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1123056-alexander-hacke?language=en-US
  41. https://www.danielledepicciotto.com/music
  42. https://books.google.com/books/about/Krach.html?id=ihFtrgEACAAJ
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  45. https://hackedepicciotto.bandcamp.com/album/the-ship-of-fools
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  48. https://www.talkhouse.com/hackedepicciotto-choose-a-nomadic-life/
  49. https://www.vulture.com/2015/09/danielle-de-picciotto-we-are-gypsies-now-interview.html
  50. https://assemblepapers.com.au/2018/11/29/nomadic-life-danielle-de-picciotto-alexander-hacke/
  51. https://www.furious.com/perfect/hackedepicciotto.html
  52. https://www.theaudiodb.com/artist/143707-Alexander-Hacke
  53. https://brainwashed.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20313:alexander-hacke-qsanctuaryq&catid=101&Itemid=855
  54. https://www.filmaffinity.com/en/award-edition-category.php?edition-id=german_2015&cat-id=german_best_score
  55. https://mediasoundhamburg.de/en/forum-radical-soundtracks/
  56. https://louderthanwar.com/danielle-de-picciotto-alexander-hacke-perseverantia-album-review/
  57. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/may/18/blixa-bargeld-interview-einsturzende-neubauten
  58. https://seelebrenntarchive.wordpress.com/2010/12/10/in-the-beginning-there-was-fire/
  59. https://thequietus.com/opinion-and-essays/black-sky-thinking/risiko-bar-berlin-nick-cave-blixa-bargeld/
  60. http://www.furious.com/perfect/einsturzende2.html
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