Carl Crack

2025-05-31T07:25:38Z

115.69.5.83:

{{short description|German techno artist}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Carl Crack
| image =
| image_size = 
| caption =
| birth_name = Karl Böhm
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date text|5 May 1971}}
| birth_place = [[Eswatini]] (then Swaziland)
| origin = Germany
| death_date = {{death date and age|2001|9|6|1971|5|5|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Berlin]], Germany
| instrument =
| genre =
| occupation =
| years_active =
| label =
| past_member_of = [[Atari Teenage Riot]]
| website =
}}

'''Carl Crack''' (born '''Karl Böhm'''; 5 May 1971 – 6 September 2001) was a Swazi-born German [[techno artist]] best known for his membership in the [[digital hardcore]] band [[Atari Teenage Riot]] from 1992 to 2000.

==Biography==
Around 1992, Crack displayed little interest in the music scene as it was at the time. He felt that [[The Beatnigs]] (the original vehicle for social and political critic [[Michael Franti]], later of [[the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy]] and [[Spearhead (band)|Spearhead]]) were one of the few significant bands around. Along with the other members of Atari Teenage Riot he was looking for a new direction.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

Crack initially had a significant influence on ATR's style, particularly on the first two albums where he developed an [[Rapping|MC]] style which owed less to the U.S. than his own imagination. He also had his own musical ideas that could not be expressed within the confines of a group, leading to his only solo release, ''Black Ark'', in 1998. It is, as the name suggests, heavily influenced by [[Dub music|dub]] and in particular [[Lee "Scratch" Perry|Lee Perry]].{{cn|date=October 2024}}

After heavy touring to promote ATR's third album, ''[[60 Second Wipe Out]]'', the members of the group commenced work on follow ups to their various solo projects. Crack appeared on [[Cobra Killer]]'s 2002 album, ''[[The Third Armpit]]''. He also was part of Firewire and Whatever, both with Din-St.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

On 6 September 2001, Crack, who had long struggled with psychiatric issues, died at the age of 30 from an overdose of unspecified pills.<ref name="crackmtv">Corey Moss, [https://web.archive.org/web/20021106043908/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1449099/20010924/atari_teenage_riot.jhtml Atari Teenage Riot Cofounder Dead At 30], [[MTV]], 24 September 2001, retrieved 13 March 2007.</ref> The media hype surrounding Crack's death is disputed by ATR.{{cn|date=October 2024}} According to a friend, a few weeks before his death he had spoken about a doctor's report which said his psychosis attacks would worsen with age.{{cn|date=October 2024}} According to that friend, Crack said he would rather kill himself than become a "zombie" and not be in control of his life. Witnesses have said Crack tried to reach out to his friends because he felt the psychosis starting again.{{cn|date=October 2024}} When his body was found by police with large quantities of medication in his stomach, this suggested suicide. It is still unclear if this happened while he was in a state of psychosis or not (while in a psychotic state, it could be interpreted as an accident rather than suicide).{{cn|date=October 2024}}

==Discography==
===Album===
* ''Black Ark'' ([[Digital Hardcore Recordings|DHR Limited]] 1998)

===DJ Mix===
* ''Lion MC/Dance the Monkey'' (Midiwar 1995)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040702034305/http://www.digitalhardcore.com/artist_bio.asp?Artist_ID=5 Biography] at [[Digital Hardcore Recordings]]
* [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Carl+Crack Carl Crack] at [[Discogs]]

{{Atari Teenage Riot}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Crack, Carl}}
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:2001 deaths]]
[[Category:Drug-related deaths in Germany]]
[[Category:20th-century German musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century German male musicians]]
[[Category:Atari Teenage Riot members]]
[[Category:German people of Swazi descent]]
[[Category:Digital hardcore musicians]]

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Carl Crack