Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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RAINER

(b Rainer Ptacek, '54; d 12 Nov. '97) Blues singer, guitarist, songwriter; pron. Ryner. Escaped from East Berlin at age three with his family before the Wall went up, settled in Chicago and became steeped in Chicago blues; drifted to Tucson AZ '72 and played in various groups. Formed trio Das Combo '84, praised by Rolling Stone and ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons, released Barefoot Rock on UK's Making Waves label, which then went broke. Solo album Worried Spirits '92 on Demon was recorded in a shed in the desert, his authentic picking and bottleneck set starkly against an indubitably white voice (which has been compared to David Byrne), a new take on ancient emotions. Barefoot Rock was reissued on Demon, as were Das Combo's Powder Keg and The Texas Tapes. He sessioned with Robert Plant, Victoria Williams etc; had a day job in a music store. His last album was solo Nocturne; diagnosed with a brain tumour, he did title track of The Inner Flame, a benefit album organized by Robert Plant.