Michael Hoenig (born January 4 1952 in Hamburg) is a German composer who, in addition to two solo albums, has composed music for several movies and games. In 1996, he was nominated for an Emmy award (best theme song) for his work on the short-lived sci-fi series Dark Skies.
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Early career
As the editor of the underground magazine LOVE in the late sixties, Hoenig was part of the burgeoning progressive rock scene in Berlin, which fostered bands like Tangerine Dream, Ash Ra Tempel and Agitation Free. His interest in avant-garde music, sound generators and prepared tapes caught the eye of Michael Günter, the bassist of Agitation Free, and he joined the band in February, 1971. In March 1975, Hoenig was hired to replace Peter Baumann in Tangerine Dream for an Australian tour and BBC recorded London Royal Albert Hall concert, and subsequently left Agitation Free, which broke up shortly after. Baumann rejoined Tangerine Dream soon after, and Hoenig went on to collaborate with Klaus Schulze on the shortlived project, Timewind. In 1976 he had a brief collaboration with Manuel Göttsching of Ash Ra Tempel; a recording of one of the sessions was released in 1995 under the title "Early Water". In 1978, he released his first solo album, the highly acclaimed Berlin School classic Departure from the Northern Wasteland, and left for Los Angeles shortly after it was released.
Film Scores/Later Career
Hoenig owns a recording studio in Los Angeles and through his company Metamusic Productions, he has composed the scores for several movies (see filmography below) and television shows. In addition to this, he has composed music for the extremely popular Baldur's Gate PC games by Bioware. In 1987, Hoenig released his second solo album, Xcept One.
Albums
- Departure From the Northern Wasteland (1978)
- Xcept One (1987)
- The Blob (1988) Soundtrack
with Tangerine Dream
- Bootleg Box Set Vol 1 (2003) includes full Royal Albert Hall 1975 concert
with Manuel Gottsching
- Early Water (1997) Recorded 1976
Filmography
- Dracula 3000 (2004)
- The Contaminated Man (2000)
- After Alice (1999)
- Her Costly Affair (1996)
- Thrill (1996)
- Above Suspicion (1995)
- Terminal Justice (1995)
- Search for Grace (1994)
- Eyes of Terror (1994)
- Visions of Murder (1993)
- The Amy Fisher Story (1993)
- The Last of the Finest (1990)
- Class of 1999 (1990)
- I, Madman (1989)
- The Blob (1988)
- The Gate (1987)
- Shattered Spirits (1987)
- The Wraith (1987)
- 9 1/2 Weeks (1986) (additional music)
- Silent Witness (1985)
- Deadly Encounter (1982)
- Koyaanisqatsi (1982) (additional music)
TV Series
- The District (2000-2004)
- Strange World (1999)
- Dark Skies (1996-1997)
- Max Headroom (1987-1988)
Games
- Baldur's Gate (1998)
- Baldur's Gate 2 (2000)
