Peter Schilling
Encyclopedia
Peter Schilling is a German synthpop
musician whose songs often feature science-fiction themes (aliens, astronauts, nuclear holocaust, etc.). His 1983 album, Error in the System
, generated his only international hit single, "Major Tom (Coming Home)", a retelling of David Bowie
's classic 1969 song "Space Oddity". Although the song was originally recorded in German, the international hit version was sung in English. The song was recently featured in an episode of the fourth season of Breaking Bad
. In 1984 and 1985, Schilling released the albums 120 Grad and 120 Grad' s English language version, 1985's Things to Come. From 1986 to 1989, Schilling released non-album singles and put out his 1988 compilation The Different Story. In 1990, Schilling suffered from burnout
and the following year he took a break. In 1994, he married his girlfriend Catyana.
In the late 90s, Schilling formed a side project called Space Pilots, which appeared on the first issue of the popular dance music compilation Dancemania
series. The band included Catyana Schilling, J. Feifel, and P. Magnet. They have recorded only one song, titled "Trip to Orion". It was released on vinyl and CD in 1995, and appears on the Japanese dance compilation CD Dancemania 1. The song is based on and includes vocal samples from the German science-fiction TV show Raumpatrouille Orion.
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
musician whose songs often feature science-fiction themes (aliens, astronauts, nuclear holocaust, etc.). His 1983 album, Error in the System
Error in the System
Error in the System is the first English album by German singer Peter Schilling, and is literally the English counterpart to the German album Fehler im System. The English and German version have been combined and sold as a single box set in several parts of the world.-Error in the System:*All...
, generated his only international hit single, "Major Tom (Coming Home)", a retelling of David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
's classic 1969 song "Space Oddity". Although the song was originally recorded in German, the international hit version was sung in English. The song was recently featured in an episode of the fourth season of Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad is an American television drama series created and produced by Vince Gilligan. Set and produced in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Breaking Bad is the story of Walter White , a struggling high school chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with advanced lung cancer at the beginning of the series...
. In 1984 and 1985, Schilling released the albums 120 Grad and 120 Grad
Burnout (psychology)
Burnout is a psychological term for the experience of long-term exhaustion and diminished interest. Research indicates general practitioners have the highest proportion of burnout cases; according to a recent Dutch study in Psychological Reports, no less than 40% of these experienced high levels of...
and the following year he took a break. In 1994, he married his girlfriend Catyana.
In the late 90s, Schilling formed a side project called Space Pilots, which appeared on the first issue of the popular dance music compilation Dancemania
Dancemania
Dancemania is a series of remix compilation albums by i-DANCE. The series deals primarily with dance music, especially eurodance. Despite its tracks have been made by various musicians from all over the world mainly from the European continent, the albums have been released exclusively in Japan.The...
series. The band included Catyana Schilling, J. Feifel, and P. Magnet. They have recorded only one song, titled "Trip to Orion". It was released on vinyl and CD in 1995, and appears on the Japanese dance compilation CD Dancemania 1. The song is based on and includes vocal samples from the German science-fiction TV show Raumpatrouille Orion.
Discography
- Fehler im System, WEA 24.0026.1, 1982 [#1 Germany, #4 Austria]
- Error in the SystemError in the SystemError in the System is the first English album by German singer Peter Schilling, and is literally the English counterpart to the German album Fehler im System. The English and German version have been combined and sold as a single box set in several parts of the world.-Error in the System:*All...
, Elektra 60265-1, 1983 [#61 US, #1 Canada] - 120 Grad, 1984
- Things to ComeThings to Come (album)Things to Come is the second English album by German singer Peter Schilling and is the English counterpart to the German album 120 Grad.-Track listing:# "Chill of the Night"# "City of the Night "# "Lone Survivor"...
, Elektra 604404-1, 1985 - 1.000 Augen, 1986 (This album was never released)
- The Different Story (World of Lust and Crime)The Different Story (World of Lust and Crime)The Different Story is the third English album by German singer Peter Schilling.The English counterpart to the German album of the same name, The Different Story is the last English album by Peter Schilling to date...
, 1989 (Released in Germany in 1992) - Geheime Macht, 1993
- Major Tom 94, 1994
- Sonne, Mond Und Sterne, 1994
- Von anfangan...bis jetzt, 1999
- Raumnot, 2003
- Retrospektive, 2004
- Zeitsprung, 2004
- Delight Factor Wellness, 2005
- Das Prinzip Mensch, 2006
- Tauch Mit Mir...In Eine Neue Zeit...Das Beste Von 2003-2006, 2006
- Emotionen sind männlich, 2007
- Neu & Live 2010, 2010
Singles
- Traeume sind mehr als nur Illusionen/Sag nie Good-Bye , 1973 (as Pierre Schilling)
- Symphonie der Liebe/Wieder mal verliebt , 1977 (As Pierre)
- Gib her das Ding/Frei sein ist schön, 1979 (As Pierre Schilling)
- Heut ist was los auf der Autobahn/Sweet Sixteen, 1980 (As Pierre Schilling)
- Lied An Dich/Lampenfieber, 1981 (As Pierre Schilling)
- Major Tom (Völlig losgelöst), 1982 [#1 Germany, #1 Switzerland, #1 Austria, #2 Netherlands]
- Die Wüste Lebt, 1983 [#5 Austria, #10 Switzerland, #7 Germany]
- Fehler Im System, 1983
- Major Tom (Coming Home), Elektra 7-69811, 1983 [#14 US, #1 Canada, #42 UK, #4 South Africa]
- Major Tom (Coming Home) (12" Single), Elektra 0-66995, 1983
- Terra Titanic, 1984 [#26 Germany]
- Terra Titanic (12" Single), WEA 249 415-0, 1984
- Hitze Der Nacht, 1984 [#46 Germany]
- Hitze Der Nacht (Special Remix), 1984
- Region 804, 1985
- Chill of the Night (Promo), 1985
- Ich Vermisse Dich/Für immer jung, 1986 [#32 Germany]
- All The Love I Need/In My Youth, 1986
- Alles Endet Bei Dir/Wonderful World, 1986
- The Different Story (World Of Lust And Crime), 1988 [#10 Sweden, #61 US]
- Zug Um Zug, 1992
- Bild Der Dunkelheit, 1992
- Viel Zu Heiss, 1993
- Major Tom 94, 1994 (Released in both English and German) [#29 Germany]
- Sonne, Mond Und Sterne, 1994
- Terra Titanic, 1995 (1995 remixes)
- Trip to Orion, 1996 (With the Space Pilots)
- Kingdom of Rain, 2000 (As M*Period)
- Major Tom 2000 (Ground Control vs. Major Tom) [#83 Germany]
- Terra Titanic 2003, 2003
- Raumnot, 2003
- Sonne, Mond Und Sterne 2003, 2003
- Major Tom 2003, 2003
- Experiment Erde, 2004
- Weit Weg, 2005
- Der Menschliche Faktor (Remixes), 2005
- Es Gibt Keine Sehnsucht, 2006
External links
- Official site (in German)
- Interview (in German)
- Interview about his 2005 book (in German)
- Article about voiceover work
- Second article about voiceover work
- Article about album "Das Prinzip Mensch"
- Another interview (in German)
- Audio recording of interview in German (click "Datei herunterladen" to download)
- Video interview from 2004 (in German)
- Video interview from 2006
- English translations